MMA personality Chael Sonnen has publicly addressed an unfortunate past event.
In December 2021, Sonnen was briefly detained at a Four Seasons hotel in Las Vegas following an altercation with a couple, Dr. Christopher and Julie Stellpflug, in a corridor. The Stellpflugs claimed Sonnen appeared intoxicated and that he knocked a drink from Christopher’s hand without provocation. A hotel employee also reported being struck by the former three-time UFC title contender.
Sonnen later entered a no-contest plea to a single misdemeanor count of breaching the peace, a reduction from initial charges that included battery by strangulation and 10 counts of misdemeanor battery. His plea resulted in a $750 fine.
On Wednesday, Sonnen released a statement via Instagram apologizing to the Stellpflugs for his behavior.
“Dr. Chris and his wife Julie Stellpflug,” Sonnen began in his apology, “Mr. and Mrs. Stellpflug, several years ago in Las Vegas were walking down a hallway towards their room, and encountered a maniac, me, and I apologize. I`ve wanted to apologize for years, but it just wasn`t the right time. It`s a complex situation that required time, but it has genuinely been bothering me.”
He added, “I would extend this apology to their children. The children weren`t present, but I have children myself. If you reverse the roles and imagine myself as a child with my parents, and your parents are dragged through the media and a legal case because they met a madman while simply walking to their room in a hallway, you are owed an apology, and I sincerely offer you one.”
Sonnen briefly touched on the intoxication claim but did not elaborate on his exact condition during the encounter, only referencing a “trip” that might have clouded his judgment. He made it clear his wife had no part in the incident.
“I was alone when I met them,” Sonnen stated. “I was on a trip with my wife, and because of that, I might have heard something or you guys might have asked—my wife had absolutely nothing to do with the story, they`ve never even laid eyes on each other—this apology is very specifically from the madman in the hallway, me, to Mr. and Mrs. Stellpflug. I sincerely apologize. I want to reiterate, I also apologize to your family and specifically your children, and I will leave it at that. Thank you.”
Sonnen, 48, is currently an analyst for ESPN`s UFC coverage and shares his MMA analysis on his YouTube channel. During his fighting career, he challenged for the UFC middleweight title twice and the light heavyweight title once. He concluded his career in Bellator, retiring in 2019 with a professional record of 31-17-1.
