Chael Sonnen is MMA’s greatest trash talker, making his name as the “undefeated world champion” of the UFC (according to him).
In fact, Chael Sonnen lost plenty in the UFC and never managed to win the world title, but don’t let that stop him – he built fights using his mouth before backing it up in the octagon.
Now retired, Sonnen is one of the most controversial voices in MMA and remains relevant years after his last fight.
Here is everything you need to know about Chael Sonnen.
How old is Chael Sonnen?
Chael Sonnen was born on April 3, 1977, making him 48 years old as of June 2025.
He was born in Clackamas County and was raised on the mean streets of West Linn, Oregon, where he began training in wrestling and boxing while attending high school.
Chael Sonnen’s height, weight, and reach
Sonnen stands at six feet one inch, which is equivalent to 185cm. He competed in numerous weight classes, most notably in the Middleweight (185 lbs) and Light Heavyweight (205 lbs).
Who is Chael Sonnen’s wife?
Sonnen is married to Brittany Smith, and the couple wed in July 2013. The pair have a son together, and had a daughter who died as a newborn in 2016.
Why is Chael Sonnen called ‘The American Gangster’?
Sonnen adopted the nickname “The American Gangster” as part of his satirical, over-the-top trash-talking persona during his time in the UFC.
He used the name to joke about his upbringing in Oregon, pretending he had a tough upbringing compared to his opponents, like Anderson Silva.
Chael Sonnen’s UFC record
| Record (W-L-D) | (T)KO | Sub |
| 30-17-1 | 7-7 | 5-9 |
Chael Sonnen’s net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Sonnen is worth $4 million. He earned this money during his career as one of the top fighters in UFC history, using his loud mouth to sell his fights in huge numbers.
Is Chael Sonnen retired?
Sonnen retired from MMA in 2019 after losing to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222. He suffered a second-round TKO loss after being hit by a flying knee and a series of punches.
Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva
Sonnen came so close to becoming the world champion in one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.
He dominated Anderson Silva for four rounds before Sonnen was caught in an armbar just three minutes before the end of the fight.
He was forced to tap out, although Sonnen put on one of the most impressive displays in UFC history despite walking out without the title belt.
Chael Sonnen vs Jon Jones
Sonnen almost became world champion in the UFC, if only he could have hung on for another thirty seconds in his fight against Jon Jones.
Sonnen originally accepted a fight with Jones at UFC 151 on short notice, but the UFC Light Heavyweight champion refused to face him on the advice of his coach.
The pair eventually locked horns at UFC 159, where Jones won via TKO in the first round.
However, he suffered a broken foot during the fight, which means that had Sonnen made it through the first round, he likely would have been awarded the victory and the world championship.
Chael Sonnen vs Wanderlei Silva
Sonnen took on Wanderlei Silva in his second fight in Bellator, picking up a massive victory over the Brazilian fighter in 2017.
They went all three rounds, with Sonnen earning a unanimous decision victory on the back of a loss to Tito Ortiz in his Bellator debut.
Chael Sonnen vs Tito Ortiz
Sonnen made his debut in Bellator at Bellator 170, taking on former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz in a massive dream fight.
Unfortunately, the bout ended badly for the “Bad Guy”. Sonnen was caught in a rear-naked choke in the first round and was forced to submit after just two minutes.
Chael Sonnen in professional wrestling
Sonnen’s loud-mouthed persona seemed tailor-made for professional wrestling, which makes sense as he initially intended to become a wrestler before finding success in the UFC.
The Bad Guy had a tryout with WCW in the late 1990s and earned a place in the promotion.
However, by the time he finished college, the company had shut down, and he no longer had a place in the company.
Sonnen later worked as a commentator for Global Force Wrestling in the 2010s, but never wrestled a match.