Chael Sonnen Signs 5-Fight Contract Extension, Plans Return To Middleweight
Chael Sonnen has signed a new five-fight contract extension with the UFC.
“My contract with the UFC has expired,” the light heavyweight said at the UFC Fan Expo earlier this month. “So I went to Dana White, and I went to him with a list of my demands because he’s getting my contract together. He thought this was a gag, but I was being serious because it’s not all about money with me.”
Perhaps he wasn’t being completely serious, as some of his demands included “No media can look me in the eye, or they will be removed from the room” and “Tell GSP to stop being such a d**k.”
Sonnen confirmed that he had in fact signed a new deal on Tuesday’s edition of FUEL TV’s UFC Tonight. He also added that he got a new Dodge Ram pickup truck out of the deal.
Sonnen (27-13-1) also confirmed that he will be switching training camps. The 36-year-old, who has been training with Oregon-based Team Quest for his entire career, will be moving to Reign Training Center, based in Lake Forest, California. There, he’ll train under head coach Mark Munoz, who is set to take on Michael Bisping in Manchester, England, on October 26.
Sonnen also revealed that he is planning to return to the middleweight division after his bout with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC on Fox Sports 1 on August 17 at the TD Garden in Boston. He last fought — and lost — at middleweight in a rematch against former champion Anderson Silva at UFC 148 last July; the two first met in the Octagon at UFC 117 in August 2010, when SIlva submitted him by triangle armbar at 3:10 in the fifth found. The match earned Fight of the Year.
Sonnen then moved up to light heavyweight to face champion Jon Jones at UFC 159. He lost the match by TKO at 4:33 in the first round.
What do you think of Chael Sonnen signing a new contract and returning to middleweight?
