Current and two-time UFC featherweight kingpin Alexander Volkanovski has given his two cents on the Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 bout.
The Irishman is returning to the octagon after a five-year hiatus and will run it back with Holloway in the main event of UFC 329. The first time they locked horns was in a featherweight contest in 2013, where McGregor cruised to a unanimous decision victory despite tearing his ACL.
Their second outing will be a welterweight contest of five rounds and also Holloway’s 170-pound debut.
Several analysts and former UFC fighters, including Dustin Poirier and Daniel Cormier, have already shared their thoughts on how they expect this bout to play out. Most believe that, although Conor McGregor has been out of action for nearly five years, he will still possess the same power, accuracy, and timing. However, his cardio and potential ring rust are significant factors against the ‘best boxer in the UFC,’ Holloway, who has only improved in recent years.
Now Alexander Volkanovski has shared his thoughts on the UFC 329 headliner.
Alexander Volkanovski on Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2: “I know they’re going to want to put on a show”
Alexander Volkanovski will be in attendance for UFC Freedom 250 to support his friend Mauricio Ruffy, who will be taking on the explosive and always entertaining Michael Chandler. On fight week, during an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, “The Great” talked about Conor McGregor’s much-anticipated UFC return.
The Australian opined that “The Notorious” would look very sharp despite the long layoff, would be explosive and accurate in the striking department.
“Conor hasn’t been in the game for a long time, and I think a lot of people are thinking that he’s just going to lose everything, but that’s not the case. He’s going to be dangerous. He’s obviously still going to be very sharp, very explosive, still got a good eye. Is it the exact eye he had when he was double champ and doing what he was doing? No, probably not. But, still going to be very dangerous, and I know Max is going to respect that. I know they’re going to want to put on a show, but at the same time, you’re going to know Conor is going to be very dangerous early.” [h/t: MMA Junkie]
However, Volkanovski believes Conor McGregor’s demanding training camp could cause him to tire quickly, come fight night. “The Great” added that he expects his former three-time opponent Holloway to remain patient and take over as the bout progresses, believing the Dubliner will be easy game in the championship rounds.
“I think Max will make the right decisions to not just get into the fire straight away, and then start to work him later in the rounds. We know Conor is very dangerous, very explosive, but that is going to wear on you, and with that big layoff, even though he’s probably training very hard, we know that that’s going to eventually wear on him and that sharpness that I reckon he still has is probably going to deteriorate a lot quicker because he’s been out of the game for so long.” [h/t: MMA Junkie]
Check out Alexander Volkanovski’s comments about Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 below (9:00):
