Twitter reacts to Chael Sonnen retirement

Chael Sonnen retired at age 42 following a loss to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222, and Twitter reacted with respect and appreciation.

The ride is over. @ChaelSonnen announces that he is retiring. ✊ pic.twitter.com/kNMQEIdIKq

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 15, 2019

Tonight @ChaelSonnen laid his gloves down in the cage and retired from the sport of MMA. Honored to be a colleague, a friend and to call his last fight. Thank you for all you have done for the sport. @BellatorMMA #Bellator220 pic.twitter.com/8NcfPcYXQh

— Jenn Brown TV (@JennBrown) June 15, 2019

Chael Sonnen wins:

Rampage
Wanderlei
Shogun
Bisping
Brian Stann
Nate Marquardt
Yushin Okami
Dan Miller
Paulo Filho
Amar Suloev
Trevor Prangley
Renato Sobral
Mayhem Miller

There's a fair share of losses, too, but this ain't a bad resume no matter how you want to frame it.

— Luke Thomas🏋️‍♀️ (@lthomasnews) June 15, 2019

The American gentleman @ChaelSonnen enjoy retirement #Bellator222 @BellatorMMA

— CrisCyborg.Com (@criscyborg) June 15, 2019

Thank you @ChaelSonnen. #bellator222

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) June 15, 2019

Congrats on retirement @ChaelSonnen

— Funky 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@Benaskren) June 15, 2019

You’re the man @ChaelSonnen!!!! Happy retirement!

— Douglas Lima (@PhenomLima) June 15, 2019

He will always be defined by his verbal gifts. Unmatched.

But in a sport, in a culture where resume supersedes record, The resume of @ChaelSonnen will stand the test of time as one of MMA"s greatest.

He went out like the warrior it's been so easy to forget he's always been.

— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) June 15, 2019

There will never be another Chael Sonnen. Truly a one-of-a-kind character in MMA. One of the best and smartest entertainers in the sport’s history. Pretty damn good fighter, too. #Bellator222

— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) June 15, 2019

Enjoyed the journey @sonnench next chapter begins! The 🇺🇸 gangster pic.twitter.com/l0gHj8Aby8

— Roy Nelson (@roynelsonmma) June 15, 2019

https://twitter.com/davedoylemma/status/1139748451023904768

Thank you Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) for all the years of entertainment you gave us. Enjoy your retirement! #Bellator222 @BellatorMMA pic.twitter.com/fjyPf0dvtA

— FanSided MMA (@FanSidedMMA) June 15, 2019

Congratulations on a good career @ChaelSonnen, you changed the way to promote fights and make them interesting. All the best to you in the future.

— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) June 15, 2019

Chael Sonnen is a legend. He might call himself a bad guy but he's always been one of the good guys in this sport. Congratulations on a hell of a career @ChaelSonnen. You're the man. Respect.

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) June 15, 2019

If this is the end, farewell to Chael Sonnen. One of the best characters the sport of MMA has ever seen.

— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) June 15, 2019

No doubt! @ChaelSonnen is/was always magic on the mic. We had a lot of fun together back in the day at #UFCTonight! But stay tuned: We may have another work playdate coming up… 😉🤔 https://t.co/W2pHHatyES

— Karyn Bryant (@KarynBryant) June 15, 2019

Good move by @ChaelSonnen. He has enough going on that he doesn’t need to do this anymore. Came back, had some big fights, nothing more to accomplish in the sport

— Jimmy Smith (@jimmysmithmma) June 15, 2019

Chael says he's done. I said it in a piece this week, Chael Sonnen had a huge impact on what happened to MMA. Huge.

— Chuck Mindenhall (@ChuckMindenhall) June 15, 2019

Chael Sonnen retires as the greatest combat athlete of all time. 47-0, NEVER LOST A ROUND, Greatest showman MMA has ever had. Its been an honor sir, we all love and respect you. GOAT! pic.twitter.com/vIialg0QZr

— Nikhil T. (@HitmanNick047) June 15, 2019

Well one was real old School @ChaelSonnen huge heart to survive. But @lyotomachidafw was PRIME OLD SCHOOL ! Wow flying knees every wear. Speed! Looks like a Champ right there . Chael told me he was going to catch his knee🙄 BUM 😏 fight on who’s next?

— Mark Coleman (@Markcolemanmma) June 15, 2019

@ChaelSonnen CONGRATS! One of the most genuine human beings I have ever met in my life. One of the good guys. Years ago he found out a certain UFC fighter with a large family got suspended, Chael sent an envelope with a check to his house to help. They barley knew each other.

— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) June 15, 2019

Never thought I would see the day when a man walked away from MMA undefeated. @ChaelSonnen congratulations on a beautiful career.

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) June 15, 2019

To this day @ChaelSonnen is the nicest fighter I’ve ever met. Congrats on an incredible career Chael. #bellator223

— Scott Hot Sauce Holtzman (@HotSauceHoltzy) June 15, 2019

@ChaelSonnen Tonight may have been your last fight but your days of competing, commentating and displaying your Red Belt in Wit are far from over! You make life fun! It’s an honor to call you my friend! #gangster

— Mike Goldberg (@GoldieOnTV) June 15, 2019

Congrats on a legendary career @ChaelSonnen! Changed the fight game forever! 👏🏼

— bjpenndotcom (@bjpenndotcom) June 15, 2019

WE LOVE YOU @ChaelSonnen

— Robin Black (@robinblackmma) June 15, 2019

Still can’t believe he fed the bus a carrot

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) June 15, 2019

Sonnen challenged for the UFC Light Heavyweight championship and the UFC Middleweight championship. Career victories include Maurício Rua, Yushin Okami, Michael Bisping, Nate Marquardt, Wanderlei Silva, and Quinton Jackson. And he’s probably the smartest man in the sport.