Quotes from Chael Sonnen

The kind of wrestler that's going to do well in a combat style event like MMA is one that can explode through - doesn't need to spend time on the mat - hit his opponent, get him off his feet, and get on top quickly.

A double leg in MMA is completely different than what you would do in wrestling because the posture's different. You're standing upright as opposed to bent over; you're slipping a punch as a opposed to grabbing a guy's elbow and doing a traditional elbow pull or slide-by in wrestling.

I go to a wrestling match, and I love it. But at a wrestling match, on every level - that includes Division I - you go into an empty and cold gym, you roll out a mat, and you set 10 chairs up on each side. That's a dual meet, and it's very hard to act like it's a big event.

Wrestlers tend to do good in MMA because they tend to be just some tough guys. It's not a karate situation where they grew up their whole life punching the air; in a wrestling situation, you grab a hold of another human being every day.

Every time you have a huge fight in wrestling, in boxing, in MMA, both guys are sure they're going to win. They really believe it.

When I was a kid, I was a big fan of the regional scene. I read 'Pro Wrestling Illustrated,' and I watched Portland Wrestling and everything I could.

One element of wrestling that I know what I grew up with we put a lot of emphasis towards was the takedown. But, you could win an Olympic championship and never score a takedown, and I don't know if MMA fans are even aware of that.

I'm a tournament guy; that's what I grew up doing.

There was years when my father didn't even make a hundred grand - or barely made a hundred grand - and sure, we had a maid, but she only came twice a week. What do you think happened the other five days? You think those dishes washed themselves? You think those clothes got themselves in the hamper?

I train every day but Christmas. I'm not the guy who gets a contract signed and then trains for a fight. I'm at practice every single day, whether I've got a match or not.

Very normal trajectory of a fighter's career - you start out fighting at the YMCA. You move on to the dog park. You get into a coliseum. On your way out, you go back to the YMCA, and then you finish up at the dog park.

All sin and all crime comes from the same thing: 'I decided. I decided this was okay.'

Jealousy is a hell of a thing. There's a reason it's one of the deadly sins.

Cain Velasquez, for my money, is the most intimidating force ever in heavyweight combat.

When I was young, they used to call me 'foreman,' not because I was in charge, but because I did the work of four men.

Triangle chokes are the refuge for cowards. I would never stoop to that level of locking my legs around a man and squeezing.

As a fighter, that's not something that ever factors in, whether you go first or last or you walk out first or you walk out second. It's not something that ever factors in or you feel slighted about. I don't think that anybody would care. The job is the same.

I'm better than Jon Jones. I'm better than Sean Combs. I am even better than John Holmes.

When Georges St-Pierre retired and Jon Jones was absent, I had Jose Aldo, the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. That's how highly I think of him.

If your body produces testosterone naturally, fine. Mine doesn't.

Say what you want before the fight but when it's done, you accept the result.

When you go, 'Listen, I didn't know. I didn't know the rules.' That works. That's a good, solid defense. One time.

Accosting somebody in public can be regrettable. Accosting a gangster can be hazardous.

Whenever you can evoke a strong emotion and want somebody to tune in, whether it's to see you win or get beat up - and I've been on both sides of that - it's a win.