‘He drinks too much and smokes all day’ – Conor McGregor comeback thrown into doubt as UFC scramble to get fight signed

UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev reckons Conor McGregor’s drinking will scupper his return to the octagon.

The Notorious is set to return to action later this year in a mouthwatering showdown with Michael Chandler, although a date for the fight has yet to be finalised.

Conor McGregor is set to return to the UFC later this yearSPORTSFILE

INSTAGRAM@UFCThe Notorious will lock horns with Michael Chandler in his comeback fight[/caption]

GETTYBut lightweight king Islam Makhachev doesn’t foresee the Irishman fighting again[/caption]

APThe Notorious loves a dram of whiskey[/caption]

MMA fans across the world are excited at the prospect of the sport’s biggest name getting back to doing what he does best.

But Makhachev, the protege of the retired Khabib Nurmagomedov, reckons McGregor’s love of his Irish whiskey and Forged Stout will stop him from competing again.

During an appearance on the Weighing In podcast, he said of McGregor vs Chandler: “They try to make the fight, but it’s not official now.

“I don’t think Conor wants to fight with [Chandler] because he’s drinking too much, smoking all day and he just can’t.

“TUF makes some interesting thing, because everybody forget him. I don’t know when he fight last time.”

An impressive win over former three-time Bellator champion Chandler will catapult McGregor back into title contention.

And despite his form as of late, Makhachev would be willing to give the Irishman a shock title shot.

When asked if he’d face The Notorious, he said: “Why not?”

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“Some fighter have to be stupid for say not. It’s 100 per cent big money fight.

“Now everybody know he’s not in shape. Ass beating, make money, be happy.”

McGregor, 34, is relishing his eagerly-anticipated return to the octagon, his first outing since suffering a horrific broken leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.

When recently pressed on the fight, he told The Mirror: “[I’m] Looking forward to it, looking forward to it.

“I feel good, feel energetic, feel ready.

“I’m throwing out my high kicks faster than I’m throwing out my jab. I’m every excited.”

And he reckons he’ll cut through the new fan favourite like a knife through hot butter.

He said: “I think I’m going slice through him.

“I think I’m a little too slicy for him, more than anyone else he’s fought.

“A little too snappy and whippy and I think I’ll slice through him.”