BREAKING NEWS: Chael Sonnen RETIRES at 37

[The Great Cochrane]

Thomas Gerbasi - Following a whirlwind two days that began with a removal from July’s UFC 175 card due to a failed pre-fight drug test, three-time world title challenger Chael Sonnen has retired from the sport of mixed martial arts.

“I had a great time,†said Sonnen, who made the announcement on FOX Sports 1’s UFC Tonight show.

On Tuesday, it was revealed the Sonnen had failed a random pre-fight drug test administered in May for anastrozole and clomiphene - a pair of drugs that are used to block and/or reduce estrogen in the body. Both are on the Nevada State Athletic Commission and WADA’s banned substances list. Sonnen stated that he was using the drugs to help transition from the TRT that is no longer legal for fighters in Nevada.

“I want to stay within the rules, and I don’t fully understand them, and I have to put my health first,†said Sonnen. “I have to put my family first. If I know what I know now, and I know that this is going to work and I’m going to be able to get my wife pregnant and look forward to having a family, I’m going to do the exact same thing 20 more times, which is going to put me out of compliance 20 more times. Let me just remove myself.â€

With Sonnen out of UFC 175 and a suitable replacement opponent not able to be found, Sonnen’s opponent, Vitor Belfort, has been removed from the card as well.

As for the self-proclaimed “American Gangster,†one of the most popular, yet polarizing, figures in the sport will walk off into the sunset, having challenged three times for UFC titles against Anderson Silva (twice) and Jon Jones. And while he fell short in those bouts, Sonnen’s impact was certainly felt over the course of his 17-year pro career, one which left him with plenty of people to thank Wednesday evening, including his coaches, friends, his employers past and present, and an old rival from Brazil

“I want to thank the single most important opponent that I ever had. I couldn’t have got to where I am without this dance partner, and it’s of course you, Anderson Silva,†said Sonnen, who engaged in classic bouts with the longtime middleweight champion in 2010 and 2012. “Thank you for the opportunity, thank you for the memories, thank you for the invitation to the barbecue, even though I didn’t take you up on it. I want to take an opportunity to officially announce my retirement from competitive mixed martial arts.â€

Sonnen retires with a 29-14-1 record.

As if the drug test wasn't a big enough shocker, this definitely tops the list!

 

[The Great Cochrane]

A video of which can found here:

[video=youtube;04sZmsXFndM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04sZmsXFndM#t=129[/video]

 

[Postman Dave]

He'll be back in a year a reckon.

 

[The Great Cochrane]

I don't know about that, he's pretty much past his prime at this point and can't really make another run at the title.

 

[Swinny]

Yeah he's done, he doesn't really have any reason to come back. He'll have a real comfy job on the broadcasting side of things and he's not going to make a run at the title, so maybe this is a good move.

Gonna miss all the hype and trash talk before every fight though.

 

[The Great Cochrane]

I imagine it's gonna be hard to find another trash talker like him, but at least we can always hear what he has to say on UFC Tonight. Maybe Fox will have a table full of UFC analysts to discuss events at the UFC Fox Fridays like the NFL, I imagine Rashad Evans and Brian Stann would be amongst that group. He also could be a color commentator, there are several options in which we'll still see him on UFC programming.

Plus with him starting a family, that could be something big. He also has a few buisnesses in his tome state of Oregon... who knows, who might even fulfill his dream and purchase a share in WWE and make finally bring some cross branding between the UFC and WWE. If anyone could make that deal, it's Chael.