Fans think that Conor McGregor 's added muscle won't help him when he makes a return to the UFC.
McGregor, 34, has been sidelined since breaking his tibia against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy fight last July. The former two-weight champion has piled on a huge amount of size whilst recovering from his leg break, even facing steroid accusations because of his newfound muscle mass.
The Irishman has been criticised for his cardiovascular endurance through his UFC career and fans think he will gas out even quicker in his comeback fight due to his muscle gain. "All that muscle will f*** up his cardio. I doubt it will help him with injuries either. His arms are so much heavier and he is as a whole too. I'd guess for him knee tendon tears, bicep tears, shoulder injuries would be more likely now with this muscle," one user wrote.
Who do you want to see Conor McGregor fight in his UFC return? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below
Part of what led McGregor to two-weight champion status was his focus on movement, particularly being light on his feet, as he criticised other fighters for being "stuck in the mud". One fan used McGregor's past jibe against him, stating: "He looks like he’s stuck in the mud," with another commenter agreeing by stating: "Looks like he’s turning into the type of striker he used to make fun of."
A fourth user labelled McGregor a "bloated bodybuilder" by writing: ""This dude has become exactly what he mocked when he first entered the UFC - a bloated bodybuilder. The way he's hitting those pads for the camera also screams insecurity, hitting them like a f***ing meathead."
McGregor lost his spot in the UFC lightweight rankings last week, marking his first time out of any top 15 in the promotion since 2014. Before 'Notorious' is to fight again, the UFC's anti-doping agency has insisted he will have to submit drug tests for six months despite McGregor hoping to book his comeback bout sooner than that.
A final user thinks McGregor's coaches should have advised him against putting on muscle, writing: "It's insane his coaches aren't in his ear saying how big of a mistake all this added mass is. Conor was an insanely fluid, loose and long striker. Light on the feet. His accuracy of punches from different angles was his 'power'. Had nothing to do with strength. This added mass does absolutely no benefit."
