Conor McGregor has been warned that he "wouldn't do much" if he were to accept the challenge of Charles Oliveira for an immediate lightweight world title bout.
McGregor is currently recovering from a broken leg suffered last summer, and insists that when he does return it will be at welterweight, as opposed to lightweight, where he earned his second world title. That hasn't stopped Oliveira, the champion in all but name, from laying out a challenge to the Irishman for a quick-fire chance at the belt.
The Brazilian was champion until May, when he was stripped for missing weight by half-a-pound the day before his fight with Justin Gaethje. The belt was only available to the American as a result, but Oliveira comfortably submitted him which means the title is technically now vacant.
But veteran coach Javier Mendez believes that in his current state, the Irishman wouldn't have much of a chance against Oliveira. He was struggling for form before his horror injury, and McGregor has won just once since 2016.
"I think the old Conor gives anybody challenges," Mendez told Submission Radio. "The new Conor, that I've seen within the last three fights, no, I don't see him doing very much to Charles. The new guy, not the old guy. The old guy, 100 per cent [would do something]."
Mendez has trained a number of legendary fighters, including double champion Daniel Cormier and McGregor's most hated nemesis; Khabib Nurmagomedov. He was in the corner when Nurmagomedov won his lightweight belt, as well as when he defended it against McGregor in 2018.
He is currently coaching Islam Makhachev, the No.4 lightweight contender, who is the highest ranked fighter Oliveira hasn't already defended his title against. But he admits he has concerns that the Irishman will make history repeat itself and get a shot at the belt, just as he did in 2016 ahead of Nurmagomedov.
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“I am prepared for anything," he added. "I am prepared for Beneil [Dariush] getting this shot. I am prepared for Alex [Volkanovski, the featherweight champion] getting this shot. I am prepared for us getting this shot.
"I am prepared for everything. I am not going to be shocked by anything that happens. Because if you’ve been involved as long as I have in this sport, you can’t be shocked.
“Look what happened to Khabib. You know, he thought he had the title shot and then he didn’t get anything… He got in a big argument with Dana while he was fighting. Telling Dana, ‘don't send me no bulls*** contracts’. I am old enough to know that anything’s possible and everything that you think won’t happen has happened.”
McGregor has more interest in facing Kamaru Usman, the current welterweight champion. The Nigerian is managed by Ali Abdelaziz, who also takes care of Nurmagomedov's career, and is a fierce rival of the Irishman's.
