Chael Sonnen is renowned for his mind games and jokes, not just outside the ring, but it turns out, inside it too. Looking back at his early career, a story emerges showcasing his deceptive tactics during fights.
`The American Gangster`, while famously close to UFC titles, secured a less remembered title at Gladiator Challenge in November 2003.
In this light-heavyweight title bout, refereed by Herb Dean, Sonnen faced eventual UFC fighter Jeremy Lambert. En route to a decision victory, Sonnen cleverly wasted time with a move that still amuses Herb Dean.
Sonnen`s Time-Wasting Tactic: The Fake Choke
Throughout the Gladiator Challenge fight, Chael Sonnen dominated Jeremy Lambert using his superior wrestling. With Randy Couture in his corner, Sonnen appeared to be heading towards a comfortable win.
However, a notable moment occurred when Lambert attempted a rare Ezekiel choke from his back. Herb Dean recalled on Inside MMA that this type of submission is unusual in MMA without a gi, being more common in grappling.
Sonnen, recognizing that the choke attempt would tire his opponent and keep the fight grounded – where he was scoring points – played possum. He began making fake choking noises, deceiving Lambert into continuing the ineffective submission.
Herb Dean`s Amused Reaction to Sonnen`s Trick
Eventually, Herb Dean stood them up, much to Lambert`s frustration, who believed he was close to a finish. Sonnen ultimately won by decision. After the fight, Sonnen had a humorous exchange with Dean.
“Chael told me,” Dean recounted in 2014, “and I didn’t really know his personality then, ‘that choke wasn’t even close’. He admitted he was just milking it, pretending it was bad to waste time.”
The humor escalated when Sonnen jokingly threw Dean under the bus. “Then he walks towards Jason, not realizing I was right behind him,” Dean continued.
Dean then shared Sonnen`s words to Jason: “`You got robbed man, you almost had me with that choke.` It was one of the funniest moments.”
Dean concluded, “Even while playfully blaming me, he was still having fun and creating mischief during the fight. It offered a glimpse into his personality.”
