“I was not happy about it,” Superstar Chael Sonnen recalls young Conor McGregor stealing spotlight from him in Boston

Chael Sonnen once fought in the main event of a Fight Night event in Boston. However, it was an Irishman that captured the fan interest.

“I was not happy about it,” Superstar Chael Sonnen recalls young Conor McGregor stealing spotlight from him in Boston

Chael Sonnen speaks on young Conor McGregor overshadowing him ( Image via Imago )

Chael Sonnen still vividly recalls the day when Conor McGregor outshined him on the grand stage of a UFC press conference. The memory resurfaced as Sonnen prepared for the UFC 292 PPV event in Boston. The magnanimous event unfolded at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

At the Fighter Q&A press conference, Sonnen was asked about his headline bout against ‘Shogun’ in Boston. This prompted him to revisit that fateful day in 2013. He reminisced with a touch of nostalgia, “I got to the press conference. And I was ready to do my thing, right? And some guy is there, and the fans have got signs for him, and they were in bowties, and there’s some kind of a lookalike contest.” That guy, of course, was none other than Conor McGregor, a name that was foreign to Sonnen at the time.

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Chael Sonnen could not comprehend why this newcomer stole the spotlight even though Sonnen remained on the cusp of making history. However, McGregor with sunglasses stole the entire press conference. Sonnen could not understand why the interviewers asked more questions to the Irishman. “And I was not happy about it,” Sonnen recalled with a hint of playful frustration.

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It was at the UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen event back in 2013 when McGregor secured his second UFC victory by defeating Max Holloway. This achievement should have been the talk of the press conference, given the presence of MMA legend Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua and the dominant performance by Sonnen. Chael sealed the event with a first-round submission win. Nevertheless, Conor McGregor’s charisma and undeniable presence managed to overshadow even the most established stars in the MMA world, including Chael Sonnen.

Related: “Remember when you used to work for me?” Tony Ferguson fires back at ‘B**ch’ Conor McGregor for unwarranted attack on social media

Chael Sonnen speaks on Conor McGregor’s highly anticipated return to the UFC

Conor McGregor
Conor McGregor is set to make UFC return after two years of inactivity ( Image source: Twitter)

A decade later, this memory still stands as a testament to the meteoric rise of Conor McGregor, who has since become a household name in the world of mixed martial arts. The anticipation for Conor McGregor’s comeback in the UFC has been building. However, there remains a question of when that would happen. Chael Sonnen added his voice to the discussion on his YouTube channel.

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McGregor had his hopes set on a grand return to the octagon this year. A return that fans worldwide have eagerly waited for. However, it seems the stars haven’t aligned just yet. According to reports, McGregor’s absence from the USADA testing pool is a substantial part of the delay. This is a fact that has piqued Chael Sonnen’s curiosity. He wondered if this could be the key reason for the holdup, questioning why the UFC would not swiftly arrange McGregor’s return.

In Sonnen’s perspective, there’s a degree of puzzlement as to why USADA plays such a pivotal role in this situation. He brought to light the fact that fighters could secure licenses to fight in Nevada without the USADA’s involvement. However, at this moment, USADA remains the obstacle on Conor McGregor’s path back into the octagon.

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