UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes MMA star Conor McGregor should fight an unranked opponent on his return to the cage this year.
The Irishman announced in December that he will face ‘Iron Mike’ in his long-awaited return to competition.
McGregor has been inactive since suffering a broken tibia in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021 but has since returned to training and has been preparing for a return to the Octagon.
In a video posted on his social media, McGregor revealed that he will take on the former lightweight challenger at the UFC’s International Fight Week card on June 29. However, Dana White is yet to officially confirm the fight.
While the 35-year-old is itching to get back into the cage and eventually compete for a world title, Rogan is adamant that the Irishman needs a ‘tune-up’ fight before stepping in with the best in the division.
Joe Rogan believes Conor McGregor should face an un-ranked opponent on his return to the cage
The popular UFC commentator is adamant that the Irishman needs a ‘tune-up’ fight before stepping in with the best
Speaking on his podcast, Rogan said: ‘If you were a coach and you wanted to look at this in terms of a long-term career strategy, I would want a tune-up fight.’
‘100 per cent. I would not want him going right in there against Islam Makhachev.’
McGregor, 35, believes ring-rust played a major factor in his trilogy defeat to Poirier back in 2021 – and Rogan believes it will come into play again should he face a world class opponent like ‘Iron Mike.’
‘One of the things that he said about the Dustin Poirier fight, where he got knocked out, he said, ‘I was inactive. It caught up to me, I could feel it. I could feel it when I was in there. My timing wasn’t as good.’
‘You need to be active to be at the highest levels of world-class mixed martial arts competition. I just don’t see how you can take two years off [and have] multiple surgeries and then jump in there against the best of the world.
‘Maybe he can do it. But if I was his coach and the option was available, I’d say, ‘Let’s get someone that’s not even in the top 15. Let’s get some guy who is beatable but is a good test. We’ll call it a tune-up fight and we get to see how you perform.
‘This guy gets an opportunity to beat Conor McGregor and you get an opportunity to test your skills again and feel the lights and feel the pressure and get your timing back.
‘Have that fight and six months later you have a big fight.’
The 35-year-old has not fought since suffering a broken tibia in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264
McGregor recently revealed he will fight lightweight star Michael Chandler on his return
McGregor’s last win in the UFC came against Donald Cerrone back in 2020 – and is 2-3 in his last five outings. Therefore, stepping in with Chandler may be a huge risk for the former two-division champion.
After the news of McGregor’s return was announced, Ariel Helwani revealed the Irishman had been angling to return in the main event of the UFC 300 card in April before agreeing to face Chandler in June after discussions with the promotion.
Chandler had previously expressed concerns that McGregor would instead look to complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz, a bout he called an ‘easier fight’ for the 35-year-old.
