Chael Sonnen books MMA debut for security guard Frank Solomon

Chael Sonnen has arranged an MMA debut for a Las Vegas security guard who took a casual thank-you a bit too seriously.

The former UFC title challenger told viewers on his YouTube channel that a recent trip to Vegas landed him in an unexpected recruiting situation. After a security guard named Frank Solomon helped Sonnen and his son locate a bathroom, Sonnen offered a standard courtesy. Three minutes later, Solomon returned to collect.

From bathroom favor to cage debut

"Frank Solomon calls me over about three minutes later," Sonnen said, per MMA Fighting. "He says, 'Hey, I'm ready to cash in on that. I'd like to meet with Dana White. Like to do a fight in the UFC.'" Solomon, whose combat resume consisted of high school wrestling and track, passed what Sonnen called a stooge test by accepting a more realistic path. Rather than demand a shortcut to the UFC, Solomon said he would even pay to start at the bottom, telling Sonnen he wanted to prove people could learn fighting later in life.

Sonnen reached out to Oregon promoter Kevin Keeney at Full Contact Fighting Federation, which has previously served as a proving ground for future UFC fighters. Within minutes, Solomon filled out an application and secured a September 5 booking. Sonnen said he plans to attend the fight to watch Solomon make his cage debut.

Solomon now joins a growing list of athletes who turned a chance encounter into an opportunity, though few have done it by treating throwaway pleasantries as binding contracts.

Reported via:

• MMA Fighting — Morning Report: Chael Sonnen claims security guard asked him to arrange Dana White meeting, UFC fight