According to a UFC veteran, Conor McGregor’s delayed comeback may be due to UFC CEO Dana White’s plans. The Irishman has been absent from competition since 2021, after his fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. His return has been the source of much speculation and even concern as McGregor recently claimed that the delays in receiving a concrete date have led him to, “stop full training and (start) drinking a little bit.”

Nevertheless, Chael Sonnen believes that Dana White has not booked McGregor for a fight due to one particular reason. He speculated that the promotion is aiming to use McGregor to bolster other fighters on the card he could grace!

Dana White and UFC don’t believe Conor McGregor fits in a main event according to Chael Sonnen  

In a recent interview with The Mac Life, Conor McGregor revealed that his UFC return date has been in a state of flux. He stated, “I was hoping for a December date, then a January date, then it keeps getting pushed back.”

As such, in an Instagram video shared on his account, Chael Sonnen stated, “He (McGregor) can’t get a fight. He is telling you straight up, ‘They’re not booking me for a fight’. Why?”

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The UFC veteran reasoned that McGregor is now considered to be “a co-main event”, highlighting the perceived decline in the fighter’s position as a PPV headliner. Sonnen continued by stating, “ I don’t think they can put him at the top of the bill… I don’t think they’re gonna put him at the top of the bill.  They’re gonna use him on the card, bring in some attention, put somebody over and that’s how you make a star. If you’re playing checkers, go do the big fight. But you’re in a game where they always play chess, it’s very consistent.”

He ended his statement by confessing, “Chael’s opinion, Chael’s guess, I’m just sharing with you. I think they have a fight for him, I think it’s a co-main event and I think that is what he is saying no to.”

Sonnen’s insights shed light on the complexities of matchmaking and promotion within the UFC. The MMA legend suggests that McGregor’s return could have broader implications for the promotion’s strategy. Moreover, reports indicate, ‘The Notorious’ only has 2 fights left on his UFC contract. The promotion could be delaying booking a return bout as they possibly want to leverage an extension with McGregor.

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And it’s not just the fans who have been left perplexed by the recent delays in McGregor’s return. His coach also echoed the confusion surrounding the lack of fights for the Irishman.

McGregor’s coach left perplexed by delays in his UFC comeback  

Conor McGregor’s coach, John Kavanagh, is unsure about McGregor’s next move in the MMA world. Despite McGregor’s star status, there’s no clear booking on the horizon even after the Irish star’s recent assertion that he will be returning to action this summer. As such, Kavanagh, appearing on The MMA Hour, admitted to being clueless like everyone else. He stated, “I won’t pretend to know the politics and what’s going on with legal stuff in the background… But yeah, it’s weird to me for someone to be the star he is and not get more opportunities.”

He also clarified that he remains uncertain about what happens next. Moreover, the revered coach joked that journalists know as much as he does about McGregor’s plans. Nevertheless, Kavanagh believes the Irishamn is eagerly waiting for the call to fight again and is ready to assist when ‘The Notorious’ receives a date for his next fight.  And so, as fans eagerly await Conor McGregor’s return, the uncertainty surrounding his next move continues to captivate the MMA world, leaving many wondering what the future holds for the Irish fighter.

Do you agree with Chael Sonnen’s assertion that the UFC doesn’t consider Conor McGregor’s main event material anymore?  Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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