Chael Sonnen joins ESPN as analyst

Outspoken former UFC competitor Chael Sonnen has joined ESPN as a mixed martial arts (MMA) analyst.

Sonnen, who thrice competed for UFC titles, including twice against Anderson "The Spider" Silva, retired from the sport earlier this year after failing a drug test and being suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

"The biggest thing to happen to ESPN since… well, [nothing really comes close," Sonnen said in a statement that appeared on ESPN.com.

"In all seriousness, to ESPN, to Disney, to the Hearst Corporation, and to all the viewers, you're welcome. From one industry leader to another, I look forward to the opportunity of bringing my stories, insight, and unique perspective of mixed martial arts to the network," Sonnen added.

ESPN said Sonnen will regularly appear on "SportsCenter" and other platforms, and will officially make his network debut during ESPN's coverage of UFC 180 on November 15.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sonnen reveals $5M offer from WWE

MANILA, Philippines – Former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen revealed that he was once offered a $5 million contract by the WWE while he was still active in the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion.

“Here's the nuts and bolts of it: I was offered $5 million by [WWE promoter] Vince McMahon. Now, I was still under contract with the UFC and I never took this to Dana (White). I handled it on my own. I told [WWE], ‘No’ and that was the end of that,” he said in BJ Penn.com.



Sonnen was known for resorting to trash talks and has become largely successful in hyping his fights. This asset seemed to have gotten McMahon’s attention, hence the WWE offer.

The former fighter, however, said he did not bother to open the subject to UFC president Dana White as he might be seen as someone disloyal to UFC.

“I knew if I called Dana and said, ‘I’ve got a $5 million offer from Vince McMahon,’ Dana would have matched it,” said Sonnen. “Dana would have come close and now all of a sudden I’m not a loyal employee.”

Ironically, Sonnen was forced to retire from MMA competition after he was found positive for the use of human growth hormone (HGH), recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), anastrozole, and human chorionic gonadotropin.

That was the third time he failed a drug test in his MMA career.

Later, UFC and FOX Sports announced they had terminated Sonnen's contract as a UFC analyst due to his multiple failed drug tests.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sonnen fails another drug test

Retired Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Chael Sonnen was revealed to have failed another drug test, weeks after he stepped away from the sport.

MMA Fighting reported that Sonnen, who fought in the middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions, tested positive for four banned substances in a test conducted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission on June 5.

It was the second random drug test that Sonnen had failed.

In June 5, it was revealed that he had failed a drug test conducted May 24, and he later announced his retirement from the sport.

According to the MMA Fighting report, Sonnen tested positive for human growth hormone, recombinant human erythropoietin, anastrozole, and human chorionic gonadotropin.

"Yes, the Commissioner is aware of other prescribed medications I was taking and I will not challenge their allegations," Sonnen told MMA Fighting. "I will cooperate with the Commission and look forward to having a dialogue about how fighters who transition off TRT can avoid violating any rules."

The UFC said they have been "made aware" that Sonnen failed another drug test.

"Our stance on the subject remains the same. We support the commission and will continue to ensure that all UFC competitors compete free of performance-enhancing drugs and banned substances," the UFC said in a statement.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sonnen wants 3rd fight vs Silva

MANILA – Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Chael Sonnen said he wants to get a third fight against Anderson Silva if the former UFC middleweight champion returns to the octagon.

Sonnen, who has lost twice against the MMA legend, said he’d like to take on “The Spider” even if there’s no title at stake.

“I want to have a third fight (against Anderson). I still want to beat him for some source of competition,” he said in Bloody elbow.

Silva is currently recovering from a horrific injury he sustained while challenging Chris Weidman for the middleweight title in UFC 168 last December. The Brazilian accidentally broke his left leg after Weidman blocked his roundhouse kick.

Silva is rehabilitating his broken leg and vowed to return to the UFC soon.

Meanwhile, Sonnen said he also has two more opponents in mind.

“I also want to face Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. I don't wish them a bad life but in a fight I can't step back and I have to punch their faces. There is an expression in America that says: if want to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs,” he said.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sonnen unfazed by TRT ban

MANILA, Philippines – Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Chael Sonnen said he will abide by the recent ruling of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) which voted unanimously to ban the use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the state.

Sonnen is one of several MMA fighters who are known to use TRT in the past.

"The rules are the rules," he said in a Yahoo! Sports report. "Yesterday, it was legal; so quit complaining. Today, it’s illegal; so quit complaining. Testosterone is out."

The NSAC’s decision has forced Vitor Belfort, another TRT user, to withdraw from his middleweight title challenge against UFC champion Chris Weidman.

Belfort was supposed to fight Weidman on May 24 but due to time constraints relating to his testosterone therapy, he has decided to bail out from the fight.

"As other jurisdictions may follow suit, I am going to drop my TRT program and compete in MMA without it," Belfort said. "Given the time constraints involved between now and my proposed next bout in May, I have determined not to apply for a license to fight in Nevada at this time."

Weidman will instead fight former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

'Wanderlei won't fight Sonnen without PPV share'

MANILA – UFC President Dana White said “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva has turned down the offer to fight Chael Sonnen at UFC 167 in November.

White said in MMA Fighting that the former PRIDE middleweight champion won’t fight Sonnen unless he’s given a share of pay-per-view earnings.

"[Silva] said he won't fight him unless he gets PPV [points],” said White. “So I guess he's gonna retire."

When asked what UFC plans for Sonnen, White said: "we will figure it out."

Shortly after submitting Silva’s fellow PRIDE fighter, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua last weekend, Sonnen called out Silva.

"Right here, on the UFC's new home, FOX Sports 1," Sonnen was quoted as saying in Fight Line.

"Wanderlei Silva, 6-feet tall, 205 pounds; boy, until I met you, I didn't know they could stack crap that high," said UFC's self-styled bad boy.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sonnen submits 'Shogun' on UFC Fight Night

MANILA, Philippines – Chael Sonnen arrested his two-fight losing streak in impressive fashion, submitting former UFC light-heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Boston on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).

Sonnen, who has lost to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones in back-to-back title fights, took the Brazilian Rua down seconds into the fight and kept up the pressure even as “Shogun” got back up to his feet quickly.

Sonnen missed a couple of huge shots late into the fight, but with just 30 seconds left, he was able to trap Rua in a guillotine choke. The former champion tapped at the 4:47 mark of the very first round.

After the fight, Sonnen called out another Brazilian legend, Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva.

Sonnen’s submission victory capped an impressive fight card that saw a lot of quick finishes, including Matt Brown’s 29-second knockout of Mike Pyle in the undercard.

Brown won his sixth consecutive bout after lading an overhand right, then swarming Pyle with more blows to claim the stoppage victory.

In another exciting showdown, Travis Browne survived an early barrage from Alistair Overeem to shockingly knockout the Dutch kickboxer late in the first round.

Overeem nearly stopped Browne early in the bout, showering him with body punches and knees. But Browne managed to hold on, and then landed a perfectly placed front kick to the chin that dropped Overeem to the mat.

The time of stoppage was 4:08 of the first round.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sonnen says 'rift' with LeBron over

MANILA – Former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen said NBA superstar LeBron James has already made peace with him and that there’s no more beef between them.

Sonnen, who recently called James a “dork” in Jim Rome’s program in Showtime, said the Miami Heat forward is already “off the hook.”

"LeBron has made it right," MMA Fighting quoted Sonnen as saying.

When pressed to further comment, he said: "That’s between LeBron and me. He did the right thing, and I forgave him."

The UFC fighter earlier claimed that James made rude comments on her fiancée. This, Sonne said, prompted him to launch a public tirade against the basketball star.

"This guy walked up to my fiancee backstage and asks her if there’s a Tic Tac in her blouse or if she was just happy to see him," related Sonnen.

Sonnen is scheduled to fight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in UFC on FOX 1 on August 17 in Boston.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

UFC 148 live blog: Anderson Silva ends Chael Sonnen rivalry emphatically

The greatest fighter in the UFC has a new greatest moment after Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Anderson Silva stayed undefeated in the octagon, winning his 15th straight and notching a victory that had to feel more satisfying than any of the other ones to defend his middleweight championship belt. Silva defeated rival Chael Sonnen 1 minute, 55 seconds into the second round with a TKO in the UFC 148 main event.

"He's a true champion, man," Sonnen said while still in the octagon.

If only for a split second, the sold-out crowd stood silent at that suggestion. It was Sonnen who had insulted Silva in every way possible over the past two years, making this bout into the biggest in UFC history and instilling the champion with a hatred no one had ever heard before.

Silva didn't break any of Sonnen's limbs as advertised, but he did manage to destroy the brash 185-pound wrestler with a barrage of strikes that included two right hands and a devastating knee to the body.

"Chael disrespects my country, but it's fine," Silva said. "This is a sport. This is the UFC."

With that, Silva wrapped his left arm around Sonnen's shoulder and attempted to end a feud that has captivated the sports world. He even invited Sonnen to a barbecue at his house, though that was likely a back-handed crack at the challenger who had turned his trash talk personal when he said he wanted to pat Silva's wife "on the (butt)" and tell her "to make me a steak, medium rare just how I like it,” on a radio show months ago.

The fight went Sonnen's way early. Just like their first fight, Sonnen managed to take Silva to the ground immediately. He threw ground-and-pound and smothered the Brazilian for the opening five minutes of the fight.

But Sonnen couldn't convert on a takedown to start the second round and Silva got the space he needed to operate. A right-hand dropped Sonnen and Silva then showed his killer instinct, rushing in to strike until it was impossible for the referee to let the bout go any longer.

"They gave me the opportunity," Sonnen said. "No one owes me anything. I'm very grateful to be here and have the chance."

The co-main event also delivered a conclusion to a long-running rivalry. Local fighter Forrest Griffin won a unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Tito Ortiz for the second time in four years.

Ortiz knocked Griffin down in both the second and third rounds, but it wasn't enough as he faded late in each of the frames with Griffin coming on strong.

"I'm going to be linked to Tito forever," Griffin said. "We have had three really close fights. He was throwing the kitchen sink at me and I was too tired to get out of the way. It always comes down to fatigue. I don't know who won that fight to be honest. I'm going to need to watch that back."

Cung Le, Demian Maia, Chad Mendes and Mike Easton also thrilled with victories on the main card.

source: lasvegassun.com