UFC commentator and former fighter Chael Sonnen explained why he turned down a fight offer from GFL.
The GFL is the newest MMA promotion that has hit the MMA world. The promotion is currently signing numerous big names in the MMA world, including fighters like Tyron Woodley, Mauricio Rua and many more. Although GFL was able to get a lot of big names, they were not able to get one, which is Chael Sonnen.
In a sitdown with Drake Riggs of Uncrowned, Sonnen spoke about GFL approaching him but he turned down the offer.
“Yes, they did [call],” Sonnen said. “In hindsight, maybe I should have said yes. There were signing bonuses. But there’s a point where it’s weird. There’s a point where fighting is really cool, and your buddies will look at you like you’re really cool, and you go to the coffee shop, and they’ll look at you like you’re cool. There’s a point where it’s weird.
“I’ve seen some guys, and I won’t name them, who are 40, who are 41, that fought. I remember thinking, ‘Put your clothes on. You’re taking your shirt off, putting your mouthpiece in, you got no problem with this guy.’ At some point, it’s weird. That’s the reason I said no.
“Whether you’re the greatest of all time or not — which I am — at some point, it’s weird,” Sonnen added. “There’s just a point where you got to stop.”
Though Sonnen has had his past in MMA, the ex-fighter has stuck to retirement but has been constantly in the MMA world as a commentator, broadcast analyst or podcaster. Although the fighter turned down the promotion request, he was impressed by their arrival and believes they have something to work on.
“I prefer to be negative. That makes me happy. I prefer to be a critic,” Sonnen said. “I like to break things down. Maybe it could be a movie, or a meal, or a fight promotion. I like to push their face in it like the puppy that missed the paper, and you want to know something? [For] their rollout, where they did that little piece they had for social media where Tyron Woodley came out and he was like this superhero, it was pretty badass from a production standpoint.
“From trying to find something as simplistic as martial arts and what people already have a level of expectation with, but to separate yourself and make you look different — I thought they pulled it off. It pains me to say because I would love to just [criticize]. I thought for what they’ve done, which is very small so far, they’re off to a good start.
“I thought it popped. I thought it looked good. And I sent it to people,” Sonnen continued. “I really did think they pulled it off. You’ve got to understand, they’re brand new, they’re just starting. They got this hell of a roster and it’s such a difficult game. If there’s any business you’re going to go into that takes balls, it’s this one. Because every business is tough, but you are more likely than not to fail in this business space. Everybody does. It is a hard thing to break into.”
