- Chael Sonnen weighed in on Joe Rogan’s recent take on how Kamaru Usman will benefit from Canelo Alvarez fight
- “The Bad Guy” stressed that what happened in Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor may not always be applicable to all MMA fighters
The Saul “Canelo” Alvarez vs. Kamaru Usman boxing match has become one of the most talked-about subjects in the sport today. Well-known MMA personalities have been sharing their thoughts on it, including UFC color commentator, Joe Rogan and UFC legend Chael Sonnen. However, the pair doesn’t have the same views on the super fight.
What is Rogan’s basis?
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Sonnen boldly questioned Rogan’s comment which basically stated that Usman would take home a huge paycheck and would even get better in fighting if he pursue a fight against Alvarez.
For Sonnen, if Rogan’s views on the matter were based on the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor boxing amtch, then the famed podcaster doesn’t have enough supporting evidence to back that claim up.
“Joe [Rogan] was very sweet he said [Usman] he could go make a ton of money for one, and two, he would get a lot better,” Sonnen said. “He would really sharpen up a skill set if he was fully focused on boxing so when he comes back to MMA that’s gonna tradition. Now, where are we getting that from? Like what historical evidence do we have of either of those claims because I continue to hear it.”
“If we’re so sure, it’s gonna be so helpful for Kamaru Usman in this case, we could be talking about anybody,” he added. “But in this case [it’s] Kamaru’s money. If we’re so sure, where’s the example? Because it’s only been done one time meaningfully. It was Conor vs. Floyd and yes some guys lost some major money on that. That’s true. Those guys made a ton of money that is true. But it’s also true what I’m telling you. They didn’t rematch for a reason. Somebody made a bad bet. It’s the truth. So if you’re looking over there as an idea for what you’re going to do financially, I would caution you. The other side of the coin, if you can drum up enough interest and you get in on the boxing model which always has something to do with the back and yeah there could still be a meaningful check there, just set your expectations.”
“The Bad Guy” went on to refute that doing boxing for a time and returning to MMA hones a fighter’s skill. Sonnen also suggests that even McGregor, who was the first to do it, isn’t really a living proof of it.
“And the final thing that I would say, what is it pure boxing that’s carried over and for who did it carry over for, in the sport of MMA, I just think that’s a tough sell, I also know if I was in Kamaru’s spot, I would go do it,” he pointed out. “Regardless of anything that I just said. If that was a one time opportunity, if you have the chance to go test something and by the way against the best in the world, and you think you can compete with him. And you’re a true competitor and Usman is, I would not begrudge any of it, I would understand it fully. I’m just speaking to the comment that it’s going to be helpful to come back over here, it’s only been done one time, it was done by Conor, what about Conor going into boxing and returning to MMA, did you see that you thought was a positive.”
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Usman is yet to make his UFC return as he’s still nursing a hand injury. Alvarez, meanwhile, will be busy as he is booked for a title fight against Dmitry Bivol and is expected to face his ultimate rival Gennadiy Golovkin next.
