Conor McGregor will make his grand return at UFC 303 on June 29Credit: GETTY

The Notorious will be welcomed back to the octagon by Michael ChandlerCredit: GETTY

Chandler insists the Irishman’s trash talk isn’t as effective as it used to beCredit: GETTY

McGregor’s antics haven’t worked as much in recent years, so much so that upcoming opponent Chandler believes he’s a busted flush when it comes to that aspect of his game.

He told Shawn Ryan: “I’m going up against the biggest and baddest trash-talker in the game in Conor McGregor, or at least he used to be.

“I think he used to be a lot better at it than he is now.”

Despite believing the era of McGregor’s trash talk being effective is over, Chandler has taken measures to prepare himself for whatever verbal jabs are thrown his way.

The 37-year-old said: “I’ve never had to prepare myself for media obligations and being in the same room as a guy because I’ve always felt on point linguistically as my opponent.

“When you’re going up against a guy like Conor McGregor, there’s a little bit more research.

“I’ve never visualised the trash talk side of things like I have now.

“I don’t have a psychological trash talk coach, but I am my own little encyclopedia of who my next opponent is.

“And I’ve got it all right here [brain] to be able to pull it out when I need it.”

McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, nearly three years ago.

And Chandler reckons ring rust will prove to be the former two-division champion’s undoing in their UFC 303 showdown in Las Vegas.

He said: “I think his time out of the cage has lent itself to his timing, movement and reflexes not being what they used to be.

“From the first exchange, I’m going to hit him with big punches, make him second guess himself.

“Pick him up, put him down and choke him if I want to.

“[I’m going to] go out there and get the finish.”