UFC HOFer Lays Bare ‘Number One’ Issue With Conor McGregor Ahead of UFC 303 Return

Con0r McGregor has been out of the octagon for the past three years. After suffering a horrific leg snap in his UFC 264 clash against Dustin Poirier in July 2021, the Irishman has been out of action recovering from the horrific, potentially career-ending injury. But, now as he sets up to make his much-awaited comeback at UFC 303 on June 29 in a welterweight bout against rival ‘TUF’ 31 coach Michael Chandler, questions around whether he still has it to hang with the top fighters are being asked.

This injury and his long period of inactivity are not the only ominous sign for the former two-division champion. It was not surprising, therefore, to see UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping point out the various problems with McGregor as he sets up for his much-hyped return.

Bisping points out that age is Conor McGregor’s biggest issue

Speaking about Conor McGregor’s June 29 bout against Michael Chandler, Michael Bisping felt that while Chandler may try to grapple with ‘Mac’, the latter would be the better striker of the two and that “certainly in the first round McGregor is going to be dangerous.” However, he felt that “the real question is will McGregor be the same after 3 years away from the sport,” or will the three years out of the octagon have taken its toll and given him ring rust?

Bisping felt that the “real issue” for the 35-year-old was his advancing age and his recent form. “But I don’t think any of that stuff is going to be the real issue. The issue for McGregor is, number one, the man’s getting older, simple as that. He’s getting older, okay. He’s slowing down, he’s not as hungry, he’s coming back of a horrific leg injury, okay… And let’s remember, as well, I think he’s lost three out of his last four, okay. So, mentally the confidence starts to die on you as well,” he said in a YouTube video.

The ‘Road House’ (2024) star has, of course, lost three of his last four fights. His only recent win came against an aging Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. However, Bisping did not think any of the three losses mattered much or said anything really about the state of the Irishman’s abilities.

This, Bisping felt, was because the losses had come at the hands of the likes of Khabib Nurmagomedov, considered the greatest by many, and Dustin Poirier, another bona fide legend, who is about to fight for the title on June 1. And Bisping’s take on the Irishman seems to be on the nose since even Chandler said something very similar in a recent interview.

Michael Chandler acknowledges ‘Mac’ is a better striker

Michael Chandler went on YouTuber Shawn Ryan’s channel and opened up about how he saw him and Conor McGregor stack up stylistically. While the former Bellator champion has promised to “break” the Irishman’s jaw and spirit and to retire him, he gave a remarkably honest assessment of their striking abilities, echoing Bisping’s take.

“I would say he’s the better striker from a crisp, longer, more sniping standpoint. He’s got that great step back left. He has had great success with guys who aggressively fight him and who are a little bit shorter,” he said.

Contrary to previous claims, the Missouri native was not very bombastic. He told Ryan that he felt he needed to be “the best version” of himself to get past the former two-division champion. Chandler is not making the mistake of underestimating McGregor, despite the various disadvantages the latter is coming into their fight with. And neither are the bookmakers. Conor McGregor has, after all, opened as the slim betting favorite for UFC 303.

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