Khabib Nurmagomedov’s close friend has some advice for Max Holloway before the latter gets inside the octagon this weekend at UFC 329 to run it back with Conor McGregor.

Holloway already has his game plan ready. He wants to drag the Irishman into deep waters and then “drown” him in the later rounds. The 34-year-old wants another highlight reel finish and would love to deliver another UFC 300 moment.

Many former champions have suggested that “Blessed” respect McGregor’s power in the first and second frames, although the Irishman is returning to the octagon after five years. Now, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s close friend, former welterweight titleholder Belal Muhammad, has some advice for Max Holloway.

Belal Muhammad wants Max Holloway to wrestle Conor McGregor

Remember the Name” believes Max Holloway should initiate early grappling exchanges, mix in takedown attempts, keep the fight in the clinch, and most importantly stay away from Conor McGregor’s dangerous left hand.

In a recent YouTube video, Belal Muhammad opined that since the Irishman has added muscle, is returning to fight at 170 pounds, and is coming back after a five-year layoff, the best and safest way for Max Holloway to win the bout is to drain McGregor’s gas tank early. He said:

“Max should initiate the grappling. McGregor added a lot of muscle, so his cardio is going to get drained. [Holloway should] mix in a takedown to get past the first three or four minutes. McGregor knows his cardio is a problem. McGregor’s cardio is going to be an even bigger problem. For Holloway, just stay away from the left hand.”

Check out Belal Muhammad’s comments below:

Belal Muhammad believes 2-3 minutes of action will be enough to understand if Conor McGregor “still has it”

Belal Muhammad believes the first three minutes of the UFC 329 headliner will be enough to understand which version of Conor McGregor is back. During the same sitdown posted above, he added:

“Coming back from injury, coming back from drugs, coming back from partying and not doing anything… Which McGregor is going to show up? I don’t think we’re going to know until we see at least three minutes of the fight. Then we’ll have an idea of which McGregor we’ve got… Fight night is where we see if he still has it.”

Check out Belal Muhammad’s comments below:

Conor McGregor’s coach, along with several of his former and current training partners, has said he appears more motivated than ever, and “The Notorious” says the last 5 years of rest now make him feel he is just entering his prime.

Even Megan Olivi, who traveled to Dublin to interview McGregor last month, praised his commitment ahead of UFC 329. While the 37-year-old has yet to give fans a proper glimpse of his training camp and has remained absent from the first two episodes of the UFC Embedded series, it will be intriguing to see whether a vintage version of “The Notorious” returns this weekend and delivers the ‘spectacular finish’ over Max Holloway that he has promised.

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