Former UFC title challenger and respected MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has delivered a harsh yet honest evaluation of Conor McGregor‘s prospects should the Irish superstar attempt a comeback to the octagon.
Speaking candidly about McGregor’s potential return, Sonnen questioned the motivation behind such a move, given the challenging landscape McGregor would face in today’s UFC divisions.
“You gotta understand, what part of it would he come back for?”
Sonnen said.
“We’re told by him that he doesn’t need the money. We can see that his time is occupied.”
Sonnen, known for his straight-shooting analysis, painted a stark picture of McGregor’s competitive chances against the current UFC roster.
“We can go 55, we can go 70, we can make up a weight class. There is not an athlete under contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championships located in Southern Nevada that he can beat,”
Sonnen stated.
“And I don’t even mean that to be a jerk.”
The former title contender highlighted specific concerns about McGregor’s conditioning, particularly in the demanding main event format that would likely accompany any return.
“When they bring him back, they put him in a main event. You put a guy in a main event, all of a sudden you’re asking him to do five rounds. We got a guy that can’t breathe for a full round. This is just a reality,”
Sonnen explained.
McGregor, whose last UFC appearance came in July 2021, has remained in the public eye despite his absence from competition. Sonnen suggested this continued relevance might actually diminish McGregor’s incentive to return.
“There’s no reason to come back. There just isn’t,”
Sonnen said.
“Apparently life is good without it. He can still make headlines without it. He still gets put on our show without it.”
Throughout his assessment, Sonnen repeatedly questioned what would motivate McGregor to subject himself to the rigors of UFC competition again, especially given his current lifestyle and status.
“What would be the mechanism that he needs or that would draw him back?”
Sonnen asked.
“When I really rake my brain and I’m only confined to my own creativity, when I get creative and think what would this be for? I can’t come up with an answer.”
As speculation continues about McGregor‘s MMA future, Sonnen‘s comments add a sobering perspective to the conversation about whether the former two-division champion can reclaim his previous glory in today’s highly competitive UFC landscape.
