Sonnen Balances Political Aspirations, MMA Career

LAS VEGAS -- Outspoken middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has called the bluff of fighters who lean on time-honored clichés and claim to train “six hours a day, seven days a week.”

Sonnen will collide with Nate Marquardt in the UFC 109 “Relentless” co-main event on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center and plans to throw his hat into the political arena this spring when he runs for public office in his home state of Oregon.

Following a path similar to that of Team Quest teammate Matt Lindland, Sonnen, a registered Republican, will vie for the vacated District 37 seat in the Oregon State House of Representatives. The primary for the district, which covers roughly five cities, will be contested in May; the general election will follow in November. Sonnen estimates the campaign will cost him $400,000. He does not foresee his political ambitions conflicting with his mixed martial arts career and claims UFC President Dana White has “contributed to the campaign.”

“Nothing would change,” Sonnen said. “I practice three hours a day now. I’ll practice three hours a day then. I get insulted if someone refers to me as a full-time fighter. It’s three hours a day; that leaves 21 hours. There’s no such thing as a full-time fighter. Go contribute to society.”

Sonnen has never flown higher on the MMA radar. One of the world’s top 10 middleweights, he could solidify himself as the number one contender to UFC champion Anderson Silva’s throne should he defeat Marquardt at UFC 109. He likes his position on the lineup.

“It’s a good spot to be in,” Sonnen said. “If you’re in the fight business, you want to be near the top of the card.”

Sonnen had nothing but praise for his latest foe, a former middleweight King of Pancrase who will carry a three-fight winning streak into their match. Marquardt blasted Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia, the last man to defeat Sonnen, in a cool 21 seconds at UFC 102 in August. It took just one nuclear right hand.

“I didn’t hype this fight at all,” Sonnen said. “Is there bad blood [between us]? No, there isn’t. Every now and then, you run into one of the good guys, and Nate’s one of those guys.”

Having improved his own stock with a surprisingly lopsided unanimous decision victory against Yushin Okami at UFC 104 in October, Sonnen admits he admired Marquardt’s work in his encounter with the previously unbeaten Maia. The Brazilian submitted Sonnen with a triangle choke a year ago.

“I was jealous,” Sonnen said. “I wish I had thrown that punch.”

Like many, Sonnen believed Marquardt had locked up a title shot with the performance. Instead, Silva will defend his middleweight crown against former UFC light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort in April.

“I thought [Marquardt] would get it,” Sonnen said. “He climbed the ladder. He did everything he needed to do to get there. But I get it. If I was a promoter, I’d put Vitor in there, too. That’s a fight people want to see.”

Though he was complimentary of Marquardt, Sonnen again took aim at Silva, the man who has ruled the UFC’s middleweight division with his fists, feet and knees for more than three years.

“I’m not a fan of his,” he said. “A guy with earrings, crooked hats and pink shirts wouldn’t last in my neighborhood. When I get done with Nate and sink my teeth into that bum, it will be far more interesting than anything I’ve said.”