Tag: Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again. Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year. The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’ at MMA News.

Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has his doubts when it comes to Jorge Masvidal entering the Octagon again.

Masvidal — who failed in his two welterweight title bids opposite Kamaru Usman — called time on his mixed martial arts career at UFC 287 in Miami early last year.

The event saw “Gamebred” comfortably outpointed by Gilbert Burns, adding to his previous losses to Colby Covington and Usman to mark his fourth straight setback inside the cage.

After announcing his retirement, the 39-year-old made his expected venture to the ring, where he ran it back with fellow ex-UFC star Nate Diaz at an event this past July.

But both during the lead-up to that bout — which he lost on the scorecards — and since, Masvidal has repeatedly expressed interest in a UFC comeback. He’s even set his sights on an opponent, calling to settle his unfinished business with Leon Edwards.

But when it comes to the UFC’s alleged interest in granting the return, Sonnen isn’t buying it…

Sonnen: Masvidal Too Old For Another UFC Stint

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen discussed Masvidal’s comeback talk and his decision to place Edwards in his sights.

While “The American Gangster” suggested that the matchup itself makes more sense now than it did at the time of Masvidal’s retirement, he ultimately can’t envision the UFC being interested in the soon-to-be 40-year-old extending his Octagon career.

“The last time I checked on Masvidal, he was 39,” Sonnen said. “Masvidal has looked very thirsty as of late. … I don’t care how thirsty a guy is or what he looks like in that regard, if he’s calling out guys like Leon, that guy is a badass, and that is what Jorge Masvidal is. Now that fight wouldn’t make a lot of sense. That fight isn’t taking it anywhere. It’s not taking it to a title fight. For those reasons, the fight makes more sense. That’s the whole reason we couldn’t do it before; one was a champion but the other wasn’t a top contender.

“I don’t predict for you that they’re going to make that fight. In fact, quite the opposite. I don’t predict for you anybody at the age of 40 is going to get signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, including if it’s a re-signing,” Sonnen continued. “That’s what I think, but there’s not an actual rule that says otherwise.”

Regardless of Sonnen’s view, Masvidal is evidently confident of making the walk again down the line.

By the looks of things, he’s been hard at work at the American Top Team facility in Coconut Creek, Florida, training with the likes of former Bellator champion and current free agent Yaroslav Amosov.

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Thirsty’ Jorge Masvidal’s UFC Comeback Talk: ‘At The Age Of 40…’ at MMA News.

The ‘Bad Guy’ Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel Turn

The 'Bad Guy' Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel TurnChael Sonnen wants to see Islam Makhachev embrace his natural role as a heel. During a recent episode of…

The 'Bad Guy' Wants to See Islam Makhachev Make a Classic WWE-Style Heel Turn

Chael Sonnen wants to see Islam Makhachev embrace his natural role as a heel.

During a recent episode of his ESPN show Good Guy/Bad Guy with former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier, ‘The American Gangster’ spoke about the promotion’s recent struggles in finding the next big breakout star, much of it being blamed on the lack of lengthy title reigns by today’s talent.

Makhachev finds himself in a similar boat, having just completed his third defense of the lightweight title in June via a fifth-round submission victory over Dustin Poirier at UFC 302. Before that, the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ won back-to-back bouts against former featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski.

Islam Makhachev

Touting Jon Jones and Alex Pereira as the two biggest names in the game right now, Sonnen believes Makhachev could unseat them both and take his spot as the promotion’s top draw by making a classic WWE-style heel turn.

“Okay, that guy is so charismatic, and he is so secretly funny,” Sonnen said. “If he was to do a heel turn, I mean, come on, he said one of the great heel lines ever. He said a whole bunch of professors should be taking their black belts back from guys. Like that angle and that is blasphemy in this sport and nobody even knows got it. It was like this G-rated line, he didn’t use profanity, he didn’t yell. When he said it, he said it nicely” (h/t MMA News).

Sonnen certainly knows a thing or two about using his ability to talk as a way to sell himself. Going into his Hall of Fame clash with Anderson Silva at UFC 117, the West Linn, Oregon native drew in fight fans with his impeccable promo skills that saw him trash talk ‘The Spider’ in a way that no fighter had done before.

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Daniel Cormier wants to write material for Islam makhachev

Offering his take on the subject, Cormier appeared to agree with Sonnen, even suggesting that the two start writing material for Makhachev to help him go from a mild-mannered Dagestani scrapper to a Ric Flair-esque larger-than-life character on MMA’s biggest stage.

“I think that’s the move for Islam,” Cormier concurred. “He needs to get you and I to write him promos. We should write him promos. We write promos telling how much better he is than everyone. I would make him tell everybody that they don’t deserve to be in there with him and he’s just going to lord over this division until he decides to retire.”

Originally hoping to defend his title in Abu Dhabi this fall, Makhachev will be forced to sit out the remainder of the year due to an injury. When he is ready for a return, top-ranked contender Arman Tsarukyan will likely be the one waiting for him inside the Octagon.

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Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Foolish’ Hope of Conor McGregor UFC Comeback

Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Foolish’ Hope of Conor McGregor UFC ComebackIf you’re still holding out hope to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen has some bad…

Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Foolish’ Hope of Conor McGregor UFC Comeback

If you’re still holding out hope to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen has some bad news for you.

It’s been more than three years since we last saw the Irish megastar strap on a pair of four-ounce gloves for his disastrous trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In the time since, rumors regarding his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history” have continuously dominated headlines.

Still, it feels as though we are no closer to seeing the former two-division titleholder back inside the Octagon than we were the day after his devastating leg break in July 2021.

Conor McGregor

A sad fact when you consider that McGregor was scheduled to headline UFC 303 on June 29 against Michael Chandler before bowing out due to a broken pinky toe weeks ahead of fight night.

McGregor’s purported opponent for his long-awaited return, Michael Chandler, appears to have finally run out of patience as he is now scheduled to square off with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on Saturday, November 16.

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With Chandler moving on, three-time title challenger Chael Sonnen thinks that’ll pretty much put the nail in the coffin when it comes to ever seeing ‘Mac’ inside the eight-sided cage again.

“I don’t know what to make of Conor. We’re looking foolish at this point by continuing to act as though he’s going to come back,” Sonnen said of McGregor during a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy. “The truth is, the night he went down broken in two against Dustin Poirier, it was unlikely he was going to return. When he got other opportunities. Selling the whiskey brand, and finding himself in movies with Jake Gyllenhaal, it was unlikely that Conor was going to return…

“He got a stubbed pinky toe, that may or may not be broken and may or may not belong to him. When he walked away from a press conference in his hometown. And didn’t show up to [UFC 303], it was unlikely. Even baseball tells you three strikes, you’re out. At some point, we all have to accept this and move on” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Chandler Still Confident that Conor McGregor Returns

While Michael Chandler is putting the McGregor fight behind him for the time being, the former Bellator titleholder still believes that the Irishman isn’t done fighting just yet.

“I do think [he returns],” Chandler told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin. “Maybe I’ve just been so close to it and so focused on it that you just look at his history, Conor McGregor is a nothing, nobody without the sport of mixed martial arts. Without the UFC platform. Without the legacy that he has created.

“I believe he’s romantic about it. I believe that he loves the sport. I believe that his spirit loves the sport but sometimes his body and his brain want other things. I’ve never walked a mile in that man’s shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back and when he does, I’ll be waiting. I just might have the title by then.”

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‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amidst UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to become the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He had to win ten fights in a row to get the title shot and shut down the champ with his pressure and pace throughout the five rounds. Although the main event received a mixed response from fans, there were […]

Continue Reading ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amidst UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy at MMA News.

Merab Dvalishvili defeated Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 to become the undisputed UFC bantamweight champion. He had to win ten fights in a row to get the title shot and shut down the champ with his pressure and pace throughout the five rounds.

Although the main event received a mixed response from fans, there were some memorable moments. One of these came right at the beginning of the first when Dvalishvili criticized O’Malley’s coach for distracting him and Herb Dean had to step in.

While many have called Welch unprofessional for implementing his corner tactics, Chael Sonnen has defended the coach…

Chael Sonnen Clears ‘Misunderstanding’ Around Tim Welch Calling Out Merab Dvalishvili During Sean O’Malley Fight

Sonnen, while reacting to the UFC 306 main event on his YouTube channel, revealed his close relationship with Welch as a teammate. Despite the natural bias, he had many arguments to prove that the coach didn’t cross any lines at Riyadh Season Noche UFC.

For starters, the former title challenger remembered that many moves in MMA and boxing are named after pioneers who discovered or popularized them. So, when a coach yells a fighter’s name, they might be referring to a certain move instead of distracting the opponent.

Sonnen also talked to Welch on the phone and stood by the latter based on the tone of his statements. “The American Gangster” highlighted that the fight had just begun, and there was no way Welch’s comments were out of frustration or anger.

“When he said pressure Merab, you’re going to have to go Merab. When Tim said that, he had a very similar tone, he was just speaking, raised his voice a little bit. Wasn’t yelling, wasn’t being demeaning, there was by no means, profanity, and would you like to know, why there were none of those things? Would you like to know why that was the tone? It was right at the beginning of the match. I mean, all hell didn’t even break loose. Nobody’s chips are down, nobody’s frustrated.”

Sonnen also discussed Welch’s intention when O’Malley fought for the title against Aljamain Sterling. In a viral clip, the coach could be heard screaming Aljo’s name following which he went for a punch which helped “Suga” land the knockout blow. However, both incidents are unrelated as Sterling has confirmed he didn’t listen to Welch.

“And do you want to know why it was so calm? Because he wasn’t talking to Merab, He wasn’t telling Merab what to do, and that has been a misunderstanding of this entire thing.”

MMA fans seem to be divided over the matter, for now. Although “Funkmaster” has admitted to not hearing Welch and Dvalishvili shut him down fairly quickly, the fact that Welch took an opponent’s name from the corner in consecutive fights is upsetting for many.

Continue Reading ‘He Wasn’t Talking To Merab’ – Chael Sonnen Defends Sean O’Malley’s Coach Amidst UFC 306 Excessive Coaching Controversy at MMA News.

Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White: ‘Because It Was In A Stadium…’

The UFC has been around for over three decades and the organization has held stadium shows only four times to date. These events took place in Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil. While tons of fans in the United States and the United Kingdom look fo…

The UFC has been around for over three decades and the organization has held stadium shows only four times to date. These events took place in Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil. While tons of fans in the United States and the United Kingdom look forward to attending a UFC event in a stadium, Dana White […]

Continue Reading Chael Sonnen Remembers Poor Experience Watching Iconic WWE Fight To Support Dana White: ‘Because It Was In A Stadium…’ at MMA News.

‘It’s Not Good!’ – Chael Sonnen Predicts Tom Aspinall Could Suffer The Same Fate As Ronda Rousey Against Jon Jones

Although Jon Jones will most likely be booked to fight Stipe Miocic next, his rivalry with Tom Aspinall is also heating up on the sidelines. The interim UFC heavyweight champion is eager to unify the belts, requiring him to face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic. Aspinall has bagged 15 wins since turning pro in […]

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Although Jon Jones will most likely be booked to fight Stipe Miocic next, his rivalry with Tom Aspinall is also heating up on the sidelines. The interim UFC heavyweight champion is eager to unify the belts, requiring him to face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic.

Aspinall has bagged 15 wins since turning pro in MMA, and all of them have been stoppages via KO or submission. On top of that, he’s finished all but one fight in the UFC in the first round. This explains why fans consider him to be Jones’ real test instead of Miocic, who hasn’t fought since losing to Francis Ngannou in 2021.

Aspinall has looked unstoppable till now, but Chael Sonnen has concerns about him not being tested enough in the Octagon yet…

Chael Sonnen Highlights Striking Similarities In Early UFC Careers Of Tom Aspinall And Ronda Rousey

Sonnen discussed the rivalry between Aspinall and Jones on his YouTube channel recently. He believes that the interim champ bringing up the undisputed kingpin’s past PED usage was bound to rub the latter the wrong way.

“The American Gangster” then stated that a fight between “Bones” and Aspinall, if it happens, will likely be scheduled for UFC International Fight Week in 2025. It might be hard for Aspinall to get an opponent during this time as the interim champ, and his inactivity would work in favor of the former UFC light heavyweight champion.

Sonnen also revealed the downside of Aspinall firing through the competition with such ease so far. His rise to the top resembles Ronda Rousey, who had 11 first-round finishes in her pro career, including five in the UFC.

“I’m not sure you understand that. That is not helpful, that is not a good thing. It looks good and it sounds good, it’s not good! When you find yourself in a fight harder than you’re used to, it’s a problem for everybody. It is the number one reason that Ronda lost to Holly Holm. It was not the right leg kick. It was because the six other girls that Ronda had been in there with checked out collectively in a shorter time than Holly had made it. That was the problem. It’s a problem for everyone. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

According to the former UFC middleweight title contender, Rousey lost to Holly Holm because she wasn’t used to opponents surviving her initial onslaught. As soon as someone put her to the test, she was overwhelmed and it all came crashing down.

Sonnen fears that Aspinall might have similar problems if he takes on an opponent as durable and experienced as Jones. For now, though, there is no way to confirm whether we’ll ever see the two meet in the Octagon.

Continue Reading ‘It’s Not Good!’ – Chael Sonnen Predicts Tom Aspinall Could Suffer The Same Fate As Ronda Rousey Against Jon Jones at MMA News.