Chael Sonnen has become one of the biggest draws in mixed martial arts today.
Whether you accept his media-driven persona or despise his bravado, there’s no denying “The American Gangster” is transcending the sport.
When Sonnen steps inside the Octagon later this evening to take on fellow UFC Tonight co-host and former divisional standout Rashad Evans, he’ll have yet another opportunity to prove that conditioning, world-class wrestling and in-your-face pressure only seen on the mean streets of Oregon are all you need to win.
But when you look at what 2014 holds for the 36-year-old, who always seems to have his next few moves planned out, it’s hard to think a loss against “Suga” would hurt his value.
People tend to forget that Sonnen‘s only defeats since 2009 have come against Anderson Silva and Jon Jones, two of the best pound-for-pound champions of all time. It’s crazy to say, considering his inability to capture a title, but Sonnen is one of the most consistent fighters around.
So even though it wouldn’t surprise many if he can out-hustle and out-point an athletically superior opponent like Evans, Sonnen doesn’t need to win to stay on top.
With a rivalry opposite the legendary Wanderlei Silva boiling over into next year, as well as an upcoming stint as a head coach on The Ultimate Fighter Season 3 in Brazil, the former middleweight top contender is already dressed for future success.
Now whether or not Sonnen has what it takes to defeat a one-punch knockout specialist hellbent on putting him six-feet-under, he has once again secured more time under the UFC spotlight. Not to mention his pre-fight antics and microphone mechanics will now be featured on an international scale.
As a professional athlete who prides himself in giving it all he has, Sonnen obviously wants to defeat Evans at UFC 167 and move up the divisional ladder. But as an aging veteran who knows his time is limited, Sonnen is going to make a living off of fighting big UFC draws and making as fists of cash for everyone involved.
That’s why a win or loss to Evans isn’t going to deter him from booking huge super fights, grudge matches and standout showdowns in the future. He has done enough for the promotion to earn that privilege.
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