Let's face it: UFC is in the business of entertainment. Just like any other professional sport, the main focus is and will always be to make money. If you're not pulling in a comfortable profit there is zero incentive to continue putting on said sport, and then everyone loses. While there's definitely a segment of MMA fandom who would be happy if every fighter was practically an android that never spoke, just marching to the cage to fight, that's not what Dana White and the Fertitta brothers want for their audience, neither is it what the majority of us want. We watch UFC because of the entertainment value, craving the violence like bloodthirsty viewers at the Roman Coliseum, and Chael Sonnen was our Maximus. The man understood that MMA is more than just a sport, it's a business, and one that is trying to grow. The best way to do that is to bring new fans to the product, and in order to do that you have to give them a reason to care. Sometimes the excitement of the fights isn't always enough. Some people need a little flash with their smash. Anyone who can honestly say that they were never entertained by Sonnen, whether through his dramatic war with Anderson Silva, his hilarious insults of his opponents or even just the audacious way he's gone about facing his indiscretions must not have a pulse. ESPN dedicates hundreds of hours a week to LeBron James and the only thing remotely compelling about him is that he's a guy in his late 20s with the hairline of a 70-year old. Chael has given us more than his share of memorable moments, including some great fights and even better stories. And we should thank him for it. What will you miss about Chael Sonnen? Let us know in the comments.
Brad Hamilton is a writer, musician and marketer/social media manager from Atlanta, Georgia. He's an undefeated freestyle rap battle champion, spends too little time being productive and defines himself as the literary version of Brock Lesnar.
