Former UFC competitor Chael Sonnen is gaining attention in the MMA world yet again, this time for talking about a multi-million dollar deal he was offered by pro-wrestling company World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
The offer was discussed on the American Gangster's new podcast, You're Welcome, which has already gained popularity with Sonnen's discussion with fighters like Georges St. Pierre, who talked about encounters he had while in the UFC, according to Yahoo! Sports.
"Here's the nuts and bolts of it," Sonnen said. "I was offered $5 million by [WWE Head] Vince McMahon ... Now, I was still under contract, with the UFC and I never took this to Dana. I handled it on my own. I told them 'No' and that was the end of that. I never told Dana White this story, but here's why I didn't tell him. I knew if I called Dana and said, 'I got a $5 million offer from Vince McMahon,' Dana would have matched it."
Sonnen announced his retirement from MMA in June after testing positive for Anastrozole and Clomiphene, both of which are banned from the sport, MMA Fighting reported.
Other failed drugs tests include one on June 5th, in which Sonnen tested positive for human growth hormone (HGH), recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO), and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in a random test. This led to his termination as a FOX Sports analyst and a two-year suspension from competing in MMA.
The podcast host added that he didn't tell White about the WWE offer or attempt to negotiate for a new deal because he didn't want the UFC President to think that he wasn't loyal, Yahoo! Sports reported.
"Dana would have come close and now all of a sudden I'm not a loyal employee," Sonnen said. "I'm not loyal to the UFC. I'm shopping them and I'm being loyal to myself. That's business. That's how that works and I don't think anyone would have had hard feelings but I didn't see myself that way."
Sonnen also complimented White's negotiation abilities, saying he could make a good deal if you "relax and just let him take care of things," MMA Fighting reported. The former fighter added that the UFC operates more fairly compared to other fighting promotions.
"The UFC, on a regular basis, negotiates against themselves," Sonnen said. "Dana White will sit down at the negotiating table and he's negotiating against himself, against the old contract he's already got with a guy. There's nobody else coming in and bidding on him and he's still giving guys raises."
