Max Holloway faces Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 223. It is a virtual certainty Nurmagomedov is going to get Holloway down, but that wouldn’t be an accurate reflection of Holloway’s takedown defense. By any sober and informed assessment, ‘Blessed’ has excellent takedown defense.
Yet, some are discounting it now either suggesting a five-year-old fight with Conor McGregor is representative of Holloway’s current level or that he’s never really fought anyone with good takedowns. All of this is nonsense.
No, Holloway isn’t the wrestler Nurmagomedov is. In MMA, I’m not sure who is. But we don’t need to denigrate and unfairly grade Holloway’s skills to build of Nurmagomedov’s. In fact, it’s because Nurmagomedov takes down skilled fighters like Holloway that we rate him so highly.
The Luke Thomas Show airs weekdays, 3 to 6pm ET, on SiriusXM RUSH, channel 93.
6:15 khabib said all these things ?
To add to the discussion before everyone criticizes Luke Thomas with "but it's Khabib," watch this video analysis. Max will not be entirely defenseless here. Especially his use of the guillotine for takedown defense.
Snatching Necks & Spinning Back Kicks – A Max Holloway Breakdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brat2GMr5mk
max by third round stoppage mark my words..
I didn't start downgrading it
lol Luke been triggered
Max s takedown defense is decent but nothing great. He has good footwork but barboza has better takedown defense imo
so it's official, you guyss do wrestling now?
A guy who got held down by Conor has great tdd? He’s also coming in off the couch with an injured ankle. Max gonna get rekt
To be the best you got to beat the best, and the best is blessed baby" – Tony's Sunglasses
I don't think it's the fact people don't believe he has good takedown defense, but that Khabib is so good a takedowns and is so strong that it's hard to see Max completely shutting that down from khabib