Joe Rogan thinks Conor McGregor should take a 'warm-up fight' before facing Kamaru Usman

Conor McGregor should accept a ‘warm-up fight’ before facing Kamaru Usman, according to UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

Former two-division champion McGregor has been out of action since his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier last year at UFC 264 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

However, he was recently filmed sparring in a boxing ring for the first time since he suffered a broken leg, as he continues his recovery from surgery.

The Notorious, 33, has also publicly entertained the prospect of moving up a weight class to face UFC welterweight champion Usman, who locked horns with bitter rival Colby Covington last November.

But according to Rogan, he would be better off facing a lower level of competition first before he considers stepping in there with one of the all-time greats.

During an appearance on the Hotboxin’ with Mike Tyson podcast, Rogan said: “If Conor wants the most chance of success, I would say fight a guy who is a little below championship level.

“Maybe a guy on the come-up who Conor has an advantage over, but it’s still a competitive fight. Give him a test, but don’t put him in there right away with Usman.

“I think, honestly, when boxers come back from a long layoff and they come back from a loss, one thing that boxers do that’s smart is they have a tune-up fight.

“I think there’s a reason why they’ve been using tune-up fights forever, like astute managers.

“They know you’ve got to knock the dust off and you’ll be better in the next performance, [rather than] to jump right into a Dustin Poirier or right into — name it — Michael Chandler, like right into a guy who’s the elite of the elite.

“I think what Conor needs to do is what Conor wants to do.

“If Conor thinks he can go up and fight Usman and make a big payday,