MMA News

Tag: Chael Sonnen

  • Chael Sonnen Warns Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Israel Adesanya Does His Finest Work When It’s Personal!’ 

    Chael Sonnen Warns Dricus Du Plessis: ‘Israel Adesanya Does His Finest Work When It’s Personal!’ 

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen doesn’t think it’s wise for Dricus Du Plessis to rile Israel Adesanya up ahead of their championship clash Down Under this weekend.

    Du Plessis will defend his middleweight belt for the first time since winning it from Sean Strickland when he makes the walk to headline the UFC 305 pay-per-view event, which takes place inside the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia.

    To maintain his grip on the belt, the South African is tasked with stalling Adesanya’s planned return to the throne for a record third time.

    Beyond championship stakes, however, their matchup appears to be motivated by a bad-blood rivalry, sparked by some comments Du Plessis made regarding his status as the first fighter to achieve title glory on MMA’s biggest stage having been born, trained, and resided in Africa.

    An early Octagon interview also saw Du Plessis use the term “real African,” which rubbed the likes of Adesanya and Kamaru Usman the wrong way.

    With that in mind, there appears to be a personal element to the bout for the Nigerian-New Zealander. And one ex-fighter thinks that’s a dangerous scenario for the champ…

    Sonnen On Adesanya’s UFC 305 Return: ‘When He Has Something Personal…’

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen looked ahead to the matchup tasked with topping the lineup in Perth.

    In terms of the bad blood that appears to be fueling the animosity between the pair of headliners, “The American Gangster” thinks Adesanya now has the one element that was missing from his last UFC fight.

    “It’s wildly important that our viewers understand what these guys are fighting for,” Sonnen said. “Israel Adesanya has done his finest work when it’s personal. As a matter of fact, the worst performance he’s put forward was against Sean Strickland, and the only thing that was missing was a personal feud. He didn’t have a problem with Sean when that fight happened. He wasn’t really looking at Sean. … When that fight was over, Dana wanted to do a rematch; in fact he offered Izzy an immediate rematch. He said no. He just never had heat with Sean.

    “When he has something personal — excuse me, he called out Yoel Romero. You know how crazy that is? … It was personal. He told Dana, ‘Hey man, I got into this business because there’s guys that I want to fight…I don’t care what Yoel’s record is.’ That’s why this is so important,” Sonnen continued. “They didn’t just throw a belt out there…didn’t just dangle some pay-per-view points. The belt has nothing to do with it on Izzy’s side. And I will just contend for you, he does his final work when it’s personal.”

    Having stated that he’s returning to competition to “take heads” instead of with any focus on the gold, Adesanya will hope to start by beheading the reigning middleweight kingpin come fight night in Australia.

    And should he settle that grudge successfully by having his hand raised, perhaps he’d next turn his gaze back to Strickland and redemption against his fellow former champ.

  • Sonnen: UFC Should Re-Sign Mokaev After Owning Mistakes

    Sonnen: UFC Should Re-Sign Mokaev After Owning Mistakes

    Chael Sonnen recently advocated for the UFC to re-sign Muhammad Mokaev, praising the undefeated flyweight fighter for taking responsibility for his mistakes.

    Mokaev clinched a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape at UFC 304 last month in a matchup clouded by controversy. The conflict erupted at the hotel, where the fighters got into a heated clash. “The Punisher” later admitted he sparked the confrontation by sucker-punching Kape. The pair also nearly came to blows at multiple media events before their bout.

    Following his victory over Kape, Mokaev announced the end of his UFC contract and expressed hopes for a renewal. However, during the UFC 304 post-event press conference, UFC CEO Dana White revealed that the Russian-born Englishman would not be offered a new contract. White also hinted that the reasons behind Mokaev’s departure extend far beyond his performance in the Octagon.

    The UFC’s choice to part ways with “The Punisher” ignited rumors that he had begun negotiations with the PFL before his contract ended. However, these speculations were quickly dismissed by Mokaev’s manager, Tim Simpson.

    Days later, Mokaev acknowledged that his actions were poorly received and issued an apology to the UFC in a series of posts on X. Despite this, White and the company remain steadfast in their decision, as Mokaev has been removed from the official flyweight rankings.

    However, “The American Gangster” believes the UFC should offer Mokaev a second chance to redeem himself and rectify his past mistakes…

    Sonnen Calls On UFC To ‘Show Grace’ to Mokaev

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen delved into the possible issues between Mokaev and the UFC matchmakers that ultimately led to the decision to release him from the promotion.

    “I don’t know what he could have done realistically,” Sonnen said. “He’s got to do two things: he’s got to upset the matchmakers, who are really nice guys—like, it’s really hard to ever hear a story where somebody was upset with them—and be able to keep it quiet in our industry, which is just wildly difficult to do.”

    The former light heavyweight title challenger further emphasized that if Mokaev is publicly acknowledging his errors and sincerely expressing regret for his antics, the UFC should consider re-signing him.

    “When I tell you I want to forgive him, and I do, I guess I should also offer that I don’t quite know what we’re forgiving him for, but I have guesses. He seems calm, he seems like a guy that really wants his job—in fact, stronger on the position of ‘I want to be here, please reconsider.’ He’s going out to the public, and he’s owning everything that he did, whether it’s his boring style or the hotel situation. I feel like that’s a guy that you would show grace to.”

    Mokaev recently proclaimed that he has already atoned for any missteps and has even gone so far as to offer to fight for free if the UFC grants him another chance.

  • Chael Sonnen Sees Big UFC Future For Shara Magomedov Despite Grappling Concerns: ‘Adesanya’s A Complete Fighter…He Wasn’t On Day One!’

    Chael Sonnen Sees Big UFC Future For Shara Magomedov Despite Grappling Concerns: ‘Adesanya’s A Complete Fighter…He Wasn’t On Day One!’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen isn’t worried about some of the holes in middleweight prospect Shara Magomedov’s game just yet.

    Magomedov has enjoyed a strong summer inside the cage, building on his successful UFC debut last October with a further two victories in the Middle East, both of which netted him an additional $50,000.

    After stopping replacement opponent Antonio Trócoli in Saudi Arabia this past June, the undefeated “Bullet” returned for a short-notice co-headliner against Michał Oleksiejczuk at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi.

    The 30-year-old Dagestani’s usual array of striking weapons were on display across three rounds, as he outpointed his Polish opponent on all three scorecards in the event’s Fight of the Night.

    But while Magomedov extended his undefeated record to 14-0, the up-and-comer isn’t short on doubters, many of whom have suggested he will fall to defeat when faced with one of the division’s talented grapplers.

    Although that might be the case currently, Sonnen isn’t counting out Magomedov when it comes to rounding out his skillset in the coming months and years.

    Sonnen: Magomedov Belongs ‘In Big Fights’ & ‘On Posters’

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his assessment of Magomedov’s latest performance on MMA’s biggest stage.

    “The American Gangster” had plenty of praise for Magomedov’s aura and watchability but admitted he doesn’t see a prospect with the kind of skillset boasted by some others.

    That, however, is something he is confident can be rectified moving forward, pointing to the evolution of previously one-dimensional athletes such as Israel Adesanya as evidence that a well-rounded arsenal could be to come for Magomedov.

    “When he comes on TV, there’s something happening. … He captivates me,” Sonnen said. “This guy is already a co-main event. That is an incredible career. He’s amassing a great record — because I’m not seeing all the skills there. In all fairness, I don’t watch him and go, ‘Wow, where has this guy been?’ I think that Bo Nickal would be the counterpart to that, where you watch him and go, ‘Wow, this guy sure looks well rounded. He sure appears to have a little bit of everything for being a new guy on the scene.’ I’m not seeing it with (Magomedov).

    “When I look at ‘Bullet,’ he belongs in big fights. There’s something special. He belongs on posters. I’m interested. I want to see this guy, I want to hear from this guy, and I want to learn from this guy,” Sonnen continued. “As far as the skills, I think he’s learning on the job, and he’s not the first guy that’s had to. Israel Adesanya’s about a complete fighter as you’re gonna find; he wasn’t on day one. … So if ‘Bullet’ is open to learning, if he can absorb and if he can take the criticism that we’re giving him right now, he’s gonna have a fun future.”

    In addition to some doubting his overall skillset, Magomedov also came under criticism for his post-fight callout in Abu Dhabi this weekend. The undefeated Russian had the name of Nick Diaz on his lips, who hasn’t recorded a win since 2011 and was most recently defeated by Robbie Lawler in 2021.

    Regardless, “Bullet” has done what is required of him inside the Octagon to date, and he’ll hope to continue that trend against whomever the promotion places opposite him next time out.

  • Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Hold Back With ‘Tough Love’ For Tony Ferguson: ‘This Needs To Stop!’

    Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Hold Back With ‘Tough Love’ For Tony Ferguson: ‘This Needs To Stop!’

    Chael Sonnen is evidently among those who think the decision surrounding Tony Ferguson’s UFC career should be taken out of his hands.

    Ferguson’s woes inside the Octagon continued at this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi, where he fell to a record eight-fight losing skid at the hands of fellow veteran Michael Chiesa.

    While he made it to the scorecards against Paddy Pimblett last December, “El Cucuy’s” latest outing saw him finished before the first horn. Following a takedown, the ex-interim lightweight champion was submitted by way of a rear-naked choke.

    After Chiesa surrendered his microphone time in the aftermath, it appeared a retirement announcement long branded overdue by many would finally arrive. But the best that those hopeful of the end got was a half-retirement, and even that appeared to be walked back moments later.

    The continued rejection of clear retirement talk has left plenty of fans, fighters, and analysts concerned, and Sonnen had a problem with more than one aspect of Ferguson’s display in the Middle East…

    Sonnen Critical Of Ferguson”s Performance, ‘Double Cross’ On The Mic

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his assessment of Ferguson’s latest setback inside the Octagon and refusal to confirm his retirement inside the cage.

    “The American Gangster” expressed surprise at the 40-year-old’s inability to carry out basic grappling defense on the ground. And beyond just the fight, Sonnen accused Ferguson of double-crossing Chiesa by removing his gloves as if he was set to retire and not giving a “shine” to his opponent.

    “At some point,. we’re gonna have to have some real tough love for Tony here. He just set a record, a record for the most (straight) losses in UFC history,” Sonnen said. “I don’t have a problem with a guy slowing down…I got a big problem with him getting taken down, getting his back taken — which is what you learn the very first day of jiu-jitsu — and not hand-fighting. … The fact that Tony’s in there almost like he’s working with him, like he’s making a technique video or something for the rear-naked choke, that’s a problem for me.

    “Taking one glove of was kind of cool, until I heard why he’s doing it; because he wants another fight and isn’t sure the UFC’s gonna give it to him. Well, let me help you out there, I’m real sure the UFC’s not gonna give it to you,” Sonnen continued. “I’m a little bit surprised with the disconnect of mental awareness for what was going on, or even being handed a microphone that you don’t deserve and only got because you’re gonna retire, then you pull the retirement back and don’t shine up Chiesa, who gave you the microphone in the first place. It was a real bit of a double cross, frankly.”

    Sonnen continued, insisting that witnessing Ferguson’s career continue is “not fun anymore” and “needs to stop.”

    “I am completely confident in telling you there’s not going to be a return,” Sonnen stated. “Grappling is what Tony does so well…he’s just a fantastic guy on the ground. … I have a problem with the fact he didn’t hand-fight. … It seemed like there was some very basic awareness of very basic steps that weren’t being done, in conjunction with an interview that I could give a pass to had a guy just got knocked out. It wasn’t like that. This needs to stop! It’s not fun anymore.”

    Since once again vowing to improve and insisting that he remains a threat during a post-fight press conference that gave little indication that a retirement could be on the way, Ferguson is yet to further address his future.

  • Chael Sonnen Praises Paddy Pimblett For Displaying ‘Jon Jones-esque’ Ability At UFC 304

    Chael Sonnen Praises Paddy Pimblett For Displaying ‘Jon Jones-esque’ Ability At UFC 304

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen saw some of his ex-rival Jon Jones in the performance of lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett this past weekend.

    Pimblett recorded the biggest win of his Octagon career at the UFC 304 pay-per-view, getting the better of King Green on the main card to secure a ranking for the very first time.

    “The Baddy” entered the Octagon in front of his home fans at Manchester’s Co-op Live as an underdog and with many backing Green to stall his charge following a close decision against Jared Gordon and failure to finish Tony Ferguson.

    But the Liverpool native needed just one round to prove them wrong, capitalizing on an ill-advised takedown to lock in a triangle choke and render Green unconscious.

    Among those majorly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts was Sonnen, who even compared his ability in the fight to an all-time great…

    Sonnen Praises Pimblett For Dealing With ‘Street Fighter’ Green

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s successful outing on home soil this past weekend.

    More so than the submission finish, “The American Gangster” was impressed by how “The Baddy” combatted a style and approach he won’t have faced in any previous fights or behind closed doors in training.

    The ability to do so, Sonnen says, is something Pimblett shares with the consensus greatest of all time, Jon Jones.

    “(Green) fights like a street fighter. He’s got his hands down; you don’t know what he’s gonna do. He’s talking to you! It’s like two guys outside a liquor store, truly,” Sonnen said. “You know what? Paddy was dealing with it. It’s hard to deal with ’cause you can’t prepare for it; you can’t prepare for it because your teammates don’t show up drunk talking trash with their hands down.

    “Paddy was dealing with it. That is a Jon Jones-esque ability. Jon Jones is the king of fighting fighters that all he has to prepare is video tape,” Sonnen continued. “He’s got some weird guy that’s some kind of a tool that he has to deal with, and Jon doesn’t bring in the partners and doesn’t have the experience, but he watched him on tape and he came up with a plan because he knows the sport well enough. That’s what Paddy just did.”

    Having caught the eyes of the likes of Sonnen with his latest triumph inside the Octagon, Pimblett will look to continue his development and habit of proving his detractors wrong next time out.

    By all accounts, the Liverpool native will be looking to stake his claim for a spot inside the top 10, having secured the #15 spot in the division as it stands. And given his post-fight callout at UFC 304, he’ll have a close eye on Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis’ upcoming battle in Paris.

  • Chael Sonnen Pitches Paddy Pimblett As Opponent For Michael Chandler If McGregor Fight Doesn’t Materialize: ‘The Perfect Replacement!’ 

    Chael Sonnen Pitches Paddy Pimblett As Opponent For Michael Chandler If McGregor Fight Doesn’t Materialize: ‘The Perfect Replacement!’ 

    Should his long wait for a Conor McGregor fight not be rewarded, former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler has been told to adjust his sights to Paddy Pimblett.

    Pimblett secured the biggest win of his Octagon career to date at this past weekend’s UFC 304 pay-per-view event, held inside the Co-op Live arena in Manchester, England.

    After decisions over Jared Gordon and Tony Ferguson, the former of which came in close and controversial fashion, “The Baddy” entered his first shot at cracking the 155-pound rankings as an underdog.

    But on fight night, Pimblett thrilled his home fans by making good on his promise of a quick finish against King Green, choking the veteran contender out with a triangle choke following a surprising takedown attempt from the renowned brawler.

    With that, the Liverpool native has entered the top 15 and has his sights set on a top 10 contender in Renato Moicano. But according to one former fighter, Pimblett could be in line for a bigger assignment should things play out in a certain way…

    Sonnen Backs Pimblett To Replace McGregor If Comeback Delay Continues

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show with Daniel Cormier on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his take on Pimblett’s impressive display on home soil.

    Assessing what could be next for “The Baddy” in his pursuit of UFC gold, “The American Gangster” ventured further up the lightweight rankings than expected, highlighting the Brit as the “perfect replacement” to fight Chandler should his long-awaited McGregor showdown remain in the fantasy realm.

    “I used to believe that Paddy was a regional fighter,” Sonnen said. “What do I mean by that? Well, he can sell a lot of tickets at a specific venue, so keep bringing him to that geographical location. You can’t main event the guy, you can’t five-round him, you can’t move him up the rankings too fast, but bring in the right opponent, we’re gonna have some fun for three or four years. I don’t see Paddy that same way anymore.

    “Paddy is two fights away, Daniel. They’ve gotta be the right two fights, but he is two fights away (from) fighting for a world championship,” Sonnen continued. “I love these rankings right here (10 to 15), but if they were to keep going, eventually they’re gonna come to a name called Michael Chandler. If Michael Chandler does not get the fight with Conor, this, to me, looks like the perfect replacement.”

    Judging by his reactions on social media, Chandler was seemingly impressed by Pimblett’s efforts inside the cage at UFC 304. Nevertheless, he doesn’t appear to have his focus on “The Baddy” just yet.

    As has been the case since the start of 2023, Chandler remains hell-bent on sharing the Octagon with McGregor. Following their UFC 303 cancellation, latest reports have placed their rearranged showdown at the Las Vegas pay-per-view in December.

  • MMA News Today: Video Shows Paddy Pimblett Reacting Backstage To ‘Most Boring Champion’ Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Crowning, Turki Alalshikh Says UFC’s Sphere Card ‘Will Eat’ Canelo Match On Sept. 14, & More

    MMA News Today: Video Shows Paddy Pimblett Reacting Backstage To ‘Most Boring Champion’ Belal Muhammad’s UFC 304 Crowning, Turki Alalshikh Says UFC’s Sphere Card ‘Will Eat’ Canelo Match On Sept. 14, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 30, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Pimblett scolds Muhammad after title win
    • Alalshikh gives strong prediction for UFC vs. Canelo
    • Sonnen points out that Aspinall is finishing big guys with ease

    Paddy Pimblett Posts Reaction To UFC 304 Main Event, Belal Muhammad Becoming Champion

    A video posted on Paddy Pimblett’s YouTube channel gives fight fans a behind the scenes look at his fight night experience this past weekend.

    “The Baddy” delivered one of the performances of the night at UFC 304 in Manchester when he submitted King Green in the first round to earn a lightweight ranking.

    The main event, however, did not end on such good terms for the UK fighters and fans as Belal Muhammad defeated Leon Edwards to become the welterweight champion.

    In the video, Pimblett is seen reacting to the official decision before going on to label Muhammad as the “most boring champion ever.”

    Turki Alalshikh Not Worried About Saudi-Backed UFC 306 Going Up Against Canelo Álvarez

    It’s incredibly rare to see any major sporting events going up against the UFC, but that is exactly what Canelo Álvarez will look to do on September 14 with his fight against Edgar Berlanga.

    Alvarez has a track record for fighting on Mexican Independence Day, but he missed out on this last year after the UFC booked the T-Mobile Arena for the first Noche UFC card.

    The MMA leader will instead be hosting UFC 306 this year at the Sphere, which is being built up to be an event like no other.

    Part of the reason that both events are going head-to-head in Las Vegas is because UFC 306 is being sponsored by Riyadh Season and the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority, which has allowed the UFC to go big on this particular card, meaning Álvarez could run the T-Mobile on this occasion.

    Speaking to ESPN, Turki Alalshikh gave a short response to how he believes the Saudi-backed Sphere event will compete with Álvarez.

    “We will eat him,”

    Chael Sonnen Says Tom Aspinall Is Doing Something That Even Mike Tyson Struggled With

    Tom Aspinall’s incredible ability to end fights early on means that he has unbelievably low amounts of Octagon time despite being a world champion.

    The interim heavyweight champ has said it himself that he wants opponents to test him in deeper waters but nobody can take him there.

    Following his one-minute finish over Curtis Blaydes this past weekend, Chael Sonnen was full of praise for the Brit in a recent YouTube video.

    He compared Aspinall to arguably the greatest knockout artist combat sports has ever seen and said that he is even capable of finishing fights in ways that Mike Tyson couldn’t even accomplish.

    “Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

    Chael Sonnen: Tom Aspinall Knocking Out Big Heavyweights That Mike Tyson Had A ‘Hard Time’ With

    Chael Sonnen recently lauded Tom Aspinall’s formidable punching power, boldly asserting that the Brit possesses the knockout ability to take down heavyweight boxers against whom even the legendary Mike Tyson struggled.

    Aspinall triumphantly retained his interim heavyweight title with a stunning 60-second knockout of his former foe, Curtis Blaydes, avenging his only loss in the Octagon in the co-main event of UFC 304 this past Saturday in Manchester.

    The 31-year-old Salford native delivered a powerful right hand that sent “Razor” crashing to the floor, then topped it off with a relentless barrage of punches to the head, prompting referee Marc Goddard to stop the fight.

    Since returning from injury in July 2023, Aspinall has been unstoppable, securing three first-round knockout victories. He has now won seven of his UFC fights by first-round stoppage, boasting an average fight time of just 2:02—the shortest in the promotion’s history.

    Sonnen Stunned by Aspinall’s Devastating Punching Power

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen weighed in on Aspinall’s victory over Blaydes at UFC 304. “The Bad Guy” noted that while it may not have been the Englishman’s finest performance in the Octagon, his incredible knockout power still managed to shift the momentum decisively in his favor.

    “I’m watching Tom, surprised by himself that it wasn’t a perfect fight by Tom,” Sonnen said. “Curtis was actually fundamentally doing some things a little bit better than Tom. And one thing about Tom is these boys he’s putting down, these are the big heavyweights, and I’m talking about size. I’m talking about actually getting on the scale and what they tip the scale at.”

    Sonnen went on to say that Aspinall’s punching power is so formidable that he could knock out big heavyweights – something even “Iron Mike” Tyson had trouble with.

    “Mike Tyson had a hard time putting down the heavyweights that were 240, 250, 260 [pounds]. These are the guys that Tom is touching one time; this is shocking power. Tom is getting guys out of here so quickly. I don’t love the reality that in three years, Tom has been in the ring for about three minutes, but the other side of it is, what are you going to do? How are you going to stop him?”

    After his win, Aspinall renewed his call for a unification bout with Jon Jones, who claimed the vacant UFC heavyweight title by defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023 at UFC 285.

    “Bones” is expected to defend his title for the first time later this year against Stipe Miocic, a matchup that UFC CEO Dana White is adamant about making a reality.

  • Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304

    Chael Sonnen Insists Tom Aspinall Has To Finish Curtis Blaydes To Beat Him At UFC 304

    According to former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen, Tom Aspinall can’t beat Curtis Blaydes on the scorecards this weekend.

    The pair will collide in Saturday’s UFC 304 pay-per-view co-main event for the interim UFC heavyweight championship, which has been held by Aspinall ever since his first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich last November.

    That win came in just the second fight back for Aspinall after returning from the serious knee injury he sustained against Blaydes in 2022, which saw that UFC Fight Night headliner end in just 15 seconds.

    After dispatching Marcin Tybura in 73 seconds last July, Aspinall required just 69 to send Pavlovich to the canvas inside Madison Square Garden, maintaining his 100 percent finish rate in the process.

    With Aspinall having yet to go the distance in his professional career, “Razor” will no doubt look to drag him to deep waters in their five-round affair tomorrow night. And if he does, one ex-fighter has little doubt about who will have their hand raised…

    Sonnen: Finish Is Essential For Aspinall At UFC 304

    During a recent episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Daniel Cormier on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen gave his assessment on the first of two title fights set to play out in Manchester this weekend.

    Sonnen pointed to the little cage time Aspinall has had since being struck by a severe injury against Blaydes two years ago.

    And with questions remaining about how the Brit will fare in the later rounds, “The American Gangster” stated Aspinall must close the show early if he’s to maintain his grip on the title on home soil.

    “Tom Aspinall’s on one heck of a roll. People wanna talk about this fight with Curtis Blaydes (being) over two years ago. Well, that’s true…but it was only two fights ago,” Sonnen said. “That’s not much experience. You’re talking about being on the shelf for close to three years with the exception of a total of three minutes.

    “The odds of Tom winning are good. In fact, they’re -360. The chances that Tom can win a decision are very small,” Sonnen continued. “He’s gotta finish him. Oh, and by the way, not only does he gotta finish him, I think he’s gotta finish him in the first three rounds. … I think that Curtis is in a better spot than Tom based on those (15) seconds they shared the Octagon.”

    Given his penchant for finishes and the aggressive start he made to their 2022 bout, it stands to reason that Aspinall will absolutely be looking for another early night this weekend.

    Should he reach uncharted territory in the form of a fourth round, however, Sonnen is seemingly expecting the interim gold to change hands at UFC 304.

  • Chael Sonnen Feels Conor McGregor Could Have Come Up With Better Excuse Than ‘Discolored Pinky Toe’ To Pull Out Of UFC 303

    Chael Sonnen Feels Conor McGregor Could Have Come Up With Better Excuse Than ‘Discolored Pinky Toe’ To Pull Out Of UFC 303

    Chael Sonnen is stirring the pot once again, aiming his barbs at Conor McGregor and accusing the former two-division champion of fabricating his injury to dodge a fight at UFC 303.

    “The Notorious” was set to make his eagerly awaited return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler in a welterweight bout, headlining UFC’s International Fight Week last month. However, just weeks before the fight, that anticipation was dashed when McGregor announced he had suffered a toe injury, rendering him unable to compete.

    When the fight was canceled, Sonnen speculated that McGregor withdrew due to being in rehab for substance abuse. This theory provoked a heated rebuttal from the Irishman, who shared numerous photos of his bruised toe to refute the claim.

    However, this didn’t deter the former UFC middleweight title challenger from questioning the authenticity of McGregor’s claims. Last month, he boldly asserted that the injury was a ruse, devised solely to avoid the bout with Chandler.

    Sonnen once again targeted McGregor, casting doubt on the legitimacy of his injury claim with unrelenting skepticism…

    Sonnen Amplifies Scrutiny Over McGregor’s Toe Injury

    During a recent video on his YouTube channel, “The Bad Guy” once again aired his doubts about McGregor’s alleged broken toe.

    Sonnen scrutinized the timeline of events following his supposed injury and questioned why McGregor missed the Dublin press conference.

    “I’m looking out for his version of a discolored pinky toe that may or may not be broken,” Sonnen said. “It wouldn’t explain the absence of a press conference, and that’s where you get jammed up. Where was it? Where could you have been that precluded you from coming to a press conference? You don’t have to drive yourself.”

    Sonnen further speculated whether the photos of bruised toes McGregor shared on social media were genuinely his or possibly someone else’s.

    “You start running out of options, and so when you go with a discolored pinky toe that may or may not belong to you and may or may not be broken, I’m just wondering, in hindsight, do you look back on that and think it was a little bit of a miss because we’re not owed an explanation?”

    McGregor has been sidelined from active competition since fracturing his leg in the first round of his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

    Although his return has yet to be rescheduled, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that McGregor won’t re-enter the Octagon before November. However, it remains uncertain whether he will face Chandler for his comeback.

  • Chael Sonnen Points Out Mistake UFC Made In ‘Negotiating’ A Khabib Nurmagomedov Comeback: ‘They Were Changing The Wrong Number…’

    Chael Sonnen Points Out Mistake UFC Made In ‘Negotiating’ A Khabib Nurmagomedov Comeback: ‘They Were Changing The Wrong Number…’

    When Khabib Nurmagomedov made the decision to retire on top of the sport in 2020, there was always going to be talk of what could possibly bring him back.

    “The Eagle” never had the same motivations as most other fighters, and his decision to retire after his title defense over Justin Gaethje wasn’t something that was a big long term plan.

    The passing of his father and coach Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov meant that Khabib would step away following a promise to his mother despite being just one win away from the coveted 30-0 that his father wanted to achieve.

    Regardless of recent reports regarding his financial situation, money was never the aim for the undefeated lightweight king, and it certainly appears that the UFC already tried this option.

    Chael Sonnen believes that we could have seen Nurmagomedov back inside the Octagon if the promotion had switched tact with him…

    Sonnen: UFC Should Have Offered Khabib Fights At A Different Weight Rather Than Increased Money

    During a recent YouTube video, Sonnen suggested that the UFC was wasting its time by attempting to offer Nurmagomedov more money to continue fighting.

    As he recalls, the promotion tried to keep him around to at least hit the 30-0 mark but “The Eagle” has proven to be a man of his word.

    In Sonnen’s opinion, the financial figure wasn’t the number that they should have been offering the all-time great 155-pound fighter. He believes discussions about competing in a different weight class would have been a much more effective way to entice Nurmagomedov back for one last dance.

    “I have maintained for you that when those negotiations were going on and they were attempting to change numbers, they were changing the wrong number,” Sonnen said. “The same reason that 30-0 became 29-0. It wasn’t commas and zeros. It was the weight class.

    “If they would have had one more, sat him down, and really negotiated, and made it 170 pounds, you would have seen Khabib fight or at least, you’d have been a lot more likely,” Sonnen added.

    The champion never had particularly easy weight cuts, and if you look at his entire career, competing outside the lightweight division is one of the only boxes that he never checked off.

  • Beneil Dariush Recalls Memorable Moment With UFC Hall Of Famers At 2024 Induction Ceremony: ‘Chael Wouldn’t Be Getting Out Of This Room Alive’

    Beneil Dariush Recalls Memorable Moment With UFC Hall Of Famers At 2024 Induction Ceremony: ‘Chael Wouldn’t Be Getting Out Of This Room Alive’

    Beneil Dariush entered the UFC Hall of Fame as a part of the 2024 class, as the fifth winner of the Forrest Griffin Community Award.

    Dariush received praise for the work he has done with multiple organizations to help those living in the likes of Iraq and Haiti.

    Standing on the stage alongside legends of the sport, the active lightweight contender came away with a few moments that he will always remember fondly.

    One of those was being able to stand there alongside Frankie Edgar, who was a big inspiration for his own career, and was inducted into the Modern Wing.

    Another moment was an observation that Dariush made about some former rivals burying the hatchet with one another.

    Beneil Dariush Recalls Heart-warming Exchange Between Chael Sonnen, Wanderlei Silva & ‘Shogun’ Rua

    In a recent interview with Submission Radio, Dariush reflected on one particular moment that stayed with him from the Hall of Fame ceremony.

    Chael Sonnen has had his fair share of iconic rivalries, with many of his biggest fights coming against Brazilian opponents.

    International Fight Week saw Sonnen get inducted for his first fight with Anderson Silva, alongside two other Brazilian legends in Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.

    Dariush recalled how he was able to watch them all interact with one another as he reflected on how much their dynamic has changed over the years.

    “The other cool part was “Shogun” was there and Wanderlei was there, we’re all from the same gym right. Three guys from basically Kings or Chute Boxe or from that lineage to get awards was cool and finally, at one point, I saw, it was like this.

    “Wanderlei was sitting here, “Shogun’s” here and Chael was right here in the middle and I’m behind them all and I just thought to myself, bro, 10 years ago if this situation was happening, I don’t think Chael would be getting out of this room alive but look at them now. Hanging out, speaking to each other and just being gentlemen. That was probably the coolest part to see, everybody’s moved on from the drama from previous.”

    Read also: Dustin Poirier Limits Opponent Options For Next Fight To 7 Major Names: ‘Definitely One Of Those Guys’ 

  • MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    MMA News Today: Chael Sonnen Sticks Up For Jon Jones On Misdemeanor Charges, Aljamain Sterling To Make Karate Combat Debut On July 25, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 16, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Sonnen believes Jones’ misdemeanor charges could be less serious than they appear to be
    • Sterling books grappling match on Karate Combat
    • Romero announces plans for his next fight

    Chael Sonnen Questions Whether Jon Jones’ Case Has Been Over Exaggerated

    Jon Jones is dealing with another controversial police charge following an interaction at his house with a drug-testing agent.

    The UFC heavyweight champion has been charged with two misdemeanors where, if proven guilty, he could face fines or even jail time.

    His former rival, Chael Sonnen, has some issues with the way that this process has been carried out following the initial reports from April.

    During a recent YouTube video on his channel, Sonnen questioned both why the decision has taken so long based on the evidence they have and whether the case has been exaggerated with the misdemeanor charges.

    “The agents came and did what they did but there is a significant difference guys, in being a jerk and being a criminal. There’s a significant difference in being rude and committing a crime and it’s annoying for me to have to read this about Jon and read that he’s got to deal with this. It’s annoying for me even if not the municipality that I live in…

    “it’s annoying to me that on a double hit misdemeanor where there are not witnesses because – there’s a witness there but they’re not supporting the claim. There isn’t video cameras of everything but there is video surveillance and it doesn’t support the claim. It seems like a tough one and it still took those guys four, five, six [months], however long this is to make a decision even in this case.”

    Aljamain Sterling Set To Compete on Karate Combat’s Pit Submission Series On July 25

    Former UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling is set to make his Karate Combat debut on the Pit Submission Series.

    The striking-focused promotion recently started opening up their events with several grappling bouts to kick off the show.

    Sterling is set to compete on July 25 in Nashville at Karate Combat 48, where he faces Jay Jay Wilson.

    “Funkmaster” has competed in several grappling matches in recent times with this being his first since he made his successful move up to featherweight with a win over Calvin Kattar at UFC 300.

    The event is set to be headlined by the heavyweight title rematch between Sam Alvey and Antônio Arroyo.

    https://twitter.com/KarateCombat/status/1813033307564875936

    Yoel Romero Says He’s Fighting Corey Anderson For The Bellator Light Heavyweight Title On October 19

    Despite rumours of him making the jump to BKFC, former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero appears to be gearing up for his Bellator return.

    “Soldier of God” has been inactive since his decision win over Thiago Santos in February at PFL vs Bellator and according to him, he’s now set up for a title shot.

    Romero recently spoke in an interview on the Overdogs Espanol podcast where he claimed that he will be fighting Corey Anderson for the light heavyweight title on October 19 in Saudi Arabia.

    The Bellator Champions Series is currently set to host events in Chicago on October 12 and Paris on November 16. While there is no event announced as of yet for Saudi Arabia, the PFL is expected to stage another pay-per-view in Riyadh this fall, with names like Francis Ngannou and Cris Cyborg expected to take part.

    Perhaps Romero has leaked the date for that major show…

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Stipe Miocic Is ‘Primed’ To Defeat Jon Jones: ‘He Realized I Gotta Be More Man…’

    Chael Sonnen recently expressed his belief that Stipe Miocic has the upper hand in his potential fight against Jon Jones.

    The much-anticipated clash between Miocic and reigning heavyweight champion Jones has been the talk of the MMA world since it was first announced. The excitement reached a fever pitch, only to be dashed last October when “Bones” tore his pectoral muscle just two weeks before their scheduled bout at UFC 295 in November 2023.

    The widespread anticipation is that the long-overdue bout will headline the UFC’s return to Madison Square Garden this November. Jones has also fueled the excitement with his continuous hints, yet the MMA promotion has not officially confirmed the event.

    Miocic last competed at UFC 260 in March 2021, where he suffered a second-round knockout defeat in a rematch against former heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Although he has been absent from the Octagon for over three years, Sonnen believes the 41-year-old Ohio native could still pull off a stunning upset against Jones if they were to fight…

    Sonnen Suggests Miocic’s Apparent Bulk Could Aid in Jones Fight

    During a recent episode of ESPN’s Good Guy / Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier, Sonnen delved into a discussion about fighters who have the potential to dethrone reigning UFC champions by the year’s end.

    “The Bad Guy” expressed confidence in Miocic’s ability to defeat Jones in their potential matchup. Sonnen revealed that he recently spoke with the former longtime heavyweight champion about his current walk-around weight, and Miocic disclosed he’s around 252 pounds.

    The former middleweight title challenger told “DC” that Miocic’s added muscle mass could significantly enhance his power, a game-changing factor in a showdown with Jones.

    “If Stipe does in fact come in at 252 [pounds], that’s very different,” Sonnen said. “The first time you [Cormier] fought him, he was 246, and the second time you fought him, he was 233… But after he lost to Francis, Stipe thought that he was going to draw into a trilogy against Francis, and he realized I got to be a bigger man and got to have more size on me.”

    “He buckled down and focused on the same thing that Jon Jones did to gain weight. Stipe did the same thing; he added the right kind of weight, and that’s going to change the perception of power ability for takedowns. Stipe is going to show up at Madison Square Garden, and he is primed to get a victory.”

    Despite his extended hiatus, Miocic has been unwavering in his desire to face “Bones” in his comeback fight, expressing his willingness to wait for the opportunity. He’s recently made it clear that if the Jones bout doesn’t materialize, he’s prepared to retire.

  • Michael Chandler Told He Has Become A Top Five Draw In The UFC Despite Long Layoff: ‘He Got What He Wanted Without Having To Throw A Punch…’

    Michael Chandler Told He Has Become A Top Five Draw In The UFC Despite Long Layoff: ‘He Got What He Wanted Without Having To Throw A Punch…’

    Michael Chandler has not fought since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November of 2022.

    He has spent the best part of a year and a half at this stage trying to answer questions of when he will be fighting Conor McGregor and whether this wait has been worth it.

    Everything finally looked to be heading his way until McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 due to a broken toe with the plan to push the fight back a few months so that he can return at 100%.

    Of course, fighting McGregor is an opportunity that simply doesn’t get any bigger in this sport but if the fight never happens, Chandler could have missed out on some incredibly significant time in his career now that he is 38 years old.

    Chael Sonnen does not see it this way because of the goal that “Iron” Mike approached this fight with.

    Chael Sonnen Argues That Michael Chandler Has Still Got What He Wanted Out Of Conor McGregor Without Fighting Him

    During a recent episode of the Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA, Daniel Cormier made the prediction that Chandler will fight again this year but it may not be McGregor.

    Though some would consider this a big setback for the former Bellator fight because of how long he has waited, Sonnen believes that he has still gained massively from this period of his career.

    “The Bad Guy” argues that by being spoken about in connection with the biggest fight that is possible means that he has been able to increase his own stock and name value without ever stepping inside the Octagon.

    Sonnen argues that Chandler has been given the McGregor exposure without actually needing to fight him first.

    “Michael Chandler, behind the scenes, his number one motivation to fight Conor McGregor, it was not some big huge lucrative payday like so many people think. Michael Chandler was playing a long game, he thought, ‘I match-up very well, Conor’s got the fans, I go in there, I beat him, I leave with all the fans’. Well, he’s kind of there. I mean, in all fairness, we’re all chomping at the bit to see Michael Chandler.

    “What I’m trying to suggest for you is it doesn’t really matter. Michael Chandler, I believe, is a top five draw right now and I don’t believe after his last fight that he was. I think all this media, all this attention, the things that are dangling, you and I discussing him, I think he’s actually gone up. I think he got what he wanted without having to throw a punch.”

    Read also: Chael Sonnen Sends Advice To Former Alex Pereira Kickboxing Opponent Artem Vakhitov On MMA Transition: ‘Might Be A Better Approach…’ 

  • Chael Sonnen Sends Advice To Former Alex Pereira Kickboxing Opponent Artem Vakhitov On MMA Transition: ‘Might Be A Better Approach…’ 

    Chael Sonnen Sends Advice To Former Alex Pereira Kickboxing Opponent Artem Vakhitov On MMA Transition: ‘Might Be A Better Approach…’ 

    UFC legend Chael Sonnen has urged former two-time Glory Kickboxing champion Artem Vakhitov to rethink the way he’s currently approaching his pursuit of Alex Pereira in mixed martial arts.

    Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion in MMA’s leading promotion, is beginning to find himself on the opposite end of a narrative he rode all the way to the top in the UFC following his promotional debut in 2021.

    “Poatan” arrived with hype already around his name owing to his history with then-middleweight titleholder Israel Adesanya, whom he got the better of twice in the kickboxing ring.

    The Brazilian capitalized on that story to secure a faster-than-usual rise to the belt, ultimately capturing it from “The Last Stylebender” before immediately dropping it back and moving onto other things a division up.

    Now, having cemented his grip on the 205-pound crown and enhanced his legacy in MMA, a figure from Pereira’s striking past has emerged.

    In his final kickboxing bout, the former two-weight Glory champion was outpointed by Vakhitov months on from his own narrow decision victory over the Russian. Vakhitov has also since transitioned to the cage, and he recently began his pursuit of a combat sports trilogy with Pereira by taking aim at his skillset.

    But one man who certainly boasts experience in the realm of MMA storylines believes the MMA newcomer is going about things in the wrong way…

    Sonnen Tells Vakhitov To ‘Join’ Pereira, Not Target Him

    During a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to the recent war of words between Vakhitov and Pereira, who reacted to his former rival’s remarks with a warning and some advice regarding the need for management.

    Sonnen made the obvious comparison between “Poatan’s” transition to MMA and subsequent pursuit of Adesanya. But in contrast to that, “The Bad Guy” believes it would be wise for Vakhitov to align himself with the light heavyweight champ.

    “Artem did an interview, and I can’t tell you that he did anything wrong,” Sonnen said. “He’s coming over the MMA and he’s got a win over Pereira. I can’t deny that that story works. … We know that it works, that’s the exact formula Pereira did when he came over; ‘I beat Izzy, I beat your champion. I’m now coming to your sport. I beat him over here, why would I not beat him in this one as well?’ You don’t want to have the secret sauce to beat a guy, and that’s all that you’ve got, ‘I can take out your champion.’ It can’t be, because even if it’s true, you can’t get to him.

    “I feel that the best way to do it is to join him. I feel that instead of Artem coming in and doing what makes the most sense to him, which is create heat, create a story, ‘I want to get to Pereira, I’m gonna start calling Pereira out straight away.’ Believe me, I understand it…(but) kickboxing does not come over with enough of an audience,” Sonnen continued. “I’m only suggesting for you that Artem come in different and he come in with Pereira. ‘We are taking over,’ and he associates himself with Pereira. ‘We kickboxers, we’ve always been the hardest sport.’ … I think if he just associates himself with Alex Pereira, it might be a better approach.’”

    It remains to be seen whether Vakhitov will heed Sonnen’s advice following his recent back and forth with Pereira. For the time being, though, the Russian will be focused on securing his path to the Octagon to ensure he’s competing under the same banner as “Poatan.”

  • Chael Sonnen Explains Why Nate Diaz Can Easily Return To UFC, Unlike Ronda Rousey: ‘She Had To Be A Main Event’

    Chael Sonnen Explains Why Nate Diaz Can Easily Return To UFC, Unlike Ronda Rousey: ‘She Had To Be A Main Event’

    Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal exceeded the expectations of many when they headlined a boxing event at Honda Center, Anaheim, this weekend. The constant back and forth between the MMA veterans made for an entertaining fight, and rumors around their return to the UFC have already caught fire.

    Diaz last fought in the UFC in September 2022, defeating Tony Ferguson via submission. He then fought Jake Paul in August 2023 but lost via decision. After beating Masvidal on the scorecards, he called out Paul and the top UFC welterweights, teasing a return to the promotion.

    Tons of fans believed the Ferguson fight was a send-off for Diaz by the UFC. However, Chael Sonnen thinks that returning for another run is feasible for the Stockton native because, well, he’s not Ronda Rousey…

    Chael Sonnen Lays Down The Plan For Nate Diaz To Fight Dustin Poirier In UFC Return

    Sonnen discussed Diaz’s return to the UFC on his official YouTube channel recently. He started by giving context about UFC contracts and why a star like Rousey could never return properly after losing the belt.

    “I maintain for you, one of the things that cost Ronda Rousey her career was not that she was falling down in the first round over and over, it was that her contract was so big, she had to be a main event and it had to be of a pay-per-view just to justify the numbers. And main events of pay-per-views were world title fights, which means as good as Ronda was, and she was very good. She was very good, we just found out how exceptional Amanda Nunes was.”

    As per “The American Gangster”, athletes like Rousey get massive contracts that can only be justified with main-event or title fights. So, Rousey struggled to find a place in the UFC when she could no longer fare well against the top women fighters.

    The former UFC title challenger then explained how things are different for Diaz. He usually fights in co-main or main events but has the star power to draw viewers without a belt. A great example is his latest boxing bout with Masvidal.

    “Nate’s position is going to be different and it’s got to be done. In fact, Jon Anik, one of the Diaz boys’ biggest supporters, knows the same thing to be true that I just said, and has made his suggestion, which is Dustin Poirier. Bring Nate in, get him in there with Dustin, solves every possible problem.”

    Sonnen claimed that Dana White intends to organize multiple fights whenever he gives fighters a contract. Diaz seems open to fighting several times upon his UFC return which could make negotiations easier.

    “The American Gangster” believes Dustin Poirier, who is potentially looking for an intriguing retirement bout, to be Diaz’s best option upon returning to the Octagon. Amidst the optimism, he also cited that renegotiating a new UFC contract and then choosing your opponent can naturally get complicated.

    Hence, Diaz, who’s already 39, might want to hit while the iron is still hot.

    Read More: Magomed Ankalaev Continues Persistent Pursuit Of Alex Pereira Post-UFC 303: ‘This Is A Promise…’ 

  • Chael Sonnen Snubs Alex Pereira For 2024’s Best Male Fighter Thus Far: ‘When I Watched O’Malley…’

    Chael Sonnen Snubs Alex Pereira For 2024’s Best Male Fighter Thus Far: ‘When I Watched O’Malley…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen had an interesting pick for male fighter in his and Daniel Cormier’s recent mid-year awards.

    While the real interest in awards comes at the end of each calendar year, there’s been no shortage of action and memorable moments to digest on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage through the first six months of 2024.

    In line with that, ESPN recently released its mid-year awards. A 14-person voting panel including renowned journalists like Brett Okamoto and Brett Okamoto voted on a number of categories following UFC 303.

    And that event contributed to one result, with 100 percent of the votes for Male Fighter of the Mid-Year going to UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira.

    Pereira is the only titleholder to have emerged victorious twice in 2024, with “Poatan” following his knockout of Jamahal Hill in the main event of April’s milestone UFC 300 card with another brutal finish last month, this time at the expense of Jiří Procházka on short notice.

    While that run would perhaps make the Brazilian an obvious and unrivaled choice, one former fighter sees things differently…

    Sonnen Favors O’Malley Title Defense Over Pereira’s Two Knockouts

    During a recent episode of his and Cormier’s Good Guy / Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Sonnen left his co-host in shock with one of his mid-year award picks.

    Despite Pereira’s dominant performances against two high-ranked former light heavyweight champs, “The Bad Guy” gave his nod to bantamweight kingpin Sean O’Malley.

    “When you look at the Male Fighter of the Year, I’m going with Sean O’Malley,” Sonnen said. “When ‘Sugar’ Sean fought ‘Chito’ Vera, I did not know Sean was that good. I believed that Sean was the best guy in the world. I thought it was competitive; there’s guys that could beat him but he could beat them as well. But when he fought ‘Chito’ Vera and he dominated that…

    “To watch the growth that Sean had (from the first Vera fight), not to mention the pressure he had going from the Apex to top of the bill, a $14.1 million gate, and you’ve got to follow the show Dustin Poirier put on,” Sonnen continued. “There was so much pressure on this young man, who is a showman. … Can you back up what you say? Not only did he do it, he did it for 25 minutes. 15 minutes in he could’ve put the brakes on…wasn’t good enough for him. He tried to finish that fight. … I thought it was the total package.”

    Sonnen’s pick received a shake of the head from Cormier, who was firm in stating that Pereira is the correct and obvious pick.

    Whether that will remain the case come the end-of-year awards remains to be seen. O’Malley would no doubt strengthen his case should he get past his expected next challenger, wrestling specialist Merab Dvalishvili.

    But should Pereira face and defeat the man widely labeled his biggest threat at 205 pounds in Magomed Ankalaev, the debate could be wrapped up.

  • Chael Sonnen Urges Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, & Others To ‘Speak Up’ Amid Islam Makhachev vs. Michael Chandler Rumors

    Chael Sonnen Urges Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, & Others To ‘Speak Up’ Amid Islam Makhachev vs. Michael Chandler Rumors

    The UFC matchmakers have been on a run since Conor McGregor pulled out of his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. After successfully securing new main and co-main events, their next challenge is to either reschedule the original headliner or get Chandler to return against someone else.

    “Iron” last fought in November 2022, and after waiting for McGregor for almost two years, he might be looking at alternatives. With that, he recently teased that a fight with Islam Makhachev is in the works, but there’s not a lot of optimism around it due to the challenger’s inactivity and record.

    Chael Sonnen, though, would be glad to see Chandler fight for the UFC lightweight championship. However, he also expects other stars in the promotion to build a case for themselves…

    Sonnen Lists Exciting Matchups For Islam Makhachev, Including Max Holloway & Charles Oliveira

    “The American Gangster” discussed the possibility of Makhachev vs. Chandler happening in a video on his official YouTube channel.

    He advised “Iron” to accept the fight without second thoughts but also urged other fighters to make the most of the current lack of contenders at 155 pounds.

    Arman Tsarukyan is out untlil October due to a suspension for punching a fan while walking out at UFC 300. Thanks to a win over Oliveira on the same night, he would appear to be the only obvious contender in the division.

    “This perfect storm, if you will, it has created an opportunity, not to be unmatched by the fact that no other 155-pounder seems to have a problem with it,” Sonnen said. “Like, I read something like Ilia Topuria says that Max Holloway won’t be available so they’re looking for another opponent. Let that go and move down a different road.

    “That would be a fine example. Like, Max, as the BMF champ, challenge Islam or to speak up, or to get in the way of Chandler, would just be one of the many potential examples,” Sonnen added.

    The BMF champ looked at his best against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 as he scored an iconic last-second KO. “Do Bronx,” meanwhile isn’t out of the title picture as well, according to Sonnen, due to the close nature of his split decision defeat to Tsarukyan.

    “Charles Oliveira, coming off of a loss, same as Chandler, who was in an elimination match with Tsarukyan, which was razor thin,” Sonnen stated. “And somebody somewhere in the world wants to see Charles Oliveira take on Islam. Like, it’d be a really good time for Charles to speak up. And I don’t have to go through each and every 155-pounder.”

    Makhachev has also repeatedly shown interest in fighting Leon Edwards for the UFC welterweight championship.

  • Chael Sonnen Has Advice For Michael Chandler On Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

    Chael Sonnen Has Advice For Michael Chandler On Rumored Islam Makhachev Fight Offer: ‘Don’t Make That Mistake…’

    Michael Chandler was expected to fight Conor McGregor at UFC 303 but the Irishman pulled out due to a broken toe. “Iron” has been out of the Octagon for almost two years now, and he has mostly been adamant about fighting McGregor in his return.

    However, Chandler recently surprised fans by announcing on X that he’s been offered to fight Islam Makhachev at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The UFC lightweight champion called him an unreliable opponent but never rejected the claim about the offer.

    Unlike many fans, Chael Sonnen believes that Chandler can actually get a title shot despite being out of action since November 2022. He has crucial advice for the former Bellator lightweight champion, though…

    Chael Sonnen Tells Michael Chandler Not To Miss A Fight With Islam Makhachev For Conor McGregor

    On his official YouTube channel, “The American Gangster” discussed Chandler’s future now that the McGregor fight has been postponed. He reiterated his theory that the Dubliner might not ever return after pulling out of UFC 303.

    In the mind of Sonnen, offering Makhachev could be the UFC’s way to indirectly tell Chandler that he won’t ever get to fight the former two-division champion.

    On these grounds, Sonnen thinks Chandler should now consider alternatives. Fighting Makhachev for the UFC lightweight title is certainly an exciting opportunity, and it could be more fruitful than waiting for “The Notorious.”

    “If Michael Chandler is offered Islam Makhachev, there is a message being delivered to him, that he has got to be able to hear,” Sonnen said. “The words, ‘We cannot get you Conor McGregor. We are not going to get you Conor McGregor.’”

    The retired UFC middleweight warned “Iron” not to overestimate his current options. He pointed out that fighting Makhachev won’t decrease Chandler’s chances of fighting McGregor in the future.

    “Don’t make that mistake. You’ve got to get the matches you can get when you can get them. You’ve got to win the matches you can win when you can win them. You’ve got to sign the matches you can sign when you can sign them. In front of everything else, get the fight and get it into the ring.”

    Arman Tsarukyan, seemingly the only UFC lightweight with a solid case for a title shot, is out until October at least after being handed a suspension for the punch he threw at a fan during his UFC 300 walkout.

  • Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Jiří Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

    Chael Sonnen ‘Fascinated’ By Talk Of Jiří Procházka Dropping To Middleweight: ‘Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You Have My Attention’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is intrigued by the possibility of Jiří Procházka joining the division he formerly competed in.

    Procházka is currently just over a week on from his latest outing at the UFC 303 pay-per-view, which saw his second failed bid to achieve two-time champion status on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage play out.

    Having had his light heavyweight reign brought to an end by a severe shoulder injury in late 2022, “BJP” returned in competition for the then-vacant belt at UFC 295 last November. On that night, Alex Pereira exited the cage with the gold in his possession, completing two-division glory in the process.

    With both subsequently recording wins at UFC 300 this past April, they ran it back on short notice after the June 29 numbered event was left in desperate need of a headline savior.

    The Czech star answered the call and looked to right the wrongs from his first showdown with “Poatan.” But unfortunately for the former champ, he was soundly beaten second time around.

    In the aftermath, a disappointed Procházka admitted he needs to “evolve” as a fighter or simply not compete any longer. Separately, his coach pitched a drop to middleweight following his man’s latest setback at 205 pounds.

    That idea appears to be one that gets a former title challenger in both divisions off his seat…

    Sonnen ‘Loves’ The Idea Of Middleweight Procházka

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen reacted to talk of Procházka possibly testing the middleweight waters down the line, a move that the former champ himself has previously insisted would be doable.

    While he suggested a divisional switch is not a necessity for “BJP” despite his two defeats to the current light heavyweight kingpin, “The Bad Guy” did point out a number of mouthwatering matchups that could await the Czech star down at 185 pounds.

    “Jiří Procházka’s coach suggests the former champion should move down to middleweight. … Well, I don’t want to take on that coach or his opinion because he is damn good and he created a world champion there,” Sonnen said. “I believe what he is offering, in front of everything else, is that it is not time for Jiří to retire. I agree with that, fully.

    “I don’t believe there is a meaningful difference if you become a world champion in a different division. … Jiří at 185, that is completely fascinating to me. I love that idea,” Sonnen continued. “I really don’t want to see Jiří vs. Alex Pereira (again). I didn’t really want to see Jiří vs. Alex Pereira last weekend. That’s just not the one that I was itching for. But I tell you what, Jiří Procházka vs. Du Plessis? You have my attention. Jiří Procházka vs. Sean Strickland, vs. Izzy Adesanya, wow, vs. Robert Whittaker, woah, things just got really interesting. Jiří Procházka vs. Khamzat Chimaev! Jiří at 185, I love this concept, but I’m not bothered by the concept of Jiří staying at 205.”

    It remains to be seen what Procházka’s plans are for the future and whether he shares his coach’s view on a middleweight move next.

    But regardless, the always entertaining “BJP” is already back to his unique and unorthodox training regime back in Czechia.

  • Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    Chael Sonnen: Alex Pereira Might Be The ‘Greatest Athlete’ Of All Time, Not Just Fighter

    What Alex Pereira has been able to accomplish during a short time in MMA has been nothing short of execeptional.

    The Brazilian certainly arrived in the Octagon with some hype behind him because of a stellar career in kickboxing, where he was famed for his one-punch knockout power.

    He already made history in the sport of kickboxing by becoming the first man in the history of Glory to hold titles at two weight classes simultaneously.

    Fast forward several years and he hasn’t just succeeded in transitioning to MMA, he’s become one of the best in the world. As a result, he is one of the biggest names in the MMA.

    And according to this ex-fighter, one of the best across any sport…

    Chael Sonnen Says Alex Pereira’s Greatness Transcends Combat Sports

    In a recent appearance on The Zach Gelb Show, Chael Sonnen spoke about Pereira’s unprecedented rise in MMA and how it may transcend combat sports.

    He made the case that, for a start, nothing like this has ever been done in fighting, where someone is able to reach the very top in effectively two different sports.

    Sonnen also chose to look at the bigger picture by bringing the entirety of sport into question. Once again, Sonnen insisted that no one has ever been this successful in two different fields during their career.

    Pereira’s kickboxing skills are obviously a vital part of what he does in MMA, but even Dana White recently admitted that he once had reservations about how well “Poatan” would do inside the Octagon, where opponents can grapple with him.

    Sonnen believes that Pereira’s career deserves to be looked at in sport as a whole, making some bold claims about just how great he truly is.

    “I can guarantee it never happened in combat sport. I’m telling you, in sport! I’m old enough to remember when Bo Jackson was playing football and went and played baseball, but he wasn’t 36 when he started and he didn’t become the best in the world.

    “I have never seen a rise like this. Basketball, baseball; anyway you want to do it. This might be the greatest athlete of all time. I mean that’s silly, it might be true.”

    Pereira could be in for his toughest test to date later this year should expected plans come to fruition.

    Off the back of another knockout at UFC 303 this past weekend to successfully defend his light heavyweight title for the second time, “Poatan” could face a stiff grappling challenge in the form of Magomed Ankalaev.

  • Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Chael Sonnen Accuses Jiří Procházka Of ‘Being A Baby’ In Reaction To UFC 303 Loss

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen believes Jiří Procházka is producing a great example for other fighters when it comes to how not to handle a defeat.

    Just over two years on from his memorable crowning in Singapore at the expense of Glover Teixeira, Procházka looked to regain the light heavyweight crown in the main event of UFC 303 this past weekend.

    In what marked his second attempt at achieving two-time champ status opposite Alex Pereira, “BJP” once again fell short. While their first showdown at Madison Square Garden last year had some controversy owing to cries of early stoppage, there was no doubt about “Poatan’s” superiority on June 29.

    In the aftermath of his sophomore setback to the Brazilian knockout artist, Procházka released his first statement in the form of a video on his social accounts. In it, the Czech star gave an honest assessment of his defeat in Las Vegas, admitting that he either has to “evolve” or not return to the Octagon.

    While some have praised that mindset, one former fighter was not impressed…

    Sonnen Questions Procházka’s Focus On ‘Outcome,’ Not ‘Performance’

    During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Sonnen looked back on Procházka’s performance in Las Vegas and assessed his first post-fight statement on social media.

    “The Bad Guy” pointed to the former champ’s statement regarding the need to evolve, suggesting that usually leads to changes such as a team switch, which in turn signals the “beginning of the end” for a fighter.

    In simple terms, Sonnen described “BJP’s” remarks as the defeated light heavyweight “being a baby.”

    “Jiří Procházka, already talking to the fans, already doing some weird Jiří stuff, and I don’t know, man, being a baby. I don’t know,” Sonnen said. “I turned this camera on, I wanted to make a nice piece about Jiří. I haven’t met him but I appreciate him. And I recognize the incredible grit to that guy. I mean, a real tough guy. … He is not going to give up. He says he’s got to either evolve or he’s got to quit. It’s just a very interesting statement.

    “I do understand what Jiří’s saying…he’s talking about, you know, ‘I’m not going to settle in. I’m here to be champion, and I don’t have the skills and tools needed right now to deal with this threat,’ which is Pereira. … That’s a very dangerous game. In theory, that is absolutely right…it’s just an interesting game in practice,” Sonnen continued. “When you attempt to evolve, the first thing that traditionally happens is you leave your current situation. … It’s generally the beginning of the end. … You can’t, when you lose a contest, decide that that’s the time you’ve got to change things. You can’t be outcome-based. It’s a huge mistake. Champions don’t make it but the top contenders do. If you are outcome-based as opposed to performance-based, you’re really missing the number one philosophy that you need to be successful.”

    It remains to be seen when Procházka will look to get back into the cage following his latest setback to Pereira, or even if.

    Should he take time away and return once again in pursuit of two-time champ status, however, it stands to reason that the Czech star will do so looking to show new wrinkles and improvements to his game.

  • Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Chael Sonnen Tells UFC, Alex Pereira To Avoid Magomed Ankalaev Fight: ‘Dana White’s A Big Gambler, I Don’t Know If He’s That Big…’

    Former UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen has some advice for the promotion when it comes to booking Alex Pereira’s next fight.

    Pereira further grew his stock and enhanced his legacy on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this past weekend by knocking out Jiří Procházka in the main event of the UFC 303 pay-per-view in Las Vegas.

    As was the case with his KO of Jamahal Hill at UFC 300, “Poatan” was drafted in to save the day on June 29. That was after the cancellation of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler left the headline slot open.

    The Brazilian made the most of the opportunity by recording a second win over “BJP,” repeating the feat he achieved at Madison Square Garden in New York City last November.

    While Pereira’s triumph inside the T-Mobile Arena remains the talk of the town, discussion is beginning to turn to what could lie in waiting for the UFC light heavyweight champion, and the leading option appears to be a man long touted as “Poatan’s” toughest challenge at 205 pounds…

    Sonnen: Pereira vs. Ankalaev A Risk ‘Not Worth’ Taking

    Magomed Ankalaev immediately made his voice heard in the aftermath of UFC 303, taking to social media to stake his claim for the next shot and vowing to knock out the reigning champ.

    Like many, Sonnen sees the Dagestani’s ground game as the major threat to Pereira, and for that reason, he thinks the UFC would be wise to pursue other avenues for the Brazilian’s next fight.

    “You’re gonna start hearing about Ankalaev (as Pereira’s next fight),” Sonnen said during a recent interview with Infinity Sports Network. “He’s just the only guy that’s left. The problem there is Ankalaev does have the one skillset — he’s a fighter from Dagestan, which means he has high-level grappling. … And the one style that we haven’t seen Alex dominate or even defeat is that kind of a wrestler.

    “It’s not worth the risk, in my opinion. To take the risk that this guy could get over on your biggest — this guy called Ankalaev…to take the risk of him taking the spot of your biggest star, I don’t know,” Sonnen continued. “Dana White’s a big gambler, man, I don’t know if he’s that big.”

    Ankalaev appeared to solidify his place in the title conversation by viciously stopping Johnny Walker in the first UFC main event of 2024.

    Prior to the no contest with Walker that came beforehand, the Russian reeled off nine straight wins following a shock loss to Paul Craig, a run that included victories over Nikita Kyrlov, Volkan Oezdemir, Thiago Santos, and Anthony Smith.

  • MMA News Today: Insider Reveals Issue That Prevented Dustin Poirier Training Wrestling Pre-UFC 302, Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko Disagree On Planned Sphere Theme For UFC 306, & More

    MMA News Today: Insider Reveals Issue That Prevented Dustin Poirier Training Wrestling Pre-UFC 302, Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko Disagree On Planned Sphere Theme For UFC 306, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For June 4, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Poirier and Makhachev both had struggles in camp
    • Grasso and Shevchenko have mixed opinions on Noche UFC
    • Sonnen suggests replacement opponent if McGregor pulls out

    Yves Edwards Says Dustin Poirier Couldn’t Grapple Due To Training Injury Two Weeks Before UFC 302

    A lot of fight fans assumed that similar to his fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dustin Poirier would struggle to stop the grappling game of Islam Makhachev at UFC 302.

    Though he was submitted in the final round, the takedown and submission defense of the challenger was at least enough to make the fight competitive.

    This is only more impressive following some recent comments from a former fighter that had insight into his preparations for Newark.

    On SiriuxXM’s MMA Today, Yves Edwards said that Poirier was unable to grapple toward the end of his training camp due to a rib injury.

    “The way he performed on Saturday night, that was super impressive to me, and nobody knows this, and he’s probably gonna be like, ‘Man, why’d you put that out there?’ I know [Makhachev] was also not 100 percent. Nobody goes into a fight a 100 percent. But [Poirier] hurt his ribs like two weeks before the fight and hadn’t wrestled or grappled for like two and a half weeks.” 

    As Edwards stated, the champion wasn’t in his best shape either having confirmed that he suffered a staph infection during his camp that forced him to take a week off.

    Alexa Grasso & Valentina Shevchenko Express Different Impressions On Whether UFC 306 Will Be Noche UFC At The Sphere

    The trilogy fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko was seemingly targeted for UFC 306, which would have been a huge occasion.

    After their last fight took place at the very first Noche UFC event, running it back at the first event inside the Sphere made a lot of sense.

    However, former champion Valentina Shevchenko made it perfectly clear that after the scorecard controversy last time out, she wasn’t keen on the idea of running it back on this particular showcase.

    She expressed in a recent interview ahead of the premiere of their time coaching across from each other on The Ultimate Fighter that the card was no longer being planned around the celebration of Mexican Independence Day.

    This was seemingly news to the champion Grasso who said the opposite after being played a clip of Shevchenko’s comments during an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.

    “Well as I know, it’s gonna be Noche UFC again. I mean, I’ve seen a few interviews from Dana White and he’s saying that it’s a love letter for the Mexican Independence Day, for the Mexican fighters that he has.”

    Chael Sonnen Pitches Title Fight For Michael Chandler If Conor McGregor Withdraws From UFC 303

    The late-notice cancellation of the UFC 303 press conference has got fight fans worried about whether the main event will go ahead.

    For seemingly months on end, there were questions of whether Conor McGregor would ever return to face Michael Chandler or whether that ship was sailing. Everything appeared to be heading in the right direction once the fight was made official for June 29. Now, back-up plans are starting to be questioned.

    Chael Sonnen expressed on a recent episode of the Good Guy/Bad Guy show on ESPN MMA that he can’t see McGregor pulling out of the fight no matter what.

    He did also add that if “The Notorious” can’t fight, the UFC should have the BMF champion on speed dial ready to save the show.

    “One of Conor’s codes is the show must go on… I just don’t believe, a month in advance — whether it’s illness, injury, or any other excuse — that Conor’s gonna be the one that pulls,” Sonnen said. “But I will tell you this, there will be no postponement of this fight. They either fight on the 29th or we move on.

    “I believe Conor’s gonna be opposite Michael Chandler. I’m very confident in telling you that,” Sonnen continued. “However, if he’s not, Michael Chandler versus Max Holloway for the BMF is the fight to book.”

    Read more on the story here.

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