Chael Sonnen’s Podcast Remarks Spark Legal Showdown With Former Trump Campaign Advisor
The Bad Guy Chael Sonnen is in hot water. A federal court has ruled that a defamation lawsuit filed by Arlene Delgado, a former senior advisor to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, against retired mixed martial artist Chael Sonnen can proceed. Delgado alleges that Sonnen made false and damaging claims about her during a March 2023 episode of the podcast Flagrant. The court found sufficient grounds for some of her claims to move forward, rejecting Sonnen’s motion to dismiss.
Trump Advisor’s Defamation Battle: Court Greenlights Lawsuit Against UFC Star Chael Sonnen
Arlene Delgado claims that Chael Sonnen falsely accused her of lying about her educational background and professional credentials, including attending Harvard Law School. He also alleged that she had stalked him to the extent that the UFC banned her from its venues. On the podcast, Sonnen referred to Delgado as a “phony” and claimed he had warned Trump’s team about her alleged misrepresentations.
The court determined that Sonnen’s statements could reasonably be interpreted as factual and defamatory. While Chael Sonnen argued that the podcast’s comedic tone meant his remarks should not be taken seriously, the court noted that his delivery was serious and could lead listeners to believe his claims.
“A President of the United States, in their absolute inner circle, had a phony, and I knew the phony. And I knew the phony because the phony had come after me and it got all the way to the chief legal officer of the Ultimate Fighting Championship that had to put a notice at every venue that we went to, to ban this person who was stalking me, and that person was on the inner circle of a President [elect] of the United States.
“So I have to reach to the president, of which I don’t know, to let them know that this human being is not who they’re claiming they are, and they’re getting ready to set you up. Not to mention, you’re going to look like a fool when it comes out that this person is not named, does not have the title, and did not go to the school that you’re running around Hannity and Colmes and telling them that they are. And I did. I got it to the president who removed this person”
The court also found plausible evidence of “actual malice,” meaning Sonnen may have knowingly made false statements or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. This included evidence that Sonnen had previously referred to Delgado as “Harvard” during their interactions.
The court noted that Delgado is considered a “limited purpose public figure” due to her high-profile role in Trump’s campaign and media appearances. This designation means she must prove actual malice, showing that Sonnen knowingly made false statements or acted recklessly, in order to prevail in her lawsuit.
