Conor McGregor has only two fights left on his UFC contract. The Irishman, of course, still remains the biggest star in the promotion (indeed the sport) and the UFC, in probably the easiest decision it has made in its history, is currently negotiating with the bombastic Irishman. Gearing up for his much-awaited comeback, ‘Notorious’ has broken the record for the highest-grossing gate in the history of the UFC weeks ahead of his June 29 clash against Michael Chandler.

In addition, his recent acquisition of a minority ownership stake in the BKFC has given him another point of leverage. Former UFC title challenger and superstar Chael Sonnen thinks that while the new contract will certainly make the former two-division champion very happy, the same cannot be said for the UFC.

Chael Sonnen on Conor McGregor’s contract negotiations

Conor Mcgregor is gearing up to fight Chandler, which will mark his return to the octagon after three long years, at UFC 303, capping off the UFC’s annual International Fight Week. After this bout, the former two-division champion will have only one fight left on his current UFC contract and revealed a few days ago that McGregor Sports and Entertainment (the company that represents him) was in contract negotiations with the UFC, happening in an amicable and respectful environment.

Chael Sonnen, speaking about McGregor’s ongoing talks with the UFC pointed out that because his contract would be higher than his previous one, the day he receives it contract would be “a very exciting day” for McGregor since “when they present you with what their offer is for a new contract it always escalates, it always goes up.” 

While he did not directly say this, he implied that given all of the leverage McGregor has, and his status as the highest-paid mixed martial artist already, the Irishman was in a very good spot and likely to drive a hard bargain with the promotion.

“Conor revealed to us that he’s in that spot, now that they picked up the phone, that they’ve called him. They’re starting that dialogue.” Sonnen said in a recent YouTube video. And ‘The Bad Guy’ speculated that the BKFC co-owner had another trick up his sleeve to try and get a better deal.

Sonnen thinks McGregor using three fight claim as negotiation tactic

Conor McGregor has claimed that he wants to fight three times this year– at the UFC 306 at the iconic sphere (which Dana White has promised would be a “one-and-done”) on September 14, as well as a fight in December.

But, Chael Sonnen thinks that this is just all talk from the former champion, who does not in fact want to fight two more times after Chandler in 2024, and is simply a negotiating tactic from the business-savvy Irishman to try and secure better terms in his new contract.

“So why is Conor saying he wants to fight three times? Is it because he does? Maybe… Look at his statement right now in conjunction with the idea that he’s in contract renegotiations I can’t have that and not assume that it was part of the negotiation,” he said.

It does seem inadvisable and far-fetched that the Irishman would be willing or even able to fight in September, two months after UFC 303, and then in December, again only two months from the Sphere card. This is why ‘Uncle Chael’ thinks it may well be a gambit on ‘Mac’s part, promising to be much more active in the future, which of course, would mean much more money for Dana White and the UFC. If there is one thing Dana White likes more than even Conor McGregor is money.