UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor hasn’t set foot in the Octagon since defeating Eddie Alvarez for the title at UFC 205.
Despite calls from many to strip McGregor of the title, former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen claims UFC President Dana White doesn’t have any good reason to do such a thing.
“Dana hasn’t stripped him, because he doesn’t have a reason to strip him. Conor isn’t hurt, and he’s not refusing fights,” Sonnen said on his Youtube channel. “People say, well he hasn’t defended his belt, he hasn’t fought since Eddie Alvarez. That’s not true, he did fight. It was Floyd Mayweather. While the title wasn’t on the line, Conor wasn’t at home sitting on his ass doing nothing. He was tied up in a business venture. So he’s not holding up the company, he’s not even holding up a division. He had a once in a lifetime opportunity, and he took it. That’s just the reality.”
McGregor hinted recently that his next bout would be an MMA fight, but did not give any specifics as to when that would occur.
Sonnen would even go as far as to wonder why people assume White would be protecting the lightweight champion.
“I’m not some Conor defender, I’m not a hater, I’m just living in the world of reality,” Sonnen said. “What I’m speaking to is the conspiracy theory that Dana would protect Conor for Business. How does that help business? How is it more helpful for Conor on his next fight, to walk out wearing the belt, than for somebody else to walk out wearing the belt with Conor walking out from the opposing corner. It’s the same! What’s the difference? You want it to do good business. You strip the son of a bitch, so you could come back that Conor McGregor is back after the title that he never lost. That, would do big business.”
Chael returns to action in a few weeks at Bellator 192, where he battles former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson.
