Chael Sonnen is fascinated by the idea of Conor McGregor entering politics.
Recently, McGregor, known as “The Notorious,” declared his intention to campaign for President of Ireland. While this role is mainly symbolic, McGregor has been openly critical of the current government and promised significant changes if elected.
In a YouTube reaction video, Sonnen analyzed McGregor`s reasoning. He also mentioned that if he were an Irish citizen and eligible to vote, he would consider supporting McGregor.
Sonnen questioned whether McGregor is serious about politics and if he could actually win an election in Ireland. He acknowledged some appealing aspects of McGregor but also pointed out that many people in Ireland are not fans. Sonnen highlighted McGregor`s purchase of property outside Ireland as a potential misstep for someone seeking political office, noting the common mistake of appearing disconnected from the local population while trying to gain their support.
“So I don’t know that Conor could get elected and I don’t know that that’s my business. I don’t get a vote; if I did, I actually would vote for him.” Sonnen admitted.
McGregor, a former two-division UFC champion and a major figure in combat sports, is considering politics during a break from fighting. His last fight was at UFC 264 in July 2021, where he broke his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier. Since then, McGregor has been recovering, exploring other interests, and dealing with sexual assault allegations.
His planned return at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler in June was cancelled due to a toe injury. Sonnen has previously expressed doubts about McGregor`s return to fighting and is uncertain whether politics or MMA is his more likely path forward.
“Conor McGregor is going to run for the president of Ireland,” Sonnen stated, also mentioning McGregor`s potential UFC return. He sees both as unlikely and unsupported claims, yet questions if that makes them untrue or less probable.
Sonnen considers that McGregor`s lack of political experience isn`t necessarily a disadvantage in politics. He observed that many politicians are similarly uninformed. He suggests that charisma and effective communication can be more beneficial in elections than deep political expertise.
Sonnen also wondered if McGregor`s political ambitions are connected to his inactivity in the UFC or the UFC`s difficulty in reaching an agreement with him. He believes specific conditions are needed for McGregor to compete again.
“I don’t think that Conor has the grit to bite down one more time, to prepare his body for a worse case, which is to have to defend itself against unarmed attack at all times and in his spot, main event, that’s up for 25 minutes,” Sonnen commented on the demanding nature of MMA competition. He suggested that the UFC could increase the chances of McGregor signing a fight contract by reducing the fight duration from five to three rounds.
Sonnen drew a parallel with Khabib Nurmagomedov`s retirement, suggesting that the UFC`s inability to secure his 30th fight wasn`t about money but about the weight class. He concluded by rhetorically asking which is less likely: McGregor becoming president or returning to fighting.
