Sometimes it's hard to tell when Chael Sonnen is feeding the media a line of bullshit and actually opening up and being honest with his words. This is one of those times where it seems obvious he's lying though his teeth.

In a conversation with MMA Junkie, the "American Gangster" said he turned down an offer to be a cast member on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) season one all the way back in 2005.

"When the show very first started, the first coaches ever were my coach, friend, teammate Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell, arguably the greatest light heavyweight ever. In fact, the argument would be between those two: Chuck and Randy. I was just a fan. I watched it as a fan. They asked me to be on the show as an athlete, and I passed on the chance. It was on a different network at that time, but an executive at that office invited me on as an athlete. Then I loved the show. I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know what it was. I sat down and watched it, and I regretted that decision. I really enjoyed watching it, and all these years later, here I am."

The way he makes it sound, someone at Spike TV, the show's former home channel, wanted him to participate alongside such esteemed fighters as Forrest Griffin, Stephan Bonnar, Josh Koscheck, and Chris Leben. But he said no, of course, and the rest is history.

The folks at Junkie say they talked to a few high ranking UFC officials and no one has any recollection of Chael's name coming up for that first season, which proved to be the show that kept the company alive and is most responsible for its booming success today.

More tall tales from the master with the quick tongue? Probably.

But you can still openly wonder how different that season would have been if Sonnen was a part of it. Perhaps the bangfest final between Griffin and Bonnar would have never come to be because Chael would have wrestled his way to the glass trophy.

Who knows?

What we do know for sure is that Sonnen has been selected to be a coach for season 17 opposite UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. That season will air next year in advance of their fight in April in New Jersey.

Expect more fibbing.