With Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor now a reality, FloCombat turns its attention to the details of the matchup. Everyone wants to know how the fight will go down, so we're asking some of the best striking-focused minds in the game to share their input. Previously, we talked to Cody Garbrandt's coach Robert Meese. Today, we pick the mind of Brandon "Six Gun" Gibson.


When thinking of the best striking coaches in MMA, Brandon Gibson immediately leaps to mind.

The brains behind some of the greatest standup fighters in the sport--Jon Jones, Cub Swanson, Carlos Condit, Lando Vannata, and countless others among them--Gibson has made a name for himself crafting the paws and shins of top athletes at the esteemed JacksonWink MMA gym in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Manning the fort for JacksonWink for nine years, Gibson has coached and cornered in 14 UFC title fights and countless other high-profile matchups.

Add in the fact he's a lifelong boxing fan and obsessive student of the game, and it's clear Gibson is positioned to expertly dissect the Mayweather vs. McGregor matchup from all angles.

And that's exactly what he did. Following is the full transcript from our chat.


FloCombat: Let's kick it off with the obvious one: What was your reaction when this was announced? Is it fun to you or does it discredit boxing? Both?!

Gibson: I was excited to hear it. This is a fight that had been talked about for months, so it was cool to see it finally come together. The fight announcement received so much attention, [so] I know that it will be well promoted.

I'm happy that Conor will be making that big pay day, but I also wish we had seen Conor vs. [Tony] Ferguson or another top contender. Just like I wish Floyd would be fighting GGG [Gennady Gennadyevich Golovkin], or having a rematch with Canelo [Alvarez].


FloCombat: Everybody says this isn't an issue, but I want your take. Floyd is 40. We saw [former UFC middleweight champion] Anderson Silva's reflexes decline before 40, and almost nobody can stay as quick and as sharp past 40 in this wild game. How will age play a factor in this fight--if at all?

Gibson: Of course, fighters whose styles rely on quick reflexes don't typically age well (like Roy Jones Jr.), as opposed to the power-puncher styles (George Foreman). But I think that Floyd has plenty of reflexes left to deal with Conor's style. Floyd is an amazing athlete, and he has taken very good care of his body.


FloCombat: Here's where I think you can really shine, coach. Everybody says Mayweather will annihilate Conor. Some think Conor will land that one powerful shot. When you look at this fight from a pure boxing standpoint, what do you see? How do they stack up?

Gibson: Conor is a natural counter puncher. In MMA, he has excelled finding that precision power shot against overly aggressive opponents like [Jose] Aldo, [Diego] Brandao, and [Dustin] Poirier. Floyd has always done very well against counter punchers.

I think Floyd is going to force Conor to be the aggressive fighter, and if Conor doesn't find that left hand early on, he is going to wear himself out looking for Floyd.

Conor's gas tank has been suspect in his bouts that went past the second round, and although MMA uses much different muscle groups and energy systems, some of the same elements will most likely reappear if the fight goes into deep waters.

Floyd has been fighting 12-round boxing bouts for almost 20 years and will have the tools to stay technically sharp throughout. Conor does have unique angles and power in both hands. I think one of his only chances will be to find an overhand against Mayweather's shell defense. Chino Maidana had some success with his orthodox overhand once he got Mayweather up against the ropes, but that barrage didn't last too long.

FloCombat: You've trained some of the best MMA fighters on earth. Some of the best strikers in MMA, which I think is an important distinction. But how is boxing in MMA vs. pure boxing different?

Gibson: They are two very different sports. The elements that make a successful striker in MMA are much different than in boxing.

Boxing relies so much on speed, punching power, rapid combinations, tight-angle footwork, knowing how to use the ropes, and the ability to clinch and hold. While MMA shares some of these elements, they don't necessarily make the best MMA striker.

Obviously, there are so many more tools to strike with in MMA, but there is also the element of different angles in the cage, developing strikes at kicking range, boxing range, clinch range. Being able to effectively close distance. Not to mention the threat of takedowns to set up strikes and vice-versa.

The sports are very different, [and] I think it will show during the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight.

FloCombat: "Floyd has trouble with southpaws." You've probably seen that get tossed around. Is that anything worth talking about? Do you see any evidence of that?

Gibson: I think that is a myth that is quickly debunked. The shell is a style that does well against a same-stance fighter. But Floyd has faced many great southpaws: Zab Judah, Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero, Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather has always found his counter and lead right cross against southpaws, and he is able to generate a lot of power through his hips from a planted stance. And he has always been able to land a high percentage of power punches against southpaws. During these bouts his defense has also been very impressive.


FloCombat: What is Conor's path to victory? Are there any holes he can exploit with Floyd, and if so, what would your advice/strategy be?

Gibson: I think Conor's best tool is going to be his footwork.

If he can find a way to bait Floyd into chasing him, he can potentially find a power shot. Can Conor be effective when Floyd is against the ropes? It's going to be interesting to see Conor in a pure boxing match. Can he increase his punching volume compared to his MMA bouts? Will Conor be more aggressive than he's shown in the octagon? Floyd has been stunned before by fighters like Judah and Mosely.

FloCombat: One of my favorite things Cody Garbrandt told me once was that he actually did have more trouble with guys who weren't as technically sound. He grew up training the right way in a professional environment and he always had quality sparring partners, so when he faced someone who didn't do things the traditional 'correct' way, it could throw him off. Is that a worry for Floyd in this fight--that Conor's boxing will be so 'bad' that it works?

Gibson: That's always a possibility. MMA fighters do throw different strikes, and maybe Conor's striking angles and timing can throw off Floyd's defense, but I think Floyd will be able to make the proper adjustments and begin to find his counters.


FloCombat: We've seen Conor outclassed on the feet inside the Octagon once by my count--in the first fight against Nate Diaz. Is Nate a better pick from a pure skills perspective to transition to boxing or is Conor's KO power really the best bet anybody has against Floyd?

Gibson: I know that Nate works with some high-level boxers, and I am sure that he would do great in the ring. I think Conor could transition well too--I'm just not sold on his skill against one of the greatest boxers of this generation!

I believe the UFC has quite a few fighters that would transition well into boxing: Cody Garbrandt, Alexander Gustafsson, Cub Swanson, Frankie Edgar, Stevie Ray.

Does Holly Holm count? I think she'd do alright.


FloCombat: So when you analyze Conor's game, what do you see that could serve him well against Floyd? What does he do well that could work inside the ring?

Gibson: Conor believes in himself, and as a fighter, that's your greatest tool. I think the media events leading up to the fight will actually tell a lot of indicators on how each fighter will approach the bout.


FloCombat: How is footwork specifically different in boxing than in MMA? Everybody seems focused on the hands, but Conor's feet seem to be the issue in a lot of experts' minds when evaluating his sparring footage. Do you agree? What does he need to adjust there?

Gibson: I think Conor is going to be able to explode in from long range distance better than most fighters that Floyd has faced in the past, but that isn't always a good thing against such a polished counter fighter like Floyd.

Look at his knockout of Ricky Hatton for example. I think Conor is going to do well in the clinch. I doubt that Floyd will be able to really hold on to him early on.

I think Conor is going to be savvy in the clinch and maybe find some exit shots that Floyd has never seen or felt before.

FloCombat: People also talk about the precision of Floyd's punches vs. MMA fighters' punches. While he's not a KO artist, is there a chance Floyd KOs Conor? How likely do you think that result would be?

Gibson: Of course Floyd could KO Conor. Floyd does have 26 KOs in 49 fights. And while he hasn't had too many knockouts in recent years, that is more of an indicator of the level of fighter that he has been matched up against. Floyd has 36 minutes to create an opening, and I believe that he will want to make a statement in this fight.


FloCombat: At the end of the day, you can think it's silly or strange or what have you, but they're gonna lace 'em up and throw down. How does this one go in your mind?

Gibson: Conor will look aggressive in early rounds, but Floyd will wear him down as the fight goes on.

I think Conor will land some big shots, and even win some rounds, but at the end of the fight, Floyd will be the one with his hand raised.

FloCombat: Let me change that last question just a touch. Who do you want to win?

Gibson: Let it be known that I will be cheering for Conor! I'd love to see him land that left hand and shock the world again.

FloCombat: Anything at all you'd like to add regarding this fight, please feel free to do so. Your insight has been amazing, and any more is greatly appreciated.

Gibson: I think it's great that Conor is getting this fight. Hopefully it brings some more fans to our sport, and hopefully we get to see Conor fight again in the UFC.

FloCombat's hottest content, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloCombat mailing list today.