Chael Sonnen News

Chris Taylor - March 28, 2020

Chael Sonnen believes that the police officers who arrested Jon Jones were purposely humiliating the UFC light heavyweight champion. Jones was arrested early on Thursday morning after officers responded to a gun shot call in downtown Albuquerque. On scene, the police found ‘Bones’ in a running jeep with a weapon. The UFC light heavyweight champion allegedly had marijuana residue on his clothing and also failed a sobriety test.

Tom Taylor - March 20, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has caused the combat sports industry to grind to a halt. Dozens of events have been postponed or canceled outright, and fighters are being deprived of the opportunity to compete. Yet Chael Sonnen believes this pandemic-related shutdown of the industry could be beneficial to fighters if they take proper advantage. In his eyes, fighters have a golden opportunity to gain some attention with much of the other noise drowned out.

Fernando Quiles - March 17, 2020

Chael Sonnen is leaning towards wanting to see Kevin Lee adjust to the welterweight division. This past Saturday night (March 14), Lee took on Charles Oliveira in the main event of UFC Brasilia. The action was held inside the Ginasio Nilson Nelson. UFC Brasilia was closed to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Cole Shelton - March 11, 2020

Chael Sonnen doesn’t believe Valentina Shevchenko vs. Weili Zhang is a true superfight, at least not yet. Zhang has talked about wanting to fight Shevchenko down the line, but the flyweight champion doesn’t seem so interested. She said the Chinese champion isn’t an elite fighter and will loser her belt in her next fight. So, a champion vs. champion fight doesn’t make sense, and Sonnen agrees.

Fernando Quiles - March 2, 2020

Chael Sonnen isn’t sure he shares in Dustin Poirier’s belief that Justin Gaethje can give Khabib Nurmagomedov his toughest test to date. Speaking to ESPN’s Ariel Helwani last month, Poirier expressed his belief that Gaethje could give Nurmagomedov problems. Poirier has shared the Octagon with both Gaethje and Nurmagomedov. “The Diamond” doesn’t believe Tony Ferguson will be the man to stop “The Eagle” when they collide on April 18.

Mike Pendleton - February 27, 2020

After his fight against Tyson Fury was stopped in the seventh round by his corner and trainer Mark Breland, Deontay Wilder was visibly upset. He’s even considering removing Breland from his team. While some have understood Wilder’s desire to “go out on his shield” many have criticized him for his reaction towards Breland and now another name is being added to that list.

Cole Shelton - February 26, 2020

Chael Sonnen has five possible phrases why Tito Ortiz and Alberto Del Rio’s fight was ruled a no-decision. Before the fight took place, he said it would be fixed. So, of course, topping his list is the fact that the fight was fake and the Texas commission found out.

Tom Taylor - February 26, 2020

The next crack at UFC bantamweight champ Henry Cejudo will go to former UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo. Unfortunately, this matchup is generating quite a bit of controversy, as Aldo lost his only fight in the bantamweight division, and is seen as less deserving of the shot than many of his rivals. Chael Sonnen doesn’t see the issue.

Fernando Quiles - February 3, 2020

Chael Sonnen admits things looked a bit suspicious to him in the confrontation between Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal but he isn’t blaming either fighter. Last week ahead of the NFL Super Bowl LIV, UFC welterweight champion Usman and BMF title holder Masvidal engaged in an altercation on Radio Row in Miami. The two exchanged heated words and had to be separated. The confrontation did not get physical.

Tom Taylor - January 27, 2020

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has received a ton of hate from the MMA community over the last few days, catching flack from the likes of Joe Rogan, Conor McGregor, Josh Thomson, Din Thomas and others. In the opinion of UFC and Bellator analyst Chael Sonnen, however, the blowback Smith has received has been undue. The reason for all of this criticism, to remind, are the comments Smith made at UFC 246, which were widely regarded as disrespectful to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.

Tom Taylor - January 20, 2020

UFC welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal doesn’t take crap from anyone. He proved that when he brawled with Leon Edwards at last year’s UFC London card. If there was any remaining doubt about the kind of guy Masvidal is, however, a recent story from Chael Sonnen should dispel it.

Natasha Hooper - January 8, 2020

Chael Sonnen is confident that Ronda Rousey left the MMA sport at the right time, and that her timing, in fact, contributed towards her success. The UFC’s first female champion, Rousey made waves in MMA and polarized fans in the process. She achieved many firsts throughout her career and defeated notable contenders including Liz Carmouche, Cat Zingano, and Miesha Tate. However, her exit from the sport left a lot to be desired.

Natasha Hooper - January 7, 2020

Chael Sonnen is convinced that Jon Jones is the toughest fighter in the world. During a recent episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, Sonnen and Helwani deliberated over the best fight of the decade. Helwani suggested Jones’ 2013 UFC 165 fight against Alexander Gustafsson was the first time the champion had faced any true adversity, adding that Jones’ partying and antics outside the octagon all contributed to the drama of a show-stopping fight.

Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020

Chael Sonnen has a hunch that Georges St-Pierre will fight again in 2020. St-Pierre, a former two-division UFC champion, is currently retired, but Sonnen doubts that retirement will stick.

Tom Taylor - January 2, 2020

Back in November, Jorge Masvidal captured the UFC’s one-off BMF belt with a win over Nate Diaz. While this BMF belt win represented a nice feather in Masvidal’s cap, it was not considered by many fans as a legitimate championship accomplishment. Chael Sonnen begs to differ. Sonnen, an analyst for both the UFC and Bellator, believes Masvidal is an absolutely legitimate MMA champion — even if that fact bothers people. Sonnen points to Conor McGregor’s interest in a BMF title fight with Masvidal as proof of this reality.

Tom Taylor - December 27, 2019

Chael Sonnen believes that the winner of the upcoming lightweight title fight between champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and challenger Tony Ferguson will stand out as the best fighter in the lightweight division’s history. Sonnen gave his take on the matchup in a recent interview with Drake Riggs.

Harry Kettle - December 4, 2019

Chael Sonnen has taken a look on the brighter side of Tony Ferguson’s entertaining interview on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show.  Ferguson came out swinging during the interview with Helwani in one of his first public chats since it was confirmed that he’d be facing Khabib Nurmagomedov on April 18 for the UFC Lightweight Championship. This is the fifth time that this fight has been booked, but for multiple reasons, it has never quite come to fruition.

Tom Taylor - December 4, 2019

Conor McGregor has stated that he intends to fight three times in the year 2020. Chael Sonnen believes the Irish MMA star will make good on this plan. “Conor McGregor’s come out and said he wants to fight three times in 2020,” Sonnen said on his podcast. “If Conor McGregor has proved that he’s anything — anything — he’s a man of his word.