Rafael Fiziev claims Conor McGregor has lost focus and his hunger for fighting, believes Michael Chandler can easily win a potential matchup, criticizes the leniency McGregor receives due to his superstar status, and questions the lack of drug tests conducted on him.
Rafael Fiziev, a top contender in the UFC, has shared his insights on Conor McGregor, the former two-division champion, viewing him as having lost some of his hunger for the sport ahead of a possible return. Despite being a seasoned fighter, Fiziev acknowledges why McGregor’s star-studded status gives him extraordinary leeway. However, it comes with concerns about how prepared and focused McGregor is for his potential comeback following a severe leg injury.
Fiziev himself has a big fight on the horizon as he’s lined up to take on Mateusz Gamrot in a five-round bout. At the same time, the Ultimate Fighter season led by McGregor and Michael Chandler has concluded with a match between the two yet to be announced. On this matter, Fiziev reckons the victory would be Chandler’s. He feels the match will boil down to focus and emotional control, suggesting Chandler seems to be more in control.
Fiziev opened up about the similarities he sees with Michael and himself, admitting, “Michael and I have the same problem, because he also has to control his emotions in the fight.” On emphasizing Chandler’s chances, Fiziev stated, “he just has to stay smart, have to stay calm, and I think Michael can win this fight easily just because [Conor] lost focus.” There is mutual consensus on McGregor’s current performance not being the same as it was five or six years ago, suggesting a decline in form.
The larger issue lies in the ambiguity surrounding McGregor’s return since his injury in 2021. His absence from the USADA testing pool has stirred a frenzy of speculation in the MMA community. For Fiziev, it’s a matter of McGregor’s status since his mega-stardom allows him to escape standard procedures. Disapproving of this, Fiziev explains, “he fights just for fun, just to stay active,” highlighting the perceived lack of seriousness on McGregor’s part. Despite being uncomfortable with the situation, Fiziev admits star-level fighters like McGregor will always attract a whirlwind of chaos and get away with it.