Petarung UFC Prediksi Rematch Conor McGregor Melawan Max Holloway

Sejumlah petarung dan mantan juara UFC memberikan prediksi menjelang laga pembalasan antara Conor McGregor melawan Max Holloway di Las Vegas pada hari Minggu. Pertandingan ulang dalam kelas welter ini menandai kembalinya McGregor ke dalam oktagon setelah absen bertanding selama lima tahun.

McGregor sebelumnya mengalahkan Holloway saat bertarung di kelas bulu pada tahun 2013, namun kini situasi telah berubah. Dilansir dari BBC Sport, para pelaku seni bela diri campuran (MMA) dunia terpecah dalam menjagokan pemenang laga utama ini.

Juara kelas berat UFC, Tom Aspinall, menilai McGregor memiliki keunggulan kekuatan pukulan yang dapat mengakhiri pertandingan dengan cepat.

"McGregor is up against it in an active guy like Holloway but the power never leaves you. McGregor could finish it in one shot." kata Tom Aspinall, Juara kelas berat UFC.

Aspinall meyakini petarung asal Irlandia tersebut mampu mendaratkan pukulan kiri telak ke arah lawannya.

"There's definitely possibility of Holloway picking him off and moving but I'm favouring a McGregor win with a round one knockout." kata Tom Aspinall, Juara kelas berat UFC.

"I think he's going to land a big left on him." kata Tom Aspinall, Juara kelas berat UFC.

Sebaliknya, mantan juara Inggris pertama UFC, Michael Bisping, melihat tekanan besar akan membayangi kembalinya McGregor.

"Conor is used to these big moments but he's been away for five years and there is a new pressure that comes with it now." kata Michael Bisping, Mantan juara UFC.

Bisping memprediksi Holloway mampu bertahan dari serangan awal yang agresif.

"He will come out hot and hard, I think he'll be swinging. There might be a couple of troubling moments for Max Holloway but I think he'll get through it." kata Michael Bisping, Mantan juara UFC.

"I think Holloway survives the first round and then it gets really tough going and McGregor will be lucky to see the final bell." kata Michael Bisping, Mantan juara UFC.

Petarung kelas ringan UFC, Paddy Pimblett, berada di posisi netral dengan melihat peluang yang berimbang bagi kedua petarung.

"If Conor catches Max early then I see him knocking him out. Max has been dropped in three of his last four and this is at welterweight so Conor will be big." kata Paddy Pimblett, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Pimblett menambahkan bahwa jalannya laga di ronde-ronde akhir akan menguntungkan Holloway.

"But if it goes past the second then Max is going to piece him up and get a late finish or decision." kata Paddy Pimblett, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Mantan juara UFC yang telah pensiun, Demetrious Johnson, secara tegas memilih Holloway sebagai pemenang laga ini.

"I'm going with Max for this one. He did get ragdolled by Charles Oliveira but Oliveira is a monster and I don't think Conor has the same skillset when it comes to grappling." kata Demetrious Johnson, Mantan juara UFC.

Petarung kelas terbang UFC, Lone'er Kavanagh, memilih untuk bersikap netral dan ingin menikmati pertandingan sebagai seorang penggemar.

"I'm looking forward to watching it as a fan. I want to back the Irishman, being part Irish but I also love Max Holloway. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy it." kata Lone'er Kavanagh, Petarung kelas terbang UFC.

Mantan petarung kelas ringan UFC, Paul Felder, memproyeksikan kemenangan Holloway terjadi melalui penghentian laga di ronde akhir.

"I'm going with Max Holloway as a late stoppage - probably round four." kata Paul Felder, Mantan petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Felder berpendapat stamina McGregor akan menurun setelah sepuluh menit pertama.

"If Conor comes in phenomenal shape then maybe a decision. I'd love to see the point down but I think if Max wins it will be a late stoppage." kata Paul Felder, Mantan petarung kelas ringan UFC.

"Conor will be difficult to deal with in the first 10 minutes but then he'll fade and, as he crumbles a bit, Max will get it." kata Paul Felder, Mantan petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Dukungan bagi keunggulan stamina Holloway juga disuarakan oleh petarung kelas ringan UFC, Benoit Saint-Denis.

"It's a huge fight. Conor hasn't been fighting for a long time and I think the longer the fight lasts it will favour Max Holloway." kata Benoit Saint-Denis, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Di sisi lain, juara kelas menengah UFC, Dricus du Plessis, menegaskan kesetiaannya untuk tetap mendukung McGregor.

"I'm going with the Mac. I'm never going against him. I'm never going against Conor." kata Dricus du Plessis, Juara kelas menengah UFC.

Du Plessis menyampaikan hal tersebut meskipun dirinya juga mengagumi sosok Holloway.

"I'm a massive Max Holloway fan, he's a great fighter and he's deserving of everything he's got and all the praise. But I can't go against Conor." kata Dricus du Plessis, Juara kelas menengah UFC.

Petarung kelas ringan UFC, Terrance McKinney, turut memprediksi kemenangan angka mutlak untuk Holloway jika laga berjalan panjang.

"If Conor doesn't get him out of there in the first two rounds then Max by a clear decision or a TKO in the fourth round." kata Terrance McKinney, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Penilaian seimbang juga datang dari Bobby Green yang menyoroti faktor kebugaran fisik Holloway.

"I'm 50/50 on it. We don't know what Conor will show up." kata Bobby Green, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Green menyebut akurasi waktu pukulan McGregor tetap menjadi kunci utama yang diwaspadai.

"Everything is in Conor's favour where he doesn't have to cut weight but Max is the guy who has put the work in and been in the trenches." kata Bobby Green, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

"Kind of on the side of Max but that shot Conor has and his timing is key." kata Bobby Green, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Dukungan untuk Holloway juga mengalir dari petarung kelas berat-ringan UFC, Robert Whittaker, yang menggarisbawahi rekam jejak pertarungan lima ronde lawannya.

"I'm going to be backing Max. I think he gets it done, he's been battle tested, he's been in the game, he's had these five-round fights and he's had to battle through it." kata Robert Whittaker, Petarung kelas berat-ringan UFC.

Sebaliknya, petarung kelas ringan UFC, Mason Jones, menjagokan McGregor menang dalam tiga ronde karena faktor ukuran tubuh di kelas 170 pon.

"If the fight goes ahead, I can't see it going anywhere other than a Conor McGregor win. He's too big at 170lb, Max Holloway is a big guy but he won't have the power Conor has." kata Mason Jones, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Jones meyakini keunggulan fisik tersebut mampu menutupi kekhawatiran terkait kapasitas stamina McGregor.

"I can see Conor putting Max away within three rounds. Conor's gas tank is a worry but I'm backing The Notorious." kata Mason Jones, Petarung kelas ringan UFC.

Petarung kelas bantam UFC, Cory Sandhagen, memprediksi durasi absennya McGregor akan menjadi kendala utama dalam laga ini.

"Max will probably win because the conditioning will be a big deal and Conor not fighting for a long time will be a big deal." kata Cory Sandhagen, Petarung kelas bantam UFC.

Pandangan serupa mengenai durasi pertandingan disampaikan oleh sesama petarung kelas bantam UFC, Mario Bautista.

"I've got Max Holloway. The longer it goes it's going to play into Max's hands." kata Mario Bautista, Petarung kelas bantam UFC.

Terakhir, petarung kelas berat UFC, Gable Steveson, menjatuhkan pilihannya kepada Holloway meskipun tetap menghormati reputasi McGregor.

"Conor is a legend but so is Max. As much as I'd love to say Conor I have to go with Max on this one." kata Gable Steveson, Petarung kelas berat UFC.