With the UFC 303 main event balancing on a knife edge, one MMA legend believes that if the contest falls through, Conor McGregor will never fight again.
While the world’s premier mixed martial arts promotion has yet to officially cancel the eagerly anticipated fight, the rumor mill is rife with concern that the organization is frantically searching for a Plan B, C, and D.
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Chael Sonnen claims Conor McGregor will retire if he doesn’t fight at UFC 303
While the world is joined in unison in excitement for Conor McGregor to make his eagerly-anticipated return to the cage against Michael Chandler, unfortunately, they may well have to wait a little longer to witness their hero back in action, if they ever get to see it at all.
Alas, since sustaining a broken leg in his third contest with Dustin Poirier, three years ago, ‘The Notorious’ has had to wait in the wilderness, hoping desperately that his chance to make his comeback would emerge.
Sadly, while on paper, his next outing is scheduled for June 29 at UFC 303 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, the likelihood of ‘The Foggy Dew’ playing from the speakers looks unlikely.
With late-night partying and injury concerns spreading around global news outlets, there is a very real concern that the biggest star in UFC history may sit this one out. And Chael Sonnen believes if that happens, he’ll never fight again.
In a video on his YouTube channel, he explained: “If Conor McGregor doesn’t show up for this, I’m here to let you know that any idea you have that he’s still fighting or he’s still in the business or he wasn’t feeling good and they’re doing it another day, he and Chandler are gonna fight somewhere down the road; I’m here to let you know now, if you’re told that by anybody, you have been given bad information.
“If McGregor does not show up on June 29 and fight Michael Chandler at 170 pounds, it is the exact same as announcing Conor McGregor’s retirement from the sport.”
With the Irishman’s status currently unknown, members of the combat sports community are throwing names into the mix for potential replacements. And there’s only one man ‘The American Gangster’ believes fits the bill.
Chael Sonnen believes Max Holloway could fight Michael Chandler for the BMF belt
While losing Conor McGregor would sting, the prospect of Chandler vs Max Holloway for the BMF title is undeniably a salivating prospect. And it’s the type of match-up that would capture Sonnen’s imagination.
In an interview on the MMA Hour, the popular athlete explained: “He’s got $23 million waiting at the box office right now [and] it’s not sold out – that’s the other part of this. It’s really good that he’s got $23 million so that it gives you the assumption that it’s sold out – it’s not, he could end up with a $28 million gate – he’s beating himself, it’s remarkable.
“So, when you ask me what the blow is or if there’s something replaceable; no. There is only one Conor McGregor [and] if you are to replace him and keep the card as intact as you could, which means you keep Chandler in the main event, the only one who you could do would be Max Holloway, 155lb and the BMF belt.
“But because that’s the only one that you could do, they might just pull Chandler completely. It might be a situation where you’ve got to bring in Max and [Ilia] Topuria right now, it might be a situation like that where you scramble to some degree.
“But make no mistake, there’s only one Conor McGregor. People like to act like there’s not but there is and O’Malley’s coming for him, there’re guys coming for him, but they’re not there yet.”
