Conor McGregor will have his middleweight debut when he faces Michael Chandler on June 29. However, some are doubting about the MMA superstar’s choice to have it at 185. The latest names to express concern about the matter are Michael Bisping and Anthony Smith, who detailed what disadvantages the Irish would see in the said weight class.
McGregor announced the match before 2023 ended, confirming that his fight would be against Chandler, who has been waiting for his return. However, the surprising detail of the news is McGregor’s choice to have it at 185. Prior to the announcement, some had already voiced critical opinions about the matter, including Bisping and Smith, who said that McGregor is “small” for the division. Now, both are back to justify their words further.
In his recent comment on the Believe You Me podcast, Smith pointed out that McGregor is coming from an injury after three years of rest. As the light heavyweight talent suggested, this could affect how the Irish would perform inside the cage.
“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. The techniques that he does and the way that he fights and the footwork that he fights with and the sliding in and sliding out, doing that 30 pounds heavier is different.
“He hasn’t done it at fight speed in a competition 30 pounds heavier. He’s never done that. It’s going to be different and it’s going to feel different when he’s in there, even if he convinces himself that it doesn’t.”
Meanwhile, Bisping stressed how McGregor’s arm “looked a little flabby gabby” and “thick,” making him appear “a little soft there.” For the commentator, it will be a risk for “The Notorious,” who used to fight at 145 and 155, to enter a new division, which will require him to add some weight. As Bisping noted, adding weight alone could affect the speed and performance of McGregor, who hasn’t fought for years.
“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…
“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. You can be 185 pounds. When he fights at 145 or 155, there’s not that subconscious threat of missing weight, of not being successful, of having the big comeback, one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport being a failure. Having to make weight makes you disciplined. It makes you live that monk kind of lifestyle, that fighters enjoy and go through. On top of that, he’s not known for having the best cardio. When you’re carrying that extra weight, whether it’s muscle or fat, it’s going to tire you down, it’s going to slow you down, and it’s going to definitely affect your endurance.”
