TLDR
- Chael Sonnen publicly doubts Conor McGregor will fight at the June White House UFC event
- McGregor has not competed since suffering a leg fracture against Dustin Poirier in June 2021
- Daniel Cormier warns that skipping the White House event could end McGregor’s relevance
- Sonnen criticized McGregor for ‘pretending to come back for five years‘ with repeated delays
- Dana White still supports including McGregor to maximize appeal of the historic White House card
Sources: EssentiallySports | Ringside24 | Fight Sports
Former UFC fighter and commentator Chael Sonnen has publicly questioned whether Conor McGregor will actually appear at the planned White House UFC tournament in June. His comments add to growing doubts about the Irish fighter’s long-delayed return to the octagon.
“I don’t believe Conor will show up at the White House tournament,” Sonnen said during an ESPN MMA broadcast. He challenged McGregor to prove critics wrong after years of unfulfilled comeback promises.
Chael Sonnen On Conor McGregor Fighting At The White Househttps://t.co/9qIILzss0G pic.twitter.com/6eITVQ1ZKE
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Sonnen raised concerns about whether McGregor can manage media expectations if he does appear at the event. “Will he be able to say again: ‘Oh, I wasn’t there, but you will see me in November or next January,’ or will this be McGregor’s last deception?” he asked.
The comments come as UFC President Dana White pushes to include McGregor on the historic White House card. White believes adding the former champion would maximize the event’s appeal despite concerns about reliability.
McGregor’s Long Absence From Fighting
McGregor has not fought in the octagon since June 2021. His last appearance ended with a devastating leg fracture during a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
The 37-year-old fighter has been teasing a comeback for nearly five years. Multiple planned return dates have come and gone without McGregor stepping back into competition.
Fellow UFC commentator Daniel Cormier added his own warning about the situation. Cormier stated that if McGregor skips the White House event, it could effectively end his relevance in the sport.
The White House tournament represents a unique opportunity for the UFC. Hosting an event at the nation’s capital would mark a historic moment for mixed martial arts.
Questions About McGregor’s Comeback Strategy
Sonnen questioned whether McGregor has been sincere about his return plans. “He has been pretending to come back for five years,” Sonnen said on the ESPN broadcast.
The former fighter suggested this pattern of delays may have damaged McGregor’s credibility. Fans and media have repeatedly prepared for his return only to face postponements and cancellations.
Despite the skepticism from insiders, Dana White continues to support including McGregor on the card. The UFC president sees the former two-division champion as essential to drawing maximum attention to the event.
McGregor won championships in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions during his peak years. His fighting style and promotional skills made him one of the biggest stars in UFC history.
The June 14 date for the White House event gives McGregor several months to prepare. Whether he will use that time to actually compete or deliver another delay remains the central question.
Both Sonnen and Cormier agree the stakes are high for this potential appearance. Their public warnings suggest the UFC community views this as a critical moment for McGregor’s career.
The White House tournament would mark nearly four years since McGregor last competed if he does appear. That extended layoff raises additional questions about his ability to perform at an elite level.
