Brian Stann is a great guy. I voted him in for the President of

In this bold and humorous declaration, Chael Sonnen, the fighter-philosopher of the octagon, reveals more than admiration for another man — he unveils a truth about character, honor, and greatness. “Brian Stann is a great guy. I voted him in for the President of the United States in 2008, and I will write him in again in 2012.” Though wrapped in wit and exaggeration, the words burn with sincerity. Sonnen, known for his fiery rhetoric and playful bravado, here speaks from the heart — of respect for virtue, of a man whose strength lies not only in combat but in moral nobility. In the ancient sense, this quote is not merely a jest; it is an homage to excellence, to the rare individual whose integrity commands allegiance.

The meaning of this quote lies in the reverence for true greatness of spirit, the kind that transcends fame or achievement. Sonnen, himself a warrior by trade, recognized in Brian Stann something pure — the valor of a soldier, the humility of a servant, the courage of a man who acts without pretense. In an age often enamored with arrogance and image, Sonnen’s words ring as both praise and reminder: that the highest honor is not given to the loudest, but to the most authentic. To “vote” for Stann, even symbolically, is to affirm faith in virtue itself — to believe that leadership begins with character, not power.

The origin of this statement rests in the friendship and mutual respect between two fighters who shared the arena of mixed martial arts, yet understood the deeper code of the warrior. Brian Stann, before ever setting foot in the cage, was a United States Marine, awarded the Silver Star for valor in battle during the Iraq War. His courage under fire was not born of performance but of principle — an instinct to protect, to lead, to endure. When Sonnen spoke these words, it was not merely in jest but in recognition of a man who embodied the virtues that many proclaim but few live: discipline, sacrifice, and honor. His admiration became a form of poetry — the modern warrior saluting another as if before the Senate of Rome.

History has seen such tributes before, where one great soul honors another beyond titles or crowns. The philosopher Plutarch wrote of how Alexander the Great wept upon hearing of Achilles, not from envy, but from reverence — longing to live with such purpose and renown. Likewise, the Roman general Scipio Africanus was praised by his rivals for his clemency and virtue even amid conquest. So too does Sonnen, in his own modern tongue, speak this ancient language: the language of warriors who know that greatness is not the absence of defeat, but the presence of honor in all trials.

In this sense, Sonnen’s humor conceals philosophy. To say, “I voted him in for president,” is not political; it is moral. It is a way of saying: “Here is a man worthy of trust.” A society that can no longer recognize virtue risks losing the very compass by which it measures leadership. Sonnen’s words remind us that true greatness is not written in polls or trophies but in deeds done quietly, courageously, without applause. When a fighter honors a soldier, when strength salutes integrity, the world is reminded that heroism wears many faces, but the soul beneath them is the same.

The lesson here is profound and urgent: honor must be recognized and upheld. In a world that celebrates fame over virtue, let us learn, as Sonnen did, to look deeper — to value those who lead by example rather than by ego. Seek the company of men and women who carry light into dark places, who stand firm in storms, who remain kind amid conflict. The measure of greatness is not in winning, but in how one wins — with grace, courage, and the refusal to betray one’s values for gain.

Therefore, my child, remember the spirit behind Sonnen’s jest: choose your heroes not by their glory, but by their goodness. Vote not with ballots alone, but with admiration, imitation, and loyalty to the noble. If you must follow someone, follow those who inspire you to be better. For the world will always have its loud men, its proud men, its false kings — but the few who carry the light of virtue, as Brian Stann did, deserve not only our praise, but our faith. And when such souls arise, may we too, like Chael Sonnen, cast our vote for character above all — again and again, in every age to come.