Former UFC star Chael Sonnen looked back on his legendary MMA career in April 2020.
Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, and Jon Jones are just a few of the famous fighters he squared off against during his 49-bout career.
Chael Sonnen snubbed all the obvious contenders when naming the opponent who hit him the hardest.
That honor went to a submission specialist who was known for struggling when fighting on the feet
- READ MORE: Who is Chael Sonnen? Meet the outspoken UFC legend who became MMA’s ultimate trash talker
Chael Sonnen names punch that hurt him the most
Demian Maia submitted Chael Sonnen inside three minutes when they fought in February 2009.
A triangle choke is typically one of the least painful ways to lose an MMA fight, but that wasn’t the case for Sonnen at UFC 95.
Before the submission, ‘The American Gangster’ was caught with the punch he claims hurt more than any other he ever took.
“The hardest I have ever been hit, which did not mean it carried more velocity, was by Demian Maia,” Sonnen said in a video shared to his YouTube.
“Demian Maia backhanded me. He was in guard on the bottom, where you can’t even generate very much power. I’m on top. He reaches over like he is going to go in for a kimura, and then he brings a backhand across, and just smacks me in the face with a backhand.
“I remember hearing a click. I remember my jaw had been hit so hard that I could hear it click.
“And that is when the fight was over. The fight went another two minutes, but I’m telling you that where the fight was over.
“That was the hardest I have ever been hit in terms of pain.”
Chael Sonnen predicts UFC 320 main event
Since retiring from fighting, Chael Sonnen has become a prominent voice in the MMA community.
The 48-year-old uses his social media platforms to discuss and debate the current goings-on.
Naturally, he was quick to share his opinion after Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira 2 was confirmed to headline UFC 320.
Sonnen told Pereira he has zero chance of beating Ankalaev when they rematch on October 4.
“Alex is not gonna beat Ankalaev. This is a statement of fact,” he said.
“They have already fought. There was nothing within that contest that would lead you to believe if we did it again, we are gonna change outcomes.”