Conor McGregor’s Comeback Has No “Relevance” Says Veteran UFC Insider; Questions Middleweight Claims

Conor McGregor is all set to return to the Octagon after a gap of more than two years. “The Notorious” is one of the biggest names in the UFC, and the fans have been waiting desperately for his comeback. However, he shocked the world when he announced his return with probable opponent Michael Chandler, at 185 pounds. 

In a recent YouTube video, Jon Anik made an appearance in the MMA Junkie podcast and shared his opinion on the much-awaited comeback. While most fans are excited about the return, the former ESPN anchor has a different take on it. Let us delve into the video to find out what he says.

Jon Anik wants to eliminate the weight class and focus on McGregor 

Conor McGregor took to his Twitter account to announce his return to the Octagon at UFC International Fight Week in June. He also declared that the fight against Michael Chandler would occur at 185 pounds. During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, long-time UFC commentator Jon Anik was asked as to why ‘ The Notorious’ was not making a return at lightweight or welterweight. Anik then proceeded to provide reasons why he believed the fight was taking place at middleweight instead.

The 45-year-old explained : “If I was writing a pay-per-view open, and I do write those myself, I would eliminate the weight class probably. And you’re putting me on a spot a little bit, which is fine. I probably would eliminate the weight class from my pay-per-view open and just focus on a returning Conor McGregor. The only defense for that fight happening at middleweight – with respect to my friend, Conor McGregor – is his leg. And if they just don’t want him, and he doesn’t want to cut the weight, just to try to have that leg as strong as humanly possible to try to get through that first fight.”

“But it has no divisional relevance at 85. Really doesn’t have much at 70, and I have long sort of wished that Conor McGregor would compete more at a 155 pounds. He has only one lightweight win career wise in the UFC against Eddie Alvarez. He did not defend the lightweight title…So, I don’t know. I just like to see the man competing uh at 55, but this fight with Michael Chandler is not gonna be at 155 pounds,” concluded Jon Anik.

Conor McGregor is all set to make a comeback after his loss to Poirier in July, 2021. With both fighters weighing 156 pounds for that fight, it will certainly be interesting to see if the results differ in the upcoming middleweight bout. 

Will Conor McGregor be the same fighter after a gap of two years? 

McGregor was last seen inside the Octagon at UFC 264 when he took on Dustin Poirier. The fight ended with a knockout, and McGregor suffered a horrific leg injury. He broke both the bones in his leg and has not returned to the Octagon since.

The 35-year-old recently took to his Twitter account to announce “the greatest comeback of all time”. He announced that his would be return against long-time rival Michael Chandler. However, it will be interesting to see if the two-division champ is the same fighter he was a few years back.

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McGregor has competed at as high as 170 pounds. But 185 will certainly be unchartered territory for both the fighters. Chandler and McGregor have been waiting for a long time to fight with each other. The rivalry began during the Ultimate Fighter Show, where both the fighters were coaches of their respective teams.

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It seems the much awaited rivalry between the two will finally take the center stage. Who will win the potential fight between the two? Let us know in the comments below.