Following his failed drug test with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
Sonnen made the announcement at the beginning of UFC Tonight on Tuesday evening on Fox Sports 1.
During his retirement announcement, Sonnen stated that he is choosing his health over his career and he wants to be able to have children, which his wife recently became pregnant.
He also thanked multiple people in his announcement including the UFC, Nevada State Athletic Commissioner Bill Brady, and Anderson Silva.
“Guys, I’ve had a great time,” Sonnen said. “I want to thank coaches Roy Pittman and Dave Sanville and I want to thank my coach Clayton Hires. These guys taught me how to fight and they taught me how to set goals and work hard and persevere, and they stood by me. I want to thank FOX and the leadership at UFC. I want to think Bill Brady, who gave me a second wind. He’s a member of the Nevada State Athletic Commission and he believed in me when I really needed someone to believe in me. And I owe the second wind in my career to him. And I want to thank the single most important opponent I’ve ever had, I couldn’t have gotten where I am without the dance partner, Anderson Silva. Thank you for the opportunity and the memories. Thank you for the invitation to the barbecue. I want to officially announce my retirement from competitive mixed martial arts.”
Sonnen (28-14-1) will mostly be remembered for his two title fights against Anderson Silva. Their first meeting came in 2010 and Sonnen was able to talk the fight up and nearly won the fight, but Silva would score a come from behind victory in the final round of their fight. They would meet for a second time two years later in one of the biggest UFC events in the history of the promotion and Silva was able to score a victory in the second round.