NEW YORK — For more than 20 years, Chael Sonnen prided himself as a mixed martial artist who would “always make the walk.” On Friday, he did so for the final time.
Sonnen, 42, retired in the Bellator MMA cage on Friday following a second-round TKO loss to former UFC champion Lyoto Machida. The 205-pound bout co-headlined Bellator 222, which took place inside Madison Square Garden.
The announcement brings Sonnen’s 22-year professional career to an end. The Oregon native, who is an MMA analyst for ESPN, finishes with a final record of 30-17-1.
“I had a hell of a lot of fun,” Sonnen said. “I had a good run. I’m walking out. I appreciate the memories, and goodbye.”
This article was originally published by Espn.com. Read the original article here.