Chael Sonnen opines that the current form of Carlos Prates, who recently delivered a decisive victory over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth, would pose a severe threat to Conor McGregor should they ever face each other.
There were prior speculations about a potential fight between McGregor and Prates scheduled for July. However, Prates has since stated that the former two-division UFC champion declined the offered bout. Sonnen believes that McGregor, at 37 years old and with nearly five years away from the octagon, would have an extremely slim chance of enduring and defeating a prime and in-form Prates.
Conor McGregor is anticipated to make his return in July during International Fight Week, with a rematch against Max Holloway reportedly in the works. Meanwhile, Carlos Prates, having secured three consecutive stoppage victories, is now awaiting the outcome of a potential welterweight title fight between Islam Makhachev and Ian Machado Garry, expected in August.
Prates has expressed a desire for Garry to unseat Makhachev, which would open the door for a fight against McGregor later this year in Brazil.
Chael Sonnen’s Assessment of a Potential Conor McGregor vs. Carlos Prates Bout: “It Would Have Been Dire”
In a recent discussion with Ariel Helwani, Chael Sonnen shared his perspective, asserting that the version of Carlos Prates who thoroughly defeated Jack Della Maddalena at UFC Perth would similarly overwhelm Conor McGregor.
According to Sonnen, fighters who have sustained significant leg injuries, like Conor McGregor, and have been inactive for extended periods, face formidable odds against dangerous contenders such as Prates.
While Sonnen acknowledges Conor McGregor’s courage and willingness to compete against any opponent, he suggests that if “The Notorious” could even manage to last a few rounds against “The Nightmare,” it would be considered a considerable achievement in a hypothetical matchup.
Below are Chael Sonnen’s remarks regarding Conor McGregor: