MMA community reacts to Chael Sonnen signing with Bellator MMA

Thursday evening, news broke that former UFC middleweight and light heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen had ended his retirement, and signed an exclusive multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA.

No immediate word was given in regress to when Sonnen would be making his Bellator MMA debut, however ‘The American Gangster’ was campaigning for a fight with former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. Ortiz, who is coming off a submission loss to Liam McGeery for the Bellator light heavyweight championship, has been away from the cage for nearly a year after having his 2-fight win streak snapped since moving to Bellator.

Sonnen on the other hand is also coming off a loss, with his coming at the hands of Rashad Evans at UFC 167. Following that fight, Sonnen coached opposite Wanderlei Silva on TUF Brazil. Before the pair were able to fight, Silva was pulled from the fight, and Sonnen was suspended for 2 years for a failed drug test.

Below are some of the best reactions to Sonnen’s signing with Bellator now that his suspension is up:

The Rulers Back.

— Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) September 16, 2016

Gangsters don't dance, they boogie – welcome to Bellator @ChaelSonnen

— Rich Chou (@rich_chou) September 16, 2016

Fun times ahead… #BellatorNation https://t.co/3T2DnVW2dB

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) September 16, 2016

@arielhelwani @ChaelSonnen gangster weight sounds good to me

— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) September 16, 2016

@ChaelSonnen congratulations my friend!!! So excited for you

— Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) September 16, 2016

Say it ain't So(nnen)! #bellator #chaelsonnen #americangangstar https://t.co/sUo9ivJgJw

— The Spartan (@EliasTheodorou) September 16, 2016

@ChaelSonnen signing with @BellatorMMA is the biggest signing in their history https://t.co/O9M7GU2vuR

— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) September 16, 2016

So happy for @ChaelSonnen. He's somewhere now he will be appreciated. He did far too much for far too little with UFC. That's a shoot.

— FrontRowBrian (@FrontRowBrian) September 16, 2016

Will @titoortiz be @ChaelSonnen first victim?? Or who is it?

— Ben Askren (@Benaskren) September 16, 2016

Bombe dans le monde du MMA, Chael Sonnen avec Bellator ! On en parle dans Laraque\Gonzales dès 14h a @919sports @GeorgesLaraque @stephgonzz

— patrick cote (@patrick_cote) September 16, 2016