The Global Fight League (GFL) has shaken up the combat sports world with its ambitious approach. With a roster packed with UFC veterans like Andrei Arlovski, Frank Mir, and Tony Ferguson, the new promotion promises more than just fights. It offers health and injury insurance along with a structured retirement fund for the athletes on the roster. But despite the buzz surrounding GFL’s inaugural draft, one name was conspicuously missing.

Chael Sonnen, a man whose career was built on high-stakes rivalries and razor-sharp trash talk, was nowhere to be seen. Given his history of jumping into new challenges, fans expected Sonnen to be a prime candidate for GFL’s roster. So, did the promotion overlook ‘The Bad Guy,’ or was there something deeper at play? And what does UFC boss Dana White have to say about the new challenger for his throne?

Chael Sonnen reveals that GFL reached out to him but it’s too “weird” for him to fight now  

During a recent conversation with Mike Bohn, he directly asked Chael Sonnen whether the GFL had made him an offer. Sonnen’s answer came quickly, sharp and full of his usual wit that has made him a beloved albeit somewhat controversial figure in the fight game.

The former UFC middleweight responded with, “Please, please. Did they try to get Chael Sonnen. They are still trying to get Chael Sonnen. It would be irresponsible, like I don’t mind when those phone calls come in, no matter if I already know ahead of time where they’re not gonna go.” Not done just yet, he continued in his trademark manner, “What I would mind if that phone call wasn’t placed. That would be a very irresponsible thing, to sign the people they’re signing, to do what they’re trying to do, and to not call Chael Sonnen. Of course they called.”

But when Bohn pressed him about his interest in returning to fight, Sonnen’s answer was more reflective. While the roster may feature some intriguing opponents, it’s not the names that sway him. Why? He explained, “There’s another point where you should not be taking your t-shirt off, put in a mouthpiece and stand in front of the world.”

So, for the now 47-year-old Chael Sonnen, the GFL isn’t the pull it once could have been as he ended by stating, “This is weird and I believe I have entered the phase where it would be weird. So no, I’m not going to fight. ”

The GFL’s inaugural draft, held in January 2025, was a spectacle in itself. Fighters like Tyron Woodley, Mir, and Arlovski were scooped up, despite being well into their 30s and 40s. The league seems to have found its niche by focusing on seasoned fighters, but the question remains: does this model work in the long term? According to Dana White, he doesn’t believe they have what it takes to compete with the premier MMA organization in the world!

At the Power Slap 11 post-event press conference, when asked about the GFL’s rise, Dana White didn’t mince words. He isn’t worried. Despite the league’s lavish spending, he doesn’t see them as a real threat. In his statement, he gave the promotion credit where it’s due as he confessed, “I don’t think it’s blowing smoke – I think these guys are blowing real cash, these guys are throwing a lot of money around, and I love it. Good for the fighters – it’s good for them.”

As they say, ‘heavy is the head that wears the crown’, so when the question turned to competition, White’s perspective was clear. He bluntly stated, “I don’t know anything about his business plan or what the deal is, but no, I don’t consider any combat sports my competition. My competition is the NFL, college football, soccer, big movies that come out on Saturday. I don’t look at other combat sports and look at them as competitors.”

According to White, the UFC doesn’t face direct competition from leagues like the GFL or any other challenger for its throne as the premier MMA organization in the world. Instead, it’s up against the titans of entertainment like the NFL and even Hollywood!

The GFL, for its part, has made bold promises, offering a 50-50 revenue split with fighters and providing them with retirement and insurance funds. The league claims to prioritize fighters’ financial well-being, presenting an unprecedented opportunity for profit-sharing. But will this financial model be enough to capture the hearts and minds of MMA fans? And will it be enough to challenge the UFC’s dominance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.