It is safe to say that most within the mixed martial arts community assumed Chael Sonnen would return to competition once his two-year suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission expired in July, but few expected that his return would look like this.
In a surprising turn of events, Sonnen inked a multi-fight, multi-year deal with Bellator MMA, eschewing his longtime home with the UFC. And on Friday, "The American Gangster" made his intentions clear: he's on the hunt for some big-name scalps.
"I'm on a legends ass-kicking tour," Sonnen announced on an introductory conference call alongside Bellator president Scott Coker. "I hope they book two guys because one of them is going to pull out. All I can tell you is that for myself, no matter what happens, I will make that walk when my music hits those speakers. Anybody, any time, any weight class, and that isn't bravado or tough guy talk. I've just had it, man. I thought my race was ran. I wrote the book on this thing, and I can tell there's a couple of chapters left."
Sonnen, 39, was one of the biggest draws in the sport before a pair of failed drug tests for performing enhancing drugs in 2014 resulted in a two-year suspension and led to his retirement. But now he is back, and although he was initially targeting a return to his old stomping grounds at 185 pounds in the UFC, those goals changed once he put pen to paper to fight under the Bellator umbrella.
"I'd like to go at light heavyweight," Sonnen said. "I've been mentally preparing to compete and I was thinking about going into the middleweight division. I think with the change of being over in Bellator, just looking at the lineup, looking at the guys they have, I just think 205 is the place to be for right now.
"That can change overnight. Rory MacDonald got signed, one of the best talents out there, and he did an interview talking about he wants to go up to 185. He's going to need some opponents. I personally believe that Fedor (Emelianenko) is on his way to Bellator. I've heard these rumblings. Usually in this business, where there's smoke, there's fire. I don't think he's coming to 205, so there's an opportunity at heavyweight. But I fight at Gangster Weight. Get on the scale. Whatever it says, man, you either want to fight or you don't, and I do."
Sonnen declined to delve much into the specifics of why he signed with Bellator over the UFC, although he noted that his contract -- which he presumed was a three-year, six-fight deal -- was the biggest deal he has ever signed. He said that his interest in Bellator first arose last year, when he watched the theatrics of UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock walking out alongside former pro wrestler Road Warrior Animal at Bellator 138. Sonnen said it took just three phone calls with Coker to ultimately put a deal together.
While he didn't mention particulars, Sonnen indicated that he wants to take on as big of a role within the company as possible, whether it's opportunities in commentary or simple promotional appearances. He is also targeting November for his long-awaited return to the cage, and although he isn't sure who he will actually be fighting, another UFC Hall of Famer, Tito Ortiz, appears to be the first name on Sonnen's list.
"Look, Tito is a legend. Tito is great. Tito is even a friend of mine, but the bottom line is, he's been around and I was jealous for a long time," Sonnen said. "Jealousy is a hell of a thing. There's a reason it's one of the deadly sins. When I was out slugging trying to get fights, my shot, Tito was on TV and having the crowd cheer, doing the appearances, doing all these things that I fantasized and wanted to do. And there was really never an opportunity to go against him.
"We were in the same division in college, same weight class, same conference. I'd see him around at events. I still see him around at the events, but he looks at me the same way I look at him. I look at him like, Tito, you know I could whip your ass. And he gives me that exact same look. Every time we're in the same room together, it's like this big alpha male contest. And he knows it's going on, and I know it's going on. So if the Bad Boy wants a piece of the Bad Guy, all you gotta do is say my name. I said his name. All he has to do is say mine."
Sonnen also entertained the notion of fighting overseas in Japan for RIZIN Fighting Federation, potentially in a one-night tournament. RIZIN and Bellator have a working partnership that functions somewhat like a fighter exchange program, allowing past Bellator fighters like Muhammed Lawal and Brennan Ward to cameo in the RIZIN ring. If that ends up being the case, it could be Sonnen's best chance to compete against legendary Russian heavyweight Emelianenko.
"I don't accept his fights in Japan as real," Sonnen said of Emelianenko. "If he's as good as he thinks, (as) people say he is, it's fine with me. I'm not onboard with it. He's a good, solid guy who had a bunch of fights with no commission, with no weigh-ins, with a referee wearing an earpiece getting instructions from some guy in the back, and that's just what happened."
Sonnen ultimately made sure not to discriminate, stating that he would also not shy away from seeking titles in multiple divisions if the opportunity arose. He propped up Bellator light heavyweight champion Liam McGeary as an underrated and under-appreciated titleholder who would get his in time, yet he also saved plenty of venom for an old rival, Wanderlei Silva, with whom this whole suspension mess started after the two filmed The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 in 2013.
"I'm going to find that son of a bitch wherever he goes," Sonnen vowed.
"I will definitely be fighting Wanderlei Silva in Bellator. I don't know if Coker knows that or not, Wanderlei and I are going to fight each other. I'm telling you. Coker, he's going to be the promoter, he might be the last one to find this out. I assure you, Wanderlei and I will fight each other, and a lot sooner than you think."