Conor McGregor may think he can jump right back into competing with the very best in the sport, but Joe Rogan says he should take a tune-up fight first.
The UFC’s cash cow has called for a welterweight title shot against Usman for his return fight. However, UFC commentator Rogan thinks it is a bad idea.
Tune-up fight
While on Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson, Rogan recently explained why McGregor should take a tune-up fight.
“I think what Conor needs to do is what Conor wants to do. If Conor thinks he can go up and fight Usman and make a big payday, try to become a three-division champion, he should do that. He should do whatever he wants to do, but if I was like a manager to him, and I said what’s the best path to success, the best path to success is like the ‘Cowboy’ fight. No disrespect to ‘Cowboy,’ but that fight turned out to be kind of like a warm-up fight,” Rogan said.
“I think, honestly, when boxers come back from a long layoff and they come back from a loss, one thing that boxers do that’s smart is they have a tune-up fight. I think there’s a reason why they’ve been using tune-up fights forever like astute managers. They know you’ve got to knock the dust off and you’ll be better in the next performance. To jump right into a Dustin Poirier or right into, name it, Michael Chandler, like right into a guy who’s the elite of the elite.”
Rogan believes if McGregor wants success in his return fight, he should fight someone who isn’t championship level.
“If Conor wants the most chance of success, I would say fight a guy who is a little below championship level. Maybe a guy on the come-up, who Conor has an advantage over, but it’s still a competitive fight.
“Give him a test, but don’t put him in there right away with Usman especially because who knows what is going on with his leg,” Rogan said. “That is a scary-ass fight. You gotta be ready for that fight. [Usman] is the guy that nobody calls out.”
McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg at UFC 264 last summer. He says he will return this summer and wants to walk into a title shot. McGregor has told Oliveria to wait for him and has said he wants to be the first three-division champion.
UFC president Dana White said a lot of variables must happen first before McGregor walks into a title shot but doesn’t rule it out.
