For years, fans have waited for Conor McGregor to return to the Octagon. Head honcho Dana White has continued to fuel rumors, saying that McGregor will fight again, but the fighter has given more than a few indications that his priorities are elsewhere. Now, Chael Sonnen has weighed in, and if his opinion is true, McGregor’s comeback may not only be delayed but may never happen at all. But why? Well, according to the veteran, a return is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.
Sonnen didn’t hold back during a recent episode of Good Guy, Bad Guy, tearing down the idea that McGregor has any incentive to return. He pointed out that ‘The Notorious,’ unlike most fighters who rely on the sport for survival, is already wealthy, famous, and making headlines without ever stepping inside the cage. More crucially, Chael Sonnen claimed that the Irishman is no longer capable of competing at the highest level, claiming that he cannot defeat a single UFC competitor in Nevada. “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.”
‘The American Gangster’ also raised an important point: main event fights are five rounds long, and he believes Conor McGregor no longer has the stamina to last even one. It wasn’t meant as an insult; it was simply Sonnen’s brutally honest perspective on reality. “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.” Aside from competing inside the Octagon, ‘The Notorious’ has been keeping himself occupied with projects that imply he may not need the UFC at all. He recently declared his intention to compete for the presidency of Ireland, prompting many to doubt how serious he is about making a comeback. In addition, he has totally involved himself in BKFC, the bare-knuckle boxing promotion for which he is now a co-owner.
Chael Sonnen on Conor McGregor’s Return:
“He’s got a beating standing in front of him. No UFC fighter he can beat at 155 or 170. They put him in a main event and suddenly expect five rounds—he can’t even breathe for one. An ass-whipping awaits, life’s better without it.”
… pic.twitter.com/hfwBoQSQyz
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) April 1, 2025
Instead of focusing on his return, McGregor has become a fixture at BKFC events, functioning as a showman and even hinting at the possibility of future participation under the promotion’s banner. These actions, whether intentional or not, cement the growing belief that his UFC career is done. And to make matters even worse, it seems like he might’ve announced his retirement from the Dana White-led promotion.
Conor McGregor’s break breaks fans’ dreams of seeing a UFC return
For months, supporters had believed that Conor McGregor would return to the UFC cage. The hints of a comeback, the numerous teases on social media, and Dana White‘s optimism all hinted at an impending return. But reality does not always match expectations. Instead of preparing for a bout, ‘The Notorious’ has been making decisions outside of the sport. Now, his recent words imply that fighting is no longer his first focus, which is surely a difficult pill for his fans to accept.
His statements at the BKFC 70 press conference conveyed a feeling of finality that cannot be overlooked. The former UFC double champion discussed Ireland, a new calling, and being content with his previous accomplishments in the sport. If there was any doubt, the most recent UFC anti-doping test results might have erased it. The new list of fighters who have been tested in 2025 does not include McGregor, indicating that he is not even planning a return. If he wanted to compete in the UFC again, he needed to go through the testing process. But with each passing day, the evidence points to one thing: he’s done.
Nonetheless, there is always that glimmer of hope. Conor McGregor recently said that he turned down an invitation to fight at a bizarre event in Alcatraz, implying that he is still receiving offers. Perhaps he is simply waiting for the ideal opportunity to re-enter the spotlight. However, optimism is a fickle thing, and it appears that people are grabbing at straws at this point. Whether this is actually the end or just another hiatus, one thing is certain: ‘The Notorious’ is in no hurry to return. What do you think? Will Conor McGregor make his return anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.
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