The date of June 11, 2014 will go down in history in the world of mixed martial arts, but not because of an epic title defense or other great fight. Instead, this is the day that Chael Sonnen retired from professional fighting. The whole ordeal has created an interesting few days in the sport, as debates about the role of testosterone replacement therapy in MMA continue to rage, demonstrating that the discussion is far from settled, and likely won’t be anytime soon.
Chael Sonnen was due for a huge fight against Vitor Belfort at UFC 175. A surprise win and he could have landed himself a third shot at the UFC middleweight title. Unfortunately for him, that would not occur due to a failed random drug test that was administered by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in May. According to multiple reports, Sonnen was flagged for two substances – Anastrozole and Clomiphene.
Getting out in front of the situation, Sonnen announced his retirement on Wednesday’s broadcast of UFC Tonight:
“I want to stay within the rules, and I don’t fully understand them,” Sonnen said. “There is going to be a day where I am no longer going to have the title of fighter. That’s just a reality. But I don’t ever want there to be a day where I don’t have the ability to have the title as parent and father and husband.”
Sonnen stated that he and his wife were attempting to have more children. Before this failed test he was being treated with testosterone replacement therapy, also known as TRT. The NSAC and UFC had officially banned the treatment in early 2014, which caused fighters, such as Sonnen and Belfort, to change their lifestyles. Sonnen, we remember, tested positive for elevated testosterone after his defeat to then champion Anderson Silva at UFC 117.
While Sonnen and UFC President Dana White provided “reasonable” explanations for this drug test failure, that does not mean it completely absolves them. Many believed that TRT had become a popular treatment for fighters who had used other performance enhancing drugs in the past. TRT was meant to reverse the adverse effects of those drugs on the body’s natural production of testosterone. Sonnen’s UFC 175 opponent Vitor Belfort, for instance, failed a drug test previously before beginning a TRT regimen, leading to doubts about whether the NSAC would license him. Obviously, that became a moot point after this Sonnen positive test.
So with those thoughts in mind, should Sonnen be praised for walking away from the sport? This is a difficult question because facts present themselves for both sides.
Sonnen has changed the way fighters present themselves to the public. His knack for self-promotion made all of his fights worth talking about, even if he was a major underdog skill-wise. He talked himself into major fights with Silva and two stints on The Ultimate Fighter, coaching against Jon Jones and Wanderlei Silva. If the sport of MMA is going to continue to grow, athletes need to learn to take his promotional style and mold it for their own careers. Conor McGregor is an example of someone who has seemed to learn quickly. With only two Octagon appearances under his belt, McGregor is already headlining a show in his home country of Ireland. Being a MMA business role model is the main way that Sonnen has contributed to the sport.
On the other hand, Sonnen’s missteps in the past shouldn’t be overlooked. As mentioned, he has tested positive before. Coupled with his past legal troubles, one has to question whether he should be considered a role model for fighters to emulate. Perhaps the sport should distance itself from him the way Major League Baseball did Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire. However, due to his relationship with the UFC’s coverage on Fox Sports 1, that doesn’t seem likely.
Chael Sonnen will forever be known as a polarizing figure. He’s set the blueprint on how a fighter can go from mediocrity to star status regardless of what his or her cage skills may be. His fighting career may be over, but it’s guaranteed that the impact of his involvement in the sport will be felt long term.
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UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida is due to take place on July 5, 2014 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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