Chael Sonnen admits that he went 'too far' by releasing Chad Mendes' phone number
On the latest It's Time podcast with Bruce Buffer, former three-time world title challenger Chael Sonnen finally revealed why, on July 2, he released UFC featherweight title challenger Chad Mendes' personal cell phone number on social media, while encouraging fans to harass "Money" during one of the most hectic, stressful and important times of the fighter's career. Moreover, Sonnen admitted he had no good reason to do it.
"Chad messed with the bull, so he got the horns," Sonnen began.
As it turned out, the move was just as thoughtless, pointless and childish as it appeared to all the world. Sonnen, like a weird, obsessive ex-boyfriend or ex-girlfriend, selfishly perceived a slight and responded with threats and disruptive behavior in hopes of getting attention.
"Chad had been avoiding me for a week. I could see he had my message — it was marked 'delivered.' I could see when he read my message because it was marked 'read.' So, ultimately, I guess, guys, he hurt my feelings. He didn't get back to me in time. So I sent him another message a week later. I said: 'I can see you're getting my text.' Then I gave him a few minutes beat to see if he got back to me, which he didn't. I said: 'All right, in five seconds, a bomb is going to go off,'" Sonnen said.
Ultimately, Sonnen realized he had crossed a line and tried to reach Mendes to apologize and offer to pay for a new phone. But because of his harassment, Sonnen had trouble getting ahold of Mendes.
Eventually, he did reach Mendes and was grateful for the Team Alpha Male's forgiveness and good nature. "Chad is a great guy, and he was also a good sport about it," Sonnen said.
"When it was done, it's really a d*ck move on my part (laughs), but at the time I was just trying to get a call back. When I woke up the next morning, I was like, 'Chael, that's a scumbag thing you just pulled on Chad ... too far.'"
Yup. Sure was.
Chad Mendes fights Conor McGregor for the interim world featherweight title Saturday in Las Vegas at UFC 189.
