Chael Sonnen’s larger-than-life persona has resulted in him receiving admiration and attention as well as ire and ridicule.
He experienced both after Saturday’s Bellator 208 main event in Uniondale, N.Y., with some praising him for his gutsy performance against heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko, and others criticizing him for a somewhat sloppy grappling game plan that resulted in him being finished by first-round TKO.
Sonnen’s inability to capitalize on the advantageous positions he was able to establish prompted a contingent of online observers to wonder if there was something fishy about the fight result, a suggestion that was brought up to Bellator president Scott Coker at the evening’s post-fight press conference.