Chael Sonnen Dismisses Ronda Rousey‘s Potential UFC Return
Former UFC middleweight and light-heavyweight contender Chael Sonnen hasโ cautioned against expectations of a Ronda โขRousey return to the Octagon, stating that athletes are often “forced โout” ratherโฃ than choosing to retire. Sonnen’s comments come following recentโข social media activity from Rousey โคthat has fueled speculation about a possible comeback.
Sonnen, who experienced a career trajectory marked by both success and eventual โknockout defeats,โค understands the โarduous reality of aging in a demanding sport. He explained in a recent youtube video that a desire to return doesn’t equateโ to a viable comeback, asserting, “There is just โฃthis idea that when somebody goes out thereโ and breaks a sweat or they used to do this sport and they dangle this idea of a returnโฆBut then anโข adult steps in the room and goes ‘hey, it’s not aโข return.'” He emphasizedโข that for moast fighters, it โisn’t a matter of wanting to stop, but rather the sportโ ultimately moving on without them. “You were forced out, it’s not a โretirement when they throw your a- out of โฃthe cage.There’s โnever a day โฃwhen you wont to be done with this sport, you will wake up โฃand find out one day that the sport is done with you.”
Sonnen did acknowledge exceptions toโ this rule, specifically citing Georges St-Pierre, โฃKhabib Nurmagomedov, and Jon Jones. He noted thatโ these fighters all left the sport with championship titles, were in demand, and voluntarily chose to step away. “They all had belts, they all left โon top and they were all wanted and welcomed to stay but they made their own decision that they were not going to.” Rousey, who hasn’t competed โsinceโ aโฃ December 2016 loss to Amanda Nunes, does not fit this profile,โฃ according to Sonnen’s assessment.
