McGregor, 35, will be welcomed back to the octagon by fellow fan favourite Michael Chandler in a showdown many are looking forward to.

But not former UFC lightweight Josh Thomson, who said during a recent episode of his Weighing In podcast: “Why are we giving credence to the victory over someone who is definitely been removed completely from training?

“[McGregor’s] not really training the way he was when he was fighting Dustin [Poirier], or when he was fighting Khabib [Nurmagomedov], or when he was fighting Eddie Alvarez and Jose Aldo.

“So why are we putting so much on this fight?

“I think it’s going to be a great fight. I think it’s going to be a fun fight. Someone’s is getting knocked the f*** out.

“I’m not discrediting the fight at all in terms of the level of entertainment, but I don’t want to give it too much love.

“And be like, ‘This is a high-level fight.’ No, it’s not. It’s not a high-level fight. We’re not getting the best Conor McGregor.”

Thomson believes Chandler would be able to take serious pride in beating McGregor when the Irishman was in his prime.4

He said: “When Nate Diaz did it [beat McGregor] it was special. We thought Conor was the man.

“And Nate did it coming in on what? Two weeks’ notice?

Conor McGregor told by Joe Rogan to ‘shut the f*** up’ as commentator lashes out at UFC legend

“That was amazing, and it was the way the fight played out.

“It was amazing because he got his ass kicked for the first round.

“He started coming on, and then in the second round, everything happened.

“But, if Chandler did it (beat McGregor), I don’t even think we would be impressed.

“You beat a dude that’s been doing movies and drinking and partying for three years.”

Former two-division champion McGregor will enter his summer showdown with Chandler on the back of consecutive stoppage losses to Dustin Poirier.

He hasn’t tasted victory since his 40-second destruction of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in January 2020.