Chael Sonnen has publicly addressed and apologized for a controversial event that occurred in his past.
In December 2021, Sonnen was briefly detained following an altercation at a Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas. The incident involved a couple, Dr. Christopher and Julie Stellpflug, whom Sonnen encountered in a hallway. The couple claimed Sonnen appeared to be intoxicated and alleged he became aggressive, specifically stating he slapped a drink from Christopher`s hand without provocation. A hotel employee also reported being struck by the former UFC title contender.
Sonnen initially faced significant charges, including battery by strangulation and multiple misdemeanor battery counts. However, he later entered a no-contest plea to a single misdemeanor charge of breaching the peace. This resolution resulted in a fine of $750.
This past Wednesday, Sonnen released a statement via Instagram, extending his apology to the Stellpflugs for his behavior.
“Dr. Chris and his wife Julie Stellpflug, Mr. and Mrs. Stellpflug, a number of years ago in Las Vegas were coming down a hallway trying to get to their room, encountered a maniac, me, and I apologize,” Sonnen said. He added that while he had wanted to apologize sooner, the complex situation required time, but the incident had continued to bother him.
He also specifically included the Stellpflugs` children in his apology, even though they were not present. Sonnen explained his reasoning by considering the situation from a child`s perspective: watching their parents be involved in a media and legal battle after an unexpected encounter with what he termed a “madman” while simply walking to their room. He stated they were owed an apology, which he sincerely gave.
Sonnen briefly mentioned the accusations of intoxication and alluded to a “trip” that might have impacted his judgment, but he did not provide explicit details about his physical condition during the encounter. He was clear in emphasizing that his wife had no involvement whatsoever in the incident.
“I was by myself when I met them,” Sonnen clarified. “I was on my trip with my wife and because of that… my wife had nothing to do with the story, they’ve all never seen, never even put eyes on one another—this is very specifically from the madman in the hallway, me, to Mr. and Mrs. Stellpflug. I sincerely apologize… I also apologize to your family and your children specifically…”
Sonnen, 48, remains a prominent figure in the MMA world, serving as an analyst for ESPN`s UFC broadcasts and sharing his views on his popular YouTube channel. During his fighting career, he was a three-time UFC title challenger before concluding his career with Bellator in 2019, holding a professional record of 31-17-1.
Marcus Blakely