Chael Sonnen is one of the most well-known personalities in the world of mixed martial arts. He has a reputation for being outspoken and controversial, often sharing his unfiltered opinions about his fellow fighters. Fans have heard ‘The American Gangster’ give bold statements about almost everyone who is on the UFC roster. His recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani was no exception.

Just as he started to talk with Helwani, the 45-year-old took aim at women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Chael Sonnen about Valentina Shevchenko and her persona

Sonnen began by stating that Shevchenko is a “heel woman,” meaning that she has a villainous persona in the octagon. “That’s a heel right there. That’s a heel woman on the card”, said Sonnen, referring to ‘Bullet’.

However, he also suggested that she plays it too safe and doesn’t embrace that role. According to Sonnen, this is why the 34-year-old hasn’t been given a main event spot in the UFC.

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“Shevchenko is the greatest fighter in the world that’s never been in the main event. Shevchenko isn’t even headed to main event status. Now the reason is that she plays cute, but she’s a bad girl,” said Sonnen.

Sonnen talking about Shevchenko vs Nunes

After Sonnen made these remarks, Helwani pointed out that Shevchenko indeed appeared in a main event. He was talking about her fight against Amanda Nunes. Speaking of her fight with Nunes, the Oregon born also took a jab at Shevchenko‘s ability to draw big numbers.

“She fought Amanda Nunes. I don’t even know how long ago and don’t make believe that that did any numbers. I’m not even agreeing with you. It was a main event”, said Sonnen. While his comments may be seen as harsh, one can take them as constructive criticism. In MMA, as in any form of entertainment, personalities, and personas, can often be just as important as skill in determining who gets top billing.

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It’s clear that Shevchenko has more than proven herself as a fighter in the UFC. Her skills and accomplishments speak for themselves. While she may not have the same level of fanfare as some of her counterparts, she is no less deserving of respect and recognition. As for Sonnen, his comments are simply on par for the course when it comes to his outspoken personality. Love him or hate him, he’s always going to speak his mind.