CONOR McGREGOR’S DETRACTORS have often raised questions about the quality of his grappling, but Gunnar Nelson is in a better place than anyone to answer them.
Nelson’s impressive ground-game has played a key role in his own success in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and the pair are currently training together in Las Vegas for their upcoming bouts at UFC 189.
McGregor will fight Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title in the main event on 11 July, while Nelson is due to face John Hathaway earlier in the evening.
McGregor’s elite striking has helped him to climb the rankings in the UFC’s featherweight division, and although Aldo is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Nelson doesn’t expect his SBG team-mate’s grappling to be exposed as a weakness.
He told Submission Radio: “He [McGregor] is very good on the ground and he’s even better when it’s grappling for MMA because that’s a lot of difference. Grappling or jiu-jitsu is not the same as wrestling or grappling in MMA. And he’s really good there.
“He’s got good submissions and he’s very fast. He can move in most directions and he’s getting better every single day. If a good black belt forgets himself for a second, [McGregor] is on you. He’s probably going to submit you.”
When asked if McGregor is capable of submitting Aldo, a fighter with a seemingly more decorated grappling background, Nelson said: “Oh, 100% he can.”
Aboy Gunner you horse
Those are big words when they come from the mouth of Gunnie. Fighters in thw UFC definitely underestimate Conors ground game.
And the countdown is on for the fight of the century with the Irish Mohammed Ali
I doubt it if Aldo will try to take it to the ground. The both men are excellent standup fighters. I can’t wait for this one.
Aldo has never taken a fight to the ground and has excellent take down defence and always springs back up. He’s clearly not comfortable on the ground, and Frankie Edgar and Chad Mendes both tried to wrestle him and he was having none of it.
McGregor on the other hand chose to fight the second half of his fight with Max Holloway on the ground (now ranked 5th in the division) as he blew out his knee, and he nearly got the submit on Holloway – I’d say McGregor would be the happier of the two if it went ground game – but it definitely wont be initiated by Aldo.
One way or another, this is going to be an incredibly interesting fight. I can’t wait to see it.