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Several Springs ago, Chael Sonnen headed off to wrestling practice like he did normally numerous times before, his training partners Randy Couture and Dan Henderson were there as usual, but this time something was different. “I show up for practice and everyone’s wearing gloves instead of wrestling shoes”, says Sonnen of his introduction to mixed martial arts, “I didn’t have much of a choice.”
Several Springs ago, Chael Sonnen headed off to wrestling practice like he did normally numerous times before, his training partners Randy Couture and Dan Henderson were there as usual, but this time something was different. “I show up for practice and everyone’s wearing gloves instead of wrestling shoes”, says Sonnen of his introduction to mixed martial arts, “I didn’t have much of a choice.” Hailing from West Linn Oregon, a small rural town eight miles south of Portland, Sonnen’s wrestling career began at the tender age of five. He earned All-American Freestyle honors at West Linn High and was twice Jr. National runner-up. A natural athlete, Sonnen’s prowess on the mat earned him a wrestling scholarship to the University of Oregon in Eugene after a brief semester at Brigham Young University. Training at Team Quest with the likes of UFC light-heavyweight champion Randy Couture and Pride stand out Dan Henderson, coupled with his strong wrestling background has worked very well for the University of Oregon graduate. In just over a year, Sonnen has fashioned a record of 7-3-1, with impressive victories over such notable names as Jason Lambert and UFC veteran Renato “Babalu” Sobral. When the Canadian promoters for “Shut Up and Fight” contacted Team Quest about Sonnen fighting Canadian Bill Mahood in their Dec. 6 show, in Vernon B.C, the answer was almost automatic. “I never turn ’em down”. For Sonnen, fighting in Canada is just icing on the cake. “I was up there in 1999 for the Pan American games, and I loved it, I’ve been looking for an excuse to get up to Canada for a while”. In addition to his training, Sonnen has numerous other “projects” to keep him busy, among them is his role as a promoter, along with University of Oregon wrestling teammate and long-time friend Kevin Keeney. If that weren’t enough, he coaches a wrestling club, “All-Phase Wrestling”, which he has grown from it’s inaugural eight members, to over sixty athletes. His promotion, the FCFF (Full Contact Fighting Federation) is an amateur MMA promotion which holds events all over Oregon, giving the talent-rich Pacific Northwest pool of fighters an avenue in which to showcase their skills. Sonnen originally started the event, which utilizes a cage, with his father who regrettably passed away approximately a year ago. Sonnen himself will be making his FCFF debut exactly one week after his showdown with Bill Mahood, taking on Tough Enough competitor Dan ’The Wolfman’ Theodore The aforementioned match-up between Sonnen and Mahood had been rumored on several prior cards in different events, but this will be their first encounter. “I’ve never seen the gentleman fight, but I know he’s a tough guy. I will definitely take him seriously”. Chael feels with his wrestling background, explosiveness and speed will be his advantages. Traits he says, which were acquired and honed in the wrestling room. On par with his fighting ability is Sonnen’s intelligence and sharp wit, a wicked sense of humor, to go with his wicked takedowns. One is immediately struck, by the air of confidence that he exudes, from his six foot one, two hundred and five pound frame. When asked about his strengths in the ring, Sonnen is by no stretch of the imagination, at a loss for words. Aggressiveness? Check, Power? Check, Speed? “I’m the fastest white guy in the ring, ever.” CHECK! He is as articulate as he is dangerous, and his tough mental preparation is where his confidence was born, a toughness, which Sonnen feels, goes hand-in-hand with his lifelong sport. Does that mean wrestlers make better fighters? Chael thinks so. “I don’t think it’s because the double-leg takedown is the most efficient move in martial arts, wrestlers just condition their minds and bodies to be tough. A lot of this fight game is technical; some call it a chess match, but 90% of it comes down to who’s the toughest.” MMA fans may remember Sonnen’s exchange of words with UFC veteran and current UFC outcast Phil Baroni. “My thoughts on Phil? I want to beat him up. I beat him up in private (referring to Baroni’s brief training stint with Team Quest) and I’ll beat him up in public. He has a different opinion of what happened then I do. He has a big mouth. I don’t fault him for having a big mouth, I think it adds entertainment to the sport. I’d tune in to see him. But with that being said, he’s a second-rate athlete, a third-rate fighter and a fourth-rate commentator.” Ouch, I did say sharp didn’t I? Sonnen is focused, and makes no qualms about his fighting future. “I want to be a world champion for sure. I’ve fought (and trained with) guys who have been in the UFC and Pride. I definitely want to get myself into the position to get into one of the big shows”. Chael Sonnen will be looking to take a big step towards that goal this Saturday. -MMARR- (Note: The Shut up and FIght event that he was scheduled to fight on has since been cancelled)
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