MMA StatBook
Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen

Light HeavyweightUnited States

31Wins
17Losses
1Draws

Professional record

Last 5: LWLLW

Compare with another fighter

Profile

Age
49 (born April 3, 1977)
Born in
West Linn
Height
6' 1"
Weight
205 lbs.
Reach
73"
Stance
Southpaw
UFC record
7-7
Title fights
3

How the fights ended

Wins in the UFC7

  • Submission 2
  • Decision 5

Losses in the UFC7

  • KO/TKO 3
  • Submission 4

UFC career stats

Striking

Significant strikes landed per minute
2.88 top 66%
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
1.32
Striking accuracy46%Better than 45% of light heavyweights
Strike defense62%Better than 87% of light heavyweights

Grappling

Takedowns per 15 minutes
3.89 top 8%
Submission attempts per 15 minutes
0.4
Takedown accuracy54%Better than 86% of light heavyweights
Takedown defense58%Better than 40% of light heavyweights

Next fight

No confirmed fight yet. Sonnen last fought on November 16, 2013 (Loss vs Rashad Evans). Sonnen has not fought in the UFC for more than two years.

Booked fights appear here as soon as they are announced. See the full UFC schedule.

In the record book

About Chael Sonnen

Born on April 3, 1977 in West Linn, United States, Chael Sonnen competes as a light heavyweight mixed martial artist. Sonnen stands 6' 1" with a 73" reach and fights out of a southpaw stance.

Sonnen has fought professionally since 1997, debuting with Battle of Fort Vancouver. Sonnen arrived in the UFC with a 15-6 record. Sonnen first fought in the UFC at UFC 55: Fury in October 2005 and lost to Renato Sobral by triangle choke from bottom guard. In the UFC, Sonnen is 7-7 across 14 fights.

Sonnen usually wins on the scorecards: 5 of 7 UFC wins went to a decision. By the numbers, Sonnen lands more takedowns per 15 minutes than 92% of light heavyweights and avoids strikes better than 87% of light heavyweights. Notable wins include Mauricio Rua and Michael Bisping, both UFC title-fight winners.

Sonnen's record in UFC title fights stands at 0-3. Sonnen has fought Anderson Silva twice in the UFC (lost, lost). After 33 months away, Sonnen returned at UFC 95: Sanchez vs Stevenson in February 2009 and lost to Demian Maia. Sonnen's record outside the UFC includes 2-3 in Bellator and 4-0 in BodogFIGHT.

Sonnen's most recent UFC appearance was at UFC 167: St-Pierre vs Hendricks in November 2013, where Sonnen lost to Rashad Evans.

UFC fight history

  1. L

    Rashad Evans

    KO/TKO · Punches to Head From Back Control · R1 4:05

    UFC 167: St-Pierre vs Hendricks

    Nov 16, 2013

    3Str 0TD 0KD
  2. W

    Mauricio Rua

    Submission · Guillotine Choke After Drop to Guard · R1 4:47

    UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs Sonnen

    Aug 17, 2013

    5Str 2TD 0KD
  3. L

    Jon Jones Title

    KO/TKO · Punches to Head On Ground · R1 4:33

    UFC 159: Jones vs Sonnen

    Apr 27, 2013

    6Str 0TD 0KD
  4. L

    Anderson Silva Title

    KO/TKO · Punch to Head In Clinch · R2 1:55

    UFC 148: Silva vs Sonnen 2

    Jul 7, 2012

    22Str 1TD 0KD
  5. W

    Michael Bisping

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC on FOX: Evans vs Davis

    Jan 28, 2012

    40Str 4TD 0KD
  6. W

    Brian Stann

    Submission · Arm Triangle From Side Control · R2 3:51

    UFC 136: Edgar vs Maynard 3

    Oct 8, 2011

    28Str 4TD 0KD
  7. L

    Anderson Silva Title

    Submission · Triangle Armbar From Bottom Guard · R5 3:10

    UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen

    Aug 7, 2010

    89Str 3TD 0KD
  8. W

    Nate Marquardt

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC 109: Relentless

    Feb 6, 2010

    39Str 6TD 0KD
  9. W

    Yushin Okami

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC 104: Machida vs Shogun

    Oct 24, 2009

    91Str 4TD 0KD
  10. W

    Dan Miller

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC 98: Evans vs Machida

    May 23, 2009

    36Str 3TD 0KD
  11. L

    Demian Maia

    Submission · Triangle Choke From Bottom Guard · R1 2:37

    UFC 95: Sanchez vs Stevenson

    Feb 21, 2009

    8Str 0TD 0KD
  12. L

    Jeremy Horn

    Submission · Armbar From Bottom Guard · R2 1:17

    UFC 60: Hughes vs Gracie

    May 27, 2006

    6Str 3TD 0KD
  13. W

    Trevor Prangley

    Decision - Unanimous · R3 5:00

    UFC Fight Night 4

    Apr 6, 2006

    25Str 7TD 0KD
  14. L

    Renato Sobral

    Submission · Triangle Choke From Bottom Guard · R2 1:20

    UFC 55: Fury

    Oct 7, 2005

    12Str 0TD 0KD

Full MMA career

Chael Sonnen is 31-17-1 across 49 professional fights in 20 promotions, since a pro debut on May 10, 1997 (Battle of Fort Vancouver). 34 of those fights were outside the UFC.

Pro wins31

  • KO/TKO 7
  • Submission 5
  • Decision 19

Pro losses17

  • KO/TKO 7
  • Submission 9
  • Decision 1
Finish rate
39% of wins
Longest win streak
6
Current streak
2 losses

Fights by promotion

PromotionRecordFirst fight
UFC8-72002
Bellator2-32017
BodogFIGHT4-02006
WEC3-12004
SF2-12004
Dangerzone2-02002
Euphoria2-02004
Pancrase0-1-12003
Battle of Fort Vancouver1-01997
Extreme Challenge0-12004
FCFF1-02003
Gladiator Challenge1-02003
HFP1-02002
Hitman Fighting1-02003
IFC0-12003
ROTR1-02003
Rage on the River1-02004
Real Fighting Championships1-02002
XFA0-12003
XFO0-12004

All professional fights

ResultOpponentMethodEventDate
L Lyoto Machida TKO (flying knee and punches), R2 Bellator 222 Jun 14, 2019
L Fedor Emelianenko TKO (punches), R1 Bellator 208 Oct 13, 2018
W Quinton Jackson Decision (unanimous), R3 Bellator 192 Jan 20, 2018
W Wanderlei Silva Decision (unanimous), R3 Bellator 180 Jun 24, 2017
L Tito Ortiz Submission (rear-naked choke), R1 Bellator 170 Jan 21, 2017
L Rashad Evans TKO (punches), R1 UFC 167 Nov 16, 2013
W Maurício Rua Submission (guillotine choke), R1 UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Sonnen Aug 17, 2013
L Jon Jones TKO (elbows and punches), R1 UFC 159 Apr 27, 2013
L Anderson Silva TKO (knee to the body and punches), R2 UFC 148 Jul 7, 2012
W Michael Bisping Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis Jan 28, 2012
W Brian Stann Submission (arm-triangle choke), R2 UFC 136 Oct 8, 2011
L Anderson Silva Submission (triangle armbar), R5 UFC 117 Aug 7, 2010
W Nate Marquardt Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC 109 Feb 6, 2010
W Yushin Okami Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC 104 Oct 24, 2009
W Dan Miller Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC 98 May 23, 2009
L Demian Maia Submission (triangle choke), R1 UFC 95 Feb 21, 2009
W Paulo Filho Decision (unanimous), R3 WEC 36 Nov 5, 2008
W Bryan Baker Decision (unanimous), R3 WEC 33 Mar 26, 2008
L Paulo Filho Submission (armbar), R2 WEC 31 Dec 12, 2007
W Kyacey Uscola TKO (punches), R1 SF 20: Homecoming Oct 27, 2007
W Amar Suloev TKO (punches), R2 BodogFIGHT: Alvarez vs. Lee Jul 14, 2007
W Tim McKenzie Submission (brabo choke), R1 BodogFIGHT: Costa Rica Combat Feb 18, 2007
W Aleksei Oleinik Decision (unanimous), R3 BodogFIGHT: USA vs. Russia Dec 2, 2006
W Tim Credeur TKO (punches), R1 BodogFIGHT: To the Brink of War Aug 22, 2006
L Jeremy Horn Submission (armbar), R2 UFC 60 May 27, 2006
W Trevor Prangley Decision (unanimous), R3 UFC Fight Night 4 Apr 6, 2006
L Renato Sobral Submission (triangle choke), R2 UFC 55 Oct 7, 2005
W Tim Williams TKO (punches), R1 SF 11: Rumble at the Rose Garden Jul 9, 2005
W Adam Ryan TKO (punches), R1 Euphoria: USA vs World Feb 26, 2005
L Terry Martin TKO (corner stoppage), R2 XFO 4: International Dec 3, 2004
W Alex Stiebling Decision (unanimous), R3 WEC 12 Oct 21, 2004
L Jeremy Horn Submission (guillotine choke), R2 SF 6: Battleground in Reno Sep 23, 2004
L Keiichiro Yamamiya Decision (majority), R3 Pancrase: 2004 Neo-Blood Tournament Final Jul 25, 2004
L Jeremy Horn TKO (cut), R1 Extreme Challenge 57 May 6, 2004
W Justin Bailey KO (flying knee), R1 Rage on the River Apr 17, 2004
W Arman Gambaryan Decision (unanimous), R3 Euphoria: Russia vs USA Mar 13, 2004
W Homer Moore Decision (unanimous), R2 ROTR 4.5: Proving Grounds Dec 27, 2003
W Greg Curnut TKO (submission to punches), R1 FCFF: Rumble at the Roseland 10 Dec 13, 2003
W Jason Lambert Decision (unanimous), R3 Gladiator Challenge 20 Nov 13, 2003
L Forrest Griffin Submission (triangle choke), R1 IFC: Global Domination Sep 6, 2003
W Renato Sobral Decision, RN/A Hitman Fighting 3 [ 2 ] May 2, 2003
D Akihiro Gono Draw, R2 Pancrase: Hybrid 2 Feb 16, 2003
L Trevor Prangley Technical Submission (armbar), R1 XFA 5: Redemption Jan 25, 2003
W Justin Hawes TKO (punches), R2 UFCF: Rumble in Rochester Aug 24, 2002
W Jesse Ault Decision (unanimous), R3 Real Fighting Championships 1: The Beginning Jul 13, 2002
W Scott Shipman Submission (forearm choke), R2 Dangerzone 13: Caged Heat Apr 13, 2002
W Jesse Ault Decision (unanimous), R2 Dangerzone 13: Caged Heat Apr 13, 2002
W Jason Miller Decision (unanimous), R2 HFP 1: Rumble on The Reservation Mar 30, 2002
W Ben Hailey Decision (unanimous), R1 Battle of Fort Vancouver May 10, 1997

Full professional record from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Quick answers

What is Chael Sonnen's record?

Chael Sonnen's professional MMA record is 31 wins, 17 losses and 1 draws.

How old is Chael Sonnen?

Chael Sonnen is 49 years old, born on April 3, 1977.

How tall is Chael Sonnen and what is their reach?

Chael Sonnen stands 6' 1" with a 73" reach.

Who did Chael Sonnen fight last?

Chael Sonnen lost to Rashad Evans by KO/TKO at UFC 167: St-Pierre vs Hendricks on Nov 16, 2013.

Photo: GOhioCasts, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.