Sonnen Calls Garry 'The Perfect Bad Guy'

Chael Sonnen has given Ian Machado Garry the heel stamp of approval.

According to a video Sonnen posted to his YouTube channel, Garry has developed into one of the sport's most effective villains heading into his UFC 330 welterweight title challenge against Islam Makhachev on Saturday. MMA Fighting reports that Sonnen, who built his own career on a heel persona opposite Anderson Silva, sees something of himself in the Irishman's ability to draw attention through negative reactions.

Sonnen Compares Garry To Wrestling's Greatest Heels

Sonnen pointed to professional wrestling's most successful villains as a template. "There is nothing more monetizable than a cool heel," he said in the video. "Stone Cold Steve Austin was a cool heel. The Rock was a cool heel. Kevin Nash was a cool heel. Why do I say that? Because Ian Garry is over, man. Ian Garry is over in a massive way."

The former UFC title challenger recalled advice from wrestling legend Roddy Piper, who told him not to change his act despite crowd hostility. Piper argued that fans would eventually embrace the same qualities they initially rejected, and that the emotion behind boos runs deeper than cheers.

Sonnen believes Garry possesses the rare quality of genuinely not minding the negative attention. Most fighters claim indifference to boos but struggle with the backlash, he said. Garry has drawn criticism for recent comments about women and for standing by his wife, but Sonnen questions whether those positions justify the vitriol. When Garry does interviews or appears at press conferences, Sonnen said, "something is happening."

UFC 330 takes place Saturday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Morning Report | Chael Sonnen calls Ian Machado Garry ‘the perfect bad guy’