As a fan of Conor this is exactly what I worry about.

[ChaosOverkill]

Now, Conor has lost by sub, to Duffy most recently, so he may have adjusted more than Thatch has to the experience differences, but guys who can grind at a top level will find the strategy to beat someone with any degree of striking tunnel vision like Thatch had and Cruz really described well and if he has ANY holes, this cash train is gonna stop for repairs for a while.

I hope not, I hope it's a great fight either way and not relative.

 

[seekntruth]

Now, Conor has lost by sub, to Duffy so he may have adjusted more than Thatch has to the experience differences, but guys who can grind at a top level will find the strategy to beat someone with any degree of striking tunnel vision like Thatch had and Cruz really described well and if he has ANY holes, this cash train is gonna stop for repairs for a while.

I hope not, I hope it's a great fight either way and not relative.

I think with Conor, the biggest threat he faces is being taken down and controlled with wrestling. Training with Kavanagh, I'd bet his sub defense is greatly improved and superior to what Thatch showed.

 

[ChaosOverkill]

I think with Conor, the biggest threat he faces is being taken down and controlled with wrestling. Training with Kavanagh, I'd bet his sub defense is greatly improved and superior to what Thatch showed.

Well I sort of mean either way, controlled or subbed, I rasied the Duffy Sub in stating exactly what you said, that he would fill the hole with a coach in training plus the experience of being in that situation where Thatch just has never been close to.

So yes I agree it's likely being neutralized like a Frankie vs Cub and battered for 5 rounds because he has just not been in a top 10 level 5 round level changing war.

 

[Zeph]

Yeah, it is a very real possibility. Makes it exciting though right?

 

[BenAskrensStrikingcoach]

Like mentioned above Conor was lucky ( unlucky ? ) to have that happen to him earlier in his career and recognise it as a hole needing to be filled.

There is no way he hasn't been working on his ground game and you can see glimpses of it in his last fight and against Holloway .

Untill we see him against someone that can level change and transition like Henderson did last night against Thatch his defensive grappling at a higher level will be a question mark.