Former UFC fighter Michael Bisping thinks that Conor McGregor could well secure a victory if he does indeed fight Michael Chandler this summer.
The Irish former champion has been out of the ring for years after his loss to Dustin Poirier, which saw him suffer a broken leg.
McGregor remains a fixture on the sidelines of high profile boxing events, and continues to court attention with his activities outside the cage.
However, he continues to train, as well as threaten a return to combat sports, and after returning to the drug testing pool, he is in line to fight another MMA veteran, Chandler, on June 28.
Speaking to Betway, Bisping has plenty of doubts, but points out that McGregor’s power could see him return to winning ways.
He said: “Does Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler happen on June 28th 185 pounds? I don't know, you never know with McGregor. The T-Mobile Arena website has International Fight Week pencilled in, but you never know with McGregor because he talks out of his a***.
‘He lives in his own world and he has the power to do these things. Would it be a good move to 185? I don't think so. In the first round he'd be able to knockout Chandler but after that he'd be a sitting duck and far too tired. McGregor has had problems with stamina in the past. McGregor is a sprinter; he's explosive, he's fast, but after rounds two or three he's tired, he's blowing out of his a***.
“Against Nate Diaz he had to go for a run because he was tired. If he comes back at 185 pounds he's going to get tired and it will also allow him to slack off in training. These are all big ifs, maybe the fight’s actually at 170 or 155. 185 would allow him to be lazy and unmotivated and he'll probably be under prepared. But I actually believe it does happen at 185. Chandler sounds up for it and for the big payday. If Conor wants it at 185 and they both want it, the UFC will probably go for it.
‘I think there's a very good chance that Conor knocks him out in round one because he'll land a shot and he's known for that left hand, he made an entire career out of it, and I think Chandler will come out and stand and I think McGregor will get the job done, but if he can't knock him out in round one then he's done. After that, I think Chandler would maul him round three, four, and five. But if he loses he'll still be able to generate big numbers. The Diaz trilogy is there.”
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