Maybe the best part of this video is that Chael Sonnen is in fact now a member of the MMA Media. Sonnen even works on two different platforms of media; ESPN and Bellator color commentary.
You just knew Chael could not head into retirement without one final heel turn.
The idea of good versus great fighter is the foundation of Sonnen’s final rant blasting the MMA Media. Sports versus entertainment is also a part of Chael’s legacy.
The MMA Media has always been an easy target for both fighters and promoters.
Overworked and underpaid, MMA’s media is still viewed through the lens as co-author rather than narrator to fighters and promoters alike. That’s a nice fantasy world to live in, but in reality the media’s job is to tell the story to fans and let the chips fall where they may.
In Chael’s cross hairs below are SiriusXM and MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas. Here’s the thing, 90% of you have already made up your mind about Chael’s take only because the name Luke Thomas is attached to it. Jonathan Snowden and Kevin Iole get some push back from Chael here as well.
So is Chael Sonnen a good or great fighter? Does winning a WEC title (kind of) and losing to some the greatest fighters MMA ever produced qualify Sonnen as great? How about the fact that Chael’s career spanned 22 years? In terms of longevity and still competing at the highest level, Sonnen wins that category.
IF Sonnen was a great fighter than what was his best win? Shogun Rua? Michael Bisping? Nate Marquardt? Can a great fighter’s best win be a loss? Chael Sonnen gave the MMA world an epic UFC 117 main event loss to Anderson Silva, whether he’s good or great, that single night in time has to count for something.
