# Chael Sonnen

Chael Patrick Sonnen (; born April 3, 1977) is an American retired mixed martial artist and current MMA analyst for ESPN. Beginning his MMA career in 1997, Sonnen competed for the UFC, where he became a top challenger in both the light heavyweight and middleweight divisions and challenged for both the UFC Light Heavyweight and UFC Middleweight Championships. Sonnen has also fought in the WEC, Pancrase, and most recently for Bellator MMA. He holds notable victories over numerous former world champions such as Maurício Rua, Paulo Filho, Michael Bisping, Nate Marquardt, Wanderlei Silva, and Quinton Jackson. Sonnen is often considered as one of the greatest all-time mixed martial artists to have never won a UFC Championship.