“Going to pay him $12 million!” Chael Sonnen reveals he was offered $2 million to fight Mike Tyson in Abu Dhabi 

The shocking boxing news of Jake Paul fighting Mike Tyson has yet to die down. Meanwhile, UFC legend Chael Sonnen revealed something even more shocking. Sonnen stated he was offered millions to fight Tyson earlier in 2021 and disclosed the details of their negotiations.

In a recent podcast with Patrick Bet-David, Chael Sonnen stated he was offered two million dollars to fight Mike Tyson in Abu Dhabi. The negotiations went ahead, and both parties even signed an LOI. This incident happened just after Tyson’s exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. However, an unforeseen obstacle prevented the fight from happening. Here is what Chael Sonnen said:

I got offered a fight with Mike (Tyson) in Abu Dhabi. They were going to pay me two million dollars which is a ton. They were going to pay him 12 million dollars. We had an LOI and everything's going behind the scenes. It was his wife (who) pulled it, 'Nope, he's never going to fight again.' It was right after the Roy Jones fight.

Chael Sonnen (via PBD Podcast)

Mike Tyson, although pushing into his fifties, looked good in his exhibition bout against Roy Jones Jr. It was his first boxing match in over a decade. As such, negotiations took place to book a second fight for the boxing icon against Chael Sonnen. But, due to his wife’s unwillingness, he resorted to retired life. Tyson has a special relationship with his wife.

Chael Sonnen was one of the wrestling-dominant fighters in the UFC. Sonnen accepting a boxing match with Mike Tyson was commendable. Of course, the monetary benefits influenced his decision. However, the match never came to fruition. Sonnen last fought Lyoto Machida in Bellator and retired from the sport once and for all.

Chael Sonnen reacts to Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

The news of the legendary Mike Tyson taking on Jake Paul has surprised the fighting world. Chael Sonnen looked at it from an analyst’s point of view and sided with Paul in the matchup. Further, he compared it to the boxing match between Evander Holyfield and Vitor Belfort to reason his thoughts.

The MMA fighter Vitor Belfort knocked out the boxing veteran Evander Holyfield in just two minutes of the boxing bout. As such, Chael Sonnen believed age played a huge factor despite experience in these kinds of matchups. Here is what he said:

Vitor Belfort, who has never boxed, put him (Evander Holyfield) away so fast. So, this (Holyfield) is an Olympic gold medalist you're watching. Vitor, who has never done it, put him away so fast...They labeled him like an elderly abuser. 'How dare you? How could you do this?'... He (Jake Paul) will get teased for taking this [Tyson] fight.

Chael Sonnen (via PBD Podcast)

Mike Tyson’s latest boxing outing was dated to 2020 when he fought another boxing icon, Roy Jones Jr. The match had an unscored exhibition-style ruleset. On the other hand, Jake Paul only recently obliterated Ryan Bourland to secure a first-round knockout win. Despite the erratic nature of the matchup, Tyson vs. Paul had many eyes on it. As such, the fight goes down on July 20 and will be streamed live on Netflix.

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