Is Conor McGregor's ground game underrated? Gilbert Burns thinks so: 'He's not a white belt'

Since his promotional debut, there’s been much debate about Conor McGregor’s grappling abilities, but UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns knows a thing or two about this aspect of the game.

Not only is he the No. 1 contender who will challenge UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman at UFC 258 in February, Burns (12-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) is also a second-degree BJJ blackbelt who’s served as the grappling coach in the corner of numerous UFC and Bellator fighters over the years.

What does an experienced ground technician like Burns think of UFC 257 headliner McGregor’s abilities on the ground? The grappling wizard recently weighed in and indicated McGregor (22-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) isn’t getting enough credit – especially when he’s shown glimpses of brilliance in past fights.

“He’s good,” Burns said, in a video posted to his YouTube channel. “People think he’s very bad. He thinks he’s very good. If people don’t remember, he swept Nate Diaz in the first fight. Nate Diaz took him down in the beginning and he was able to sweep him, invert the position, (and) get on top. I remember a couple of other things, too. I remember he escaped from the guillotine from Chad Mendes when they first fought.”

Burns also credits McGregor for adding Dillon Danis to his training squad. Though Burns thinks Danis isn’t the best grappler ever to hit the mats, the benefits of having him in his camp are worth recognizing.

“He used to grapple a lot with Dillon Danis,” Burns said. “Even though Dillon Danis is not that ‘wow’ (or) that great of a grappler, he’s good. They grapple a lot. I think he’s very underrated.”

McGregor’s striking style also benefits his grappling abilities, Burns added. His capacity to keep range at all times makes him a threat. Additionally, strong kicks usually mean strong hips. Strong hips are advantageous in grappling.

“People think you can just take him down,” Burns said. “First of all, when the guy controls the distance the way Conor controls the distance, it’s not easy to take the guy down. Another thing that people don’t realize is those guys that kick a lot, they develop a lot of power in the hips so those hips are very flexible and very strong. It’s that type of flexibility or strength that they use to defend the takedowns. … They have certain mobility on the hips and the hips are very strong that it’s very hard to take these guys down.

Burns doesn’t know who will win in the UFC 257 main event between McGregor and Dustin Poirier – or if the fight will even hit the mat. Burns concluded, however, McGregor won’t hit the canvas with ease.

“To take Conor down is not an easy task,” Burns said. “… He’s not a white belt. The guy has been in there a couple of times against the best, Khabib, Nate Diaz, Dustin Poirier, and many, many others. He’s not that easy. People think, ‘Oh just take this guy down.’ He’s not that easy. The point is, I think his jiu-jitsu is good.”