TLDR
- Chael Sonnen says UFC would give Conor McGregor a legitimate opponent if he fights at a White House event
- Sonnen questions whether McGregor will actually commit to a UFC comeback after extended absence
- Dana White shut down speculation about McGregor vs. Chandler rematch at potential White House card
- McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021
- UFC will wait for McGregor to show real commitment before booking his return fight
Sources: Middle Easy | Info Nasional | LowKick MMA
Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has weighed in on Conor McGregor’s potential return to the octagon, suggesting the promotion would provide the Irish superstar with a legitimate opponent if he fights at a rumored White House event. Sonnen’s comments come after UFC president Dana White addressed speculation about McGregor’s comeback plans.
Sonnen analyzed White’s recent statements about McGregor’s return and concluded that the UFC would not give the former two-division champion an easy matchup. The analysis focuses on how the promotion might handle opponent selection for one of its biggest stars after an extended absence from competition.
The discussion about McGregor’s potential return has intensified as the UFC explores hosting a special event at the White House. White recently shut down speculation about a potential rematch between McGregor and Michael Chandler at such an event, stating the promotion will wait to see if McGregor commits to a comeback.
Questions About McGregor’s Comeback
Sonnen has expressed doubts about the legitimacy of McGregor’s UFC return plans. He questioned whether the Irish fighter would actually commit to coming back after months of speculation about various potential matchups.
The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger analyzed the opponent selection strategy the promotion might use. Sonnen’s interpretation of White’s comments suggests the UFC would provide McGregor with what he described as “a real guy” rather than a soft opponent for his return.
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. The lengthy layoff has raised questions about his readiness to return to elite competition.
White has maintained a cautious approach when discussing McGregor’s potential comeback. The UFC president has indicated that the promotion needs to see actual commitment from McGregor before booking any fights.
White House Event Speculation
The UFC has been exploring the possibility of hosting a special card at the White House, which has generated considerable discussion within the MMA community. Various superfights and marquee matchups have been discussed as potential headliners for such an event.
Jon Jones and Alex Pereira have both expressed interest in fighting at a potential White House card. Pereira recently reclaimed the light heavyweight title and has called for a move to heavyweight to face Jones in a superfight.
Sonnen’s analysis also touched on how the UFC has handled McGregor’s previous comeback attempts. The promotion has historically been careful about booking McGregor in fights that maintain his star power while providing legitimate competitive matchups.
The former UFC fighter suggested that White’s comments indicate a shift in how the promotion might approach McGregor’s return. Rather than providing a tune-up fight, Sonnen believes the UFC would give McGregor a legitimate contender.
White has not confirmed any specific plans for a White House event or McGregor’s participation. The UFC president stated the promotion would wait for McGregor to demonstrate real commitment to fighting before making any announcements about his next bout.
