Incredible but true: the era of McGregor as the undisputed king of UFC cards may well be coming to an end. That’s at least what Chael Sonnen, the former fighter and star commentator for the promotion, recently claimed in a no-holds-barred analysis of the Dubliner’s future. According to him, the crushing defeat dealt by Max Holloway at UFC 329 not only exposed McGregor’s current limitations but also his inability to carry an entire fight card on his own.
Everything changed in just a few seconds. From the start of the fight, Conor McGregor suffered a knee injury that immediately put him at a disadvantage. Despite his resilience, he couldn’t avoid Holloway’s technical dominance, which ultimately finished him with a KO in the first round. A performance far from the usual standards of the Irish champion, and one that led Sonnen to draw radical conclusions.
For the former wrestler, this fight marks a turning point: McGregor, once the main event of every major card, may no longer be able to fulfill that role. Sonnen even suggests a risk of a prolonged absence from the UFC, as the Dubliner’s credibility appears shaken. A statement that speaks volumes about the current state of the Irish star, whose athletic decline now raises as many questions as his future in the cage.
With recurring injuries and declining performances, the shadow of the end of Conor McGregor’s reign grows longer. Chael Sonnen’s harsh words, while severe, reflect a reality that even the most optimistic fans are beginning to see. The question now is whether McGregor can bounce back, or if the UFC will turn its back on him for good.