Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen has responded to Jorge Masvidal’s recent comments to Ariel Helwani. Sonnen has reframed Masvidal’s accusations about steroid use into a critique of Masvidal’s career approach. This exchange occurs as Masvidal’s bare-knuckle promotion, Gamebred FC, prepares for events in the Dominican Republic and Miami in 2026, featuring heavyweight and lightweight tournaments with significant prize money.
Masvidal initiated the current dispute in late April, claiming on a podcast that Sonnen was lying about discussions regarding Masvidal’s UFC return. Masvidal also alleged that Sonnen had used “seven different PEDs” throughout his career and challenged Sonnen to a bare-knuckle MMA fight in Gamebred, using offensive language and suggesting he would defeat Sonnen even if moving up to heavyweight.
Chael Sonnen Responds to Masvidal’s Steroid Accusations: “Should Have Used a Needle”
In his interview with Helwani, Sonnen offered a different perspective on Masvidal’s clean record, implying it reflected a less aggressive approach to his career. Sonnen stated, “Jorge Masvidal didn’t respect his own career enough to inject himself with a needle now and then. He trained at one of the most notorious gyms in sports history, yet he competed cleanly. I have to give him credit for that—he never cheated.” This sentiment aligns with Sonnen’s consistent acknowledgment of his own PED history while often portraying clean fighters as less dedicated.
Sonnen’s remarks draw from his own past: following his 2010 loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117, he tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, a widely cited case in modern MMA. This incident resurfaces whenever Masvidal mentions “seven different PEDs.” However, Sonnen has previously argued that PED use is just one of many shortcuts fighters might consider.
Currently, the conflict remains a verbal and social media battle, with no official fight contract. Gamebred FC’s 2026 schedule provides Masvidal with a platform to continue his challenges, while Sonnen, as a prominent podcaster and media figure, is well-positioned to respond to each new development.
English Translation:
Former UFC star Chael Sonnen has fired back at Jorge Masvidal in recent comments to Ariel Helwani, turning the former BMF champion’s jab about steroid use into a pointed critique of how Masvidal approached his own career. The exchange comes as Masvidal’s bare-knuckle promotion, Gamebred FC, gears up for 2026 events in the Dominican Republic and Miami, with heavyweight and lightweight tournaments offering a $500,000 prize pool.
Masvidal sparked the latest round of animosity in late April when he lashed out on a podcast, calling Sonnen “lying” about Masvidal’s UFC return talks and accusing him of using “seven different PEDs” during his career. He then issued a formal challenge, inviting Sonnen to cross over to Gamebred for a bare-knuckle MMA bout, taunting him with gender-related slurs and stating he would “beat the f***ing lesbian out of you” even if competing at heavyweight.
Chael Sonnen Flips Jorge Masvidal’s Steroid Jab: “Should’ve Stuck a Needle In”
In his interview with Helwani, Sonnen instead reframed Masvidal’s drug-free record as a kind of risk-averse career choice. He said, “Jorge Masvidal did not respect his own career enough to stick a needle in his ass every now and then. He’s at one of the dirtiest gyms in the history of sport, but he did it the right way. I’ve got to give him that, he never cheated.” The quote echoes Sonnen’s long-standing tendency to own his own PED history while casting rivals who stayed clean as less committed.
Sonnen’s comments draw on a real chapter from his own record: after his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva in 2010, he tested positive for elevated testosterone levels, which later became one of the most-cited drug cases in modern MMA. That episode has since been a recurring talking point whenever Masvidal mentions “seven different PEDs,” even though Sonnen has argued that using performance-enhancing drugs is just one of many lines fighters can choose to cross.
For now, the dispute remains a war of words and social-media clips rather than a signed contract. Gamebred’s 2026 schedule gives Masvidal a company-backed stage to amplify his callouts, while Sonnen’s platform as a podcaster and media personality ensures a quick reply to each volley.
