Bellator has bagged another UFC fighter. This time, it’s the “American Gangster” himself, Mr. Chael P. Sonnen!
According to the Associated Press, the 39-year-old Sonnon signed a “multiyear, multi-fight deal with Bellator.” Both the AP and Sherdog confirmed the news with a promotion official.
In an interview with the AP, Sonnen said the competitive life was the only life he knew.
This is the only game I know how to play. This is what I do. This is also my social life. Going into the gym and seeing the guys and training. Being around the coaches, and going out there and competing and having a goal, all the way from making weight to sacrifices in camp to going out there and shaking hands. This is just the only life I know.
Chael continued:
There might have been a blink of the eye where I thought it was time to transition behind a desk, but for the most part, I never meant it. I was never prepared for it. I knew I was coming back, and there were more guys to beat up. … I appreciate that you all read the book, but I can see that I left a few chapters out, so it’s going to continue.
The next chapter of Sonnen’s mixed martial arts career could be an exciting one, too, considering The American Gangster has three different divisions and a slew of former UFC talent he would like to take on.
According to Bellator President Scott Coker:
. . . Chael was adamant that he wants to compete in three divisions here. He already has unfinished business with Wanderlei Silva, but he also wants to fight Tito Ortiz, Fedor Emelianenko and even Rory MacDonald at middleweight. These are all fights that I’d be very inclined to watch, so hopefully we can put some, if not all, of these matchups together.
Coker also said that Sonnen has “that entertainment X-factor that can’t be taught.”
The Bellator President isn’t exaggerating. If there were an official UFC manual entitled “How To Be a Heel,” it would be written and signed by Mr. Chael Sonnen.
The American Gangster has a long history of getting under people’s skin. In his almost-ten-year career with the UFC, Sonnen made fun of Jon Jones’ driving record and drove former Pride Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva so crazy, that he took a swing at Sonnen on the set of The Ultimate Fighter 3: Brazil.
But Chael is probably remembered most for the way he tormented former UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Sonnen repeatedly made fun of Silva’s homeland, Brazil, and joked about slapping the champion’s wife on the butt.
Needless to say, the Spider was not laughing, and his fights against Chael were some of the only times fans saw Anderson angry.
But all of that is behind them. Chael P. Sonnen is now part of Bellator, and he sounds like he’s ready to raise Hell in his new home.
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