Chael Sonnen has fought some of the biggest names that mixed martial arts has to offer.
The cagey veteran’s fight resume includes losses against the great likes of Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Rashad Evans and Tito Ortiz. His notable wins have come against the likes of Michael Bisping, Mauricio Rua, Wanderlei Silva and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, who he defeated in his last bout back in January 2018.
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But Fedor Emelianenko, his Bellator 208 opponent at NYCB Live in Uniondale, New York, on Oct. 13 presents a different kind of challenge. And Sonnen knows it.
“It just goes back to that power. I haven’t had to deal with anything like that,” Sonnen told the media during a conference call Tuesday. “I’ve only been knocked down once in my career and I’ve never been knocked out. Yeah, I think he is the most-dangerous [opponent]. He’s not the most dynamic. I’ve dealt with guys who could maybe do a little bit more in some more positions. But yeah … he is the most likely to put old Chael to sleep as anyone I’ve ever been in there with.”
From analyzing fight footage, Sonnen is especially taken aback by the sheer blunt force that Fedor strikes with.
“I’m stunned at how hard he could hit, particularly with that right hand. His feet leave the ground,” Sonnen said. “Even when he’s doing ground-and-pound, I’ve seen his body come off the mat. He puts everything into it with bad intentions. I think that’s the biggest obstacle that I’m going to have to deal with it. The biggest standout that I’ve seen from him is just that explosive power.”
Sonnen didn’t seem too preoccupied with that “explosive power” on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where he joined ESPN’s broadcast team for analysis work on the Conor McGregor-Khabib Nurmagomedov fight.
During the conference call Tuesday, Sonnen brushed off attempted swats of criticism for working the McGregor-Nurmagomedov fight just a week away from his own clash with Fedor by saying that Saturday is his usual day off anyway. He also rather unabashedly admitted that he wanted to be there for arguably the biggest MMA fight in the sport’s history.
“My career will end the same way it started — which is as a fan,” Sonnen said. “I didn’t want to miss it. I was glad that I was there. I get envious of those guys. I’m jealous, sitting back watching somebody walk out and the arena to fill up and they get to compete.”
But the self-proclaimed “snake with blue eyes” insists that his commentary work hasn’t been a distraction at all, while training for Fedor.
Emelianenko is taking Sonnen seriously as well, but isn’t quite willing to call “The American Gangster” his most-dangerous opponent just yet.
“Chael is a very serious opponent and Chael has fought all the best fighters and that’s why I approached my camp and training in a very serious way,” Emelianenko said during the conference call. “But to tell you if he’s the most dangerous or strongest one … it’s difficult to say right now. The fight will show.”
And that’s music to Sonnen’s ears.
“A lot of people say he’s the best heavyweight of all time,” he said. “I’m one of those people, but the best heavyweight of all time is about to take on the best fighter of all time. “
The victor will face the winner between Ryan Bader and Matt Mitrione from Bellator 207 the previous day.
