Chael Sonnen
 |
Name | Chael Sonnen |
| Nickname | N/A | |
| Association | Team Quest | |
| Weight Class | Middleweight (185 lbs.) | |
| Height | 6' 1" (185 cm) | |
| Style | Wrestling | |
| Birth Date | April 3, 1977 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Portland, Oregon | |
| Country | USA | |
| Chael Sonnen Pictures | Official Website |
Chael Sonnen is an American mixed martial artist. He is currently signed as a Middleweight with the UFC. He previously fought in the WEC where he had a controversial fight with then-Champion Paulo Filho. When the WEC dropped its Light Heavyweight and Middleweight classes, Sonnen was moved to the UFC to compete.
Sonnen holds notable victories over Jason Miller, Amar Suloev, Trevor Prangley, Tim Credeur, Jason Lambert, and Paulo Filho.
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 27 - 12 - 1 (Win – Loss – Draw) |
| Wins | 7 (T)KOs 4 Submissions 16 Decisions |
| Losses | 3 (T)KOs 8 Submissions 1 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | Anderson Silva | TKO (Knee to the Body and Punches) | UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2 | 7/7/2012 | 2 | 1:55 | For UFC Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Michael Bisping | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC on FOX 2: Evans vs. Davis | 1/28/2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Earned UFC Middleweight Championship bout |
| Win | Brian Stann | Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) | UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 | 10/08/2011 | 2 | 3:51 | |
| Loss | Anderson Silva | Submission (Triangle Armbar) | UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen | 8/07/2010 | 5 | 3:10 | For UFC Middleweight Championship; Won Fight of the Night Honors; Post-fight tested positive for steroids |
| Win | Nate Marquardt | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 109: Relentless | 2/06/2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Fight of the Night Honors |
| Win | Yushin Okami | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun | 10/24/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Dan Miller | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida | 5/23/2009 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Demian Maia | Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson | 2/21/2009 | 1 | 2:37 | Return to the UFC |
| Win | Paulo Filho | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 36: Faber vs. Brown | 11/05/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Non-title bout; Filho failed to make weight |
| Win | Bryan Baker | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 33: Marshall vs. Stann | 3/26/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Paulo Filho | Verbal Submission (Armbar) | WEC 31: Faber vs. Curran | 12/12/2007 | 2 | 4:55 | Return to WEC; For WEC Middleweight Championship |
| Win | Kyacey Uscola | TKO | SF 20: Homecoming | 10/27/2007 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Amar Suloev | TKO (Punches) | Bodog Fight: Alvarez vs. Lee | 7/14/2007 | 2 | 3:33 | |
| Win | Tim McKenzie | Submission (Brabo Choke) | Bodog Fight: Costa Rica Combat | 2/18/2007 | 1 | 0:13 | |
| Win | Alexey Oleinik | Decision (Unanimous) | Bodog Fight: USA vs. Russia | 12/02/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Tim Credeur | TKO (Punches) | Bodog Fight: To the Brink of War | 8/22/2006 | 1 | 2:18 | |
| Loss | Jeremy Horn | Submission (Armbar) | UFC 60: Hughes vs. Gracie | 5/27/2006 | 2 | 1:17 | |
| Win | Trevor Prangley | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 4: Bonnar vs. Jardine | 4/06/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Renato Sobral | Submission (Triangle Choke) | UFC 55: Fury | 10/07/2005 | 2 | 1:20 | |
| Win | Tim Williams | TKO | SF 11: Rumble at the Rose Garden | 7/09/2005 | 1 | 3:59 | |
| Win | Adam Tarsey | TKO (Punches) | Euphoria: USA vs. World | 2/26/2005 | 1 | 3:49 | |
| Loss | Terry Martin | TKO (Corner Stoppage) | XFO 4: Xtreme Fighting Organization 4 | 12/03/2004 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Alex Stiebling | Decision (Unanimous) | WEC 12: Halloween Fury 3 | 10/21/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Jeremy Horn | Submission (Guillotine Choke) | SF 6: Battleground in Reno | 9/23/2004 | 2 | 2:35 | |
| Loss | Keiichiro Yamamiya | Decision (Majority) | Pancrase: 2004 Neo-Blood Tournament Final | 7/25/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Jeremy Horn | TKO (Cut) | EC 57: Extreme Challenge 57 | 5/06/2004 | 1 | 3:34 | |
| Win | Justin Bailey | KO | ROTR: Rage on the River | 4/17/2004 | 1 | 0:40 | |
| Win | Arman Gambaryan | Decision (Unanimous) | Euphoria: Russia vs. USA | 3/13/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Homer Moore | Decision (Unanimous) | ROTR 4.5: Proving Grounds | 12/27/2003 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Greg Curnut | Submission (Strikes) | FCFF: Rumble at the Roseland 10 | 12/13/2003 | 1 | 1:07 | |
| Win | Jason Lambert | Decision (Unanimous) | GC 20: Gladiator Challenge 20 | 11/13/2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Gladiator Challenge Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Loss | Forrest Griffin | Submission (Triangle Choke) | IFC: Global Domination | 9/06/2003 | 1 | 2:25 | |
| Win | Renato Sobral | Decision (Unanimous) | HFP 3: Hitman Fight Productions 3 | 5/02/2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Won Hitman Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Draw | Akihiro Gono | Draw | Pancrase: Hybrid 2 | 2/16/2003 | 2 | 5:00 | |
| Loss | Trevor Prangley | Submission | XFA 5: Redemption | 1/25/2003 | 1 | N/A | |
| Win | Justin Hawes | TKO | UFCF: Rumble in Rochester | 8/24/2002 | 2 | N/A | |
| Win | Jesse Ault | Decision (Unanimous) | RFC 1: The Beginning | 7/13/2002 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Scott Shipman | Submission (Choke) | Dangerzone: Caged Heat | 4/13/2002 | 2 | 7:08 | Won Danzerzone Light Heavyweight Tournament; Won Dangerzone Light Heavyweight Championship |
| Win | Jesse Ault | Decision | Dangerzone: Caged Heat | 4/13/2002 | 2 | N/A | |
| Win | Jason Miller | Decision (Unanimous) | HFP 1: Rumble on the Reservation | 3/30/2002 | 2 | 5:00 | |
Mixed Martial Arts Career
In December of 2007 Sonnen fought Paulo Filho for the WEC Middleweight Championship. Sonnen was defeated by 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 the word "tap", 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. However, in a later interview Sonnen admitted that the referee "made a fair call".
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. Sonnen instead faced undefeated WEC Middleweight contender Bryan Baker, and completely dominated him for three rounds, winning a unanimous decision. Sonnen and Filho eventually met again on November 5, 2008 where Sonnen beat an oddly distracted and despondent Filho by decision in a very pedestrian match. Prior to the fight, Paulo Filho did not make weight- weighing in at close to seven pounds over 185- thus taking away the chance for Sonnen to rematch for the WEC title.
Following the dissolution of the WEC's Middleweight division Sonnen was moved over to the UFC, where he fought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Demian Maia at UFC 95: Sanchez vs. Stevenson. Sonnen had stated that he believed that he and Maia were the two best fighters in the division and that a win against Maia would make him the number one contender for a shot at Anderson Silva's title. Maia cut his aspirations short in the first round with a Triangle Choke.
When Yushin Okami dropped out of a bout with Dan Miller at UFC 98: Evans vs. Machida, Sonnen stepped in. A problem for Sonnen arose as he realized, after agreeing to step in, he weighed in at 221 lbs. with only 22 days to cut 36 lbs. The weight cut did not seem to phase the Team Quest fighter, as he controlled Miller for all three rounds, winning the unanimous decision victory.
On October 24, 2009 Sonnen returned to fight at UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun against the man he replaced in his previous bout, Yushin Okami. Sonnen pushed the pace the entire bout, earning himself a unanimous decision. Though the bout was featured on the under-card, the bout was shown on live TV.
Sonnen was next scheduled to return at UFC 109: Relentless, where he faced off against top-ten Middleweight Nate Marquardt. UFC President Dana White stated in the pre-fight press conference that the winner of the bout would receive a shot at the Middleweight title. Marquardt never got the opportunity to demonstrate his well-publicized advantage on the feet, as Sonnon used his superior Wrestling to control the fight, unloading elbows while inside the guard. Marquardt almost took Sonnen's head off with a Flying Knee that transitioned into a brutal Guillotine Choke, but that was the most danger Sonnen was in the entirety of the 15 minute fight. Sonnen walked away the winner by Decision (Unanimous). The fight went on to win the Fight of the Night Honors.
Sonnen's fight for the UFC Middleweight title took place at UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen, where he shocked many who watched the fight, as he dominated Silva for four straight rounds, using his impressive Wrestling to keep the floor on the mat, ground-and-pounding his opponent. Silva, though, had one last trick up his sleeve. In the last and final frame, Silva caught Sonnen in a Triangle Armbar that Sonnen was able to fight off for a little while before being forced to tap. Sonnen went on to still win the Fight of the Night Honors, although he fell short of winning another title.
- "I came in second," said Sonnen. "There's nothing I can say. They gave me my opportunity, and I came up short. I'm only here to be No. 1. If I'm not the best, I'll move on in life. ... For now, I have the silver medal."
Sonnen was supposed to get an immediate re-match against Anderson Silva, but when Sonnen's drug test came up positive for banned performance enhancing drugs, the fight seemed unlikely. He would be punished with a one-year suspension and $2,500 fine issued by the California State Athletic Commission, though he will be appealing the decision.
Personal Life
Chael Sonnen had a very important part in legalizing mixed martial arts in his home state of Oregon. In a yahoo sports blog, Sonnen had this to say:
- "I legalized mixed martial arts in Oregon. That's very hard to do. I did that on my own," Sonnen said he lobbied and spoke in front of Senate subcommittees. "I got the laws changed. I opened the doors not only for MMA but also for Vince McMahon and professional wrestling to return to Oregon. I'm not just another guy in this state in terms of MMA, I'm the guy that allowed it to be legal."
Ranks and Titles
- Gladiator Challenge Light Heavyweight Champion
- Hitman Light Heavyweight Champion
- Danger Zone Light Heavyweight Champion
- Rumble at the River tournament Champion
- 2x University National Champion
- NCAA All-American
- U.S. Olympic Team Alternate
