MMA Junkie reports that ESPN has hired former UFC star and Fox Sports 1 TV analyst Chael Sonnen. Sonnen was let go from FOX after he failed a pre-UFC 175 drug test.
Per an ESPN press release, Sonnen will join ESPN as a UFC Analyst. Per the release, he has signed on to “a multi-fight agreement as a studio and on-site analyst, providing expert pre-and post-fight insight on Sportscenter’s coverage of major UFC pay-per-view events.” Sonnen will debut this Friday on the network to discuss UFC 180.
Payout Perspective:
If you disregard the drug issues, which ESPN seems to do here, Sonnen is an engaging TV figure and should bolster the network’s coverage of MMA. Signing Sonnen could be a sign that ESPN will return to more coverage of the UFC. It would make no sense for ESPN to mute Sonnen now. He should be on as many platforms for ESPN to talk UFC and MMA in general.
What a joke.
Look Sonnen is a funny guy but he’s full of shit. Why dont they sign Barry Bonds or Pete Rose to a color commentating stint? As with everything in his life he’ll ruin this opportunity as well by doing something illegal. (Drug charge, etc)
They didn’t hire bonds or rose because they don’t have skills on tv which Chael clearly does. It’s silly to assume he was hired for any other reasons. There is more popular fighters out there and others fighters in general to break fights down. Chael is very talented in front of the camera. He is far from the obligatory former athlete thrown on tv to sell an opinion about the game. I can see him easily doing any of the jobs on ESPN. He is a great interviewers and can also rant on issues ala Rome or Cowherd. Just a shame fox was forced to release him over political correctness while other networks get a pass on it. But this is great for Chael and the sport because he can go to ESPN and reach more people and give ESPN a real MMA presence. His talents were waste on small audiences as fs1.
brainsmasher- It wasnt political correctness. It was ethics. Steroid use is clearly against the rules.
It was political correctness. I don’t believe for a second fox sports wanted to release Chael. But they had to for fear of a backlash. Now ESPN gets to grab him up and act like he has paid his debt and are now immune to bein held accountable. I find it strange Chael did something that made him unemployable for FS1 but perception changes with different call letters. Goes to show how hippocritical society is.
I dont think ESPN should have hired him either and says alot about them for doing so. ESPN however is more removed from the sport than Fox. Fox deals directly with the UFC. so when Chael broke the rules they had to let him go.