DA-NA-NA, NA-NA-NA! According to ESPN, “the American Gangster” from West Linn, Oregon is the new MMA analyst as he jumps from one industry leader to another.
Four months ago, Sonnen tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs that got the former title contender kicked out of the Octagon and forced him to walk away from his position as an analyst for Fox Sports 1. But if you know Chael P. Sonnen like we know Chael P. Sonnen, you’d have known that he wasn’t going to exactly go away quietly into the night.
In August of this year, Sonnen defied the NSAC’s suspension and stepped onto the California mats at the submission only grappling tournament, Metamoris. He also recently started his own podcast entitled “You’re Welcome,” that is off to a non-surprising stellar start in its infancy. So it is no shocker that someone else would’ve picked up on the most eligible free-agent in MMA (Sorry Wand)and sign him to a contract—enter ESPN. Sonnen will make his debut this Friday on the eve of UFC 180; and will pop-up occasionally throughout the weekend on SportsCenter and various other ESPN programming.
In the official press release, Sonnen said “The industry leader in sports…and ESPN have finally joined forces. You’re welcome, wait! These mics hot? The biggest thing to happen to ESPN since…well nothing really comes close.”