Striking dynamo Lorenz Larkin on McGregor: He ‘doesn’t really impress me’

Welterweight striker Lorenz Larkin is not too impressed with Conor McGregor’s striking.

Lorenz Larkin knows a thing or two about strking, but the No. 8 ranked UFC welterweight contender doesn’t think Conor McGregor’s striking is all it’s made out to be.

McGregor, who has become one of the most feared punchers in the game, boasts serious knockout power in his hands but also has a strong kicking game to boot.

Larkin, though, who scored an impressive KO over Neil Magny at UFC 202, thinks ‘The Notorious’ is a bit one-dimensional.

“To tell you the truth. Conor McGregor doesn’t really impress me,” Larkin said to Chris Taylor of BJPENN.com. “As far as his style and striking goes. To me he was just a 145-pounder that was big for the division. Don’t get me wrong he has accuracy. Which really is key to him. But I don’t know man. He’s not really a kicker. His striking is really just his hands. I don’t feel like he’s that great. Conor is not an all around striker.”

McGregor has one of the highest KO rates in the featherweight division and finishes most of his opponents with his laser-accurate left hand. It took just thirteen seconds for McGregor to drop and finish former p4p No.1 Jose Aldo at UFC 194, but the Irishman was unable to stop the larger Nate Diaz at the T-Mobile Arena in August.

Larkin, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight competitor, thinks McGregor’s size at featherweight massively compliments his striking game. He also believes Diaz’s size advantage at welterweight was over-exaggerated.

“I feel like because he was a big 145-pounder that was his key,” Larkin continued. “He was able to hit guys on the button and put those guys down. I’m curious to see how he does against Eddie Alvarez.

“Diaz is not a true 170-pounder. Nate is a 155er. I don’t know why everyone was making a big deal about the welterweight thing. It was two guys (Diaz and McGregor) who were not anywhere near the size of true 170-pounders.”

The featherweight champion will look to capture lightweight gold when he takes on Alvarez at the blockbuster UFC 205 pay-per-view in New York. The event takes place at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12.

Larkin recently became a free agent and is looking for a serious promotional push from the UFC brass. The 30-year-old is 4-1 in his last five and delivered arguably the best performance of his career against Magny in August.

Welterweight striker Lorenz Larkin is not too impressed with Conor McGregor’s striking.

Lorenz Larkin knows a thing or two about strking, but the No. 8 ranked UFC welterweight contender doesn’t think Conor McGregor’s striking is all it’s made out to be.

McGregor, who has become one of the most feared punchers in the game, boasts serious knockout power in his hands but also has a strong kicking game to boot.

Larkin, though, who scored an impressive KO over Neil Magny at UFC 202, thinks ‘The Notorious’ is a bit one-dimensional.

“To tell you the truth. Conor McGregor doesn’t really impress me,” Larkin said to Chris Taylor of BJPENN.com. “As far as his style and striking goes. To me he was just a 145-pounder that was big for the division. Don’t get me wrong he has accuracy. Which really is key to him. But I don’t know man. He’s not really a kicker. His striking is really just his hands. I don’t feel like he’s that great. Conor is not an all around striker.”

McGregor has one of the highest KO rates in the featherweight division and finishes most of his opponents with his laser-accurate left hand. It took just thirteen seconds for McGregor to drop and finish former p4p No.1 Jose Aldo at UFC 194, but the Irishman was unable to stop the larger Nate Diaz at the T-Mobile Arena in August.

Larkin, a former Strikeforce light heavyweight competitor, thinks McGregor’s size at featherweight massively compliments his striking game. He also believes Diaz’s size advantage at welterweight was over-exaggerated.

“I feel like because he was a big 145-pounder that was his key,” Larkin continued. “He was able to hit guys on the button and put those guys down. I’m curious to see how he does against Eddie Alvarez.

“Diaz is not a true 170-pounder. Nate is a 155er. I don’t know why everyone was making a big deal about the welterweight thing. It was two guys (Diaz and McGregor) who were not anywhere near the size of true 170-pounders.”

The featherweight champion will look to capture lightweight gold when he takes on Alvarez at the blockbuster UFC 205 pay-per-view in New York. The event takes place at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 12.

Larkin recently became a free agent and is looking for a serious promotional push from the UFC brass. The 30-year-old is 4-1 in his last five and delivered arguably the best performance of his career against Magny in August.