Chael Sonnen Doesn’t Like New Rule Changes

Chael Sonnen didn't fare too well in his Bellator debut last Saturday against Tito Ortiz. In the promotion ahead of the fight, Sonnen elaborated on the notion that he doesn’t like the new MMA rules changes that were put into effect this year.

“I don’t know them all yet,” Sonnen said at a Bellator 170 media event. “I know what a grounded fighter is, which makes the sport extremely more dangerous. One thing this sport did not need was more danger. It’s a pretty wide-open combat sport. I was very surprised that rule got passed, I was very surprised that anybody suggested it.”

Sonnen believes that the rule changes made the sport even more dangerous, not safer, as he would prefer.

“You went and made a sport that is the most combat impact-based sport on the face of the Earth — on the face of the history of the Earth — and you just made it more dangerous,” Sonnen said. “On purpose. I think that that needs an explanation.”

Sonnen noted after Bellator 170 that he plans on continuing to fight for the company.