Conor McGregor has been branded an "Instagram fighter" by MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz who has dismissed the star's chances of being handed an immediate UFC title shot.
The Irishman is plotting a return to the octagon after making a return to training following his broken leg. McGregor has previously called for an immediate shot at Charles Oliveira who was stripped of the belt at 155lb, before setting his sights on a challenge at 170lbs against Kamaru Usman.
However Abdelaziz has admitted he would be extremely shocked if UFC president Dana White hands McGregor a challenge for world glory. “ Conor McGregor is, like I said to somebody else earlier today... he’s rehabbing his injury. Nobody cares about Conor McGregor," Abdelaziz told The Schmo. "He has not won a fight since [Barack] Obama was a president.
"He’s popular because he’s a Twitter fighter now. He’s an Instagram fighter. The last time he fought, did he show us he was worthy enough to fight for a UFC title? Listen to me. I understand the UFC business, but I know Dana White like the back of my hand. Dana White will never give Conor McGregor a title fight coming off three losses. I know him. And if he did, I’ll be f***ing shocked.”
Abdelaziz has managed Usman throughout his career in addition to guiding the career of McGregor's biggest rival Khabib Nurmagomedov. The pair have feuded on social media for several years ever since the Irishman branded the Egyptian a "terrorist rat" in 2018.
McGregor has won just one of his last four fights which came back in 2020 against Donald Cerrone at 170lb. The 33-year-old is now seemingly set on making a switch back to that division in a bid to become a three-weight champion.
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UFC kingpin White initially claimed McGregor could find himself back into title contention upon his return from injury. However he promptly backtracked on his claim by suggesting McGregor will need much more time before returning to the top level.
Usman would seemingly welcome a shot at McGregor, responding to the call-out by suggesting it will soon be a "murder scene". However McGregor's recent decline could count against him, with many contenders set to be left unhappy if he is awarded a shot at the 'Nigerian Nightmare'.
No.2-ranked contender Khamzat Chimaev has conceded the Irish star could leap ahead of him in the queue to fight Usman due to his star power. "When I finish Gilbert Burns, I think I am the next for title," Chimaev told fans in a video on his YouTube channel. But this is the business. Who is famous, makes more money, they choose them. I understand that. But we'll see what's gonna happen. If he wanna come and train with us, he [is] welcome."
