Chael Sonnen is aware of his personal limitations.
A significant story in MMA over the previous few months has been the emergence of the brand new International Combat League, a promotion trying to convey team-based MMA to the forefront of MMA. This 12 months, GFL made headlines by signing quite a few big-name fighters, together with over a dozen former UFC champions, however one huge identify they didn’t get was Chael P. Sonnen.
Talking with Drake Riggs of Uncrowned, Sonnen not too long ago revealed that when GFL got here knocking, “The American Gangster” despatched them packing.
“Sure, they did [call],” Sonnen stated. “In hindsight, possibly I ought to have stated sure. There have been signing bonuses. However there’s some extent the place it’s bizarre. There’s some extent the place combating is admittedly cool, and your buddies will take a look at you such as you’re actually cool, and also you go to the espresso store, they usually’ll take a look at you such as you’re cool. There’s some extent the place it’s bizarre.
“I’ve seen some guys, and I received’t identify them, who’re 40, who’re 41, that fought. I keep in mind pondering, ‘Put your garments on. You’re taking your shirt off, placing your mouthpiece in, you bought no drawback with this man.’ In some unspecified time in the future, it’s bizarre. That’s the rationale I stated no.
“Whether or not you’re the best of all time or not — which I’m — sooner or later, it’s bizarre,” Sonnen added. “There’s only a level the place you bought to cease.”
Sonnen had a protracted and profitable MMA profession, difficult for the UFC middleweight title twice and turning into one of many largest stars within the sport along with his pro-wrestling-inspired antics and trash discuss. He retired in 2019 on the age of 42 however did return for an exhibition boxing match towards Anderson Silva in 2025.
And whereas Sonnen might have turned down the GFL, he was nonetheless impressed by the promotion’s debut occasion, a “draft” to determine the premier six groups within the GFL.
“I desire to be unfavorable. That makes me glad. I desire to be a critic,” Sonnen stated. “I like to interrupt issues down. Possibly it might be a film, or a meal, or a struggle promotion. I prefer to push their face in it just like the pet that missed the paper, and also you wish to know one thing? [For] their rollout, the place they did that little piece that they had for social media the place Tyron Woodley got here out and he was like this superhero, it was fairly badass from a manufacturing standpoint. From looking for one thing as simplistic as martial arts and what individuals have already got a degree of expectation with, however to separate your self and make you look totally different — I assumed they pulled it off. It pains me to say as a result of I might love to only [criticize]. I assumed for what they’ve executed, which may be very small up to now, they’re off to a superb begin.
“I assumed it popped. I assumed it seemed good. I despatched it to individuals,” Sonnen continued. “I actually did assume they pulled it off. You’ve bought to grasp, they’re model new, they’re simply beginning. They bought this hell of a roster and it’s such a tough sport. If there’s any enterprise you’re going to enter that takes balls, it’s this one. As a result of each enterprise is hard, however you’re extra seemingly than to not fail on this enterprise area. Everyone does. It’s a onerous factor to interrupt into.”
GFL intends to carry its first occasion in April at a date and site but to be decided.
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Shade. Miguel Torres throws shade at Dana White over lack of punishment for Bryce Mitchell’s Hitler feedback.
Mentality. Dricus du Plessis reveals bone-chilling mindset about willingness to ‘kill a person in entrance of his household’ in struggle.
115. Tatiana Suarez calls her title struggle towards Zhang Weili ‘the actual primary occasion’ for UFC 312.
Oscar. Watch Petr Yan troll Aljamain Sterling for unlawful knee forward of actuality TV collection.
Boxing. Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford reportedly agreed for large struggle in September.
Tatiana Suarez interview forward of UFC 312.
Eric Nicksick interview forward of UFC 312.
UFC 312 Embedded.
Justin Gaethje forward of UFC 313.
Daniel Cormier reacts to UFC Saudi Arabia.
On To The Subsequent One.
Combat week.
Conor McGregor has not competed in nearly 4 years.
Been there, bro. I failed.
Some controversy with the locker rooms in Saudi Arabia.
I am telling you. I used to be not myself on the market. I used to be out of breathe shadow boxing for the digital camera.
Felt like I used to be respiration via a tube the entire struggle. https://t.co/gl2tkNePhJ
— Mike “Beast Boy” Davis (@MikeDavisMMA) February 3, 2025
Stephen Thompson giving like to Robert Whittaker.
Actually, most likely not the case anymore.
At a sure level we gotta wish to be taken significantly. The individuals exterior of the mma echo chamber assume it is a bunch of racist and mentally challenged individuals in right here. Each week somebody goes exterior and provides on the the stereotype. What are we doing
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) February 3, 2025
Chael Sonnen is a brilliant man. Don’t signal as much as work for the group that appears a bit suspect, and you don’t have any thought if it can work out, however don’t trash it both. At all times retains doorways open. By no means know while you’ll wish to make a change.
Ballot
Who wins this weekend?
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