Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor last competed at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he faced Dustin Poirier at lightweight. McGregor lost the fight via TKO in the first round after sustaining a leg injury. He has been out of action ever since.
Chael Sonnen believes that McGregor’s ongoing hiatus from MMA will benefit him. In an edition of ‘Beyond the Fight,’ Sonnen suggested that McGregor was mentally exhausted thinking about fights against the same opponents in the UFC’s lightweight (155-pound) division in recent years. Sonnen opined that McGregor could think about potential matchups against new opponents at welterweight, instead of exhausting himself preparing for his old lightweight foes.
At welterweight, McGregor could face UFC champion Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington or Leon Edwards. Emphasizing that the breakup and a possible change of weight classes would help McGregor’s mental well-being, Sonnen stated:
“Going to 170 isn’t him physically and he’s actually going to 170. Just let him get his mind up to 170.” Sonnen added: “Get yourself somewhere else just to get a mental break. And I share it because this break has been very real for Conor. But it is not the physical side that you are looking at. It is the mental side. So there’s a very good reason why Conor would go back to the gym and be in beast mode.”
A recent post shows McGregor looking noticeably bigger:
He agreed with McGregor’s head trainer, John Kavanagh, who said that McGregor looked impressive in his recent return to the gym. Sonnen noted that the hiatus will rejuvenate McGregor physically and mentally.
Conor McGregor on a possible fight against Kamaru Usman
Conor McGregor will reportedly return no sooner than February/March 2023. Regardless, he has been tirelessly asking for title shots at lightweight and welterweight. Speaking to TheMacLife earlier this year, ‘The Notorious’ addressed a potential welterweight title fight against Usman.
Conor McGregor hinted he might drop down to lightweight, but claimed he feels big, strong and healthy at welterweight. Breaking down why he thinks he can beat Kamaru Usman, McGregor said:
“I have confidence in Usman, [who’s] an orthodox jab, hoppy, sloppy fighter with no submissions of any kind. What are you going to do? Where is the danger here? I see no danger with it. The land and pound of it is not strong.”