Chael Sonnen Criticizes Legend's Offspring at UFC 310, Claiming "He Fought Like He Was High"
Chael Sonnen Criticizes Legend's Offspring at UFC 310, Claiming "He Fought Like He Was High"
Kron Gracie, Ricardo Gracie's son, delivered a underwhelming performance at UFC 310 on Saturday. Gracie didn't just get knocked out by Bryce Mitchell in the third round; his defeat was seen as humiliating by many, including UFC Hall-of-Famer Chael Sonnen.
Fans at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas booed Gracie throughout the bout as he consistently sought to take Mitchell down during grappling exchanges. However, Mitchell, a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, thwarted Gracie's attempts.
The last time Gracie tried this tactic, Mitchell slammed the 36-year-old to the mat to create distance and then rained down a couple of elbows, knocking out the Brazilian.
Sonnen didn't just criticize Gracie's passive fighting style. He also commented on Gracie's approach to MMA, describing it as lazy and peaceful, akin to a "pothead."
"I don’t know Kron," Sonnen said in a YouTube video. "I’m just a fan. I’m a fan of his old man, his uncles, and his cousins. I’m going to say something that’s very out of pocket because I don’t know him: he fought like a pothead."
Sonnen's comment was not flattering. He backed it up with what some might call informed speculation.
"There’s a culture in jiu-jitsu about smoking dope and doing jiu-jitsu," Sonnen continued. "But you’re not going to win the tough ones if you’re a pothead. The potheads won—I get it. They won. Great job politically, great job with medicine—I understand. But my dad was onto something too when he told me it makes you lazy. My dad was onto something when he said it makes you peaceful, and it makes you calm. It’s the very thing that the potheads used to get the legislation passed. Is there anything about being peaceful or calm that sounds like it would be helpful in a fistfight? I don’t know him, and I don’t want to label him in these ways, but I’m quite sure I’m right. He fought like a guy who smokes marijuana, and they fight a certain way. They live their life, ‘bro,’ in a certain way, ‘bro’ calm and relaxed in a violent and aggressive business."
We don't know anything about Gracie's personal habits, but I agree with Sonnen—his fighting strategy is outdated and not suitable for success in modern MMA. Gracie's approach is reminiscent of his uncle, Royce Gracie, who was successful in the early days of UFC with his grappling skills. However, those days are long gone, and a one-dimensional fighter's approach is now a recipe for a defeat in today's MMA. Given his age and the severity of his loss at UFC 310, it would not be surprising if Saturday's fight marked the end of his MMA career. UFC President Dana White advised three fighters to retire on Saturday. Perhaps he overlooked someone.
Gracie's loss at UFC 310 was heavily criticized by UFC commentator Chael Sonnen, who compared Gracie's fighting style to that of a "pothead." Sonnen suggested that Gracie's passive approach and reliance on grappling exchanges is outdated and not suitable for success in modern MMA. UFC President Dana White advised three fighters to retire at UFC 310, leaving some wondering if Gracie should also consider hanging up his gloves. At UFC 310, Chael Sonnen watched as Kron Gracie, a skilled Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, consistently sought to take Bryce Mitchell down during grappling exchanges, but Mitchell, the winner of the bout, thwarted his attempts.