Former UFC contender Chael Sonnen says Conor McGregor can draw huge crowds no matter who he fights. Sonnen believes the promotion can book almost any opponent and still sell out arenas when McGregor returns.
Where McGregor Stands
Conor McGregor has not fought since July 2021, when he lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He suffered a broken leg in that trilogy bout.
The 37-year-old was later scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but he withdrew because of injury. McGregor has just one win since 2016 — a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246.
Off the mat, McGregor faced legal trouble and was found liable in a civil sexual assault case in November 2024. Despite this, Sonnen says McGregor still brings big attention to any fight card.
Sonnen on McGregor’s Drawing Power
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen said McGregor’s name alone can fill seats. He used McGregor’s own phrase “Red Panty Night” to describe how opponents benefit financially from fighting him.
“Conor’s in a unique spot. ‘Red Panty Night’ is still real,” Sonnen said. “Conor can be in there with Ian Garry. Conor can be in there with Max Holloway. Conor McGregor could be in there with your neighbor, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference. They’ve only got so many tickets and they’re going to sell them all.”
Who Could He Fight?
Many names have been linked to a McGregor comeback. Jorge Masvidal, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira and Nate Diaz have all been mentioned often. Sonnen thinks the UFC may pair McGregor with a relevant contender instead of a pure legacy fight.
He specifically named welterweight contender Ian Garry as a likely option. “I have a feeling he’s going to fight Ian Garry or an Ian Garry type,” Sonnen said.
Nate Diaz recently said the UFC offered him a trilogy fight with McGregor. Diaz says he turned that down to fight Mike Perry at an upcoming event. Sonnen thinks the trilogy could still happen if things change.
Facts at a Glance
| Fighter | Recent Result / Status |
|---|---|
| Conor McGregor | Last fought July 2021 at UFC 264; lost to Dustin Poirier (broke leg). Was scheduled vs Michael Chandler at UFC 303 but withdrew. |
| Dustin Poirier | Won the trilogy fight against McGregor at UFC 264. |
| Donald Cerrone | Lost to McGregor by 40-second KO at UFC 246. |
| Michael Chandler | Was booked to face McGregor at UFC 303 before McGregor withdrew due to injury. |
| Ian Garry | Named by Sonnen as a likely opponent; described as a welterweight contender. |
| Nate Diaz | Claims he was offered a trilogy with McGregor but turned it down to fight Mike Perry. |
Sonnen says the UFC has flexibility when booking McGregor, but he also warned that fan feeling could shape who McGregor fights next. For now, McGregor’s name still sells tickets, and that gives the promotion many options.
