The most notable line from the extended preview for UFC 205, was Conor McGregor declaring that "they're focusing on me, I'm focusing on history."
He's not wrong, as if he defeats Eddie Alvarez and holds those two straps over his shoulder he will be the first man to do so in the UFC. And that's not something that pleases everyone.
Mainly because of length of time that will have passed since McGregor defended his featherweight title. Inactivity is something that the UFC don't like, but Conor hasn't been inactive, and he has been making the organisation a lot of money, the UFC like money. Chael Sonnen is someone who absolutely understands the favour that has been shown to the Irishman, and had a bit of a go at the fighters that don't.
Calling those who want McGregor stripped of the title "dumb", he didn't hold back on Episode 68 of Beyond The Fight.
When you have this confusion, a champion who is not in the weight class defending the belt, yeah sure you strip him. I get it. Sure you do.
But it wasn't Conor's fault that fight [Dos Anjos] got delayed, then when he lost the [Diaz] fight he wanted a rematch, well boom, so did the fans. As time goes by and you don't defend the belt, you have to strip him. The bottom line is you don't defend, you get your belt stripped, that is true.
But now people, and I've never heard people speak on Conor's behalf, and say he aught to be able to hold that belt? People think it, but nobody has said it.
Now we've got fighters in weight classes that have no standing in this matter, who I imagine are just coming from a standpoint of jealousy, saying you should stip him. Well look guys, here's the deal, and I can't believe that people in the industry can't understand this.. And I'm not trying to insult them there's just no other word, they're dumb.
To understand a lack of a fighter's understanding from a business standpoint, how important media partners are, and understanding what a promoter has to do.. They don't get it.
There is an historic opportinity if Conor should beat Eddie Alvarez. So if you're the UFC and you, through the power of the pen, take one of those belts away you also lose the opportunity that so much media is running with to have the historic evening.
If you wait to strip him, or make a decision until after the fight, you preserve that opportunity. It is so obvious.
Classic Sonnen.
He is very convincing when he has something on his mind, and he clearly can't believe the calls for McGregor to be stripped of his title.
His knowledge of the business side of the UFC is what truly shot him to fame. He earned a fight against Anderson Silva on the back of the unforgettable "Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck" call out, and then there's his wonderful story about Shogun Rua completely missing the point of his "heel" persona on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil.
As for the issue on Conor's belt, Sonnen acknowledges that under normal circumstances the calls for a stripping of the belt would be understantable, but these aren't normal circumstances and speaking out against it makes you look clueless.
