Fufu Andronez
First Grade
- Messages
- 8,465
Updated: Controversial UFC star Chael Sonnen retires from MMA
By Adam Ireland on June 12, 2014 13,863 reads 0
UFC middleweight and light heavyweight Chael Sonnen (28-14-1) has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
In the wake of his failed drug test yesterday, Sonnen was pulled from the UFC 175 fight card before going on air to tell his side of the story.
Despite plans to appeal his suspension, the three time UFC title challenger decided to call it a day on his professional fighting career this morning.
"I want to officially announce my retirement from competitive mixed martial arts," Sonnen said on UFC Tonight.
"I want to stay within the rules, and I don't fully understand them. I have to put my health first. I have to put my family first. If I know what I know now, and I know this is going to work and I'm going to be able to get my wife pregnant and look forward to having a family, I'm going to do the exact same thing 20 more times so it's going to put me out of compliance 20 more times. Let's just stop with that. Let me just remove myself," he continued.
Sonnen said that his decision to retire was largely based on prioritising his life as a family man, over professional mixed martial arts.
"There's going to be a day where I'm no longer going to have the title of fighter - that's just a reality," Sonnen said. "I don't ever there want to be a day where I'm not going to have the title of parent, father, and husband and my health has got to come first," he said.
"The American Gangster" went on to take responsibility for the TRT related issues he's faced throughout his career, referencing yesterday's failed drug test as a moment when his "damage control" mentality was not well received by MMA fans and media.
"I do want to admit fault. I want to make sure I'm taking full responsibility. Yesterday, when I came out, I was mad and I was a fighter and I went into defense mode. However, ultimately the rules are the rules. I understand that, and I'm a rules guy. I don't want to break the rules. Ultimately, it comes down to the athlete to make sure he's in compliance. That's a big list. I've studied this for three years, and I've gotten conflicting reports time and time again through studying this and through being part of it. I'm not sure today I'm any closer getting a strangehold than when I began 36 months ago. I'm doing the best I can," he said.
"I actually take responsibility," he continued.
The NCAA Division I All-American from the University of Oregon holds notable victories over "Shogun" Rua (submission - 2013), Michael Bisping (decision - 2012) and Brian Stann (submission - 2011) but is perhaps most well known for his rivalry with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
At UFC 117, Sonnen went within an inch of taking the title from the most dominant champion the UFC has ever seen, before "The Spider" pulled off a final round triangle arm-bar submission to hold onto the belt.
In what was the most hyped rematch in the history of the sport, Sonnen would fall to Silva once again in 2012, going down to the Brazilian via TKO in the second round at UFC 148. During his interview today, Sonnen thanked Silva for a rivalry that shaped a big part of both their careers'.
"I want to thank the single-most important opponent that I've ever had. I couldn't have gotten to where I am without this dance partner. That is of course you Anderson Silva. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the invitation to the barbecue even though I didn't take you up on it."
Sonnen was one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster. His ability to "sell a fight" was unparallelled with the now 37 year old packaging up his WWE style antics with an uncanny and often humorous ability to get under the skin of his opponents - much to the delight of fight fans around the world.
Upon retiring from MMA, Sonnen will likely focus on his role as a UFC commentator for various FOX Sports television shows.
Source: UFC on FOX
http://mmakanvas.ninemsn.com.au/art...l-ufc-star-chael-sonnen-retires-from-mma.html
By Adam Ireland on June 12, 2014 13,863 reads 0
UFC middleweight and light heavyweight Chael Sonnen (28-14-1) has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
In the wake of his failed drug test yesterday, Sonnen was pulled from the UFC 175 fight card before going on air to tell his side of the story.
Despite plans to appeal his suspension, the three time UFC title challenger decided to call it a day on his professional fighting career this morning.
"I want to officially announce my retirement from competitive mixed martial arts," Sonnen said on UFC Tonight.
"I want to stay within the rules, and I don't fully understand them. I have to put my health first. I have to put my family first. If I know what I know now, and I know this is going to work and I'm going to be able to get my wife pregnant and look forward to having a family, I'm going to do the exact same thing 20 more times so it's going to put me out of compliance 20 more times. Let's just stop with that. Let me just remove myself," he continued.
Sonnen said that his decision to retire was largely based on prioritising his life as a family man, over professional mixed martial arts.
"There's going to be a day where I'm no longer going to have the title of fighter - that's just a reality," Sonnen said. "I don't ever there want to be a day where I'm not going to have the title of parent, father, and husband and my health has got to come first," he said.
"The American Gangster" went on to take responsibility for the TRT related issues he's faced throughout his career, referencing yesterday's failed drug test as a moment when his "damage control" mentality was not well received by MMA fans and media.
"I do want to admit fault. I want to make sure I'm taking full responsibility. Yesterday, when I came out, I was mad and I was a fighter and I went into defense mode. However, ultimately the rules are the rules. I understand that, and I'm a rules guy. I don't want to break the rules. Ultimately, it comes down to the athlete to make sure he's in compliance. That's a big list. I've studied this for three years, and I've gotten conflicting reports time and time again through studying this and through being part of it. I'm not sure today I'm any closer getting a strangehold than when I began 36 months ago. I'm doing the best I can," he said.
"I actually take responsibility," he continued.
The NCAA Division I All-American from the University of Oregon holds notable victories over "Shogun" Rua (submission - 2013), Michael Bisping (decision - 2012) and Brian Stann (submission - 2011) but is perhaps most well known for his rivalry with former middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
At UFC 117, Sonnen went within an inch of taking the title from the most dominant champion the UFC has ever seen, before "The Spider" pulled off a final round triangle arm-bar submission to hold onto the belt.
In what was the most hyped rematch in the history of the sport, Sonnen would fall to Silva once again in 2012, going down to the Brazilian via TKO in the second round at UFC 148. During his interview today, Sonnen thanked Silva for a rivalry that shaped a big part of both their careers'.
"I want to thank the single-most important opponent that I've ever had. I couldn't have gotten to where I am without this dance partner. That is of course you Anderson Silva. Thank you for the opportunity. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the invitation to the barbecue even though I didn't take you up on it."
Sonnen was one of the most popular fighters on the UFC roster. His ability to "sell a fight" was unparallelled with the now 37 year old packaging up his WWE style antics with an uncanny and often humorous ability to get under the skin of his opponents - much to the delight of fight fans around the world.
Upon retiring from MMA, Sonnen will likely focus on his role as a UFC commentator for various FOX Sports television shows.
Source: UFC on FOX
http://mmakanvas.ninemsn.com.au/art...l-ufc-star-chael-sonnen-retires-from-mma.html
Last edited:
