Create a free account to unlock this article! Get Started Already a subscriber? Log In

On Tuesday evening, the Bellator 170 conference call took place with both the main-event fighters, Chael Sonnen and Tito Ortiz, and co-main fighters, Brennan Ward and Paul Daley, on the line.



Both Ward and Daley played their part, but of course Sonnen and Ortiz were never going to be upstaged heading into the Jan. 21 event in Inglewood, California.



Sonnen disregards significance of former wrestling match

It took only a matter of minutes before the two were at loggerheads yet again, but before all the trash talk started, Sonnen spoke respectfully about his opponent, even discrediting the importance of him pinning Ortiz in a wrestling match in college.



"Tito's a great fighter," Sonnen said. "He was a hell of a wrestler [and] I caught him in one position in that match. I'm not hanging my hat on that. I'm pumped to be in there and compete against a hall of famer like Tito. I'm going to do everything I can to beat him, but I don't dismiss how good this guy is."



Training with the best during his preparation

Sonnen later revealed that he was taking this fight very seriously, putting in work all across the country in different gyms. He also said that he has been working with a certain former UFC welterweight champion to prepare for Ortiz.



"I love working out in other parts of the country, and I love going to different gyms," Sonnen said. "That's something new to me, because I didn't used to travel. I was just locked at home in Portland, Oregon, but we had a hotbed out there, with guys like Randy Couture and Evan Tanner, I could name drop for you, and it would really impress. We had a really great system out there, but it dried up and some of those guys retired.



[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BNBAnoiluIY/" hide_caption="0"]



"Some of them moved away and some of the gyms closed down, so all of this new traveling has been great. I've got a lot of rounds in and worked out with Georges St-Pierre and a bunch of hammers out there that you've never heard of yet, but you will. I'm getting good work in, and I'm learning from these guys."



Still not at his best

Despite getting what he feels is the top training possible, Sonnen admitted that he needed more time if he's going to be at his best.



"The one thing that I try to do, and I copied Randy Couture on this, is always train with the kids," Sonnen said. "He would be in high school workout rooms doing some wrestling practice, and it was very hard for the next generation to ever get ahead of him because he always trained with that younger generation. So, I spend a lot of time with those kids, and I have my own practices on top of that.



"I'm not positive that I can take Tito down. I'm not positive that I can outbox him; everything has to get better. I have to get stronger, faster, better with more technique and better strategy, and it all takes time."



No regrets

Having now had a few months to reflect on his decision to sign with Bellator MMA, Sonnen said he's been nothing but impressed with what he's seen. To him, he's made the right decision in leaving the UFC.



"Look, I'm brand new," Sonnen said. "I only know a few guys at Bellator. I know three people--that's how new I am. I've been to two Bellator shows: one at Mohegan Sun Arena and one in San Jose. Both events were sold out.



[instagram url="https://www.instagram.com/p/BGxLnjTgBcK/" hide_caption="0"]



"When I was in San Jose, I was sitting there and down the ramp comes the greatest heavyweight of all time, Fedor Emelianenko. Coker signed him and didn't even say anything to anybody. The place was packed and the ratings were going higher. I wanted to come to Bellator when I saw Ken Shamrock walk the ramp, and I thought, 'This is awesome.' Connecticut and then California, both sides of the country and both sold out."



Don't miss it -- Sonnen vs Ortiz

Sonnen's excitement about being involved in another high-profile MMA event was plain to hear, and he took the time to put over both the co-main event stars, Ward and Daley, while telling everyone what a great spectacle it was going to be Jan. 21.



"The household name that Bellator has become is amazing. I used to have to explain to people what UFC and what MMA was. When I tell people I'm with Bellator, they know exactly what it is. When Tito and I met in that college wrestling match, there [were] 80 people there, tops. Nobody cared. It was a big sacrifice just to show off in front of 80 people.



"To show off in front of a sold-out arena, a record-breaking show, is fun. We get Paul Daley and Brennan Ward to entertain us before we have to go out and take care of business."









FloCombat's hottest content, delivered to your inbox

Don't miss breaking news, feature stories, event updates, and more. Sign up for the FloCombat mailing list today.



