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#4. Conor McGregor counters straight punches
Trevor Wittman has worked wonders with Usman's striking. While no one will ever confuse Usman for a highly skilled kickboxer, he's tightened up his overall striking game by focusing on fundamentals like the jab and cross. Usman does not throw ordinary jabs, however. He commits to his jab, stepping in with it and extending his shoulder, putting all of his weight behind it. He throws his follow-up right cross with just as much follow-through.
Due to his insistence on throwing every jab and cross with stinging power, he also puts himself in a position to be countered. Conor McGregor has made a career out of drawing out his opponents' jabs and crosses, slipping them, and countering his foes with a straight left. Thus, Usman's striking is likely to fare poorly against McGregor's, as the Irishman will eagerly counter every power jab and cross the reigning welterweight champion throws.
#3. Conor McGregor's reach, albeit shorter, will give Usman problems
With a reach of 76 inches, Usman possesses very long arms for a welterweight. He uses this to great effect when jabbing his opponents and punishing them further with his follow-up right cross. However, Usman benefits from his long reach, enabling him to land on opponents at a range they can't consistently counter him from. Furthermore, by forcing his opponents to overextend by even a half-inch to land their punches, he strips some of the power from their strikes.
Conor McGregor possesses a reach that is only two inches shorter than Usman's, and the Irishman is a far better distance manager. He stands just outside his opponent's reach, throwing non-commital jabs designed to fall a half-inch or so short of landing to trick his opponent into assuming he is too far away to hit them. McGregor then leans his upper body forward, with his shoulders ahead of his hips, extending his reach and shocking opponents as he lands his punches.
Leon Edwards, who was far superior in the striking department when they first fought, is the only other fighter Usman has faced with a skilled distance management skill-set. If Usman believes his foes are far enough away that their punches don't land, Conor McGregor's strategy of tricking opponents will allow him to counter Usman more effectively.
