Chael Sonnen signs with Bellator

Ariel Helwani ‏@arielhelwani  2m2 minutes ago

Chael Sonnen has signed to fight with Bellator MMA, according to the Associated Press. More coming to @mmafighting shortly.

http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/9/15/12936672/chael-sonnen-parts-ways-with-ufc-signs-with-bellator?utm_campaign=mmafighting&utm_content=entry&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

Chael Sonnen ‏@ChaelSonnen  3m3 minutes ago

The Rulers Back.

Ariel Helwani ‏@arielhelwani  6m6 minutes ago

Sonnen’s Bellator debut hasn’t been set yet, but I’m told he wants to Tito Ortiz ASAP.

* Edited at 09.15.2016, 10:22 PM ET *

No USADA

I love Bellator, and really like this signing. They're killing it lately with these signings. 

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (September 15, 2016) – Bellator MMA is elated to announce the signing of Chael Sonnen (28-14-1), to an exclusive multi-year, multi-fight contract.

 

By signing with the Scott Coker-led promotion, Sonnen effectively ends his retirement from professional mixed martial arts and he will now enter the 205-pound division championed by Liam McGeary, amongst others.

“I'm consistently blown away by the product and presentation that Bellator is bringing to the fans,” said Sonnen. “I'm not nearly done competing and I'm coming after everyone, everywhere. I'm not sticking to one weight class either, I fight at ‘Gangster Weight’ and nobody is safe.”

 

Sonnen has spent a vast majority of his 43-fight career with the UFC, a run where he competed against names the likes of Jon Jones, Anderson Silva (2x), Rashad Evans, “Shogun” Rua, Demian Maia, Brian Stann, and current middleweight champion Michael Bisping. In addition to his exploits inside the cage, the West Linn, Ore., native has mastered the art of being in front of the camera, doing major broadcasting work for both ESPN and Fox Sports.

 

“Chael is an incredible athlete that has competed at the very highest levels of the sport,” Bellator MMA President Scott Coker said, “I know that he is going to continue to do just that here at Bellator. When we were in the process of signing him, Chael was adamant that he wants to compete in three divisions here. He already has unfinished business with Wanderlei Silva, but he also wants to fight guys like Tito Ortiz, Fedor Emelianenko and even Rory MacDonald at middleweight. These are all fights that I'd be very inclined to watch, so hopefully we can put some, if not all of these matchups together starting before the end of the year.”

 

Conference Call Speakers: Chael Sonnen and Bellator President Scott Coker

Conference Call Date: Tomorrow, September 16, 2016 

Start Time: 12:00 PM PT

 

Participant Dial-in Numbers:

U.S. Toll Free: 800-875-3456

Canadian Toll Free: 800-648-0973

International Toll: 302-607-2001

 

Verbal Passcode (to be given to the operator): Chael Sonnen

* Edited at 09.15.2016, 11:26 PM ET *

I'm sure he signed with Bellator because he didn't want to be under the scrutiny of USADA.

He could be champ there.

Score 1 for the bad guy!

Sonnen effectively ends his forced two year suspension from professional mixed martial arts after he was caught with a medicine cabinet of PEDs in his system* and he will now enter the 205-pound division championed by Liam McGeary, amongst others.

*fixed

* Edited at 09.16.2016, 11:26 AM ET *

He will not be at 185?

Good signing for Bellator.  Sonnen is past his prime, but he is a good ratings draw and can still give an opponent a good run for their money.  Really hope they have him fight Wanderlei Silva at some point.

* Edited at 09.17.2016, 12:12 PM ET *

I'm sure he signed there because he knew he couldn't headline a card at the UFC but he can at bellator.  Ego and dollars.

I bet Dana isn't even mad that he went there

They are trying to bring him in for Tito's last fight, then the Wanderlei match is a must. Put one of those as a co-main for a Liam McGeary fight against some jobber and Bellator can get themselves 3 big draw events off ol' Chael. He was tailor-made for Bellator.

Tito is still fighting?