#3
Chael Sonnen
Record: 26-10-1
Summary: Excellent wrestler, constant pressure
Fighter Info
From:Milwaukie, Oregon USA
Fights Out Of:West Linn, Oregon USA
Age:34
Height:6' 1" ( 185 cm )
Weight:185 lb ( 84 kg )
College:University of Oregon
Degree:Sociology
Sonnen started his MMA career at the age of 19 in 1997 by defeating Ben Hailey in Vancouver, Washington. His second fight was against future ICON Sport Middleweight Champion and Strikeforce Middleweight contender Jason 'Mayhem' Miller. Sonnen went 6–0 in his first six fights, until his loss to Trevor Prangley, which he later avenged in 2006 at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 4. He also fought The Ultimate Fighter winner and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin. Sonnen went 13–6–1 in his first twenty MMA fights. Sonnen uses a 3XL size glove. Asked why he uses a bigger glove, he answered, "I find it easier to grab legs for takedowns."After going 14–6–1 in twenty one fights, Sonnen made his UFC debut and faced former IFC and Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato Sobral at UFC 55, where Sonnen fought for his first time at Light Heavyweight. After dominating the first round with both superior stand-up and relentless takedowns, Sonnen lost via triangle choke. Afterwards he avenged his first ever MMA defeat by defeating Trevor Prangley at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 4 by unanimous decision. Then for a third time he fought Jeremy Horn at UFC 60 and lost via Armbar. Having gone 1-2 in the octagon, Sonnen was cut from the UFC.After leaving the UFC, Sonnen was signed by Bodog Fight. He earned his first victory in Bodog Fight by defeating Tim Credeur via TKO. After that he fought Alexey Oleinik to a unanimous decision victory, and defeated Tim McKenzie via Brabo Choke within the first 15 seconds of the opening round. After quickly dismantling McKenzie, Sonnen fought UFC and Pride veteran Amar Suloev and won via TKO. After Bodog, Sonnen defeated future Ultimate Fighter member Kyacey Uscola at SuperFight 20: Homecoming.
In December 2007, Sonnen fought Paulo Filho for the WEC middleweight championship. Sonnen lost via submission at 4:55 of the second round. There was controversy stemming from the fight stoppage, however. Sonnen did not tap out but yelled out, and the referee took that as a verbal submission and stopped the fight. In his post-fight interview Sonnen said that he told the referee not to stop the fight, and continually said "No" when the referee asked if he wanted to submit. He eventually admitted that the stoppage was justified.[7]
A rematch between the two was scheduled for March 26, 2008, but was cancelled due to Paulo Filho checking himself into a rehabilitation clinic for an unknown substance abuse problem.[8] Sonnen instead faced undefeated WEC middleweight contender Bryan Baker and dominated him for three rounds, winning a unanimous decision.[9] Sonnen and Filho eventually met again on November 5, 2008, where Sonnen soundly defeated Filho by unanimous decision. Prior to the fight, Filho did not make weight, weighing in at close to seven pounds over 185, thus making the bout a non-title match and taking away the chance for Sonnen to rematch for the WEC title. After Filho lost, he announced he would ship Sonnen the championship belt.[10]
Following the dissolution of the WEC's middleweight division Sonnen was moved back over to the UFC, in his first fight in the promotion since UFC 60, he lost via triangle choke to Demian Maia at UFC 95.
Sonnen defeated Dan Miller at UFC 98 on May 23 via unanimous decision. Sonnen showed his willingness and toughness as a fighter and came in as a late replacement for Yushin Okami when Okami sustained a torn ligament in training.[11] Sonnen took the fight on 22 days notice and lost 36 pounds to compete.[12] Incidentally in his next fight, Sonnen out-wrestled Okami at UFC 104 to a unanimous decision victory.[13] The weeks proceeding the fight, Okami ask and trained with Chael Sonnen and his camp for a number of weeks. Chael Sonnen commented on Okami's size, strength and skill set as well as his relationship with Okami as something close to a brother.
Sonnen was expected to face Nate Marquardt on February 21, 2010 at UFC 110, but the fight was moved up and the two fought at UFC 109 on February 6, with Sonnen winning via unanimous decision after out-wrestling and out-striking the heavily favored Marquardt for three rounds. Marquardt caught Sonnen in two very deep Guillotine Chokes in the first and third rounds; however, Sonnen managed to get free. With the victory, Sonnen solidified his position as the next fighter in line to challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship.
Sonnen fought Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship on August 7, 2010 at UFC 117.[14] Sonnen trash talked during the build up to the fight, which caused some controversy, as he stated that he was going to retire Silva.[15][16][17] Sonnen dominated Silva and scored takedowns in all 5 rounds, and ended up in the top position in all 5 rounds. Sonnen won each of the first four rounds on all of the judges' scorecards, with the score heading into the fifth round being 40-34, 40-35, and 40-36.[18][19] However in the final round Sonnen found himself losing to Silva via triangle armbar at 3:10 of the fifth round. Silva attempted a triangle choke, however the champion was able to wrap things up with an armbar. Silva became the third man in the UFC's history to finish a fight in the fifth round and the second via submission.
Sonnen stated he wanted another shot at Silva but did not want to wait around for a rematch while Silva recovered from a rib injury which he allegedly carried into the Sonnen bout.[20] The much anticipated rematch was expected to take place sometime in early 2011.[21] However, doping tests showed Sonnen had an elevated testosterone level which fell outside of the normal range prior to his fight with Anderson Silva.[22] According to California State Athletic Commission Executive Officer George Dodd, Chael Sonnen has been notified that he failed post-fight drug screening following his loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117. Sonnen was fined $2,500 and suspended until September 2, 2011. Sonnen appealed on December 2, 2010.[23] He was scheduled to rematch Silva on Feb. 5 in Las Vegas, but that fight was ultimately scrapped in light of the ruling.[5] Vitor Belfort instead got the nod against Silva.[24]
Sonnen appealed his suspension on the grounds he had a medical reason for the elevated testosterone. He was diagnosed with hypogonadism in 2008, and takes synthetic testosterone injections twice a week due to this condition.[25] The California State Athletic Commission decided to reduce his suspension to six months because he failed to properly disclose this before his fight. His suspension ended on March 2, 2011.
Sonnen was expected to face Yoshihiro Akiyama on March 19, 2011, at UFC 128,[26] but the fight is now on hold after the UFC put Sonnen's contract on hold following a money laundering conviction.[27] During this controversy Chael has still been training and has been helping Jake Shields in his recent fight with Georges St-Pierre at UFC 129.[28]
Sonnen planned to go before the Nevada State Athletic Commission on April 27, 2011, to clear up some unresolved issues with the commission and to re-apply for a fighter's license in the state, but his status as a convicted felon has interfered with that. There is a motorcycle rally held in Clark County, where the commission hearing is held, during that time and a mandate forbids convicted felons from entering the county during that time. Sonnen instead planned to meet with the commission sometime in May 2011.[29]
Following his felony conviction, however, and citing possible false testimony, California State Executive Director George Dodd on May 10, 2011, said that Sonnen had been placed on an indefinite administrative suspension in California, and would have to appear before the California State Athletic Commission to appeal the decision.[30] Dodd added that Nevada would honor California's suspension of Sonnen.
Sonnen appeared before the California State Athletic Commission on May 18, 2011, where he argued to have the suspension lifted. The commission, however, questioned the sincerity of Sonnen's response to questions about what it believed were his "inconsistent statements." The commission upheld his indefinite suspension on a 4-1 vote. Sonnen is suspended until June 29, 2011, when his current license runs out, but may not re-apply for a license in California until June of 2012.
