// Roster Index›Light Heavyweight›Dossier · Chael Sonnen
UFC FIGHTER PROFILE_
UFC · UNKNOWNSTOCK 0LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

Chael
Sonnen

NICKNAME"N/A"·UNITED STATES
PROFESSIONAL RECORD
31-17-1
CURRENT FORM
2L STREAK
NEXT FIGHT
NO BOUT ANNOUNCED
Chael Sonnen
FIGHTER -
UNI🇺🇸
PROFILE PHOTO
PROFILE
PROFILE DATA! COLD
HEIGHT
6'1"
REACH
6'1"
AGE
49
STANCE
SOUTHPAW
WEIGHT
Light Heavyweight
PROFESSIONAL RECORD_
49 BOUTS
WIN
31
LOSS
17
DRAW
1
WIN RATE
63%
31/49 bouts
FINISH RATE
39%
of professional wins
LAST 5 FIGHTS2L STREAK · 2-3
LWWLL
Form trend 0 over the last 90 days.
STYLE SUMMARY_
DATA: COLD
FIGHTING STYLE
WELL ROUNDED

Well rounded fighter with no dominant single weapon — 61% of wins are by dec.

KEY STRENGTHS

Banks rounds on the scorecard — pace and positioning over splash damage.

KEY RISKS

Top-position grapplers who can chain transitions force submissions when scrambles open up.

// PERFORMANCE_METRICS · 02_

STRIKE / GRAPPLE
VITALS

Observed profile rates compared with stored weight-class medians where coverage exists. Any fallback uses a labeled UFC reference average; no fallback is presented as a division median.

// SLPM▲ ABOVE
3.08
Strikes Landed/Min
Reference value 2.75
// STR. ACC▼ BELOW
43%
Striking Accuracy
Reference value 49%
// SAPM▲ ABOVE
1.10
Strikes Absorbed/Min
Reference value 2.75
// STR. DEF▲ ABOVE
62%
Striking Defense
Reference value 53%
// TD AVG▲ ABOVE
3.81
Takedowns/15 min
Reference value 1.50
// TD ACC▲ ABOVE
59%
Takedown Accuracy
Reference value 40%
// TD DEF▲ ABOVE
66%
Takedown Defense
Reference value 59%
// SUB AVG▼ BELOW
0.40
Submissions/15 min
Reference value 0.50
// QUALITY_OF_COMPETITION · 02B_

WHO THEY
ACTUALLY FOUGHT

A record says how often a fighter won, not against whom. These ratings weigh every result by the opponent's strength at the time, then compare this fighter with the 56 rated fighters on the UFC light heavyweight roster (anyone with a UFC bout in the last two years or one booked).

// RATING
#7
against the 56 rated on the UFC light heavyweight roster · Elo 1631
// STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
99th
percentile · average opponent rated 1674 at fight time (recent fights count most)
// RESULTS VS EXPECTATION
25th
percentile · fell short of what opponents' ratings predicted (-0.11 per fight)

42 rated fights · opponents rated in 86% of recorded fights · last rated fight JUN 14, 2019

// CAREER_BREAKDOWN · 03_

WIN CONDITION MAP

Where the wins come from, and where the losses came from. Method splits by knockout, submission, and decision.

// WINS (31)
n = 31
KO/TKO · 8
SUB · 4
DEC · 19
8
KO/TKO
26%
4
SUB
13%
19
DEC
61%
// LOSSES (17)
n = 17
KO/TKO · 7
SUB · 9
DEC · 1
7
KO/TKO
41%
9
SUB
53%
1
DEC
6%
// PATH_TO_VICTORY_
39% FINISH
KO/TKOEARLY ROUNDS · 8 fights
26%
SUBANY ROUND · 4 fights
13%
DECFULL FIGHT · 19 fights
61%
Top win condition: ko/tko · early rounds.
// DNA_PROFILE · 04_

ATTRIBUTE FINGERPRINT

Evidence-backed 0-100 scores built only from observed profile stats and disclosed bout-history proxies. This is a fixed Blueprint scoring model, not a division percentile; missing axes remain unknown.

// DNA_PROFILE_
3 OBSERVED7 DERIVED0 UNKNOWN
// BENCHMARK
FIXED SCORE SCALE
// LINKED SAMPLE
49 BOUTS
// PROFILE UPDATED
OCT 3, 2026
// RECORDED SOURCE
ufcstats
Fighter attribute fingerprint10 of 10 attributes have evidence-backed scores on the Blueprint fixed scale. Unknown axes are not plotted and no score represents a division percentile.KO POWER37TD DEFENSE58GRAPPLING61CHIN71STRIKING39CARDIO75AGGRESSION49SUB THREAT20STR DEFENSE71RECOVERY63
// BANDS
90+ELITE
70-89STRONG
45-69AVERAGE
30-44BELOW
<30LOW
N/AUNKNOWN
Highest scored axis: Cardio. Lowest scored axis: Sub Threat.
// EVIDENCE REGISTER
10 SCORED · 0 OPEN
KO Power37
DERIVED PROXY

KO wins divided by total career wins

N=31 wins
TD Defense58
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed takedown defense rate (66%)

Grappling61
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rate

Chin71
DERIVED PROXY

KO-loss durability proxy from career record

N=49 bouts
Striking39
DERIVED PROXY

Composite of observed striking volume and accuracy

Cardio75
DERIVED PROXY

Long-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win share

Aggression49
DERIVED PROXY

Activity proxy from observed strike and takedown volume

Sub Threat20
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed submission rate (0.4 per 15 min)

Str Defense71
OBSERVED INPUT

Observed striking defense rate (62%)

Recovery63
DERIVED PROXY

Share of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.

N=17 losses
Fighter attribute fingerprint accessible data summary
AttributeScoreProvenanceEvidenceSample
KO Power37 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO wins divided by total career wins31 wins
TD Defense58 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved takedown defense rate (66%)Not recorded
Grappling61 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed takedown volume, accuracy, and submission rateNot recorded
Chin71 out of 100DERIVED PROXYKO-loss durability proxy from career record49 bouts
Striking39 out of 100DERIVED PROXYComposite of observed striking volume and accuracyNot recorded
Cardio75 out of 100DERIVED PROXYLong-fight exposure proxy from bout duration and decision-win shareNot recorded
Aggression49 out of 100DERIVED PROXYActivity proxy from observed strike and takedown volumeNot recorded
Sub Threat20 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved submission rate (0.4 per 15 min)Not recorded
Str Defense71 out of 100OBSERVED INPUTObserved striking defense rate (62%)Not recorded
Recovery63 out of 100DERIVED PROXYShare of recorded losses followed by a win in the next recorded bout.17 losses
// CAREER_MOMENTUM · 05_

THE ARC SO FAR

Rolling momentum score (0-100) recomputed after every bout. Weighted blend of result, opponent context, and method-of-finish, designed to show the shape, not the destination.

// MOMENTUM_TIMELINE_
SCOREWINLOSS
0255075100MAY 1997WMAY 1997WMAR 2002WAPR 2002WAPR 2002WJUL 2002WAUG 2002LJAN 2003FEB 2003WMAY 2003LSEP 2003WNOV 2003WDEC 2003WDEC 2003WMAR 2004WAPR 2004LMAY 2004LJUL 2004LSEP 2004WOCT 2004LDEC 2004WFEB 2005WJUL 2005LOCT 2005WAPR 2006LMAY 2006WAUG 2006WDEC 2006WFEB 2007WJUL 2007WOCT 2007LDEC 2007WMAR 2008WNOV 2008LFEB 2009WMAY 2009WOCT 2009WFEB 2010LAUG 2010WOCT 2011WJAN 2012LJUL 2012LAPR 2013WAUG 2013LNOV 2013LJAN 2017WJUN 2017WJAN 2018LOCT 2018LJUN 2019// SCORE

  1. Start, MAY 1997, momentum score 45.
  2. Start, MAY 1997, momentum score 52, DEC R1.
  3. Start, MAR 2002, momentum score 59, DEC R2.
  4. Start, APR 2002, momentum score 66, DEC R2.
  5. Start, APR 2002, momentum score 76, SUB R2.
  6. Start, JUL 2002, momentum score 83, DEC R3.
  7. Start, AUG 2002, momentum score 92, KO/TKO R2.
  8. Start, JAN 2003, momentum score 85, SUB R1.
  9. Start, FEB 2003, momentum score 85.
  10. Start, MAY 2003, momentum score 92, DEC R3.
  11. Start, SEP 2003, momentum score 85, SUB R1.
  12. Start, NOV 2003, momentum score 92, DEC R3.
  13. Start, DEC 2003, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  14. Start, DEC 2003, momentum score 100, DEC R2.
  15. Start, MAR 2004, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  16. Start, APR 2004, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  17. Start, MAY 2004, momentum score 90, KO/TKO R1.
  18. Start, JUL 2004, momentum score 83, DEC R3.
  19. Start, SEP 2004, momentum score 76, SUB R2.
  20. Start, OCT 2004, momentum score 83, DEC R3.
  21. Start, DEC 2004, momentum score 76, KO/TKO R2.
  22. Start, FEB 2005, momentum score 87, KO/TKO R1.
  23. Start, JUL 2005, momentum score 97, KO/TKO R1.
  24. Start, OCT 2005, momentum score 90, SUB R2.
  25. Start, APR 2006, momentum score 97, DEC R3.
  26. Start, MAY 2006, momentum score 90, SUB R2.
  27. Start, AUG 2006, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  28. Start, DEC 2006, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  29. Start, FEB 2007, momentum score 100, SUB R1.
  30. Start, JUL 2007, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R2.
  31. Start, OCT 2007, momentum score 100, KO/TKO R1.
  32. Start, DEC 2007, momentum score 93, SUB R2.
  33. Start, MAR 2008, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  34. Start, NOV 2008, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  35. Start, FEB 2009, momentum score 93, SUB R1.
  36. Start, MAY 2009, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  37. Start, OCT 2009, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  38. Start, FEB 2010, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  39. Start, AUG 2010, momentum score 93, SUB R5.
  40. Start, OCT 2011, momentum score 100, SUB R2.
  41. Start, JAN 2012, momentum score 100, DEC R3.
  42. Start, JUL 2012, momentum score 93, KO/TKO R2.
  43. Start, APR 2013, momentum score 83, KO/TKO R1.
  44. Start, AUG 2013, momentum score 93, SUB R1.
  45. Start, NOV 2013, momentum score 83, KO/TKO R1.
  46. Start, JAN 2017, momentum score 76, SUB R1.
  47. Start, JUN 2017, momentum score 83, DEC R3.
  48. Start, JAN 2018, momentum score 90, DEC R3.
  49. Start, OCT 2018, momentum score 80, KO/TKO R1.
  50. Start, JUN 2019, momentum score 73, KO/TKO R2.

Peaked at 100 (W vs Curnut), bottomed at 45 (Debut). Current reading: 73.

// KILL_SHOT_MATRIX · 06_

WHEN THE FINISHES COME

Cross-tab of fight outcome by method and round. Reads top-down for method, left-right for round. Cyan intensity scales with frequency.

// METHOD × ROUND_
48/49 fights mapped
METHOD ↓ / ROUND →R1R2R3R4R5FREQ
KO/TKO
10
21%
5
10%
-
-
-
15
total
SUB
6
13%
6
13%
-
-
1
2%
13
total
DEC
1
2%
3
6%
16
33%
-
-
20
total
// PRIMARY KILL ZONE
R1-R2 KO/TKO · 15 of 48 mapped
// LATE-FIGHT GAP
R5 finishes on record
// DECISION RATE
41%, fights often go the distance
// FIGHT_HISTORY · 08_

BOUT LOG
49 FIGHTS

Detailed bout records for the indexed tenure. Sorted most recent first.

L
VS Lyoto MachidaJun 14, 2019
KO/TKOR2 · 0:22
Bellator 222 - MacDonald vs. Gracie
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Flying Knee and Punches)
L
VS Fedor EmelianenkoOct 13, 2018
KO/TKOR1 · 4:46
Bellator 208 - Fedor vs. Sonnen
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
W
VS Quinton JacksonJan 20, 2018
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Bellator 192 - Jackson vs. Sonnen
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
W
VS Wanderlei SilvaJun 24, 2017
DecisionR3 · 5:00
Bellator 180 - Sonnen vs. Silva
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
L
VS Tito OrtizJan 21, 2017
SubmissionR1 · 2:03
Bellator 170 - Sonnen vs. Ortiz
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Rear-Naked Choke)
L
VS Rashad EvansNov 16, 2013
KO/TKOR1 · 4:05
UFC 167 - St. Pierre vs. Hendricks
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Punches)
W
VS Mauricio RuaAug 17, 2013
SubmissionR1 · 4:47
UFC Fight Night 26 - Shogun vs. Sonnen
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Guillotine Choke)
L
VS Jon JonesApr 27, 2013
KO/TKOR1 · 4:33
UFC 159 - Jones vs. Sonnen
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Elbows and Punches)
L
VS Anderson SilvaJul 7, 2012
KO/TKOR2 · 1:55
UFC 148 - Silva vs. Sonnen 2
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
TKO (Knee to the Body and Punches)
W
VS Michael BispingJan 28, 2012
DecisionR3 · 5:00
UFC on Fox 2 - Evans vs. Davis
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Decision (Unanimous)
W
VS Brian StannOct 8, 2011
SubmissionR2 · 3:51
UFC 136 - Edgar vs. Maynard 3
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)
L
VS Anderson SilvaAug 7, 2010
SubmissionR5 · 3:10
UFC 117 - Silva vs. Sonnen
SECONDARY DETAILS
METHOD
DETAIL
Submission (Triangle Armbar)
// FAQ · 09_

CITATION-READY ANSWERS

Quick answers based on the public fighter profile and fight history shown on this page.

Light Heavyweight. Professional record 31-17-1. Unranked at the time of indexing.

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// LAST INDEX SYNC · 2026-10-28