Chael Sonnen’s Take on Conor McGregor’s Potential UFC Return

Chael Sonnen has been closely watching the recent statements from UFC leadership and believes there is more to uncover about Conor McGregor’s potential return to the octagon. While McGregor has hinted at a possible comeback at a future UFC event in Washington, D.C., Sonnen remains skeptical that it will actually happen.

McGregor hasn’t competed since July 2021, but he has consistently expressed his desire to fight again. He even mentioned June 14 as a possible date for a return tied to a proposed UFC event at the White House. Dana White initially showed some openness to the idea, but more recent comments suggest uncertainty about McGregor’s status within the organization.

White also indicated that if McGregor does come back, it won’t be against Michael Chandler. Chandler has been linked to McGregor since both were opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter in 2023. The matchup was once scheduled for UFC 303, but McGregor withdrew due to injury.

Why Chandler Made Sense

Sonnen questioned the logic behind moving away from Chandler, calling it the most straightforward option from a promotional standpoint.

“The reason that Chandler made a lot of sense is that I don’t need to know anything about that fight,” Sonnen told MMA Junkie. “I don’t know if it’s going to be three rounds, five rounds, co main event, main event, if they’re going to make up a belt I don’t know anything about that fight, other than I know that fight will not happen at 155 pounds. Conor McGregor is not going to weigh 155 again. Are we going to do a catchweight of 165? Are we going to make it 170?

“The reason that Chandler worked is the weight class doesn’t matter. The ranking doesn’t matter. The fight really doesn’t matter. This is about drawing and selling tickets and Conor McGregor. My larger interpretation was just that Conor was off the card. I know that’s not what was said, but why would it not be Chandler? Chandler does make a lot of sense.”

To Sonnen, abandoning that matchup suggests something bigger is happening behind the scenes.

Reading Between the Lines

Sonnen explained that if McGregor were to return, the UFC would likely approach the situation with long-term planning in mind rather than nostalgia.

“If you’re going to do the fans a favor by putting him on the card, if you’re going to do Conor a favor and you’ve got to write him this great, big check it’s not going to be about fun,” Sonnen said. “It’s going to be about somebody that’s going to come in, grab that and can come back and do two or three more fights for the company. And that would disqualify Nate Diaz or Jorge Masvidal, in my opinion.”

According to Sonnen, that thinking supports the idea that McGregor would not be paired with an easy or familiar opponent.

Despite outlining a possible scenario where McGregor fights again, Sonnen ultimately expressed skepticism that a return will happen at all.

“My guess first and foremost is that Conor is not going to be part of this, that Conor is fully retired,” Sonnen said. “Secondly, if he comes back and they write him that check, they’re going to give him a real guy.”

For now, McGregor’s status remains unresolved. While talk of a White House event continues to circulate, no opponent has been confirmed and no official announcement has been made. Sonnen’s analysis suggests that silence may be more revealing than the speculation surrounding it.