Rafael Fiziev’s Take on Conor McGregor’s Return: Is the Superstar Losing His Edge?

Rafael Fiziev, known for his impressive skills in the UFC, understands why Conor McGregor is celebrated as a superstar. However, as the anticipation for McGregor’s potential return to the octagon grows, Fiziev believes that the former two-division champion might have lost some of his hunger and focus.

Fiziev is gearing up for his own significant bout against Mateusz Gamrot, scheduled for this Saturday at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas. McGregor and Michael Chandler recently coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter and are expected to face off in an upcoming matchup, though the details have yet to be finalized. According to Fiziev, the key factor in this potential showdown will be focus, and he’s leaning toward Chandler in that department.

“Michael and I have the same problem because he also has to control his emotions in the fight,” Fiziev shared with MMA Hook. “He has to control it. I think if he starts to control emotions, following the game plan only, he’ll beat Conor because Conor has lost focus. He’s not the Conor from six years ago, five years ago. It’s not the same Conor.”

Fiziev’s analysis is straightforward: Chandler’s ability to stay smart and composed in the cage could lead to an easy victory against McGregor, who Fiziev believes has lost his edge. He even suggests that if McGregor makes it past one round, Chandler’s win is almost assured.

“It’s a very interesting fight,” Fiziev adds, highlighting the anticipation surrounding this potential clash.

The frustration among fans and the MMA community has been mounting as they await McGregor’s return to the octagon, especially since his last appearance, where he suffered a severe leg injury in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. Adding to the uncertainty, McGregor has not yet re-entered the USADA testing pool, leaving questions about whether the sport’s biggest superstar will indeed compete again or receive an exemption from the required six months of passed tests to continue his career.

For Fiziev, McGregor’s unique status plays a significant role in this situation. McGregor’s superstar status allows him certain privileges that others might not enjoy, and while Fiziev acknowledges this, he doesn’t necessarily agree with it.

“It’s crazy, bro,” Fiziev says about McGregor’s situation. “This guy, he’s a superstar, and because he’s a superstar, he can do whatever he wants. He doesn’t need this fight. Now, he fights just for fun, just to stay active.”

Fiziev finds it astonishing that McGregor hasn’t been subjected to USADA testing like other fighters in his weight class. Still, he acknowledges that McGregor’s superstar status comes with its own set of rules.

“He’s superstar level, that’s why he’s doing this,” Fiziev concludes. “But I don’t say if I become a superstar, I would do the same, because I like there to be justice. I don’t want to say it’s not justice with McGregor, but yeah, he does it because he’s a superstar.”

In the ever-enthralling world of UFC, McGregor’s potential return continues to be a hot topic, and Fiziev’s insights add a layer of intrigue to the ongoing saga. Whether McGregor can regain his focus and hunger remains to be seen, but the anticipation for his return fight against Michael Chandler is undeniably high.

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More about Conor McGregor’s Focus

• Rafael Fiziev shares his insights on Conor McGregor
• Details of Rafael Fiziev’s upcoming fight against Mateusz Gamrot
• The potential matchup between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler
• Conor McGregor’s last fight at UFC 264
• USADA testing and Conor McGregor’s unique status