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Chael Sonnen explains why Michael Chiesa is the perfect opponent for Conor McGregor in his return
Chael Sonnen thinks Michael Chiesa is the perfect opponent for Conor McGregor.
McGregor has shown videos of him training and is getting closer to returning but what weight class he will return is uncertain. He has been vocal in wanting to fight Kamaru Usman for the welterweight title, but it’s unlikely that happens. With that, Sonnen believes another ranked welterweight makes sense for the Irishman and that is Chiesa.
“Michael Chiesa. That’s the one that has absolutely never been discussed by anybody. I personally believe that there is a gag order. I personally believe there’s a reason that Chiesa’s never called out McGregor,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel. “But just to remind you guys when the bus incident between Conor and the dolly and Khabib took place, there was lawsuits that followed that, and Chiesa was one of them. Chiesa got glass into his eye – it was very bad experience.
“I think that there’s a story there, personally,” Sonnen continued. “Whether that turned into fruition and that turned into a fight, I’ve always thought there was a story there that should be told – but neither guy has told it. Neither guy’s manager has told it. Neither camp has told it. No trainers have told it. I just elected on my own that there must be some kind of a gag order in place. But that’s the match. That’s a very interesting match from a stylistic standpoint. That checks a lot of boxes.”
According to Chael Sonnen, he believes Conor McGregor needs a notable name but someone that still is ranked so he isn’t accused of getting a layup of an opponent and Michael Chiesa is still a threat for him.
Whether or not the UFC has any interest in making McGregor vs. Chiesa is uncertain, but Sonnen says given the Irishman’s star power, he has to fight someone ranked.
“Can we get Conor somebody out of the top 10? No, that’s silly. He’s going to be a main event,” Sonnen concluded. “He’s going to be on pay-per-view. We’re going to have somebody within the top 10.
