Why Chael Sonnen decided to retire



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NEW YORK- "The American Gangster" puts the gloves on Friday night's Bellator 222 event at Madison Square Garden.

In a sincere and sometimes moving post-fight press conference, Chael Sonnen explained his decision to withdraw from the mixed martial arts sport. Sonnen said that the retirement was not predetermined before the fight but that she felt good considering the evolution of things.

"No, I did not plan it," said Sonnen. "I thought I was going to win this fight and call Ryan Bader. Everything was as before. But no, I do not regret it. It was a match # 1 and I thought it was a great opportunity and it was. It's the turn of someone else.

Although his retirement was not decided before entering the cage, Sonnen realized once he had entered. In taking against Machida, he felt that he lacked the intangible tools that made him a successful fighter.

"You have to be tough in this sport," said Sonnen. "I have the impression of having used all my strength. There were positions in which, previously, in my career, I would have crossed. I did not mind losing him to his places – you know, some of the things on our feet and those jumping knees and everything else. But it did not bother me to lose against him in my tasks. He was above me and I did not think he would be above me.

"I thought I could have scrambled. I thought I could have got up. I had the habit of being harder. I did not feel like it anymore. I had more courage and I felt as if I had perhaps shot my last shot. I did not have the same courage and it is time to move on. "

Sonnen, 42, ends his term as Bellator MMA with a 2-3 record, with wins over Wanderlei Silva and Quinton Jackson. His losses were suffered by Tito Ortiz, Fedor Emelianenko and Machida.

He finished his 22-year career at the MMA with a 30-17-1 record, competing for the UFC title three times.

For full coverage of Bellator 222, see the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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