Phil Baroni claims Chael Sonnen stole his gimmick and was always fourth string at Team Quest

Former three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen retired from the sport of mixed martial arts this past weekend following a knockout loss to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222.

The setback served as Sonnen’s second in a row, as he was previously defeated by MMA legend Fedor Emelianenko in the semifinals of the Bellator heavyweight grand prix.

Chael Sonnen, Who turned 42 years old this past April, explained his decision to retire at the Bellator 222 post-fight press conference.

“No, I didn’t have that planned,” Chael Sonnen said. “I thought I was going to win this fight and call out Ryan Bader. Everything was going my way until it wasn’t. But no, I don’t regret it. It was a No. 1 contender’s match, and I thought it was a big opportunity, and it was. It’s somebody else’s turn.”

Chael Sonnen continued,

“You’ve got to be tough in this sport,” Sonnen said. “I feel like I used all of my toughness up. There was some positions in there that, before in my career, I would have walked right through them. I did mind losing to him in his spots – you know, some of the stuff on our feet and those jumping knees and whatnot. But I did mind losing to him in my spots. He was on top of me, and I didn’t think he’d be on top of me. I thought I could have scrambled. I thought I could have gotten up. I used to be tougher. I used to want it more. I used to have more grit, and I just felt like maybe I fired my last bullet. I didn’t have that same grit, and it’s time to move on.”

Shortly following the retirement announcement from Chael Sonnen, fellow MMA veteran Phil Baroni took to Twitter where he issued some strong words against ‘The American Gangster’.

Id love to fight him. Chael was always 4th string behind Tanner Lindland & Hendo. I’m 1st String Hammer House Lyoto couldn’t take out @bjpenndotcom

— phil baroni (@philbaroni) June 15, 2019

“I’d love to fight him. Chael was always 4th string behind Tanner Lindland & Hendo. I’m 1st String Hammer House Lyoto couldn’t take out BJ Penn.” Phil Baroni said of Chael Sonnen while offering his services to fight ‘The Dragon’.

‘The New York Bad Ass’ would later explain that his dislike for Chael came from the fact that Sonnen stole his gimmick.

He’s reading book I wrote. NY Bad Ass from Long Island. He stole my fucking gimmick. Pg version of it. @ufc version Bad Guy ? Bad Ass Word for Word said what I said to Bustamonte to Anderson that Brazil is a 3rd world country and they don’t bow in fattellas or wtf the rob you https://t.co/RFHL0bsSmP

— phil baroni (@philbaroni) June 19, 2019

“He’s reading book I wrote. NY Bad Ass from Long Island. He stole my fucking gimmick. PG version of it. UFC version Bad Guy ? Bad Ass Word for Word said what I said to Bustamonte to Anderson that Brazil is a 3rd world country and they don’t bow in fattellas or wtf the rob you.”

Baroni added that his hate towards Sonnen was the purest form of flattery for the man who “killed it with little ability and the mental toughness of a midget”.

Hate is sincerest form of flattery He killed it with little ability and the mental toughness of a midget. And he knows it. Always the weakest one quest last to go Ufc Was there first https://t.co/RFHL0bsSmP

— phil baroni (@philbaroni) June 19, 2019

UFC President Dana White also recently weighed in on the career of Chael Sonnen, you can see his comments here.

What do you think of Phil Baroni’s recent comments regarding Chael Sonnen? Sound off in the comments section PENN Nation!