For almost a decade, former two-division champion Conor McGregor has been the biggest draw in the UFC. However, all things must end, and eventually someone new will take McGregor’s place at the top. Has that time already come? If you ask Chael Sonnen, the answer is yes.
“I’m looking at Adesanya here, man — there were some things that happened Saturday that I’ve never seen in television before, not just I’ve never seen in sport.
Will Israel Adesanya Dethrone Conor McGregor As UFC’s Biggest Draw?
I thought Adesanya was the star of the show. I don’t think that program [UFC 290], of which I really enjoyed, I don’t think that program is the same in my mind or in history without Adesanya’s appearance, and he didn’t throw a single punch. I think that is fascinating.”
UFC middleweight champ Israel Adesanya invaded the Octagon at UFC 290 after Dricus Du Plessis knocked out Robert Whittaker. Du Plessis and Adesanya have exchanged vicious words before, but an in-Octagon faceoff brought the tension to new levels.
With Du Plessis lined up to challenge for Adesanya’s title this September in Sydney, the rivalry is fiercer than ever. With Adesanya’s star on the rise, argued Sonnen, Conor McGregor ought to take notes.
“I’ve never seen somebody like Adesanya, and I’d only say that a couple of other times. I was in the room when Wanderlei Silva walked in and there was like a glow around him. That happened to me one other time in this sport, it was the first time I ever saw Royce Gracie, and there was like this aura.
I’m bringing this up because there’s a different game being played here by Izzy. And you want to know who should be watching this? It’s not [Dricus] Du Plessis. It’s not the rest of the division.
It’s Conor McGregor. Izzy is coming for his spot. Izzy is coming for top draw in this sport — and he’s not that far away. By the way, he truly made that program for me.
I’m a fight fan. I understand the importance of the interview, I understand the importance of the walk, I understand the importance of the song that you choose — I’m a fight fan, I tuned in to watch the fights.
There’s times I’ll be driving in my car that I’ll have to turn on the ESPN [feed], I can’t even hear anything but I don’t want to miss the fights.
But what Adesanya did, that show is not the same [without him]. I was at a bare-knuckle show about two months ago and Conor McGregor showed up, and it was a massive deal from a perspective of entertainment.
From having something to look forward to that you weren’t promised and wasn’t on the marquee, the presence of Conor was greatly felt, and it was discussed in the media long after.
So that’s why I bring the example of Conor and Adesanya, because now I’m seeing that Izzy can play that same game, and he can play it very powerfully.”
