Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping has warned Conor McGregor that his decision to fight at middleweight could negatively impact his performance due to the added weight, especially considering his past leg injury and his known cardio issues.
Bisping’s got a word of caution for McGregor: bigger ain’t always better. McGregor’s been on a hiatus, nearly three years, but he’s announced a comeback. He’s set to fight Michael Chandler on June 29 at a UFC event. Oddly enough, he’s declared the fight will be at middleweight, a class neither he nor Chandler have fought in before. The UFC hasn’t given the official nod yet.
Ex-middleweight champ, Michael Bisping, had a chat about McGregor’s announcement with co-host Anthony Smith on the Believe You Me podcast. He’s got some doubts about McGregor’s current shape. “No wonder it’s 185 because Conor McGregor’s arm—I only saw his arm—but it looked a little flabby gabby,” Bisping said. “I thought so. It looks thick, I’m not hating, but he looks a little soft there. He’s definitely bigger.”
Brendan Loughnane, who’s been training with McGregor in Dubai, agrees. “Yeah, he’s big. He’s at least 200 pounds,” he said. McGregor’s known for winning titles in two weight classes. He knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194 for the featherweight belt and later moved up to lightweight to dethrone Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. He’s also fought at welterweight, including his most recent bout in July 2021, when he broke his leg in a loss to longtime rival Dustin Poirier.
Middleweight is uncharted territory for McGregor. Bisping’s wondering if the extra weight might hinder McGregor’s performance. “He fought at 145, went up to 155, 185 that is not his optimal weight class,” Bisping said. “Granted, he’s fighting another lightweight in Michael Chandler. The problem is though is that, as I say, it’s not your optimal weight class, so they’re going to be carrying more weight.”
Bisping’s excited for the fight, but he thinks the extra weight could be an issue. “Because not only does making weight suck, but making weight also insists on discipline because you have to. If I was going to make 185 pounds, I had to do my road work, I had to follow a strict diet, I had to make sure I was getting my ass in the gym because I’m not going to make weight.”
Smith agreed with Bisping. He pointed out that the added weight could affect McGregor’s signature standup style. “His footwork’s not going to be the same either,” Smith said. “He’s going to be a little more plodding and he’s going to have to be because he’s carrying the extra weight that he’s not used to carrying, so it’s a technique thing too.”
Smith also brought up McGregor’s broken leg, which has kept him out of action for over two years. Smith suffered a leg injury himself at UFC 277, and while it wasn’t as severe as McGregor’s, he still doubts that McGregor will be the same when he steps back into the cage. “What impact and how bad of an impact it’s going to have, I don’t know,” Smith said. “But he’s different. I have no evidence of that, I haven’t seen anything that’s shown that he’s different, but he knows it. He can feel it, he moves different, it’s not the same.”