Chael Sonnen believes the UFC can book Conor McGregor against any opponent and still sell out an arena. The former title challenger says McGregor remains one of the biggest draws in combat sports despite approaching five years without a fight.
McGregor has not competed since July 2021 at UFC 264, where he suffered a broken leg in a trilogy bout loss to Dustin Poirier. The 37-year-old was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 but withdrew due to injury.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen addressed the ongoing speculation about McGregor's comeback opponent. Names like Jorge Masvidal, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Nate Diaz have been frequently mentioned as potential matchups.
Red Panty Night Still Real
Sonnen stated that McGregor's drawing power transcends his opponents' quality. He believes the former champion can generate massive interest regardless of who stands across from 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."
The reference to "Red Panty Night" stems from McGregor's own phrase describing the financial windfall opponents receive when fighting him. Sonnen believes that phenomenon remains intact despite McGregor's extended absence.
Potential Opponents and UFC Strategy
Sonnen stated the UFC might give McGregor a relevant contender rather than a legacy matchup. He specifically mentioned welterweight contender Ian Garry as a possibility.
"I have a feeling that Conor's going to get dealt right from the bottom of the deck," Sonnen said. "I have a feeling they're going to throw an ace on the table because Conor is willing to do it. I have a feeling he's going to fight Ian Garry or an Ian Garry type."
Nate Diaz recently claimed the UFC offered him a trilogy bout with McGregor, but he turned it down to fight Mike Perry at an upcoming event. Sonnen believes that matchup could still materialize if circumstances change.
McGregor has just one victory since 2016, a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. His reputation has been impacted by both in-cage struggles and legal issues, including being found liable for sexual assault in a civil case in November 2024.
Sonnen added that while the UFC has flexibility in booking McGregor, fan sentiment could ultimately influence the decision on his comeback opponent.
