The light heavyweight contender has hinted at retirement plans in the past, but UFC veteran Chael Sonnen says most fans don’t even know that Anderson is fighting at all.
“If you see a recipe out there that is working for somebody, that does not mean that you can just copy it,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel (via Bloody Elbow). “Daniel Cormier has made more headlines lately talking about his retirement than anything else that he has done in the cage because he is on top, because people do not want to see him retire. Corey Anderson coming out and talking about when he wants to retire is a sucker’s move on the highest of levels. First off, most people don’t know you’re fighting. There are many guys who will be in this sport, and they will go away and nobody’s gonna know the difference.”
UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier, whom Sonnen referenced in the statement above, previously stated that he would like to retire in March of this year.
Sonnen even says that no fans or promoters are willing to get behind a fighter that has plans on retiring soon.
“The last thing a promoter is going to get behind, and put money behind, and a marketing machine behind, and a favorable fight or two behind — yes there are politics involved in this sport — is a guy who’s about to leave,” Sonnen said. “The last thing that a fan is going to buy a t-shirt of, and follow on social media, and build anticipation for, is a guy who was about to leave. The last thing that a sponsor is gonna throw a goddamn dollar at, is a guy who is about to leave! If you fighters are seeing Daniel Cormier get a lot of run out of talking about retirement, it is because he is a star. He is marketable, he is a box-office proven draw, and it’s not time for him to go. That is not a sign to then go copy that recipe. If you want the hardest fights, for the lowest pay, with no sponsorship, come out and tell the world you’re about to retire.”
Anderson is ranked #6 in the UFC Light Heavyweight Division and has already challenged UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones to a title fight.
