Chael Sonnen

By FCF Staff

After being stopped by former light-heavyweight champ Rashad Evans in the opening round at UFC 167, Chael Sonnen apparently doesn’t see a future competing at 205 pounds. If Sonnen had won, of course, things may have been different. The 36 year-old would have defeated the promotion’s #4 ranked light-heavyweight, after submitting another former champ in “Shogun” Rua this past August.

While speaking on the post-UFC 167, FOX Sports 1 show, however, “The American Gangsta” confirmed he hopes to return to middleweight.

“I’ve always struggled at this weight. I’m going to have to go back to 185. That’s where I can do my best work.”

Sonnen is set to coach opposite longtime rival Wanderlei Silva on the next season of TUF Brazil, and then fight the legend after the show concludes. Silva has relayed recently that he hopes to fight Sonnen at 205 pounds.

And as far as his fight with Evans, Sonnen had this to say about the defeat:

“He hurt me so much when he hit me. I had one predominant problem tonight, and I fought a fighter who was better than me tonight.”

The loss leaves Sonnen’s 2013 record at 1-2; in April he fought light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones and was TKO’d in round one.