Sonnen says who, what, when he wants to fight in Bellator MMA
Chael Sonnen says who, what, when he wants to fight in Bellator MMA
Chael Sonnen has not lost his ability to shock. Two years ago he failed a performance-enhancing drug test, and retired. Thursday night, it was announced that he was returning to mixed martial arts competition, not to the UFC, but to Bellator MMA.
Now in an exlusive interview with Michael Stets for MMA Mania, The Gangster From Oregon reports that the ruler has returned.
“The ruler has returned,” Sonnen proclaimed in an exclusive interview with MMAMania. The obvious questions are when are you fighting, what division are you fighting in, and who are you fighting? Potential opponents include Tito Ortiz, Fedor Emelianenko, Wanderlei Silva, and Rory MacDonald.
“I don’t get some of these conversations,” said Sonnen. “I get asked ‘who?’ and ‘what weight class?’ and ‘when can you be ready?’ and I don’t understand any of that man. Anybody and any weight class. That isn’t some tough talk or bravado. We didn’t used to have weigh-ins. I never understand these primadonnas now that are picking their opponents and they gotta feel just right. I don’t get it man. If you gotta feel right and this date doesn’t work and this guy and this weight don’t work, this sport isn’t for you. You either got it or you don’t. That is, by definition, what makes you a fighter. You either got it or you don’t and from what I’ve seen these guys don’t.”
“The sooner, the better. I signed today. They have a show tomorrow in Austin and I’m pissed I’m not on it.”
“I think it’s going to be November. I don’t know. I suspect that I will know quickly. Bellator did not ask very much, but one question that I was asked, they did say ‘how quickly can you be ready?’ which led me to the conclusion: the quicker the better. That was never said either. I was just asked that one question and I drew the conclusion on my own.
“So I started looking at the dates and they have a show in San Jose in November. I don’t know what they have going on. I just got into this thing a few hours ago. It isn’t rocket science. It’s 205 pounds in Bellator. You have a ‘Bad Boy’ and a ‘Bad Guy’ now just get us a date.”
Chael also discussed each potential opponent, noting he was game if Fedor came down to 205, and said fans like fighters moving around, so he would love to see MacDonald move up to 185. He was enthusiastic about Tito, and said Wanderlei was inevitable.