Chael on Metamoris, Rousey, Cyborg, and more
Chael Sonnen on his match at Metamoris with Babalu, Cris Cyborg vs. Ronda Rousey, how to pull big PPV numbers, and the kindness of Dana White.
MMA Math: Phenom interviewer Steph Daniels + phenom interviewee Chael Sonnen = Win.
Chael on Chael vs. Renato Sobral at Metamoris VI on May 9.
I will say this when it comes to Metamoris, it is shocking how successful their business model is. I’m not an internet guy. I’m a TV guy. If it’s not on TV, I’m not watching it. This whole, internet-based programming, whether it’s Fightpass, or WWE or Netflix and now Metamoris…this is where people are going to get their visual entertainment now.
I had no idea how big this is until I got my backend money from the last Metamoris I was in. It’s just huge. When you’re getting a bonus check that’s 6 figures for an internet program that’s grappling based…I just had no idea. Ralek (Gracie) definitely has this machine figured out to make gold.
Chael on Cris Cyborg vs. Ronda Rousey.
I know her (Cyborg) personally and she’s a very nice gal. If you judge a book by the cover, you will be wrong about her. That said, the only person holding up that fight is her. Ronda Rousey is at 135 pounds in the UFC. She’ll fight any 135 pound woman out there. Cyborg is not in the UFC and she is not 135 pounds.
Cris seems to be the one that wants the fight, but she’s also the one holding it up. I appreciate her callouts and the intensity behind them, but the reality is still that she’s dragging her feet here. She has to get to 135 to get into the UFC. That’s all she has to do.
There’s no other athlete in the world that will find an easier entry for a title fight. They didn’t even do that for Lesnar. Cyborg literally has the golden ticket, and she’s the one that hasn’t made the weight. To talk about the fight when you’re the one stopping it is bizarre.
Chael’s advice for Anthony Pettis, Jose Aldo, and other champions who aim to generate big PPV number.
The only thing I can tell these guys on the brink is to stay after it. Don’t quit winning and don’t quit talking.
Chael on rumors that the UFC assisted Invicta with Cris Cyborg’s $90,000 purse.
I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they helped with Cyborg’s purse. I know they’ve done some serious charitable contributions that constantly fly under the radar. Dana White, aside from Zuffa, from his personal checking account that reads “Dana White” at the top of it, has donated to all sorts of college wrestling programs. The UFC attempted to help support a judo federation in Europe, also.
All you ever hear about is the bad stuff, but you don’t get the whole of what they do on a regular basis because they aren’t out their tooting their own horns and announcing it. They’ve been doing things to help people behind the scenes for years.