Chael Sonnen Says He’s the Biggest Draw in the UFC as he Plans Title Run

Former top contender, Chael Sonnen returns to the Octagon this weekend at the inaugural  UFC on FOX Sports 1 show, after being defeated by Jon Jones in his latest attempt to capture UFC gold. Sonnen seemed to be stepping away from the sport citing a lack of desire to participate in a sport in which he can’t capture a title.

Now, with a big fight looming just days away, Sonnen reiterates to fans why he is so valuable to the UFC (via The Daily Mail):

I’m the biggest draw in the business. It’s a revolving door; I was the highest-paid fighter in the business and that’s a compliment. Then Georges [St. Pierre] came back and now I’m not, but I hang on to those things. They’re small titles but they’re titles all the same. I haven’t reached my goals, any of them. I’m chasing the same thing I always was. This isn’t a top contender fight but we’re both ranked in the top 10. He’s a former world champion, I’ve never been a UFC champion before. It’s a big deal to me, I can tell you that much. I still feel I can win the championship. I can’t think of a fighter who doesn’t think they can win the championship.”

Sonnen blames welterweight champion, Georges St-Pierre for his drop down the earnings ladder but is more than likely still compensated well, as he does remain a beacon of MMA news as his fight approaches or pretty much whenever he opens his mouth.

Sonnen knows that he must make his way through a very game Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua as well. Sonnen has always known (whether pre- or post-fight) that the title of champion comes with a talent level that supersedes others in the division:

‘Could he have done more? Yeah, probably but I think that can be said about all of us.

‘He’s a champion, there’s a no way around it, he’s a bad dude. He’s as tough as they come, he hangs in there if he’s hurt or not and he’s fought everyone and that’s rare.’

UFC on FOX Sports 1 takes place this Saturday at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

BJPENN.com will have live coverage of the event.

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