UFC star Conor McGregor has been told he “lacks hunger” ahead of his upcoming rematch with Dustin Poirier in July.
The Irishman was defeated by Poirier in January within three minutes of round two in a technical knock-out.
McGregor had previously beaten Poirier in 2014 and the two fighters quickly organised a bout at UFC 264 to complete their trilogy.
It will be just McGregor’s fourth fight since defeating Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, leaving some to question how committed ‘The Notorious” is to the sport.
Beneil Dariush, currently ninth in the UFC lightweight rankings, has added his voice to those casting doubt on McGregor’s willingness to enter the Octagon.
“It’s about hunger, man. I always talk about it. For me, as an athlete, I have God-given talents,” Dariush told ESPN.
“So I want to multiply those talents and give them back to God and that well never runs dry. I always have something in that well.
“For him, it seemed like first, it was to make money. Well, you made that, so that well is dry.”
Dariush, who has won 20 of his 25 fights in MMA, also stated his belief that McGregor needs to rediscover the hunger that led to him dominating the sport.
“This last fight, it seemed like he’s a big family man and all that. Well, you did that,” the 31-year-old said.
“You support your family. Everybody sees it. You’re being a good dad. You’re being a good husband.
“That well kinda runs dry. I don’t know. He’s been the champion. That well ran dry. I don’t know what makes him hungry.
“What you can’t see is a man’s motivation, I think he looks a little bit hollow and I think I’m seeing that in Conor right now. He looks a little bit hollow because he doesn’t know what he wants.”
