The real story of Chael Sonnen leaving the UFC for Bellator might come out one day. Just not right now.

"The American Gangster" said as much to Ariel Helwani on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. When pressed on his contract situation with the UFC and why he, as a longtime UFC company man, would bolt to Bellator, the always animated Sonnen did not have much to say. For once.

"I wanted an opportunity to compete and that was really it," Sonnen said. "The back story and everything I'm holding out from you, and you know full well I am, I'll tell you over time. I'm just not ready to tell you today."

Sonnen, 39, signed with Bellator MMA officially last week and is likely to face Tito Ortiz in his first fight with the promotion in November. Sonnen was plotting a return to mixed martial arts after serving a two-year suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission for failing multiple drug tests for performance-enhancing drugs.

Most people thought that comeback would be with the UFC. Sonnen did, too. Bellator was not on the radar.

"It never even crossed my mind," Sonnen said. "I was always with the UFC and it was always gonna be with the UFC."

Something changed that, though. "The Bad Guy" just isn't saying. Not yet.

The UFC granted him his release and Sonnen ended up signing with Bellator. Many have speculated that the UFC's anti-doping partnership with USADA played a role in Sonnen bolting for Bellator. Sonnen entered the USADA drug-testing pool in July and said he would just need to see if there was anything left over in his system before deciding to come back and fight.

USADA ended up testing Sonnen four times and he said that all the tests were negative. He would have needed to be tested over four months before stepping back in the UFC's Octagon, per the anti-doping program rules for fighters coming out of retirement.

"Did I get results? No," Sonnen said. "Did I pass everything? Yes."

Sonnen, a multiple-time UFC title challenger and top draw, would not say whether his departure from the UFC was amicable or not. He referred to his conversation with UFC president Dana White as "interesting."

"You know, Dana is a shark and I mean it as a compliment," Sonnen said. "Some guys are tough. And Dana is a shark. I don't know how else to put it."

When pushed by Helwani to add clarification, Sonnen dodged. The mystery continues.

"Here's what I would tell you," Sonnen said. "I am on a legends ass-whipping tour and I'm starting with Tito Ortiz."