Casual fans may not venture too far away from the UFC.
Even more casual fans may not realise that MMA exists away from the UFC but that could be about to change with World Series of Fighting’s acquisition of Chael Sonnen as part of their broadcast team.
MMA legend Bas Rutten normally acts as colour commentator for the promotion but is unavailable for its next event, WSOF 23: Gaethje vs. Palomino, so Sonnen is set to take the reins.
The former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight will be given the chance to cement himself in that position in future broadcasts and it’s not known when Rutten will return to the broadcast booth.
“I am stoked to join the powerhouse team at WSOF, and call their fights that feature some of the best mixed martial artists on the planet,” Sonnen said. “WSOF has done an outstanding job of building their organization into a top-tier franchise in a very short span of time, and I am just proud to be a part of such a fast-growing company.”
Sonnen had challenged for a UFC title on three occasions but retired last year after failing a drug test.
He’s kept busy ever since by starting his own podcast and regularly appears as an on-air analyst for ESPN.
“We are thrilled to have Chael Sonnen, one of the most colorful individuals in professional sports, join our production,” said WSOF President Ray Sefo in a press release. “We are confident Chael will enhance the fan viewing experience both for our growing national audience on NBCSN and across the globe by providing the insights he learned competing at the highest level of the sport.”
