MMA News

Tag: Chael Sonnen

  • Chael Sonnen Sends Message For Nassourdine Imavov About Why He Is Losing The Middleweight Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen Sends Message For Nassourdine Imavov About Why He Is Losing The Middleweight Title Picture

    Chael Sonnen says Nassourdine Imavov is squandering his opportunity to secure a UFC middleweight title shot by staying silent while Khamzat Chimaev dominates the post-UFC 328 conversation.

    Sonnen addressed the situation on his YouTube channel, pointing out that Imavov has both Sean Strickland’s endorsement and the community’s backing — but has done nothing to capitalize on either.

    “Imavov, rightfully by us as a community, should be next for a world title, regardless of who is champion. Imavov was next. As a community, that is what we believe. But Imavov hasn’t demanded that. Imavov hasn’t said a word. He has not spoken up. He’s got the blessing of Sean Strickland. Sean Strickland spoke about this one time and say, ‘Yes, I will rematch Chimaev, but that’s going to have to wait, but Imavov is owed. Imavov is the rightful guy. I’m going to fight Imavov.’ That is the blessing and the kiss. That is all Imavov needs in conjunction with some headlines, and he’s not getting them.”

    Sonnen dismissed the weight cut narrative Chimaev’s team has been pushing, framing it as a storyline that only works because Imavov has created nothing to compete with it.

    “It doesn’t matter to any of them, including Chimaev’s team. They’re just pretending it matters. Why? Because it keeps a headline and a topic that involves Chimaev and Strickland. We’re going to have a real hard time building a beef between Chimaev and Strickland who just got done laughing at us for believing their beef in the first place, so they’ve gone to a new angle. Which is the angle of the weight cut. The built-in excuse.”

    “‘Chimaev should beat Strickland and Chimaev should rematch Strickland because he can flip the result, and he can flip the result because of this one thing, the weight cut,’ is a lot bigger story than Imavov’s put out, which is nothing.”

    Imavov has responded on social media by posting that he believes everyone will stand on what they said, tagging Strickland and UFC matchmaker Mick Maynard. He is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and has not lost since a short-notice light heavyweight bout against Strickland in 2023.

    Dana White has acknowledged the UFC has not decided what to do with the middleweight title picture. Strickland entered UFC 328 with several injuries and is expected to need several months of recovery before returning to action.

  • Chael Sonnen Lays Out Exact Steps Gina Carano Needs To Take To Get Another Big Fight

    Chael Sonnen Lays Out Exact Steps Gina Carano Needs To Take To Get Another Big Fight

    Chael Sonnen says Gina Carano’s coach coming out to reveal she was “gutted” by her 17-second loss to Ronda Rousey was exactly the right move to keep her fighting career alive, and believes the only logical next opponent is Holly Holm.

    Sonnen had previously criticized Carano’s seemingly indifferent demeanor after the loss at MVP MMA 1. When coach John Wood revealed this week that Carano was devastated and considering another fight, Sonnen welcomed the update on his podcast.

    “This was very helpful. This was great that coach Wood came out and did this, because that was the part that was missing. I don’t know if Gina can get another walk. I don’t know if she can get another contract. It would be tough, and you’d need a lot of really perfect things to happen to get Gina, particularly in a headlining role. But that’s what happened with the Ronda fight. Nobody thought 240-pound, ex-fighter, 17 years removed, was going to get a headlining role, that sets records, that pays millions of dollars. Nobody thought that would happen, but everything lined up just right. So, it can be done, as long as the ingredient that she cares is part of this. And that’s why it was so helpful that coach Wood came out and said she’s gutted.”

    Sonnen explained why Carano’s post-fight demeanor was damaging and what needed to happen to course-correct.

    “This is great, because when Gina got up and smiled, and talked about how wonderful this was, and how proud she was for this moment, how grateful, it does break the deal with the audience. It literally could end her career that she got up and smiled and hugged it out, because now she’s letting everyone know, ‘I don’t care.’ And if you don’t care, then we can’t care. It’s not possible.”

    He laid out the formula Carano would need to follow to earn another opportunity.

    “Now what does she need? She needs to get back to the gym. Again, it’s just a story, guys. We don’t know if she didn’t care just because she looked like she didn’t. We don’t know if she’s gutted, just because her coach said she was. We don’t know if she’s back in the gym. It’s a story. But the story has to be told this way. If she truly cares and this is a passion of hers, she’d be back in the gym. Then, once you set the table in this way — she cares, she’s back, she’s in shape, she’s embarrassed, she’s coming back — then the fourth and final ingredient, which comes about a week from now, then you tell us the proposed opponent.”

    On who that opponent should be, Sonnen pointed to one name.

    “Gina’s putting pieces, but the final one is who? And then you’ve got to sit back and react. I don’t know what the community is going to do to the idea of Gina vs. Holly Holm. I just know that’s the direction. That’s the only possible direction. So you’ve got to build it, you’ve got to set it out there, and the community is going to jump on it. They’re either going to like it, or they’re not. But that’s still the way the game is played.”

    A rematch with Rousey is off the table following her retirement. Holm is the woman who handed Rousey her first career loss in 2015.

  • Chael Sonnen Says Jorge Masvidal Will Never Fight in UFC

    Chael Sonnen Says Jorge Masvidal Will Never Fight in UFC

    Chael Sonnen is not backing down from his position on Jorge Masvidal’s UFC return prospects, and he has expanded the dispute well beyond the original argument about whether a fight will happen.

    Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Sonnen doubled down after Masvidal’s public rebuttal and made his core claim plainly.

    “Well, that’s a tough one. It’s very tough because I don’t take Jorge as like an equal. I don’t look at him as like an unequal. And he is claiming that he’s going to fight in the Octagon, and I don’t come to him to hurt his dreams. I’m coming just to let his life get on track. Don’t pause. Don’t cancel your plans on the weekend. You’re not fighting in the Octagon.”

    Sonnen suggested Masvidal may have been given incorrect information by someone within the UFC rather than intentionally fabricating a story.

    “I’m either right or I’m wrong. But for me to be right, he doesn’t have to actually go in there and fight. He just has to have been told by somebody in authority that he’s going to go in there and fight. And I think he should call that person back. There was a misunderstanding. Jorge Masvidal will never fight in the UFC. That’s not a knock to Jorge Masvidal. That’s a reality. I made that claim and that really struck a nerve. I don’t know why that made him so upset.”

    On the question of fighting Masvidal himself, Sonnen drew a clear distinction between acceptance and pursuit.

    “I would never turn down a fight with Jorge Masvidal, but I would never seek a fight with Jorge Masvidal. The guys that I come out on your show when I call these guys like Jon Jones, like Fedor Emelianenko. This is Jorge Masvidal. Like Jorge, I don’t really know what to do with this.”

    He also proposed settling the size argument on the spot.

    “Jorge is greatly out of shape. And Jorge made a claim that he would come up to heavyweight to face me. And I just, I thought that would be fun for your show. Like, hey Jorge, let’s both fly into Ariel’s show and let’s just do a weigh-in right now. I won’t have a lot of time to lose weight. You won’t have a little bit. Let’s just go right into Ariel’s show and let’s just get on a scale because there is no way that he is the smaller guy.”

    Sonnen also questioned whether Masvidal actually controls Gamebred MMA in any operational sense, pressing Helwani repeatedly on whether Masvidal personally signs checks for fighters or holds a promoter’s license, ultimately concluding he does not believe Masvidal is the person paying the talent.

  • Jorge Masvidal Challenges Chael Sonnen to Bare-Knuckle MMA Fight After Sonnen Called Him a Liar

    Jorge Masvidal Challenges Chael Sonnen to Bare-Knuckle MMA Fight After Sonnen Called Him a Liar

    Jorge Masvidal has escalated his feud with Chael Sonnen by challenging him to a bare-knuckle MMA fight at his own promotion, delivering one of his more colorful responses in a career that has not been short of them.

    The confrontation stems from Sonnen calling out Masvidal on his YouTube channel and branding him a liar for claiming to be in discussions with the UFC about a return. Masvidal addressed the comments on the Deathrow podcast and made clear he has not forgotten that Sonnen cornered Colby Covington during their rivalry, which he considers a line crossed.

    “This motherf—er has nerve,” Masvidal said. “Every time he mentions my name his 17 fans tune in because he literally has no views, everyone has forgotten about this guy. I’m gonna beat the living f—ing breaks out of you, but not for free. I’ll pay you to come over to my promotion bare-knuckle MMA, I’ll go up to heavyweight, beat the lesbian out of you.”

    Masvidal and Sonnen had a respectful relationship until Masvidal turned on him in 2022 after comments Sonnen made that Masvidal took as a betrayal. Sonnen’s decision to corner Covington, Masvidal’s most bitter rival, further damaged whatever remained of the dynamic.

    Masvidal is still awaiting a confirmed UFC return. Dana White confirmed he is in discussions with Masvidal about a comeback, though no opponent has been finalized. Masvidal has stated he would immediately drop back to welterweight for a fight with Leon Edwards.

    Gamebred Promotions, Masvidal’s bareknuckle MMA organization, holds its next event on May 1, headlined by Yoel Romero vs. Hector Lombard.

  • Chael Sonnen Slams Jon Jones For Retirement U-Turns, Supports Dana White’s Freedom 250 Snub: ‘What Good Is Your Word?’

    Chael Sonnen Slams Jon Jones For Retirement U-Turns, Supports Dana White’s Freedom 250 Snub: ‘What Good Is Your Word?’

    Chael Sonnen has weighed in on the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Jon Jones, backing Dana White’s decision to keep the former two-division champion off the highly anticipated UFC Freedom 250 card.

    “Bones” once again stirred confusion over the weekend after indicating he would remain retired, before quickly reversing course a day later. The latest flip-flop has only added to a long pattern of indecision, and Sonnen made it clear he’s had enough.

    Chael Sonnen Questions Jon Jones’ Reliability Amid Retirement Flip-Flops

    Sonnen recently criticized Jones’ back-and-forth stance on social media, arguing that inconsistency at that level damages trust.

    “Jon Jones publicly retired on Friday, which is enough, per the rules, to have yourself removed from the testing pool,” Sonnen said. “Jon Jones, on Saturday, came back and said he is not officially retired, which, per the rules, is enough to reinsert yourself into the testing pool.”

    “The Bad Guy” didn’t stop there, raising a deeper concern about credibility.

    “When you put out a statement on Friday and the exact opposite statement on Saturday, there is a simple question… what good is your word?”

    Sonnen emphasized that being a champion requires more than just skill inside the cage.

    “If you’re the baddest dude in the world and you’re going to be the world champion, you’ve got to be a man. And nobody’s going to mistake you for a man… if they can’t trust you.”

    Chael Sonnen Backs Dana White’s Decision To Leave Jon Jones Off UFC White House Card

    The former title challenger also agreed with the UFC CEO’s stance on not booking “Bones” for the high-profile White House event set for June 14, pointing to his unpredictability as a major issue.

    “When we end up in a situation like this with Jon, where he’s in and he’s out… you can’t count on a guy like that,” Sonnen said on YouTube. “From what we’ve been told, the entire knock on Jon, and why he didn’t get on the White House card, is because they couldn’t count on him.”

    According to Sonnen, this inconsistency has followed Jones for years and continues to impact how the UFC does business with him.

    “It creates a very unusual and difficult position,” he added. “You can’t count on him. When he shows up, is it fun? Sure, but you know the result ahead of time. It’s very difficult.”

    Sonnen even contrasted Jones’ situation with UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, highlighting the respect that comes with certainty.

    “That’s not how men talk,” Sonnen said. “There was never a doubt when Khabib said, ‘I’m done’… we knew that his word meant something.”

  • Chael Sonnen Believes Michael Chandler Could Retire If He Loses At UFC Freedom 250

    Chael Sonnen Believes Michael Chandler Could Retire If He Loses At UFC Freedom 250

    Three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler might be just one loss away from retirement, according to UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen. The 39-year-old lightweight faces Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House, and Sonnen believes a loss could end Chandler’s fighting career.

    Chandler enters the bout on a three-fight losing streak and has dropped five of his last six UFC appearances. Originally hoping to face Conor McGregor to complete their TUF 31 saga, Chandler instead drew the surging knockout artist Ruffy after UFC president Dana White moved on from the McGregor matchup.

    Chael Sonnen Predicts Retirement After Potential Loss

    In a recent video, Sonnen explained that Chandler still harbors championship ambitions despite his recent struggles. However, at 39 years old with consecutive setbacks that goal appears increasingly unrealistic.

    “Chandler will retire if Ruffy beats him. He likely will, and I do not know if it will necessarily be his choice. Chandler is now 38 years old. Chandler is also gainfully employed by Paramount and is going to be part of the announcing team.”

    Sonnen continued:

    “Chandler’s one of those guys who still wants to be a world champion. So if he gets confronted with that’s just not in your future… He likely would say, ‘Fair enough. Give my spot to somebody else.’”

    With championship aspirations fading and a dangerous opponent ahead, June 14 could mark the final chapter of Chandler’s fighting career.

  • Chael Sonnen: UFC Can Book Conor McGregor Against Anyone

    Chael Sonnen: UFC Can Book Conor McGregor Against Anyone

    Chael Sonnen believes the UFC can book Conor McGregor against any opponent and still sell out an arena. The former title challenger says McGregor remains one of the biggest draws in combat sports despite approaching five years without a fight.

    McGregor has not competed since July 2021 at UFC 264, where he suffered a broken leg in a trilogy bout loss to Dustin Poirier. The 37-year-old was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 but withdrew due to injury.

    Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen addressed the ongoing speculation about McGregor’s comeback opponent. Names like Jorge Masvidal, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Nate Diaz have been frequently mentioned as potential matchups.

    Red Panty Night Still Real

    Sonnen stated that McGregor’s drawing power transcends his opponents’ quality. He believes the former champion can generate massive interest regardless of who stands across from him.

    “Conor’s in a unique spot. ‘Red Panty Night’ is still real,” Sonnen said. “Conor can be in there with Ian Garry. Conor can be in there with Max Holloway. Conor McGregor could be in there with your neighbor, it doesn’t make a damn bit of difference. They’ve only got so many tickets and they’re going to sell them all.”

    The reference to “Red Panty Night” stems from McGregor’s own phrase describing the financial windfall opponents receive when fighting him. Sonnen believes that phenomenon remains intact despite McGregor’s extended absence.

    Potential Opponents and UFC Strategy

    Sonnen stated the UFC might give McGregor a relevant contender rather than a legacy matchup. He specifically mentioned welterweight contender Ian Garry as a possibility.

    “I have a feeling that Conor’s going to get dealt right from the bottom of the deck,” Sonnen said. “I have a feeling they’re going to throw an ace on the table because Conor is willing to do it. I have a feeling he’s going to fight Ian Garry or an Ian Garry type.”

    Nate Diaz recently claimed the UFC offered him a trilogy bout with McGregor, but he turned it down to fight Mike Perry at an upcoming event. Sonnen believes that matchup could still materialize if circumstances change.

    McGregor has just one victory since 2016, a 40-second knockout of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. His reputation has been impacted by both in-cage struggles and legal issues, including being found liable for sexual assault in a civil case in November 2024.

    Sonnen added that while the UFC has flexibility in booking McGregor, fan sentiment could ultimately influence the decision on his comeback opponent.

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Islam Makhachev’s Fights Are Hard To Sell

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Islam Makhachev’s Fights Are Hard To Sell

    Islam Makhachev may be one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, but his success has created an unexpected problem. Former title challenger Chael Sonnen believes the welterweight champion’s overwhelming skill level makes it hard for fans to get excited about his fights.

    UFC President Dana White recently confirmed that Makhachev will return in August to defend his welterweight title for the first time. The Russian won the 170-pound belt via unanimous decision over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 on November 15, 2025, after vacating the lightweight title months earlier.

    Potential challengers like Ian Machado Garry and Kamaru Usman have been mentioned as options for Makhachev’s first defense. Moving up a weight class has given the champion fresh matchups, but Sonnen questions whether those fights will capture fans’ interest.

    Sonnen Questions Excitement Level for Makhachev Fights

    In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen explained his perspective on the challenge Makhachev faces as a dominant champion.

    “It wasn’t to insult, Islam’s great. I fully get Islam’s greatness,” Sonnen said. “I’m saying I don’t think there’s an exciting fight. I think Islam has gotten to that level of greatness where it’s hard to think that someone can deal with that and if you can’t make believe that someone can deal with that, you can not be excited for the fight.”

    Makhachev’s dominant performance against Della Maddalena answered questions about how he would handle larger opponents at welterweight. All three judges scored the bout in his favor, establishing him as a two-division champion.

    Historical Precedent for Dominant Champions

    Sonnen’s observation echoes patterns seen with other legendary UFC champions. Demetrious Johnson, who enters the Hall of Fame this year, was so far ahead of his flyweight competition that his title defenses sometimes felt like formalities.

    Jon Jones experienced similar dynamics during his final run as light heavyweight champion. While he had some competitive fights, no single challenger emerged as a clear threat to his dominance.

    The welterweight division does offer opponents who could pose interesting challenges to Makhachev, even if the champion would enter as the favorite.

  • Did Conor McGregor Knowingly Avoid Testing to Get Out of Fighting? Evidence and Speculation Mounts

    Did Conor McGregor Knowingly Avoid Testing to Get Out of Fighting? Evidence and Speculation Mounts

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has speculated that Conor McGregor may have intentionally avoided his planned drug tests.

    As we know, Conor McGregor has accepted a backdated 18-month suspension for violating the UFC anti-doping policy. While this does mean that he’ll be eligible to return in time for the UFC White House card, which has been his plan for a while now, it certainly raised a few eyebrows.

    Conor McGregor knows how to keep the mixed martial arts world on their toes, and that much is an understatement. Nobody really knows what his next move is going to be and because of that, there’s often a lot of speculation when he does do something.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen had the following to say about McGregor’s most recent controversy.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Conor McGregor’s ban

    “Once he gets three, the way that’s going to be handled is before that is made public to any of you, they are going to reach resolution. And this is the part where I must tell you I am stuck: the conversation of Conor being booked for next year’s White House event would not have been a conversation if this information was known.”

    “I believe he was likely where they went. I believe he was on the other side of the door. I believe he willfully didn’t answer that door. I don’t have evidence of any of that, but if somebody’s asking me the question— is this an elaborate way to avoid a fight?—while I lean towards no, there are only a few possibilities.”

    “Who knew that Conor had this coming? Once there’s three hits, there isn’t a defense to that. You will have a hearing and you could raise your excuse, your reason, but in the history of drug testing, there’s never been somebody that’s attempted to defend that, that’s attempted to come in and say, ‘I was there. They didn’t knock loud enough.’”

  • Jon Jones’ UFC future: Chael Sonnen gives his thoughts on heavyweight dilemma

    Jon Jones’ UFC future: Chael Sonnen gives his thoughts on heavyweight dilemma

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on what the future could, and should, hold for Jon Jones as he contemplates a return from retirement.

    While he may not be everyone’s cup of tea, there’s no denying that Jon Jones is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. That’s largely due to the legacy he built for himself in the light heavyweight division, but he also became a UFC champion up at heavyweight, defeating Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic during his stint there.

    Right now, Jon Jones is in a strange position. There’s a chance he could fight for the UFC heavyweight championship at the White House next summer, but there’s also the possibility of him battling Alex Pereira in a superfight – which is what ‘Poatan’ called for after his iconic UFC 320 title win last weekend.

    In a recent video, Jones’ former rival Chael Sonnen gave his thoughts on what he believes should be next for ‘Bones’, and it involves a return to 205 pounds.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Jon Jones’ future

    “If I were Jon Jones, I would say, ‘I will fight you, but it will be for a belt.’ They’re going to say, ‘Well, that belt’s between y’all and Aspinall, and we don’t quite have time to get it done.’ And I would tell Jon Jones, ‘Look at the man in the mirror. 

    “He’s holding the belt. I’ll come see you, Alex Pereira, but I’m coming back. I’m coming to my weight class. You never should have been champion. You never would have been champion had I not left. And I’m going to come back one more time to remind you who the goat really is.’ That changes everything.”

  • Conor McGregor Accused of Being an Outright Liar: “Not one word of that it true”

    Conor McGregor Accused of Being an Outright Liar: “Not one word of that it true”

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has rejected the notion that Conor McGregor is negotiating directly with the US government regarding his return to the cage.

    Right now, UFC sensation Conor McGregor is making it clear that he is interested in a comeback fight – at the White House next summer. Alas, given the many controversies that he’s been involved in, there isn’t quite as much intrigue from the MMA fanbase as there once was when it comes to his mixed martial arts future.

    Still, this is Conor McGregor we’re talking about here. He is a global superstar and nobody can deny that, even though he may not be at the level that he once was. In a recent interview, the Irishman claimed that instead of communicating with the UFC, he was speaking directly with the US government ahead of the promotion’s first ever event at the White House next year.

    Chael Sonnen, however, doesn’t believe a word that Conor McGregor is saying.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Conor McGregor

    “It’s not a matter of, okay, here’s the information that we got from Conor. If it was, I would just tell you not one word of that is true, and I would get up and walk out of the room. But that’s not a very fun conversation. 

    “However, there’s not one word of that that’s true. Conor is not negotiating with the United States government. And there’s people that you can pull into your routine. There’s people that are willful participants, and when you’re doing a ruse with the media, that person becomes your tag team partner. They’ve got to be willing.”

  • Conor McGregor Fighting at the White House? I Doubt it, Says UFC Veteran

    Conor McGregor Fighting at the White House? I Doubt it, Says UFC Veteran

    Is Conor McGregor really going to fight at the White House next year?

    ‘Mystic Mac’ sent the MMA world into a frenzy when he revealed on an episode of Fox & Friends that he was already booked for the UFC’s highly anticipated fight card at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2026. However, not everyone is buying it.

    “The story that Conor McGregor is being talked to headline the White House card. I don’t buy it,” Chael Sonnen said via a video on his YouTube channel. “I can’t buy it. Why or would we be turning to Conor McGregor? And the answer is also out there because he is the sport’s biggest star. That is true.

    “So, is that what you need? If you’ve got the open checkbook and you’ve got the magic wand, without saying names, do you say I’m going to put as my main event the sport’s biggest star? Is that your answer? Doesn’t matter who he’s fighting.”

    Conor McGregor Says He’ll Fight Michael Chandler in the Nation’s Capital

    McGregor went on to claim that he already has an opponent lined up for the history-making event, and it’s none other than the man he’s been linked two for the last three years—Michael Chandler.

    After an underwhelming stint as opposing coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter, McGregor and Chandler were rumored to fight in December 2023. When that didn’t happen, the focus shifted to UFC 303 where the bout was officially booked for the main event. Unfortunately, that card came and went with McGregor once again sitting on the sidelines, this time due to a broken pinky toe he suffered whilst training for the clash.

    Despite having been more than four years since his last Octagon appearance, McGregor has continued to dominate headlines, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

    So, what say you? Is McGregor’s “greatest comeback in combat sports history” finally happening, or is ‘The Notorious’ just pulling our leg again?

  • Conor McGregor: “Blowing coke, getting blown by strippers, running in and out of court” – Athlete Slammed for Dropping out of Ireland’s Politics by UFC Veteran

    Conor McGregor: “Blowing coke, getting blown by strippers, running in and out of court” – Athlete Slammed for Dropping out of Ireland’s Politics by UFC Veteran

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has ripped into Conor McGregor after he dropped out of the Irish presidential race.

    As we know, Conor McGregor is a pretty controversial figure both in and outside of combat sports. He has been involved in a lot of controversies over the years, and now, his public image isn’t great – especially in his home country of Ireland.

    Recently, Conor McGregor decided to withdraw his bid to become the next President of Ireland. In response, Chael Sonnen had a few things to say to ‘Notorious’ in a recent video.

    Chael Sonnen rips into Conor McGregor

    “But when you’re blowing coke, getting blown by strippers, running in and out of court dates for this very thing, oh by the way, tying a dumbbell to your hoo-ha, (laughs) it’s a little hard to act like you’re the guy that consults with family. You’re very clearly the guy that does whatever he feels like. So, you know, this whole ‘talk to my family routine’…was so incredibly absurd.”

    “The most absurd thing was thinking that he owed an explanation. An explanation to who? The parliament never recognized you. There was no vote. There was no ballot. There was no visit to their version of the Secretary of State’s office. There was nothing about this…

    “If I was to ask Conor in fairness, three very simple questions—a fifth grader if he paid attention in civics class would know the answers—about what it takes to run, not about winning, just about what paperwork or administrative steps need to be done for you to actually be a candidate, I don’t think he would have the answers.”

    “Conor McGregor has withdrawn his pending plans to be the president of Ireland. Well, there’s one problem with that, Conor. You were never running for president of Ireland. You did not suspend a campaign. I would love to help you with that. You don’t have a campaign. You are not returning your raised fund and telling your supporters maybe next time…There weren’t any supporters. 

    “You’re not coming over to take those yard signs down. There were no signs in the yard. This wasn’t real. It wasn’t real.”

  • “Going To Be A Real Problem For The Division” – Fans React To Danill Donchenko Winning Welterweight TUF Title With Violent Performance Against Rodrigo Sezinando At Noche UFC

    “Going To Be A Real Problem For The Division” – Fans React To Danill Donchenko Winning Welterweight TUF Title With Violent Performance Against Rodrigo Sezinando At Noche UFC

    Danill Donchenko is the welterweight winner of season 33 of The Ultimate Fighter, claiming that accolade by finishing teammate Rodrigo Sezinando in the opening bout of the Noche UFC 3 prelims.

    Donchenko came out aggressive, despite Sezinando landing a pair of strong right hands. Sezinando scored a takedown and attempted to use his grappling, but Donchenko landed well in the clinch and then landed a strong elbow that opened up a cut around one of Sezinando’s eyes. The two continued to throw their power, with Donchenko troubling him at one point against the fence.

    After a failed takedown attempt from Sezinando, Donchenko easily knocked Sezinando down with a flurry and finished things with ground-and-pound to become The Ultimate Fighter.

    Danill Donchenko Becomes TUF 33 Welterweight Winner

    https://twitter.com/Bullish_Bruh/status/1966944186789195933

    This fight had been originally scheduled to go down at UFC 319 last month, but the bout was delayed after Seinznado suffered an injury. Joseph Morales won the flyweight portion of TUF 33 at that event.

    Sezinando, a member of Team Cormier, reached the final today with a unanimous decision over Diego Bianchini and a split decision win over teammate Jeff Creighton. Prior to the show, was 8-1, picking up a pair of titles on the regional circuit.

    Donchenko, also a member of Team Cormier, advanced to the final with a decision over Richard Martins and a first-round finish of Matt Dixon. Prior to joining TUF, Donchenko was 11-2, which included a reign as Naiza FC’s lightweight champion in 2024.

  • Islam Makhachev or Jack Della Maddalena: Who Is The Better Striker? Who Cares, Says UFC Insider

    Islam Makhachev or Jack Della Maddalena: Who Is The Better Striker? Who Cares, Says UFC Insider

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen isn’t interested in the debate regarding who the better striker is between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena.

    At UFC 322 later this year, Jack Della Maddalena will defend his UFC welterweight championship against Islam Makhachev. One of the key components of the fight, in the eyes of many, is the striking game. While we all know Islam has a significant advantage on the ground, JDM is an incredibly precise striker – and that could easily come into play in this fight.

    However, in a recent video, Chael Sonnen laid out an interesting argument regarding why the striking isn’t likely to decide the title clash between Islam Makhachev and Jack Della Maddalena.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena debate

    “So, what difference does it make who’s better in the standup?… Would you rather hit harder or be able to be hit harder? With four-ounce gloves on, this whole expression about who’s better is really nothing more than an expression. And it’s not the inability of the takedown, it’s the threat of the takedown that changes your standup. 

    “We have seen some of the best and most decorated kickboxers in the world not only lose in the first round, we’ve seen them knocked out on their feet in the first round. And it’s not because the guy was better at the standup. It’s because the kickboxer was scared about the takedown. And it changed his demeanor. It changed his offense. It changed his defense. It changed his posture.”

    “When’s the last time a fight got decided in the standup? And what difference does it make with four-ounce gloves on? It doesn’t matter who’s got the better feints, it doesn’t matter who’s got the better combinations. You don’t want to have to hit a guy five or six times like you do in the sport of boxing. 

    “You want to be able to hit him one time. And if he can’t take a punch correctly, you’re only going to need to hit him one time. But it’s going to look sloppy. It’s going to look like two bums fighting because the things that work in MMA are completely illegal in the sweet science. And that’s just the truth.”

    “It’s the same as it’s been since ‘93 until now. It’s the guy that decides, are we on our feet or are we on the ground. That is your champion. That is your winner of every fight, every time. He’s better in the stand up—what a dork. What’s that even mean?”

  • Craig Jones Puts Chael Sonnen To Sleep Twice With Same Buggy Choke At CJI 2

    Craig Jones Puts Chael Sonnen To Sleep Twice With Same Buggy Choke At CJI 2

    Craig Jones made quick work of Chael Sonnen.

    Sonnen stepped in on less than a week’s notice at Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) to replace Olympic gold medalist Gable Steveson, but ended up being submitted twice by the same move.

    On Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, the former UFC multi-time title challenger opened their three-round clash with an early takedown on Jones, only to be ensnared in a vicious buggy choke that rendered him unconscious.

    “The Bad Guy” eventually shook off the cobwebs and agreed to run it back. Shooting for another takedown, Sonnen hunted a leg lock, an attack that offered no real threat against a grappler of Jones’ pedigree. The Australian jiu-jitsu ace quickly countered, locking in yet another buggy choke that once again sent Sonnen out cold.

    The crowd erupted in chants for more as Sonnen lobbied for a best-of-five, drawing laughter from referee John McCarthy. But the bout was waved off, and Jones was officially declared the winner with consecutive buggy chokes.

    Image: @cjiofficial/Instagram

    Following the event, Sonnen shrugged off the loss in trademark fashion on social media, joking that the contract was for a “3 out of 5” format and insisting he was simply relaxing in the position.

    What Happened When Craig Jones First Took On Chael Sonnen?

    The rivalry between Craig Jones and Chael Sonnen goes back to September 2017, when the future CJI founder stunned “The Bad Guy” with a slick heel hook finish in the prestigious ADCC Openweight tournament.

  • Chael Sonnen Steps In On Short Notice To Face Craig Jones At CJI 2 After Gable Steveson’s Withdrawal

    Chael Sonnen Steps In On Short Notice To Face Craig Jones At CJI 2 After Gable Steveson’s Withdrawal

    Chael Sonnen is reportedly making his return to the canvas.

    Earlier this week, Gable Steveson withdrew from his scheduled grappling showdown against Craig Jones in the main event of CJI 2 this Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, due to a turf toe injury.

    However, on Tuesday, Sonnen claimed on his YouTube channel that he had spoken with Jones and agreed to step in on short notice to face him this weekend, replacing the Olympic gold medalist.


    On Thursday, combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani verified the former UFC light heavyweight challenger’s claims, reporting that Sonnen will indeed face the Australian grappling star. Helwani noted that “The Bad Guy” will be undertaking a whirlwind schedule, calling the first Real American Freestyle Wrestling event in Cleveland on Saturday before hopping on an early Sunday flight to Las Vegas to compete at CJI 2 that same evening.

    Have Chael Sonnen And Craig Jones Competed Against Each Other Before?

    Chael Sonnen and Craig Jones have a history on the mats, dating back to September 2017 when the BJJ champion secured a heel hook submission over Sonnen at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Openweight tournament.

    Jones was last seen in action at CJI 1 in August 2024, submitting Gabi Garcia with a first-round rear-naked choke. His most recent defeat came in September 2022, when he narrowly lost on points to Kaynan Duarte at ADCC.

    Meanwhile, Sonnen last competed in an exhibition boxing match against longtime UFC rival Anderson Silva in June 2024, which ended in a draw. “The Bad Guy” retired from MMA with a professional record of 30-18-1, concluding his career with a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222 in June 2019.

    OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 07: Chael Sonnen punches Anderson Silva during the UFC Middleweight Championship bout at Oracle Arena on August 7, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

  • Chael Sonnen Drops Striking Theory On What Drove Jon Jones To PEDs – ‘That’s The Life He Chose’

    Chael Sonnen Drops Striking Theory On What Drove Jon Jones To PEDs – ‘That’s The Life He Chose’

    Chael Sonnen believes he knows why Jon Jones chose a tainted path in his career.

    Jones is often hailed as the greatest MMA fighter of all time, and his resume more than justifies that. At 23, “Bones” made history as the UFC’s youngest champion by winning the light heavyweight title. He holds a 28-1 record and has remained unbeaten in 17 world title fights.

    However, Jones’ longtime rival Daniel Cormier holds a starkly different perspective. The UFC Hall of Famer recently stirred headlines by leaving Jones off his Mount Rushmore of MMA greats, pointing to the shadow of failed drug tests and controversies that cloud his otherwise legendary career.

    The former two-division UFC champion’s illustrious career has been marred by multiple failed drug tests, most notably a positive result for a turinabol metabolite following his knockout win over “DC” in their UFC 214 rematch in July 2017, which was later overturned to a no contest.

    “Bones” also failed a drug test for the estrogen blockers clomiphene and letrozole following his victory over Ovince Saint Preux at UFC 197 in April 2016, costing him the UFC 205-pound title.

    Jon Jones
    Image: @espnmma/X

    Chael Sonnen Claims Jon Jones Used PEDs Out Of Insecurity, Not Necessity

    During a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen, who has openly acknowledged using performance-enhancing drugs during his fighting days, offered his theory on what may have pushed Jon Jones to resort to banned substances despite his repeated denials.

    The UFC veteran-turned-analyst suggested that “Bones” resorted to PEDs out of insecurity, arguing that even with his extraordinary talent, there came a point where self-doubt crept in.

    “Everybody goes down that road where they cheat the rules because they somewhere had an insecurity,” Chael Sonnen said. “They somewhere wanted an edge and then they come back, go, ‘But I could have done it anyway.’ Well, maybe you didn’t think you could. If you thought you could, you would have not put a synthetic chemical substance into your as*.

    “It’s just one of those things, and Jon really gets upset about that. He doesn’t deny the hit-and-runs. He doesn’t deny the cocaine allegations. That’s the one that bothers him, the picogram and the couple of failed tests. That’s a very common thing with athletes. I do believe Jon could have been champ of the world without steroids, but somewhere within him, at some point, he doubted that, and that’s the life he chose.”

  • Chael Sonnen responds to Backlash from MMA Community over Raja Jackson

    Chael Sonnen responds to Backlash from MMA Community over Raja Jackson

    Chael Sonnen normally receives almost unilateral praise from his core fans online, but this was not the case after recent takes that he dropped on the Raja Jackson situation. For those not up to speed, the son of Rampage Jackson, Raja Jackson has been grabbing headlines for the wrong reasons as of late following his unhinged, legitimate attack of pro wrestler Syko Stu which has ignited a lot of online discourse.

    Taking to his personal YouTube channel to address some of the vitriol he has been receiving from fans on social media who vehemently disagreed with their interpretation of what the former two-division UFC title challenger was saying about the Raja Jackson situation, Sonnen said,

    “I have the greatest social media following, but it’s known for that. Other people will tell me like how envious they are, how you guys always back me, how you realize I’m the linear champion, how you realize I’m the one that retired Jon Jones, that I’m the one that ripped his toe off. And I got to tell you, I got lit up.”

    Chael Sonnen continues to expand upon the Raja Jackson reactions

    As Chael Sonnen kept expounding upon the reaction to his video on the visceral in-ring beating delivered by Raja Jackson, Sonnen continued,

    “I got lit up last night. I got challenged. I got called the, the, the f-word. Not the one that ends in an R. I got called the other F-word multiple times. And what do you call that on Twitter where you DM somebody and it goes to a box and you have to accept? Well, DM right?”

    “This all has to do with a piece that I made and put out yesterday about Raja Jackson… of which is a word that he actually used. I’m disgusted. And he goes, ‘I know why you did that. You try to be controversial and get clicks, but yeah, you’re on the wrong side of this. It was an attempted murder.’ And he’s going on and on. But much like the people in the DMs and much like the people that I heard from on social media, you didn’t see the piece. It’s about an eight or nine 10-minute piece and what you’re describing is about 8 and 10 seconds.”

  • Khamzat Chimaev Didn’t Even Use Advanced Grappling Techniques to Control Dricus Du Plessis “Only the Basics” – MMA Analyst

    Khamzat Chimaev Didn’t Even Use Advanced Grappling Techniques to Control Dricus Du Plessis “Only the Basics” – MMA Analyst

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has provided an interesting perspective on Khamzat Chimaev‘s dominant UFC 319 win over Dricus du Plessis.

    In the main event of UFC 319, Khamzat Chimaev defeated Dricus du Plessis to become the new UFC middleweight champion. He did so by utilizing his superior wrestling skills from start to finish, and by the time the fight was over, it was pretty clear to see that he had comfortably earned the right to call himself the new champ.

    While Khamzat Chimaev was impressive, though, many felt as if Dricus du Plessis produced a disappointing performance. Of course, only DDP himself knows what he was capable of in there, and it’d be intriguing to see what would happen if they ran it back one day.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen provided an analysis of how Khamzat Chimaev was able to control Dricus du Plessis in Chicago.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Khamzat Chimaev’s UFC 319 win

    “It’s very important that you understand how Chimaev controlled Dricus because you’ve never seen this before. I have never seen it and that includes in the practice room. Not to this extent, not with somebody of that level… So picture Dricus, he’s on all fours… Chimaev’s behind him… Dricus would like to stand up at that point, and he tried, but he failed. 

    “When you fail at that, your next best option is to get under attack. And when Chimaev attacked him, Dricus was ready for it. Dricus got reversals at one point, but he looked good. It created a grappling atmosphere, which is what Dricus is used to.”

    “Chimaev didn’t confuse and control Dricus due to his advancements. He controlled Dricus with the basics. Bump him forward. Pull him back. Take him left. Take him right. Make him reset. Make him reset. Make him reset as the time is ticking down. And that was the part that was the most fascinating. 

    “He outgrappled him by demonstrating less grappling than he was capable of. And that really bothered some people. I will just tell you, I’ve never seen it before.”

  • Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Must Make the Hard Decisions About His Future – UFC Veteran

    Dricus Du Plessis’ Coach Must Make the Hard Decisions About His Future – UFC Veteran

    Dricus du Plessis‘ coach Morne Visser needs to make an important decision about his student’s future, says UFC veteran Chael Sonnen.

    As we know, Dricus du Plessis is no longer the UFC middleweight champion. He was beaten and dominated in his UFC 319 main event against Khamzat Chimaev and while he had a brief window of opportunity in the last round, he was ultimately outmatched pretty heavily in the wrestling department.

    As you can imagine, a lot of people have been going after Dricus du Plessis for his inability to stop Khamzat Chimaev. In a recent video, Chael Sonnen weighed in on the issue and had some words of advice.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis’ future

    “Okay. What does Dricus’ coach do now? In a couple of categories. He sends Dricus out. Hey, we don’t have it right here in our gym. We don’t have these answers, but they do exist and I’m going to send you to where they are. University of Iowa comes to mind. University of Iowa has offered to host Dricus for two weeks and let him be part of their room and training. 

    “Okay, there’s one idea. Or the other is bring somebody in, right? And again, we could probably turn right back to Iowa, get him on a plane, have him go and work with Dricus. But you still have, do you send him out? Do you bring somebody in? You must come to the conclusion of we don’t have the answers right now. And this is very normal, by the way. 

    “That’s not an insult. I came through that at Team Quest. We brought in John Lewis and we brought in John Hackleman. We had the work ethic, the bodies, the dream, but we didn’t have the skills that were needed in this sport.”

  • Chael Sonnen’s bleak view on trying to submit Khamzat Chimaev

    Chael Sonnen’s bleak view on trying to submit Khamzat Chimaev

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has an interesting view on those who are looking to submit Khamzat Chimaev in future fights.

    Khamzat Chimaev is an incredibly intense wrestler and he’s someone who is willing to get in your face from the very first seconds of the fight. Someone who used to have a similar style back in the day was Chael Sonnen, who had great wrestling success against a lot of fighters.

    Like Chael Sonnen, Khamzat Chimaev is a divisive figure within the mixed martial arts community – but after his title win over Dricus du Plessis, it definitely feels like the tide is slowly beginning to turn with more and more fans understanding the brilliance of ‘Borz’.

    In a recent video, Chael Sonnen gave his thoughts on Khamzat Chimaev and what kind of strategy his opponents should have.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Khamzat Chimaev

    “If you ever want a wrestler to stop taking you down, get up off the bottom. I don’t care if you’re fighting three rounds or five rounds. You get off the bottom three times, that wrestler will stop trying to take you down. There is nothing that will mentally get in a wrestler’s head more than him succeeding and not being able to be rewarded for it. The takedown is the single largest amount of energy exertion that is done in the sport of MMA and you must be able to keep a guy there.”

    “Anybody that plans to go to their back and triangle choke Chimaev, you’re not doing yourself a service. Anybody that’s going to come out and tell the world, ‘I will submit you,’ not only won’t you, you will look like a fool. You got to get back to your feet.”

  • “Proved Me Wrong Time And Time Again Throughout The Season” – Fans & Fighters React To Joseph Morales Winning Flyweight TUF Title With Triangle Choke Of Alibi Idiris At UFC 319

    “Proved Me Wrong Time And Time Again Throughout The Season” – Fans & Fighters React To Joseph Morales Winning Flyweight TUF Title With Triangle Choke Of Alibi Idiris At UFC 319

    After Brad Katona did so just a couple of seasons ago, Joseph Morales has re-entered the UFC after winning The Ultimate Fighter, becoming the flyweight winner of season 33 with a second-round submission of Alibi Idiris — a fight that kicked off the action at UFC 319.

    Morales, the major underdog in this fight, came out with pressure right away, as the two did some early trading. Though Morales was on the front foot, Idiris did very well while landing on the back foot. Morales would clinch Idiris up, however, getting the upper hand in the grappling department. After Idiris missed a spinning attack, Morales scored a takedown and worked Idiris in top control. Morales got to the back and locked up a body triangle, keeping ahold even as Idiris got to his feet. Though Morales had to release the grip, he’d use a kimura grip to get Idiris back down and back to Idiris’ back. Morales locked up a choke, but the time expired.

    Morales looked to get Idiris down to start the second round, but Idiris managed to do well with defending those attempts. But as Idiris continued to look for big moves, Morales strongly worked him over with boxing, eventually landing a body blow that did big damage. Morales dropped Idiris and looked for a banana split, but he lost it.

    While he was on the bottom, Morales locked up a tight triangle choke, scoring the submission and the TUF 33 flyweight title.

    Joseph Morales Becomes TUF 33 Flyweight Winner

    Morales, a member of Team Sonnen, arrived at the final fight through victories over Eduardo Henrique and Imanol Rodriguez (the latter in controversial fashion). Before TUF, Morales had a prior stint in the UFC, going 1-2 with a submission of Roberto Sanchez and losses to Deiveson Figueriedo and Eric Shelton. Since his UFC release, he’s won three straight.

    Idiris, a member of Team Cormier, reached the TUF Finale thanks to defeating Furkatbek Yokubov and Roybert Echerverria. Prior to his time on TUF, Idiris went 10-0 as a pro while fighting exclusively for Nazia FC, picking up their flyweight title in the process.

    The TUF 33 welterweight winner will be determined at Noche UFC 3 in a fight featuring Team Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando and Daniil Donchenko. The fight was scheduled for tonight but was postponed due to Sezinando suffering an injury.

  • Dricus Du Plessis is a Better Striker than Khamzat Chimaev – But It Won’t Matter Explains UFC Legend

    Dricus Du Plessis is a Better Striker than Khamzat Chimaev – But It Won’t Matter Explains UFC Legend

    MMA analyst Chael Sonnen has given his thoughts on the striking differences between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev.

    Tomorrow night, Dricus du Plessis will defend his UFC middleweight championship against Khamzat Chimaev. He’ll do so in the main event of UFC 319, and he’ll do so with a lot of people doubting his ability to get the job done. Of course, that’s nothing new for DDP in his UFC career.

    He has constantly been able to flip the script and spring an upset – or at least, what would be seen as an upset in the eyes of the fans. Alas, Dricus du Plessis is far more talented than a lot of people give him credit for, especially in the striking department.

    Speaking of which, Chael Sonnen recently weighed in on how the striking exchanges could go between Dricus du Plessis and Khamzat Chimaev on Saturday.

    Chael Sonnen’s view on Dricus du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev

    “In the history of Chimaev’s striking, there was one moment — one shot — landed by Gilbert Burns. It got through, and Chimaev went down to a knee. He popped right back up. He won the standup battle in that fight, which was an instant classic, colossally hard and close. And against Kamaru Usman — who can handle himself everywhere, who was even in talks to box Canelo — Chimaev still won the standup portion. That one Gilbert shot has made people think he can’t strike, but that’s not what the record shows.”

    “Dricus is much better in understanding and experience if you were to put him in pure boxing or kickboxing. Which one would do better in that environment? Dricus. But does that mean he can beat Chimaev in an MMA striking exchange? Very different. Chimaev is ugly, street-fighter-esque. He’s punching you just to get in and clinch — which would be a foul in boxing — but in MMA, it works. He still lands punches, he still throws a lot, there’s still power on them, and they’re still aimed right at your face.”

    “I’m not asking if they just stand and box. I’m asking if they’re on their feet in an MMA fight — are you sure Dricus is better? That’s the question.”

  • “Bright Futures Ahead Of You” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 12 Recap

    “Bright Futures Ahead Of You” – The TUF Stuff: The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 Episode 12 Recap

    Welcome, everyone, to the 12th and final edition of The TUF Stuff!

    Each week, I’ll be guiding you through a recap of this season’s edition of The Ultimate Fighter, providing updates on what happens in each episode — from the drama and storylines out of the Octagon, to the looks into who the competing fighters are, to what goes down inside the cage.

    This season celebrates the 20th anniversary of TUF. That inaugural season from 2005 helped to influence many future MMA fans, media members, and fighters (yours truly included). And now, two more fighters this summer will get the opportunity to call themselves TUF champions when it’s all said and done.

    Last week saw the second flyweight semifinal, with Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales scoring a highly controversial decision over Team Cormier’s Imanol Rodriguez. Morales will face Alibi Idiris in the flyweight finale during the UFC 319 prelims this Saturday.

    Recap of The Ultimate Fighter Season 33 – Episode 12

    Now, Team Cormier’s Daniil Donchenko faces Team Sonnen’s Matt Dixon for the right to face Team Cormier’s Rodrigo Sezinando in the welterweight finale at UFC 319!

    Let’s get into episode 12 of The Ultimate Fighter!

    Out In Las Vegas

    As a thank you to the fighters for partaking in the celebration of TUF’s 20th anniversary, Dana White, Daniel Cormier, and Chael Sonnen took the fighters out to Las Vegas. A Vegas Hilton billboard spotlights TUF artwork. Sonnen says while it’s hard for them to call themselves one, considering it’s a competition, tonight is a night they could celebrate their accomplishments. Cormier tells the TUF cast they are all special kids with bright futures ahead of them.

    The fighters take time out at Fuhu Restaurant at Resorts World.

    Cormier says the attitudes of the teams are telling, with Cormier and his team being wild, while Sonnen and his team acting professional.

    TUF House

    Members of Team Sonnen sat around a fire, reflecting on how they got to partake in such an experience. Andreaas Binder reflects that he will miss everyone in the TUF House.

    Team Sonnen Training Session – Rashad Evans Joins

    Assistant Coach Jamie Huey brings in a UFC Hall of Famer to join them with Chael Sonnen unable to join afternoon practice — TUF season two winner and season 10 coach, and former UFC light heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans.

    Evans tells the guys that this is a “savage sport” despite the comradery. “You have to tap into that savagery when you’re out there,” Evans said. “Because guess what? That’s what you’re up against.”

    Dixon says Evans is deep and wise from his experience.

    Evans works with the team on transitions, saying the best fighters fight in transition. He adds that fighters have to bring the violence and be willing to sacrifice to get to the top.

    Matt Dixon Call Home

    Dixon receives a call from his family, looking in awe especially at his daughter, whose first two teeth have grown in.

    Dixon says this call from his family re-motivated him, reminding him why he’s here and why he does what he does.

    Dixon says he’s super grateful he got to do this opportunity, and his family are proud of what he’s doing.

    Daniil Donchenko Fight Prep

    Cormier says that Donchenko needs to fight smart and creatively, and he needs to out-pressure Dixon.

    Donchenko says he saw holes in Dixon’s game and feels he has the ability to knock Dixon out.

    Cormier says Dixon will put on pressure and try to brawl with Donchenko — a kind of fight that falls into Donchenko’s hands.

    Cormier says the fight will be a war, and that while Dixon likes to bring the fight, Donchenko takes that kind of fight in.

    Donchenko says his knees and elbows will go into Dixon’s face and body and promises to do damage. Donchenko compares he and Dixon’s fighting styles to fire and water.

    Team Cormier Training Session & TUF House

    Michael Chiesa presents Donchenko with a fish, named Papito, Donchenko’s “Fighting Fish.” Donchenko says the gift means a lot to him because of his connection to his late father, whom he spent time fishing with, who passed away following a drug overdose.

    An emotional Donchenko says it was that experience that reminded him to enjoy life and take nothing for granted — and to do everything you can to make it yours.

    Matt Dixon Fight Prep

    Sonnen says Dixon is both the strongest and most conditioned fighter on the team, calling him an animal.

    Sonnen says Dixon has the power to knock Donchenko out, and he’s not sure about the other way around.

    Dixon says his plan is to pressure and close the distance, implementing dirty boxing. When asked about taking Donchenko down, Dixon says he’s planning to mix that in.

    Dixon says he’s prepared to go to a gritty place to take Donchenko out, calling himself both the better grappler and striker in this fight.

    Dixon says we’ll find out if Donchenko is tough enough to take his shots, adding that if the fight is a three-round brawl, he’ll be happy with that.

    Sonnen says this will be the fight of the season.

    Daniil Donchenko Call Home

    Donchenko has a conversation with his girlfriend. Donchenko says it feels strange being away for so long and now seeing her on television screen.

    Donchenko’s girlfriend says the family is all supporting him and plenty of people are asking about him. Donchenko says he really misses her and will see her soon.

    The Fight: Danill Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon

    —–IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE EPISODE AND DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED, THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO TURN AWAY NOW.———

    Both fighters weigh in at 171. The fight is on!

    Roybert Echeverria says the two have different kinds of striking styles. He wants to see how Donchenko reacts to Dixon’s pressure. Tumelo Manyamala says Donchenko says he’s good at countering the kind of pressure Dixon brings, with kicks included.

    Dana White says this is perhaps the best of the semifinal matchups. He says both are explosive strikers who look for knockouts.

    Danill Donchenko vs. Matt Dixon

    Round 1

    The two move to the center. Dixon pressures Donchenko to the fence and lands an elbow. Donchenko tries to come in and Dixon clinches him against the fence. Donchenko pressure. Dixon lands a knee. Clinch battle and both men score. Knee to the body by Donchenko. Left hand by Dixon. Low kicks by Donchenko. Body shot by Donchenko. Dixon presses Donchenko to the fence again. Donchenko lands a strong elbow. Series of punches! But they’re landing on the back of the head! Referee Marc Smith calls time out!

    The doctor clears Dixon, who is bloodied. Smith gives Donchenko a hard warning. Low kick by Donchenko. Donchenko tries to pressure. Right hand by Dixon. Donchenko lands a small flurry, but Donchenko is briefly dropped by a right hand! The two trading! One-two by Dixon, but Donchenko lands a power shot. More power shots! Donchenko pressures Dixon to the fence! Dixon goes down! Ground-and-pound! That’s it!

    Danill Donchenko wins an explosive battle to reach the final!

    Winner: Donchenko via first-round KO

    Conclusion

    Cormier says this was a fight that they all expected. White says Donchenko came to knock Dixon out, but Dixon fought back. Dixon ended up rocking Donchenko, but Cormier told Donchenko to take his time and search for opportunities. That came with an elbow that busted Dixon open.

    Sonnen and Cormier says Dixon could have taken a DQ win, but Sonnen says that’s not the way the game is played — and Dixon followed that. Cormier says Dixon “got up and fought like a man.” White, however, says he doesn’t think Dixon was recovered fully when he chose to continue. Sonnen said he knew at that point Donchenko had won.

    Cormier says Donchenko was the better fighter. White, however, gives credit to both men.

    Dixon says he wanted a fight like this and called Donchenko a warrior.

    Donchenko is hyped to be in the finale. He says he’ll be proud of himself today, but the next day it’s back to work as he chases the TUF title.

    Face-offs are then held for the finale fights: Team Sonnen’s Joseph Morales vs. Team Cormier’s Alibi Idiris at flyweight and Rodrigo Sezinando vs. Danill Donchenko (both of Team Cormier) at welterweight.

    Thanks for joining me on this ride for season 33 of TUF and for the final edition of The TUF Stuff!