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 Battle League, a promotion making an attempt to carry team-based MMA to the forefront of MMA. This yr, GFL made headlines by signing quite a few big-name fighters, including over a dozen former UFC champions, however one huge title 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, perhaps I ought to have stated sure. There have been signing bonuses. However there’s a degree the place it’s bizarre. There’s a degree the place combating is absolutely cool, and your buddies will have a look at you such as you’re actually cool, and also you go to the espresso store, they usually’ll have a look at you such as you’re cool. There’s a degree the place it’s bizarre.
“I’ve seen some guys, and I gained’t title 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 downside with this man.’ Sooner or later, 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 an extended and profitable MMA profession, difficult for the UFC middleweight title twice and changing into one of many greatest stars within the sport along with his pro-wrestling-inspired antics and trash speak. 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 establish the premier six teams in the GFL.
“I choose to be unfavorable. That makes me pleased. I choose to be a critic,” Sonnen stated. “I like to interrupt issues down. Perhaps it may very well be a film, or a meal, or a combat promotion. I wish to push their face in it just like the pet that missed the paper, and also you need 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 folks have already got a stage of expectation with, however to separate your self and make you look completely 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 carried out, which could be very small up to now, they’re off to a very good begin.
“I assumed it popped. I assumed it seemed good. I despatched it to folks,” Sonnen continued. “I actually did suppose they pulled it off. You’ve obtained to know, they’re model new, they’re simply beginning. They obtained this hell of a roster and it’s such a tough recreation. 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 might be extra seemingly than to not fail on this enterprise area. All people does. It’s a exhausting factor to interrupt into.”
GFL intends to carry its first occasion in April at a date and placement but to be decided.
Staying. Dana White doesn’t plan on ever leaving the UFC: ‘I will never retire.’
Lawsuit. Brock Lesnar revealed as WWE superstar named in ongoing lawsuit towards Vince McMahon.
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 combat.
115. Tatiana Suarez calls her title combat towards Zhang Weili ‘the real main event’ 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 massive fight 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.
Battle week.
Conor McGregor has not competed in virtually 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 digicam.Felt like I used to be respiration by a tube the entire combat. https://t.co/gl2tkNePhJ
— Mike “Beast Boy” Davis (@MikeDavisMMA) February 3, 2025
Stephen Thompson giving like to Robert Whittaker.
Truthfully, in all probability not the case anymore.
At a sure level we gotta need to be taken severely. The folks outdoors of the mma echo chamber suppose it is a bunch of racist and mentally challenged folks in right here. Each week somebody goes outdoors and provides on the the stereotype. What are we doing
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) February 3, 2025
Chael Sonnen is a great man. Don’t signal as much as work for the group that appears a bit suspect, and you don’t have any concept if it is going to work out, however don’t trash it both. At all times retains doorways open. By no means know once you’ll need to make a change.
Ballot
Who wins this weekend?
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