5 UFC stars who are better boxers than Conor McGregor

#4. Jorge Masvidal - the BMF of the UFC

Jorge Masvidal is a street fighter turned UFC star. The 37-year-old has been fighting since he was a boy. For years he fought illegally on the streets of Miami before becoming a mixed martial artist. His time as a street fighter helped him develop his durability and movement in the octagon.

Feints, head movement, precise striking and unorthodox movement best characterize his boxing style. 'Gamebred' often utilizes his unorthodox movement to confuse an opponent.

Where most fighters might throw a jab, Masvidal often throws a cross or a hook from similar positions. Mixing up the rhythm always keeps his opponents guessing, allowing him to dictate the pace of the fight.

'Gamebred' also has excellent head movement and traps opponents with feints. His skills have allowed him to outbox Donald Cerrone, Daren Till and Nate Diaz. Even McGregor had a lot of trouble dealing with Nate Diaz's boxing in their fights.

Apart from being a well-rounded boxer, the welterweight veteran is also among the most durable fighters out there. Out of 15 career losses, Masvidal has been knocked out only twice.

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#3. Israel Adesanya - the best counter striker in the UFC?

Israel Adesanya has emerged as one of the most formidable middleweights in UFC history. 'The Last Stylebender' made his UFC debut in 2018, but before that, he was a kickboxer with a stellar record of 75-5. The Nigerian was also a boxer. While he fought only six times, he won five bouts.

Adesanya has showcased exceptional striking from the beginning of his UFC career. Being an experienced kickboxer, Adesanya disrupts his opponent's rhythm with kicks and then lands accurate punches. This is reminiscent of how McGregor fought in his early days.

However, 'The Last Stylebender's boxing is more defensive. Adesanya is a master at slipping and countering. His head movement is some of the best in MMA and he can land power shots without any telegraphing. His counters are precise and powerful enough to drop opponents to the canvas.

He finished Robert Whittaker with a sharp counter-right hook to become the UFC middleweight champion. The Kiwi also finished Derek Brunson and Paulo Costa with counter punches.

Over time, McGregor has become more flatfooted and lost some of his unpredictability. Meanwhile, Adesanya's defense, movement and feints make him the more elusive target inside the octagon.