Articles tagged as sonnen
UFC Star Chael Sonnen Wins Jim Rome’s 2012 Smack-Off
Chael Sonnen talks a bigger game than pretty much anyone in MMA. On Friday, he proved it against the best sports smack talkers in the game on "The Jim Rome Show."
Posted in: game, sonnen, jim, chael, rome
Read the full article at Heavy MMA
NAC grants Chael Sonnen exemption for testosterone use
The Nevada Athletic Commission cleared the path for UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen to challenge divisional champion Anderson Silva at UFC 148 after the regulatory board approved his request for an exemption pertaining to bi-weekly injections of testosterone. Sonnen met with the NAC yesterday where he detailed his need to undergo Testosterone Replacement Therapy, saying he’d been undergoing treatment since 2008 but didn’t report it until recently because his former manager led him to believe he was already in the clear.
As part of this week’s agreement Sonnen will be subject to increased testing leading up to the July 7 headliner, as well as a screening the day after the fight, in order to assure he is not exceeding the mandated ratio.
The 35-year old also agreed to the NAC’s request for him to serve as an adviser in future instances relating to TRT.
Sonnen’s name first came up in connection with testosterone after his bout with Silva in August 2010 when he tested positive for elevated levels and received a yearlong suspension as a result.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: sonnen, testosterone, ’t report, nac yesterday, testosterone sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain
Allowing Testosterone While Punishing Marijuana Use Does MMA No Favors
It took the Nevada State Athletic Commission roughly 40 minutes to decide that Chael Sonnen should be given permission to inject himself with testosterone in the weeks before a title fight with UFC champ Anderson Silva this summer. It took the same regulatory body about three hours to decide that Nick Diaz should pay for his marijuana use with a year-long suspension and 30 percent of his last fight purse. If you think those decisions made the sport of mixed martial arts cleaner and/or safer, then I want to know where you got that prescription for whatever it is you’re smoking. The NSAC told us -- as well as the fighters it regulates -- a lot about how it plans to handle the issues of both recreational drugs and performance-enhancing ones in the future. The big takeaway from Monday’s marathon session? Ask first. And if someone brings up all those times in the past when you didn’t ask? No biggie. Just go ahead and blame someone else.
That’s the playbook Sonnen followed when requesting a therapeutic-use exemption for testosterone, and it worked. Although he’s fought in the state of Nevada several times since 2008, when he said he began regular testosterone treatments, he never mentioned that testosterone use on his pre-fight medical questionnaires. He also never got caught for it, which tells us something about the effectiveness of the commission’s drug tests, but let’s not get distracted with that just yet. What commissioner Pat Lundvall wanted to know on Monday was why Sonnen signed his name to those medical questionnaires when he knew very well that he’d left out some important info. His answer? Matt Lindland, his former manager, told him to. Sonnen said Lindland claimed to have spoken to executive director Keith Kizer, been given the green light, and was then told "don’t bring it up again.""If I understand what your testimony has been it’s that, you claim that your manager told you that Keith Kizer said, ‘You got an exemption, don’t tell anybody about it, don’t bring it up, lie on your form as to whether you’re taking this prescription.’ Is that your contention?" Lundvall asked."No, I wouldn’t use those words," Sonnen replied. "I certainly wouldn’t use the word ‘lie.’"And why would you? It’s such a nasty word. It has all kinds of negative connotations. Lying on a pre-fight medical form is serious business. Just ask former Strikeforce champ Mo Lawal. He failed to mention his knee injury and the use of a supplement to aid that injury on the exact same questionnaire, and it didn’t go well for him when he got his day in court with the commission to address a positive steroid test. If only he’d known enough to blame Lindland.Amazingly, this was all it took for the commission to skip over Sonnen’s prior history of non-disclosure. Lundvall asked whether he had "any qualms" about signing his name to a form that didn’t mention the testosterone he was using. Sonnen said he didn’t. Really? Lundvall wanted know. No qualms at all? Not even a hint of qualms? Nope. Sonnen was qualms-free. He had come before the commission completely qualms-less. And that was that. On to other business.Okay, so it wasn’t that simple. There was also a doctor (not an endocrinologist, but who's keeping track?) who called in to say that he believed Sonnen was indeed suffering from low testosterone as a result of secondary hypogonadism. Sonnen answered some questions about how and when he ingested the testosterone, agreed to submit to increased testing -- including a test the morning after the fight -- and then the commission decided that everything was in order. It even praised his honesty and asked if he would be willing to serve "in an advisory capacity to Mr. Kizer." Sonnen, ever the magnanimous gentleman, said that he would. Exemption granted.Funny thing about the morning-after testing, which seemed to ease so many concerns for the commission. According to BALCO founder and doping expert Victor Conte, such testing is pretty close to useless. As Conte wrote in an email statement on Tuesday:"Anyone who understands how anabolic steroids work knows that an athlete does not perform at their peak while using steroids. For example, sprinters actually run much slower while on steroids because they cause muscle tightness. Steroids work by a process known as cell volumization and this makes an athlete's muscles tight or ‘pumped,’ which actually reduces functional muscle performance. The peak performance gains come 10-14 days after tapering off of testosterone. This is when an athlete becomes much more explosive and significantly faster. So testing an athlete at a time when he has tapered off a substance on purpose to maximize the performance benefits makes little sense. The period from 10 weeks out from a fight until 2 weeks out should be the targeted drug testing period. The NSAC seems to lack a basic understanding of the way testosterone is used by athletes."Fortunately, however, it’s not going to let anyone get away with puffing weed, which might give them an unfair advantage by relaxing them during training. That was just one of the many stances the commission took when it was Diaz’s turn to make his case. While Diaz’s lawyer argued the distinctions between in-competition and out-of-competition use, as well as the differences between marijuana and marijuana metabolites, the commission remained unmoved. It had made up its mind on Diaz, and wasn’t about to change it. While UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem got a nine-month suspension for elevated levels of testosterone -- a substance whose performance-enhancing capabilities are so well known they don’t even need to be argued over -- Diaz got a full year for a substance that seems to be performance-enhancing only in the sense that he enjoys using it. Maybe he should have claimed that his doctor slipped it to him by accident. Maybe he should have insisted that Lindland came up to his hotel room before the fight and blew the smoke in his face, against his will.It’s possible Diaz and his legal team could have made things easier on themselves if their strategy hadn’t involved challenging that commission’s entire mode of thinking when it comes to marijuana usage. Trying to get an athletic commission to not only admit that it’s wrong, but also to admit that it has been on this issue wrong for many years? That’s a tough sell. If the commissioners can find a reason to maintain the status quo, they will. Apparently they’ll also lay the smack down on whoever tries to challenge them on it.Whether you believe Diaz legitimately has a marijuana-shaped loophole here -- or, for that matter, whether you believe that Sonnen legitimately has low testosterone -- it’s hard to look at these two rulings and call them helpful, let alone fair. If the sport isn’t harmed by allowing one athlete to artificially increase his levels of a powerful hormone, how is it harmed by allowing another to use one of the least harmful recreational drugs around? If one man’s history of deception can be easily explained by putting the blame entirely on someone else, then how severely can another man be punished for smoking first and asking permission second?The justice handed down by state athletic commissions has often seemed arbitrary and capricious. The Nevada commission is particularly hard to figure at times, especially when it praises the honesty of those who it accused of lying just minutes before.
On Monday the commission gave us still more mysteries of judgement and justice to think about. It also gave a useful tip to all the fighters out there who are looking for an edge, or even just a buzz: ask first. Who knows? You might even get yourself a gig advising the commission as to how it should regulate that substance you want to use. And wouldn't that be nice.
Posted in: sonnen, commission, marijuana, use, testosterone
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Anderson Silva Content With Reigning Supreme In UFC’s Middleweight Division
Anderson Silva has one of the biggest fights of his career on the horizon, as the UFC middleweight champion will square off with Chael Sonnen at UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II. After that, though, it remains unknown what the future holds for “The Spider.” Yes, the UFC just signed former Bellator champion Hector Lombard, [...]
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMorning Report: Nick Diaz Suspended For Marijuana, Chael Sonnen Cleared to Take Synthetic Testosterone
Yesterday was an odd day for those that apply to the general school of fairness. On one hand, we had Nick Diaz, the popular but polarizing Californian who was set to meet with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to determine his punishment for smoking prescription weed prior to his UFC 143 title fight against Carlos Condit.
Then, on the other hand, we had Chael Sonnen, the popular but polarizing Oregonian who was set to meet with the NSAC to determine whether he'd be allowed to artificially elevate his testosterone levels prior to his UFC 148 title fight against Anderson Silva.
Please note, Diaz's weed was used out-of-competition and did not grant him any unnatural advantages during the fight. Sonnen's testosterone will be used directly in-competition and will grant him a very large, unnatural advantage.
Well, you can guess how it all went down. In a unanimous vote, Diaz got suspended for a year, docked $60,000 of his purse, and made a public example of by the commission. The very same commission who, just hours before, had unanimously voted to grant Sonnen a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) for the use of synthetic testosterone, and less than a month prior, only handed down a minimal nine-month sentence to Alistair Overeem for pumping his system to Herculean levels.
Again, let's repeat. Diaz got a legal flogging for using a substance that -- regardless of whatever propaganda or rhetoric you subscribe to -- is in no way, shape, or form performance enhancing, directly after the commission gave Sonnen the go-ahead to take bi-weekly injections of a blatantly performance enhancing substance, all the while praising him for his honesty. Now, I don't claim to be an expert on TUE, and I'm not directly opposed to its merits either, but doesn't something about that logic seem a little silly?
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Nick Diaz suspended for one year. UFC welterweight Nick Diaz received a one-year suspension from the Nevada State Athletic Commission stemming from his positive post-UFC 143 drug test. Diaz, who will also forfeit 30-percent of his $200,000 fight purse, and his legal team are strongly considering challenging the NSAC's ruling.
Chael Sonnen granted TUE. Polarizing UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen was granted a therapeutic-use exemption for the use of testosterone in advance of his UFC 148 title fight against Anderson Silva.
Police report from Jon Jones' prior run-in with law. In the midst of Jon Jones' current legal troubles, it has been revealed that the young UFC champ had a prior, unreported run-in with police on November 24, 2011 after being pulled over in Albuquerque, NM, for losing traction of his vehicle and driving with a suspended license.
The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani is back with another edition of The MMA Hour. This week's episode features a lineup of Daniel Cormier, Zoila Frausto Gurgel, Jacob Volkmann, Shane del Rosario, Dan Hardy, Junior Nalty and Bob Sapp.
Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier salaries. Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix runner-up Josh Barnett ($200,000) and lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez ($175,000) led the reported payroll from Saturday's Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier event.
MEDIA STEW
The Reem really is the most well done documentary series in MMA right now, and the latest episode is no exception. This time we get a behind-the-scenes look at Overeem's life just as everything falls apart. Check it out and you just might feel a tinge of sympathy for the massive Dutchman. (Click the image to watch.)
Is that Steven Seagal in a Brazilian Budweiser ad with Anderson Silva? Why, yes it is.
So Bob Sapp fought at last weekend's CFC 21 in Australia, but you could guess the result of that, so we don't need to show it to you. Instead, check out flyweight Shabe Kafo evoking his inner Korean Zombie and finishing Kian Pham with this sick twister submission. (HT: Bloody Elbow)
Who needs a fancy TV when you can just catch the second episode of UFC 146 Primetime: Dos Santos vs. Mir right here with us?
NOT HAPPY, PART 1
@ufc Get drunk and wreck cars or do steroids between fights is OK. Smoke weed legally between fights and NSAC throws the book at you
— Cesar Gracie (@CesarGracieBJJ) May 21, 2012
NOT HAPPY, PART 2
Bizarre RT @Dutch_RDS: @VictorConte what's your thoughts on Sonnen getting a TUE for ufc 148
— Victor Conte (@VictorConte) May 21, 2012
In my opinion Sonnen is a fraud & Kizer is a puppet for UFC. NSAC needs investigation RT @Geo_youngson: @VictorConte @dutch_rds why bizarre?
— Victor Conte (@VictorConte) May 21, 2012
RENZO'S NEXT T-SHIRT SLOGAN
"@may_joey: @RenzoGracieBJJ What is the pref religion in Brazil? R u a religious man?" My religion is JiuJitsu, my country is catholic ;-)
— Renzo_Gracie_BJJ (@RenzoGracieBJJ) May 21, 2012
WE CAN ONLY HOPE
I've decided my taxi driver to airport was an a-hole. I hope he reads this
— ROBERT DRYSDALE (@robertdrysdale) May 21, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Monday, May 21, 2012):
- N/A
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day sees dpk875 pose a new solution to the 205-pound division's upcoming problem: Light-Heavyweight - A Pending Crisis
This post has nothing to do with Jon Jones's DWI.
For years the Light-heavyweight division has been the showcase division for UFC. All the biggest names, Tito, Chuck, Randy, Rampage, Shogun, and now Jon Jones have been stars while ruling LHW. But when I look closely at the division, I see a division that is facing a pending crisis despite having a dynamic young champion who will likely rule the division for years to come. The UFC Light-Heavyweight division currently has 30 Fighters - Less than every weight class except Flyweight, and Heavyweight(Unless you count Cormier, and Barnett on the UFC roster, then there are 31 HWs).
The UFC website list 36 fighters, but they list Chuck, Randy, Hamill (all retired), Luis Cane, and Caio Magalhaes (both have their next fight at MW), and Aaron Rosa (Next fight outside of UFC in June).
What we see when we look closer is an aging weight class with very few high end prospects moving up the division.
Two have announced that their next fight will be their last (Tito, Rampage)
Three others are over the age of 40 (Hendo, Matyushenko, Perosh)
Seven are over age 34 (Bonnar (35), Nog (35), Diabate (38), Kruth (38), Soszynski (34), Vera (34), Griggs (34).
Thirteen fighters are between 30-34 - Evans (32), Shogun (30), Machida (33), Griffin (32), Kingsbury (30), Pokrajac (33), Nedkov (30), Te Huna (30), Teixeira(30), Penner (32), DeBlass (30), Maldonado (32), Jimmo (30).
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, fight, diaz, division, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Sonnen granted TRT exemption, Silva fight on
Chael Sonnen was granted a therapeutic used exemption for testosterone replacement therapy and is cleared to fight Anderson Silva at UFC 148
Posted in: fight, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, exemption
Read the full article at sportsnet.ca
Chael Sonnen Granted Therapeutic Use Exemption for TRT Prior to UFC 148 in Las Vegas
Chael Sonnen was granted a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) by the Nevada Athletic Commission on Monday, clearing the way for his UFC 148 showdown with Anderson Silva in Las Vegas on July 7.
Posted in: anderson silva, las vegas, chael sonnen, sonnen, use exemption
Read the full article at SherdogChael Sonnen Granted Therapeutic-Use Exemption for Testosterone in Nevada
Not only will Chael Sonnen get his long-awaited rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in Las Vegas at UFC 148 this July, he’ll also get to do it with the aid of synthetic testosterone, thanks to a ruling from the Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday.NSAC officials voted unanimously to grant Sonnen a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE) for the use of testosterone after Sonnen and his manager, Jeff Meyer, made their case in front of the commission. According to Dr. Timothy Trainor, who phoned into the meeting as medical consultant for the commission, Sonnen was "inaccurately" diagnosed with primary hypogonadism in 2008, but more likely suffers from secondary hypogonadism."The bottom line is, he still probably does have hypogonadism, but primary is not the correct diagnosis," said Trainor, who added that Sonnen’s current paperwork appeared to be in order, and that the fault for the original misdiagnosis lay with the fighter’s doctor, and not Sonnen himself.
Sonnen, who told commissioners that he’d "never heard of low testosterone" before a doctor informed him that he might be suffering from the condition after a physical exam prior to a WEC fight against Brian Baker in Las Vegas in March of 2008, said he has been using injections of the hormone ever since."I got sick probably about three times a month for my whole life, but I didn’t know that was weird," Sonnen said, adding that he had always attributed his repeated illnesses to the stresses of training, travel, and cutting weight.Sonnen began undergoing testosterone treatments in 2008, he said, but as NSAC commissioner Pat Lundvall pointed out, he failed to disclose that fact in pre-fight medical questionaries on file with the state of Nevada. Sonnen could explain that, he said, and then proceeded to lay much of the blame on former manager and ex-UFC fighter Matt Lindland."What had happened was the manager that I had at the time alleged we were given approval from [NSAC Executive] Director [Keith] Kizer, with one condition: don’t bring it up again," Sonnen said. "He said that director Kizer had told him, ‘You’re cleared, you don’t need to mention this again.’ So we relied on that information, and roughly two years ago Director Kizer said, ‘Wait a minute, that’s not the conversation we had.’"Lundvall countered by asking Sonnen if he was claiming that he’d been told to "lie on your form as to whether you’re taking this prescription," to which Sonnen responded that he "wouldn’t use those words.""I certainly wouldn’t use the word ‘lie,’" he said. "My manager did say it was cleared through Director Kizer, and Director Kizer’s statement to him was, ‘Don’t bring it up again.’ I do not contend that that conversation happened. I contend that I was told that it happened."Kizer has repeatedly denied ever having any such conversation with Lindland, and did so again in his comments following Sonnen’s testimony on Monday.
When asked by Lundvall whether he had "any qualms" about signing his name to a form that he knew to be omitting information on his testosterone treatments, Sonnen replied simply: "No."Still, when it came to rule on his TUE application the NSAC commissioners praised Sonnen’s honesty and forthrightness, and even asked if he would be willing to "assist the commission from time to time in an advisory capacity to Mr. Kizer," which Sonnen said he would. According to Meyer, Sonnen also applied for exemptions in Illinois and Texas before recent fights, and though he received no written approval, "he was given a license, which we took as an implicit grant of the TUE," Meyer said.Sonnen will now be allowed to continue taking what he described as bi-weekly injections of testosterone before his scheduled bout with Silva on July 7, though he will be subject to increased testing, including testing on the day following the fight. He must still test within the pre-set range of allowable testosterone levels in Nevada.
Posted in: sonnen, testosterone, kizer, director, director kizer
Read the full article at AOL Fanhouse
Chael Sonnen Granted Therapeutic Use Exemption; Clears Path to Fight at UFC 148
Chael Sonnen on Monday was granted a license and Therapeutic Use Exemption in Nevada for his July 7 bout against Anderson Silva at UFC 148.
Retweet this
Share on Facebook
• Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, bull, use exemption
Read the full article at MMA Weekly
Chael Sonnen can now use all the testosterone he wants, granted TRT clearance by NSAC
Everyone hold hands and rejoice, Chael Sonnen is back. Well, at least back in the good graces of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. The real Chael Sonnen, not his Hispanic impersonator who occasionally pops up whenever somewhat slanderous remarks about Lance Armstrong are said on a radio show. Just minutes ago, the NSAC has approved Chael Sonnen to undergo testosterone replacement therapy leading up to and after all future MMA bouts (with some minor conditions). At one point a member of the NSAC board asked Chel Sonnen if he would like to serve as an 'advisory positioned' to all future TRT cases the NSAC receives. That's right folks, the commission wants to make Chael Sonnen an adviser in all things testosterone.
Leave all the gender reassignment jokes stored in that inner-recess of your horribly twisted mind. Testosterone replacement therapy is actually not that uncommon for athletes over thirty and for those competing on a super-humanly high level. Even Dan Henderson is on the TRT bandwagon.
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II is now clear for takeoff for UFC 148 in Las Vegas. Take that, failed testosterone levels.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, testosterone, nsac
Read the full article at Middle Easy
UFC 148 Update: Chael Sonnen Granted Conditional Therapeutic Use Exemption
The Nevada State Athletic Commission met today to rule on whether Chael Sonnen would be granted a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for testosterone. The commission ruled that Sonnen would be granted a conditional TUE ahead of UFC 148.
The condition ruled that Sonnen will have to have additional testing the night after the fight. Sonnen will also be required to stop taking injections within a to be determined time period prior to the fight.
Chael Sonnen will face off against Anderson Silva in a rematch of their UFC 117 bout. Sonnen lost the first bout via triangle after dominating the entire fight. UFC 148 takes place July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, use exemption
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen Granted Use Of TRT By Nevada Commission
The Nevada Athletic Commission voted on Monday to allow the use of testosterone replacement therapy by Chael Sonnen, granting him a therapeutic use exemption. Sonnen must comply with all testing requirements asked of him by the commission before and after his bout with Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 148. Bloody Elbow has [...]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, commission, use, nevada commission
Read the full article at MMA Convert
NSAC grants UFC 148's Chael Sonnen conditional Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)
Turns out this town is big enough for the both of them after all.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen, who is scheduled to challenge Anderson Silva for the 185-pound title (again) at the upcoming UFC 148: "Silva vs. Sonnen II" pay-per-view (PPV) event on July 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, was granted a conditional Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) earlier today by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
But he will be subjected to a battery of blood tests before and after the Fourth of July weekend fight card to monitor his intramuscular injections, which he applies himself, twice a week. He will also be limited in how close to fight night he can administer his last injection prior to competing.
Sonnen, who reportedly suffers from hypogonadism (his nads are sperm challenged), was bagged and tagged by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) back in August 2010 for improperly disclosing his Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) prior to his first "Spider" fight in Oakland.
This time, apparently, his papers were (mostly) in order.
Sonnen was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) last year for fabricating testimony in a previous hearing while accounting for his failed drug test at UFC 117 -- not to mention his felony conviction in Oregon for money laundering.
Part of his defense strategy was dropping NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer's name in reference to conversations they (never) had about policy and procedure as it related to his TRT.
Sonnen said today it was merely "bad information" from his ex-manager, but has since properly disclosed his TRT use (which began back in 2008) to athletic commissions prior to competing in the states of Illinois at UFC on FOX 2 and Texas at UFC 136. The NSAC has requested a copy of those disclosures as part of his conditional TUE.
He further stated, under oath, that he's never taken anabolic steroids.
Phase one of operation "Silva vs. Sonnen II" is now complete.
For more on his upcoming title fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 148 click here. To read more from his hearing today in front of the NSAC check out our live blog and real-time updates here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, sonnen, commission, nsac
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Chael Sonnen receives TUE exemption for UFC 148 bout with Anderson Silva
LAS VEGAS - The Nevada State Athletic Commission will not stand in the way of Chael Sonnen's rematch with Anderson Silva.
NSAC officials on Monday ruled unanimously in favor of granting Sonnen a therapeutic-use exemption for the use of testosterone in advance of the UFC 148 headliner.
The ruling means a major administrative roadblock has now been cleared for the blockbuster matchup, which takes place July 7 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The event's main-card airs live on pay-per-view while preliminary-card fights air on FX.
Posted in: las vegas, chael sonnen, sonnen, therapeuticuse exemption, tue exemption
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
UFC 148: Nevada Commission Votes To Allow Chael Sonnen To Use Testosterone Replacement Therapy
UFC Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has received a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) after a hearing in Las Vegas. Sonnen is scheduled to fight champion Anderson Silva for the title at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas.
Sonnen will be required to comply with all testing requirements imposed by the NSAC before and after that bout, including extra testing.
Sonnen infamously failed a post-fight urine test after his last bout with Silva at UFC 117 in August, 2010. He told the Calfornia State Athletic Commission that he was using TRT under a doctor's supervision and even stated that he had been cleared to use TRT in Nevada. The CSAC reduced Sonnen's suspension in response to Sonnen's and his doctor's testimony.
NSAC executive director Keith Kizer disputed that account and the CSAC responded by re-instituting Sonnen's suspension. They appeared to intend to suspend Sonnen indefinitely at that time, but a few weeks later they ruled that their own rules only allowed them to issue the original one year's suspension. Since then Sonnen has been licensed to fight in Texas and Illinois.
The hearing opened with the NSAC's advising physician Dr. Timothy Trainor, a board certified specialist in Sports Medicine sharing his opinion on Sonnen's diagnosis.
Summary of the hearing highlights after the jump...
More SBN coverage of UFC 148
Key take-aways from Trainor's phone testimony:
Believes Sonnen's initial diagnosis was incorrect;
Sonnen's hypogonadism is secondary rather than primary. Trainor says Sonnen's doctor botched the initial diagnosis but Trainor says that he believes Sonnen has a legitimate problem;
Recommends that Sonnen be tested the morning after his next fight to ensure that he does not have an elevated testosterone level during the fight;
Concerned that Sonnen is missing doses and not following his doctor's orders properly.
Sonnen then addressed the NSAC. Key points:
Sonnen first started taking TRT before WEC 33 in Nevada in 2008;
Tells the NSAC that his prior manager (Matt Lindland) had told him to not report his TRT use;
Sonnen tells Commission he had no qualms about filling out paperwork incorrectly;
Sonnen insists that he believed his former manager was informing the NSAC about his TRT use;
Sonnen swore under oath that he had never taken an anabolic steroid;
Sonnen's attorney tells the NSAC that Sonnen's use of TRT was fully disclosed in Illinois.
MMA Fighting reporter Mike Chiappetta responded to that last statement with the following tweet: "Illinois told me they had no procedures in place for TRT then."
Keith Kizer then took the microphone to list a number of entities that Sonnen had lied to about his TRT use, including Kizer himself and the CSAC.
Another Commission member took the microphone and described Sonnen as "honest."
NSAC chairman Skip Avansino asked Sonnen if he would be willing to help in an "advisory capacity" with TRT issues. Sonnen agreed.
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, use, nsac, trt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNSAC Commission Meeting Live Video: Nick Diaz's Punishment And Chael Sonnen's TUE Request
The Nevada State Athletic Commission will be meeting today at 12 p.m. ET for a a commission meeting that will see a pair of items with significant impact to the UFC. A 28 item agenda will conclude with two items featuring some of the biggest stars in mixed martial arts as Chael Sonnen and Nick Diaz have their fates determined in different ways.
First up, Sonnen will be requesting a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy. After having been busted after his first meeting with Anderson Silva for elevated testosterone levels, Sonnen is trying to get everything in order prior to their UFC 148 rematch.
Nick Diaz's punishment should also finally be sorted out as he is finally on the agenda after a lengthy (and kind of stupid) process that saw his team as well as the NSAC seem to go to painstaking lengths to ensure nothing happened quickly or was done in anything resembling an orderly fashion.
Having covered a ton of these meetings previously, sometimes they run quickly, other times an agenda item or two take forever and, as such, those final two items may come up quickly, or after a lengthy discussion and then maybe a bathroom break.
We'll have a live video stream after the jump, so make sure you hang out here and talk about what happens.
Live video, courtesy of MMA Junkie:
Streaming by Ustream
Posted in: sonnen, meeting, commission meeting, use exemption, item
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow
Chael Sonnen granted TRT use exemption by NSAC
Today Chael Sonnen appeared before the Nevada State Athletic Commission in a bid to gain a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for his well-documented use of TRT. His request was indeed granted, and it appears that his UFC 148 Middleweight title bout with Anderson Silva will go down will much less controversy than their previous encounter. Of course Sonnen was suspended for six months following his UFC 117 loss after failing to inform the CSAC of his usage. This time, though, Sonnen is in the clear
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, use, course sonnen, welldocumented use
Read the full article at Low Kick
Sonnen is Rome’s 2012 King of Smack
Chael Sonnen used his art of smacktalk to compete in sports radio personality Jim Rome’s annual “Smackoff.” The annual contest on Jim Rome’s nationally syndicated radio show features Rome’s listeners calling in to determine who has the best “smack”.
Sonnen became one of the few celebrities to appear as a contestant. The purpose of the show is to determine the show’s best caller. Jim Harbaugh, Tom Tolbert and Jay Mohr have also appeared. Rome has a nationally syndicated radio program with over 200 affiliates in the US, Canada, online and touts 2 million listeners. He has amassed a cult following and the “Smackoff” is a spinoff of the popularity.
Rome was an early convert to the UFC and has had many stars on as guests including Dana White, BJ Penn and Sonnen. Sonnen’s smack talk didn’t focus on Anderson Silva or anyone in the UFC but on other sports including the NFL, NBA and NASCAR.
Payout Perspective:
The contest is subjective as there is no fan vote or poll but is up to Rome and his crew. Rome has monetized this contest so that there are sponsors. Last year, it included a UFC-themed gift package. No word on whether Sonnen gets a prize for winning. Since the UFC has bought radio time on Rome’s show, one could argue that Sonnen should be disqualified. But, winning the contest is beside the point here.
The underlying value of Sonnen appearing on the show is that Rome promoted his July 7th fight prior to his appearance. It also helps get Sonnen out there to Rome’s 2 million listeners on a day in which a high volume of Rome fans tune in to hear the smack talk. Sonnen’s smack talk amounted to a preview of the hype leading to what the UFC hopes to be the fight of the year. Expect more from the reigning king of smack leading up to July 7.
Posted in: ufc, show, radio, sonnen, rome
Read the full article at MMA PayoutChael Sonnen graces the cover of the latest issue of Fighters Only, and has an exclusive interview...
Chael Sonnen graces the cover of the latest issue of Fighters Only, and has an exclusive interview with Gareth A Davies, basically saying to Brazil 'Come at me, bro'.
Posted in: fighter, issue, interview, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowThe King of Trash Talk: Chael Sonnen declared victorious by Jim Rome in 2012 Smackoff
Chael Sonnen stepped into a realm that he is not unfamiliar with this week, and came out victorious. Appearing on The Jim Rome Show, Sonnen participated in Rome's annual Smackoff against five other ranters, winning the competition with his endless creative smack talk.
However, Sonnen did not win the contest by utilizing his go-to targets of Anderson Silva and Brazil, in fact he did not mention them at all. Instead he went to the well and created a new rant, touching on many subjects in the sports world.
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, rome, goto targets
Read the full article at Low KickChad Mendes-Cody McKenzie Added To UFC 148
An interesting featherweight bout has been added to the July 7 UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II card, as former No. 1 contender Chad Mendes takes on Cody McKenzie. The UFC’s official site posted the bout, saying both fighters have verbally agreed to face off. UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen II will feature Chael Sonnen [...]
Posted in: ufc, featherweight bout, sonnen, cody mckenzie, mckenzie
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen: “I don’t want his autograph. I want to spit on him.”
In case you hadn’t heard, UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) is not too fond of divisional champion Anderson Silva (31-4). Whether discussing the Brazilian’s style or substance, Sonnen rarely has anything nice say about Silva and is often happy to say it. However, when it comes to his intense dislike of “The Spider” it turns out Sonnen’s beef is not necessarily a personal one but rather a matter of professional status.
“I don’t want his autograph. I want to spit on him. I want everything that he has. I’m jealous and I’m envious. And I would never apologize for that,” explained Sonnen of Silva in a recent interview with MMA: 30. “There can only be one champion, and you have to fight it out. He’s not gonna give it up. I’m not going to give it up. We’re going to have to fight this thing out and figure it out like men.”
The two talented 185ers will settle their score on July 7 at UFC 148. The meeting will mark the second time the two have fought with the first involving Silva’s infamous submission of Sonnen in the fight’s final few minutes after clearly losing the four previous frames.
Sonnen expects a different result this time around, and not just because he plans to win but also because he’ll be entering the match-up with a new nugget of knowledge. According to Sonnen, who explained away the loss as only he could, he simply didn’t realize tapping in the last round of a title-fight ended the entire affair rather than cost him a single stanza.
“If anyone had explained to me that that stops the fight in its entirety, I would not have tapped. … I’d never been in a five round fight, I just didn’t know,” said a stone-faced Sonnen, stating he was under the impression he would go home with the belt based on a 4-1 score.
Silva has fought twice since their original outing, picking up a pair of stoppages against Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami. Comparably, Sonnen is also 2-0 with a submission of Brian Stann and razor-thin decision over Michael Bisping.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, autograph i
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen wins Jim Rome's 2012 Smack Off (Audio)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen took time out of his busy schedule training for his fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, to drop in on Jim Rome's radio show as an entrant in the 2012 Smack Off competition.
If you're unfamiliar with the Smack Off, here's a synopsis via Wikipedia:
The Smack-Off is an annual competition on The Jim Rome Show, in which select listeners are invited to provide their best "smack talk", with Rome and his show personnel determining the winner. It is held in mid-to-late spring and takes up the entire program on a Friday. The contest is a way to recognize the best callers to the show, as well as a means of determining the best caller of the year. Show host Jim Rome has referred to the Smack-Off as the most important show of the entire year.
And today marked the crowning of the biggest mouth in mixed martial arts (MMA).
Rome announced as much on his Twitter account before going on to defend his decision against his legion of clones who felt the fix was in, seeing as Rome has been a longtime fan of both the UFC and MMA and has had a history with Sonnen.
#Smackoff 2012 champ....CHAEL FREAKING SONNEN. ... Some of you: "Fix was in. Rome wanted a celebrity to win." Right. Jay Mohr has never won. Jim Harbaugh was hammered for his appearance. ... I did what I've done 18 times now: given it to the best caller. There were a half dozen incredible calls. Sonnen's was the best. #Smackoff
Listen to the audio above and give us your thoughts on Sonnen's smack talk, the highlight of which may have been his declaration that "basketball used to be about great athletes. Now it's about who's taking their turn on a Kardashian next."
After the jump, read a complete transcript of Sonnen's rant.
"Enough of amateur hour and rookies calling in on bad cell phones. What a boring waste of our time, Jim. Me and the listeners would have rather looked at racy photos of Wayne Gretzky's daughter on Twitter than to have to listen to that again. Fans would be more entertained watching John Travolta practice rough trade than by some of these rants I've heard today. I've been in the presence of silent films that had better vocals than these guys that have got on.
"Hey Jay Mohr, I know you're out there listening, buddy. Loved you in Suicide Kings. It's an apt title for your career, by the way.
"Football, America's past time. Look guys, nobody cares what you do with the ball out on the gridiron for 11 minutes of action in a four hour game. It's about the beer people; take the beer out of the stadiums and you'll take the people out as well. I wish I could wear 40 pounds of Kevlar body armor, run 10 yards, then rest for two minutes. Hey guys, that's what I do before practice.
"Basketball. It used to be about great athletes. Now it's about who's taking their turn on a Kardashian next. I was going to work Kobe into this whole rant but what can I do to Kobe that god hasn't already done.
"Baseball. It's America's sport because Americans are obese, the end.
"Golf. That's the sport where Dancing With the Stars rejects go to die. The best thing Tiger Woods ever did was that hot Norwegian wife of his.
"NASCAR. Wow, I just love it. A bunch of guys with a tooth missing for every decade of their life thinking they're Vin Diesel or the Dukes of Hazzard. It just kills me. You know what else chases each other in circles, Jim? Headless chickens. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and getting a different result. Yet every Sunday, they take the same white privileged males, put them in the same car doing the same thing and we get a different result. FIXED. Let's not forget, NASCAR plays to the same uneducated, southern white males professional wrestling got its licks from in the 1970s. How many of your listeners have a car? How many of you listeners if you raced your neighbor today and beat him would expect to not also win tomorrow and the next day. Look guys, the only way the results change if you're in the same car doing the same thing is if you let the results change. WAKE UP, KENTUCKY.
"I should probably go off on my own sport for a minute but here's a question for you guys. I heard the winner gets UFC tickets, right? That's what I heard. I've heard you're all pandering, gabbering and whoring out for chuckles for a glimpse of yours truly. Well shucks, guys, I can understand and I'm flattered.
"Still undefeated Jim, still undisputed, you're listening to Chael 'Perfection' Sonnen and that, ladies and gentlemen, what you just heard, was the 'Voice of Reason.'"
Posted in: guy, show, sonnen, jim, rome
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFriday Link Club: Chael P. Sonnen Appears On TMZ
Chael Sonnen makes his prescense known on TMZ Live. Strikeforce: Josh Barnett vs. Daniel Cormier LowKick.com Staff Predictions | LowKick Breaking It Down: Bellator 69 | Five Ounces of Pain Text of Dana White’s bizarre attack on Dave Meltzer | Fight Opinion Fighting Entertainment Group (FEG) Declaring Bankruptcy | FightLine Moves like Jagger: Bellator 115 [...]
Posted in: bellator, sonnen, chael, tmz, pain text
Read the full article at MMA ConvertI Wouldn't Advise UFC's Chael Sonnen To Go Back To Brazil Anytime Soon
If this were Brazil, I'd be seriously worried about Chael Sonnen's safety. The outspoken middleweight number one contender is slated to challenge Anderson Silva in Las Vegas, this July for the title, at UFC 148. The Mandalay Bay casino is likely to do Ironman numbers due to the amazing hype leading into this fight.
Now let's get back to why I worry about Chael. In a recent interview with MMA30TV (transcribed by Yahoo Sports), Sonnen has once again lobbed a whammy at Anderson Silva stating,
I don't want his autograph,I want to spit on him. I want everything that he has. I'm jealous and I'm envious. And I will never apologize for that. There can only be one champion, and you have to fight it out. He's not gonna give it up; I'm not going to give it up. We're going to have to fight this thing out and figure it out like men.
With Chael's recent trip to Brazil resulting in pen zapper pranks and heavy security, I can only imagine how this would go over if the bout were to still take place in the originally planned outdoor soccer field arena. The king of smack talk hit a stroke of good luck when the venue changed, and I, for one, am grateful. I am an admitted Sonnen fan, so my hat is off to the UFC for keeping his safety a priority (even though it actually came down to a scheduling issue with the venue).
Chael's big misunderstanding after the jump
One other thing that needs to be addressed is Chael's understanding (or lack thereof) of the rules. As stated in a recent interview with Jim Rome (transcribed by Cage Potato), he laid out his reckoning of the rules:
I tapped. So what I thought is you go to the cards. I win four rounds, he wins that round. Apparently, if you tap, it ends the entire contest, which I was not ever made privy to.
Now I'm fairly certain after clenching victory so closely, only to have it snatched away, Mr. Sonnen has a clear view of the ruleset this time around, and will pay closer attention to the slick ground sorcery that Anderson Silva is notorious for. Tapping is not an option, even if you did win four and a half rounds the first time.
There are still 6 more weeks to go until fight day, so you can be assured the hype is going to be at a feverish pitch, and it couldn't come at a better time for the UFC, considering the recent ratings dips. July 7 can't come fast enough. Here's to hoping it lives up to all our expectations.
Posted in: ufc, fight, anderson silva, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVideo: UFC 148's Chael Sonnen on TMZ Live talking drugs, money and politics
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen is making the media rounds this week to help hype his UFC 148 title fight against Anderson Silva at the MGM Grand Garden Casino on July 7, 2012.
While I appreciate his efforts, this main event grudge match pretty much sells itself.
That hasn't stopped Sonnen from revisionist history, telling the gang at TMZ pretty much the same thing he told The Jim Rome Show earlier this week in that he only lost to "The Spider" at UFC 117 back in August 2010 because he didn't understand the unified rules of mixed martial arts (MMA) or how they were applied.
Uh huh.
He also touches on his past money laundering charges, his feud with Brazil, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), his new book and why he loves former President Richard Nixon.
For more on his upcoming championship bout in "Sin City" click here.
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, championship bout, arts mma, media rounds
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Chael Sonnen on tmz live #HILARIOUS
submitted by ufcprimetime [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, tmz, ufcprimetime
Read the full article at RedditJim Rome Interview: Chael Sonnen Claims He Didn’t Know Tapping Out To Anderson Silva Would End The Fight
Chael Sonnen’s latest hilariously absurd explanation for losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 117: He didn’t know tapping out would actually end the fight. Check out Sonnen trying to sell that bottle of snake oil to Jim Rome above. HT: MiddleEasy
Posted in: anderson silva, jim rome, sonnen, fight check, snake oil
Read the full article at MMA ConvertVideo of Chael Sonnen on The Jim Rome Show: 'Anderson Silva won the round, I won the fight'
"What had happened was a complete misunderstanding, a complete misapplication of the rules by me. We're in the fifth and final round, he locks on a submission and I acknowledge he has it tight by slapping my hand on his leg. I tapped. So what I thought is you go to the cards. I win four rounds, he wins that round. Apparently, if you tap, it ends the entire contest, which I was not ever made privy to. I gotta plead ignorance on this, Jim. Had anybody told me that tapping would cost me the entire bout, and not just the round, I wouldn't have done it."
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen has stopped calling himself the true 185-pound champion. Unfortunately, he's now transitioned to a new excuse for losing his title fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 117 back in August 2010. Apparently, Sonnen had no idea that tapping out in the fifth round, after dominating "The Spider" the entire fight, would cost him the contest, but he'll soon get the chance to make up for that "ignorance" when he ties up with his Brazilian nemesis once again at the UFC 148 pay-per-view (PPV) event on July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more on their epic grudge match click here. To see the rest of the "Silva vs. Sonnen II" fight card and rumors click here and for all the UFC 148 news and notes click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, round, sonnen, leg i
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: I would never apologize for being jealous and envious of Anderson SIilva
Number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael Sonnen, discussed the upcoming UFC 148 fight card, which will be headlined by the People Champ's rematch with Anderson Silva. Sonnen declared UFC 148 is the best card in UFC history, promising fans a memorable night on July 7th.
Further Reading: UFC 148 picks are
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, anderson, ufc history, chael
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen Discusses Anderson Silva, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, While On ‘UFC Tonight’
Chael Sonnen, the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s middleweight division, was his usual colorful self while on “UFC Tonight” recently. Sonnen, who will face Anderson Silva for the belt in July at UFC 148, remarked, “I know who I’m fighting. Probably some guy you have never heard of: his name is Anderson Silva. And [...]
Posted in: ufc, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, ‘ ufc
Read the full article at MMA Convert‘UFC Tonight’s’ Chael Sonnen, Ariel Helwani Sound Off On Most Underrated Fighter In UFC
This is a question that gets posed several times a year: who is the most underrated fighter in the UFC today? While many prefer to talk about the most overrated fighter, it’s easy to forget about the opposite side of that fence. Chael Sonnen, the No. 1 contender in the UFC’s middleweight division, and ace [...]
Posted in: ufc, fighter, sonnen, ufc today, ‘ ufc
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 148: 'Devastated' Chael Sonnen fought back tears after Anderson Silva submission loss
On Fourth of July weekend people all across the United States will celebrate their independence by barbequing and lighting fireworks throughout the night in one of the most celebrated American traditions. The city of Las Vegas, Nevada is no different.
If you've ever been to Vegas on the Fourth of July, you know that "Sin City," puts on one heck of a fireworks display on the infamous Las Vegas Strip that can be seen for miles on end all the way across the Mojave Desert.
This year, however, the strip will be filled with fireworks in more ways than one.
That's because the much-anticipated rematch that is two years in the making will finally go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena as Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Anderson Silva will defend his title one more time against Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, which his set to go down on July 7, 2012.
Before the two 185-pound elite mixed martial artist (MMA) rivals hit the strip for their rematch, Sonnen reflected back to that fateful night UFC 117 in Oakland, Calif., where he was literally minutes away from dethroning one of the longest reigning champions in the history of the UFC, or MMA for that matter, in his first encounter with "The Spider."
Appearing on "The Joe Rogan Experience" with UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, Sonnen recounts with great detail the "devastating" loss in his "Fight of the Year" against Silva that occurred on Aug, 7, 2010.
Check it out:
"It was devastating, I had no idea what happened in that fight, none. When the fight was over, I was devastated. I came to, and I said to the ref, you know the typical thing like a doofus, 'What happened?' The referee, Josh Rosenthal, is a fantastic referee, simply says, 'You tapped out.' And he looks at me for a response like I was going to argue, and I simply say, 'I believe you.' Now, I knew that because ESPN zoomed in on it and showed it. But that's all I said was, 'I believe you.' I remember falling asleep, it's a very weird experience you know, when you're actually going to sleep but you're trying to stay within reality, and I remember having a dream thinking, "Well if I tap I can get out of this, nah, let's not tap. The fight was over. I had already tapped, I hit his foot and I really didn't fully know what happened. When it was over and I came too, I didn't fully know what happened, I was trying to figure out what just happened. So, aside from being choked, don't forget, I got fatigue issues, I got blood and Vaseline in my eyes, I have exhaustion, I have anxiety. I'm a normal human being, I feel every emotion. So many people say to me, 'Oh you're never scared.' Come on, I'm a human, I feel it all. So, I lose the fight, we got to the back and they bring me the Fight of the Night check. They pay you immediately if you get a bonus. Boom, here's your check. And I remember thinking, 'You gave me this out of sympathy because that was such a boring fight, nothing happened, you gave it out of sympathy, I'll take it. I'm fighting back the tears, I'm just devastated, I'm absolutely devastated by this defeat. Later the fight gets Fight of The Year from Fighters Only Magazine. So, it ended up being a really good fight. But the point I'm trying to make is , that is how out of touch I was with what was happening in the ring. At one point, my corner told me it was round five when it was round four or it was round four when it was round three, whatever it was, the corner had the rounds off. I just didn't fully know what was going on. In this next fight, I'd like to, as I visualize and plan for it, that's one of the things, I'd like to be a little more aware and in touch with what's happening. But it's hard, it's hard in the Octagon man. A lot of stuff goes out the window, you get hit, you get kicked, it's tough. It's tough to stay focused."
Sonnen will have the chance to learn from his mistake(s) from UFC 117 and look to defeat one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the history of the sport and in the process, put an end to one of the longest lasting rivalries in recent memory.
Can he prevail this time around? Or will history repeat itself in Las Vegas?
One thing is certain, this fight -- unlike some poorly-made fireworks that will more than likely fail to go off -- will not be a dud.
Posted in: ufc, fight, round, sonnen, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaNSAC to Review Chael Sonnen’s TUE Application Next Monday
The highly-anticipated Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen rematch scheduled for UFC 148 this summer isn’t exactly a go just yet.
Next Monday, May 21, the Nevada State Athletic Commission will determine whether or not Sonnen will be granted a therapeutic use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy, allowing the fighter to supplement his hormone levels with synthetic testosterone. Though TRT is legal, an athlete must be determined as medically in need of the treatment to be on it during competition.
After Sonnen first challenged Silva for the title, at UFC 117 in 2010, Sonnen registered an elevated testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 16.9:1 (well above California’s limit of 4:1) and was eventually suspended for that and for improperly disclosing his usage of TRT to the athletic commission.
If his request is granted, Sonnen will become only the fourth fighter to ever be granted a TUE for TRT by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Nick Diaz is also listed on the NSAC’s Monday docket, up last for his disciplinary hearing over testing positive for marijuana metabolites following his UFC 143 loss to Carlos Condit.
MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, nevada state, commission, testosteronetoepitestosterone ratio
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen's Debut Book, The Voice of Reason, Released Tuesday
Chael Sonnen's debut book, "The Voice of Reason: A VIP Pass to Enlightenment," hits bookstore shelves Tuesday, as well as online book retailers. Finally – after weeks of Sonnen promoting it by saying it was already atop the New York Times best-seller
Posted in: book, sonnen, chael, tuesday, book retailers
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen hypnotized during secret therapy sessions with sports psychologist
Chael Sonnen is one of the most polarizing figures in mixed martial arts (MMA) today. With his quick wit, razor-sharp tongue and knack for selling a fight, or just simply telling it like it is, Chael has transformed himself into one of the most talked about fighters in the sport.
When not bashing Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and his relevance to MMA, Sonnen entertains fans and media alike with his wrestling-style promos and stand-up comedy when answering most of the questions aimed at the "American Gangster."
So when the number one 185-pound contender gives an interview or makes an appearance, be it on a radio show, press conference or nationally televised program, fans tune in, ready to be entertained with cleverly expressed sound bytes.
Ahead of his highly-anticipated rematch against "The Spider," which is set to go down on July 7, 2012 at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Nevada, Sonnen made an appearance on Joe Rogan's podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience."
During his time spent with Rogan, a very honest Sonnen strayed away from his usual comedic punch lines and revealed a "secret" he says he's been carrying with him for some time and showed a rather different side of the rabble rousing republican.
The secret, says Sonnen, is the reason why he went from a talented top 10 level fighter, to the number one middleweight contender you see today.
Make the jump to see for yourself:
"For me, I had a fight with Yushin Okami who was ranked number two in the world and I was one of those guys that was kind of looked at in the top 10. That was right before I fought Nate Marquardt and it gave me a lot of confidence, but here is what happened Joe. I have never lost a round of fighting, and when I say that, sometimes a guy will laugh because I have lost fights. But, I've never lost a round. I've never had a fight where a judge ever scored a round against me until my last match with Bisping. At the point of your story, though, I sit down one day, and I'm on Sherdog.com, and I'm looking at my record. I've won every round I have ever fought. I've never been in a tough fight. I've never had stitches, I've never broken anything, I have dominated everybody and I've lost eight fights, and I've lost all of them by submission and I've lost all of them in the second round. And I'm staring at that on the computer and I'm staring at these numbers like a CEO would his spreadsheet. And I'm saying, 'There is something going on here and it's not physical. There is something going on that I can dominate eight minutes of a fight, seven minutes of a fight, nine minutes of a fight and find a way out time after time after time in the same round with the same move.' So, I went and got help. I went and got professional help and I sought out a doctor, Ed Versteeg. I hate talking about this because this was a real secret. This was a real turning point for me was when I went in, worked on sports psychology and got hypnotized. I was never the same. I was never the same in practice, my attitude was different. Controlling my diet, being discipline, falling asleep, the way I approached battle, the way I approached the second round. Everything changed, and it changed to the point where, I hate to say what I just said and now it's too late because I felt like it was my secret. I discovered something and I don't want other people to know. I will write about it someday in a book, I will talk about it you know, when I'm retired , but I'm not going to tell anybody because it's competitive edge. So when I started seeing a sports psychologist and I finally came clean, it's like being an alcoholic, before you can get help, you have to admit you have a problem. When I finally admitted I got a problem, when I finally said, it, when I finally could acknowledge it and look somebody in the eye and tell them this is what's going on, I'm finding a way to lose as opposed to win. I work harder than these guys. I been at this longer, I know how to stop submissions, I'm finding my way into them, I'm finding a way out and that's what's happening. I had to acknowledge that and once I did it, I never lost again. I lost to Paulo which was the controversial one and then I lost to Anderson after dominating him, I've never been beat since I saw this doctor."
It's rather refreshing to see that such a shadowing figure in MMA can indeed show vulnerability. He is, after all, just a human, and despite his never-ending quips, he is not afraid to be up front and honest about such a well kept secret.
After apparently figuring out the source to his past issues, Sonnen has been on a roll and will have yet another chance to prove to himself (and to the world) that he indeed is the number one middleweight on the planet by defeating the man who has been occupying his mind for the last couple of years in "Sin City."
But will it all pay off when he faces off against his arch-nemesis on Fourth of July weekend? Or will Silva prove that he has what it takes to defeat the powerful wrestling stalwart one more time?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: fight, round, sonnen, im, ive
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: UFC's Chael Sonnen On Joe Rogan Podcast
UFC Middleweight Chael Sonnen was a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience last night and the complete video is above. Sonnen will be challenging MW champ Anderson Silva at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas. Sonnen famously battered the champ for 4 and 1/2 rounds at UFC 117 before succumbing to a triangle choke in the fifth round of that bout.
An immediate rematch was planned but Sonnen was popped for an elevated testosterone:epitestosterone ratio after that fight and then suspended by the California State Athletic Commission.
Sonnen spoke to Rogan about a number of topics including Big Foot/Sasquatch but mostly the chat focused on the UFC.
"I don't know if the human being is meant to do that (go 25 minutes in the Octagon). (Georges) St-Pierre keeps taking a lot of criticism. Well, the reality is you are asking him to do a monumental task, which is to go hard for 25 minutes. Human beings get tired when they go for the kill so they got to time it right, and Georges does plan it right."
More SBN coverage of UFC 148
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, sbn coverage, rogan, commission sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 148: Chael Sonnen Working With 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin
Chael Sonnen went back on TSN's Off The Record with Michael Landsberg (a show he'd previously walked off of) about a week ago, and when doing so a bit of interesting news was dropped. It appears that WWE legend, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin is Sonnen's strength and conditioning coach. Not only is Austin working with Sonnen for the UFC 148 rematch with Anderson Silva, but Chael says that he has been working with him for his last three bouts.
Here's the video:
Quotes after the jump...
From the video:
I don't believe I've ever mentioned that. As a matter of fact, part of my arrangement with Mr. Austin is that I don't get to into it. So you're gonna have to let me sidestep this one. But look, this isn't anything new. I've worked with him for the last three fights. He's a strength and conditioning coach, he has me out to the ranch, puts me through hell for thirty days and that's what we use to jumpstart our camp. But, he doesn't want to be involved, so I'm not going to involve him.
It should be noted that, in addition to his career as a pro-wrestler (where strength and conditioning is certainly of value), Austin was a pretty damn good football player in his day, competing at the NCAA level. So he certainly isn't a novice when it comes to the foundations of fitness.
Also in the video, Sonnen goes off on a tangent about asking Austin what he would do if he had to go to Brazil to promote a fight. After using Austin's "What?" shtick from his WWE days, Chael says that Austin told him "I'd show up, I'd raise hell and I'd leave."
Posted in: sonnen, chael, id, austin, conditioning coach
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen talks his latest training methods, led by "Stone Cold" Steve Austin
Last week we saw a rare calm interview with Chael P. Sonnen. This week he is back to his fight-promoting ways. In this video excerpt from TSN's "Off the Record," Sonnen explains his personal trainer from his last 3 fights, former WWE champion "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Apparently Sonnen asked Austin for advice when he was heded down to Brazil as public enemy number one, somthing that has since been changed with his bout versus Anderson Silva now in Las Vegas, NV. Of course Sonnen adds his own theatrics to
Posted in: sonnen, austin, steve austin, course sonnen, video excerpt
Read the full article at Low KickVideo: Chael Sonnen working with Stone Cold Steve Austin to prepare for Anderson Silva UFC 148 fight
"Part of my arrangement with Mr. Austin is that I don't get too into it. But look, this isn't anything new. I've worked with him for the last three fights. He's a strength and conditioning coach, he has me out to the ranch, and he puts me through hell for 30 days. That's what we use to jump start our training, basically. That's it. He doesn't want to be involved and I'm not going to involve him."
There's that darn pro wrestling, intruding on mixed marital arts (MMA) again. This time it's Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) number one middleweight contender Chael Sonnen revealing, for what he says is the first time, that he works with former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) mega-star Stone Cold Steve Austin on the regular. In fact, he's been doing so for his last three fights, which would mean "The Rattlesnake" helped prepare Sonnen for his victories over Michael Bisping and Brian Stann and his loss to Anderson Silva, whom he will challenge once again on Sat., July 7, 2012, at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Will the two have better luck this time around? We shall see. In the meantime, what are your feelings on Sonnen continually interjecting pro wrestling influences into his MMA game and, in turn, bringing that into your lives? You Maniacs okay with it?
Posted in: ufc, brian stann, sonnen, steve austin, isnt anything
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSonnen needs to do a reply to this...
submitted by 4Bongin [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: sonnen, reply, bongin
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen explains his defense of Alistair Overeem, his respect for the fans, and UFC 148 outlook
In his lengthy interview courtesy of bleacherreport.com, Chael Sonnen sounds off on several subjects, including the media advancement that has taken place in MMA and the issue of sportsmanship and respect within the sport, be it fighter or media-based. He explains his highly controversial defense of Alistair Overeem, saying that something does not become true just because the media believes it to be. He sticks by the stance that Overeem did not fail the test for anything specific. Sonnen believes that TRT
Posted in: alistair overeem, chael sonnen, sonnen, media advancement, interview courtesy
Read the full article at Low KickVideo: Crazy Brazilian hobo wants to kill Chael Sonnen
I know this might sound hard to believe, but not everyone is a fan of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen.
Go figure.
Sonnen has done an admirable job of infuriating the entire country of Brazil, which may explain why UFC President Dana White was so eager to move his main event title fight against Anderson Silva from the hostile territory of Rio de Janeiro at UFC 147 to the bright lights and big city of Las Vegas at UFC 148.
Crazy Brazilian homeless man is not amused.
Both headliners were on the scene last week to make the announcement and Sonnen got a taste of what he'll be missing, after he was mobbed by aggressive reporters and zapped with an electric pen. The good news is, no ice picks were smuggled into the press conference for the upcoming Fourth of July Weekend pay-per-view (PPV) event and Sonnen lives to fight another day.
And that day is July 7.
More on that fight right here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, fight right, sonnen, sonnen lives
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Wishes He Could Have Fought Anderson Silva In Brazil
Many figured Chael Sonnen would have been the happiest man on the planet when word came out that his planned rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva for Brazil was being moved to the U.S. However, as he told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour recently, the out-spoken Sonnen was not pleased by the decision. [...]
Posted in: mma hour, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, ariel helwani
Read the full article at MMA ConvertThe MMA Hour - Episode 130 - Chael Sonnen
UFC 148's Chael Sonnen discusses not fighting in Brazil, Anderson Silva’s 'fake' belt and Hector Lombard
In exactly two months from now, the long awaited rematch between current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will finally go down at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012, from the fight capitol of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Originally scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Silva's home country, UFC officials had no option but to relocate the massive fight to "Sin City" because of the fact the promotion simply could not lock down a suitable venue in a timely manner.
The news left many Brazilians disappointed at the fact that they would not have the chance to see one of their mixed martial arts (MMA) hero's step up and defend their honor, so to speak, against the man who has spent the last few years speaking out against their country and MMA superstars.
"The Spider" himself was very upset at the news. So much so, that reports surfaced the UFC President Dana White spent quite a bit of time trying to convince his 185-pound champion to take the fight in Las Vegas.
However, it may come as a surprise to some, that even Sonnen himself was disappointed at the chance of fighting in Brazil and feeding off the negative energy that the hostile crowd would have certainly dished out toward the "American Gangster."
Appearing on today's (May 7, 2012) episode of The MMA Hour, Sonnen explained his disappointment of the change in location of his rematch with Silva, the Brazilian fans real views toward their MMA hero's, and briefly touched on the acquisition of the promotion's newest middleweight threat, Hector Lombard.
Check it out:
"Yeah, I would've liked to have been part of a stadium show, a record-breaker. I would've definitely enjoyed the experience of walking into a hostile environment. I like that. I really enjoy the negative energy. So we lost that, but I want to pick my words carefully. The last thing I want to do is to be put in a great situation, something that dreams are made of, and then complain that it wasn't even better. That's not the message I want to put out, but yeah, it would have been a neat experience, and I would have liked to have had it."
Chael also touched on his experience in his short visit to Brazil and also explains the Brazilian fans views of a few of today's top Brazilian fighters:
"As far as the people, it was great. Look, if I want to be famous in America, I've got to go to a fight. Walking around town, I'm just not. I'm not a celebrity, as you put it earlier. But in Brazil, that's, not true man. Everybody knows the sport in Brazil. Just because I had some confusions about their Country, that doesn't mean, those aren't insults. So what? I had it wrong. It turns out they have computers, I didn't know. But as far as their hero's go, I think they were pretty refreshed when I informed them of their thinking. You know you got these guys that are Brazilian when it's convenient. You got your Vitor's and your Wanderlei's and your Anderson's that are Brazilian when the can take money from the local people. But of course, they've lived in America for over a decade in gated communities on golf courses. So the Brazilian people don't like those guys. There is a major misconception with that. Those guys are looked at for what they are, which is phony's."
In true Chael fashion, he goes on to say that he will destroy Anderson once and for all on Fourth of July weekend:
"I am the champion, so I will always have my belt. Will Anderson bring his fake belt? Yeah, he most likely will, and I think it's embarrassing he has to do that. I think what he's doing is he's seeing the influx of new viewers the FOX deal got us, he went out to do his level best to misinform the new viewers into believing he's champion, and he went out and got himself a fake belt. I think it's embarrassing. I would never do that. I think it's shameful. I think it's disrespectful to everything that I've done and I've earned in the sport, but he continues to do it. So I'm going to destroy him once and for all, finally, on July 7, live and only on pay-per-view."
Straying away from his rematch with Anderson, Sonnen briefly touched on how title shots are given and the UFC's newest threat at 185-pounds, Hector Lomard:
"I don't think there should be any set architecture. You always hear the champion that doesn't want to fight the true best guy making arguments for why he shouldn't have to fight that guy. Rich Franklin did that. He was the champion. He's living the high life. He's fighting bums left and right. And Anderson comes into the company, he has one fight, and Rich is like, 'Well, I don't think he should get it after one fight.' Well, Rich you don't get to decide. Whoever the best guy is gets the shot. And if it's Hector, then Hector will get the shot. Good for him. He's on quite a roll, he won a whole bunch of fights, he's in the UFC. If he can do it, good for him. Whoever the right guy is should get the shot, and I will not deny anybody."
With only 60 days remaining until UFC 148, you can bet we will hear plenty more from Sonnen in the build up to one of the, if not the most anticipated fight in recent memory.
How about it Maniacs, anyone care to give some early predictions of how this fight will go down? Or how about a future showdown between Sonnen and Lombard, is that a bout that inrigue you as a fight fan?
Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThis Brazilian guy wants to kill Chael Sonnen, seriously he does...
I think we just pinpointed the sole reason why ZUFFA decided not to host UFC 148 in the heart of Brazil.
A couple weeks ago I heard from a very close source that when Yushin Okami fought Anderson Silva at UFC 134, he received several death threats en route to Rio de Janeiro and within the fighter/media hotel. In fact, my plans were to include this in yesterday's rumor mill -- but seeing that there was no rumor mill, it would have been an impossible task.
We're not sure what this crazy, dredlock rocking Brazilian is stating in this interview but using our Inspector Gadget deductive reasoning, he does have a knife and is stabbing a picture of Chael Sonnen multiple times while using 'matar,' the Portugese word for kill. Well, it looks like this lunatic won't be picking up Chael Sonnen's new book anytime soon.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, death threats, inspector gadget
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael Sonnen Disappointed By Location Change, But Ready to 'Defend Belt' vs. Silva
The next two months should see plenty of Chael Sonnen. Not only is the UFC middleweight preparing to fight Anderson Silva in a rematch of their August 2010 classic, but he is also about to release his first book, entitled "The Voice of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment." So, Sonnen should be making the media rounds for the foreseeable future. Recently, however, Sonnen started his press tour in Rio, when the UFC announced that his fight with Silva would not take place in Brazil as originally planned, but in the United States.Contrary to what you might expect, that move was not welcomed with open arms by Sonnen, who said he was OK with it, but had been excited by the prospect of fighting Silva on his home turf, even if some were worried for his safety.
"Yeah, I would’ve liked to have been part of a stadium show, a record-breaker," he said on Monday's edition of The MMA Hour. "I would've definitely enjoyed the experience of walking into a hostile environment. I like that. I really enjoy the negative energy. So we lost that, but I want to pick my words carefully. The last thing I want to do is to be put in a great situation, something that dreams are made of, and then complain that it wasn’t even better. That’s not the message I want to put out, but yeah, it would have been a neat experience, and I would have liked to have had it."Sonnen did get a small piece of the experience during his recent trip to Rio, in which he was choppered in, had his own security team, and was in and out of the country within four hours.Even though it was a brief session, Sonnen found it enjoyable, including his interaction with the locals."As far as the people, it was great," he said. "Look, if I want to be famous in America, I've got to go to a fight. Walking around town, I'm just not. I'm not a celebrity, as you put it earlier. But in Brazil, everybody knows the sport."Sonnen said that although Silva obviously has the support of many, there were many Brazilians likely rooting for him as well, because as he put it, Silva was one of several top Brazilian fighters who left the country years ago."They left them behind, but come back to take their money two or three times a year, and the people are sick and annoyed with it," he said.Whether that's true or not -- and for the record, Silva still does have two homes in Brazil to go with the one in Palos Verdes Estates, California he bought last year -- Sonnen has never quite let the facts get in the way of a good promo.Take, for example, his ongoing monologue about being the division's rightful champion. He's even gone so far as bringing a belt with him to appearances, and it doesn't appear he'll lay off the claim, even as the rematch with Silva nears."I am the champion, so I will always have my belt," he said. "Will Anderson bring his fake belt? Yeah, he most likely will, and I think it's embarrassing he has to do that. I think what he's doing is he's seeing the influx of new viewers the FOX deal got us, he went out to do his level best to misinform the new viewers into believing he’s champion, and he went out and got himself a fake belt. I think it’s embarrassing. I would never do that. I think it's shameful. I think it's disrespectful to everything that I’ve done and I've earned in the sport, but he continues to do it. So I’m going to destroy him once and for all, finally, on July 7, live and only on pay-per-view."The born salesman also plugged his book, which gets released on May 15, describing it as a "political book" with a "biography feel." He said it might be the first of three books he writes.In one of the few topics he answered related to fighting, Sonnen said he would have no problem with former Bellator middleweight champ Hector Lombard fighting for the belt if he gets past Brian Stann in his UFC debut."I don't think there should be any set architecture," he said. "You always hear the champion that doesn't want to fight the true best guy making arguments for why he shouldn't have to fight that guy. Rich Franklin did that. He was the champion. He's living the high life. He's fighting bums left and right. And Anderson comes into the company, he has one fight, and Rich is like, 'Well, I don't think he should get it after one fight.' Well, Rich you don't get to decide. Whoever the best guy is gets the shot. And if it’s Hector, then Hector will get the shot. Good for him. He's on quite a roll, he won a whole bunch of fights, he's in the UFC. If he can do it, good for him. Whoever the right guy is should get the shot, and I will not deny anybody."
Posted in: fight, belt, silva, sonnen, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVIDEO: Chael Sonnen Tackles Area 51 and Alien Encounters
Top UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, ahead of his new book "The Voice of Reason," looks back at the reality of what went down in the infamous John McCain "human cockfighting"
Posted in: contender, sonnen, chael, area, john mccain
Read the full article at Low KickMichael Bisping Feels Like He Won Fight With Chael Sonnen
When the decision was announced that Chael Sonnen had defeated Michael Bisping earlier this year, many felt it could have gone either way. Among those with those feelings are Bisping himself, as “The Count” told MMA DieHards in a recent interview that he has re-watched the fight several times, and still doesn’t see how he [...]
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, mma diehards
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWhy Miguel Cotto Was The Best Thing To Happen To Floyd Mayweather
This weekend saw a number of interesting fights for fans of combat sports. Between Bellator, UFC on Fox 3, and boxing, there was no shortage of exciting action. Heading into the weekend, Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto was clearly THE big fight, but it was also presumed to be one of the more one-sided fights, with Mayweather once again riding to an easy victory.
But that's not what happened. Instead, Cotto proved to be a real challenge for Money Mayweather, pushing the pound for pound great in ways few pundits anticipated. At the end of the day, it was a terrific and surprisingly competitive fight, and though the outcome was as predicted (a Mayweather win), the path to that outcome was a pleasant surprise.
It's also the best thing that could have happened to Mayweather.
For quite some time now, Floyd has looked unstoppably dominant in all of his fights. He's too fast, too skilled, and the only man who could seemingly challenge him looks destined to never actually cross his path. That sense of complete dominance is impressive, but it can also become boring. As fans, many of us love to see the best athletes exhibit their craft. But we also want to get caught up in the drama of the moment. And when you have a completely dominating champion, some of that drama fades. When you don't see any possible way a Mayweather can lose, why tune in?
The Cotto fight changed that. Now, Mayweather looks vulnerable. And now, when he next fights, people will be asking what that next challenger can learn from this weekend in order to topple the giant.
In MMA, we're seeing the same thing in the lead-in to this summer's biggest fight. For years, Anderson Silva has been that dominant, unstoppable force, defeating every challenger with ease. Then he ran into Chael Sonnen, who, like Cotto, showed that Silva was human and could feasibly lose.
Now, as Sonnen and Silva prepare for their rematch, the drama is there. This is not just a fight built around being the Anderson Silva Show as we saw against Okami, Maia, Leites, or, for that matter, Sonnen. Instead, this is a competitive fight, and one where, for the first time since he faced Dan Henderson, you have to really ask yourself if Silva will successfully defend his UFC Middleweight title. By pushing Silva, Sonnen made him an even more exciting champion.
Contrast that with another dominant UFC champion - Georges St. Pierre. A polar opposite from Mayweather in personality, GSP is actually rather like the boxing great once the fight starts. Both are brilliant tacticians who defeat their opponents without ever finding themselves in trouble. And both can get a little boring. This is why fans clamored for GSP vs. Nick Diaz, because they saw in Diaz a fighter who could play the role that Sonnen and Cotto did - a fighter who could prove that GSP is vulnerable and make us care.
Ironically, that fight did not happen, but St. Pierre has been proven as vulnerable regardless, as his knee injury and long lay-off will open the door for a Carlos Condit upset in the eyes of some. But if GSP comes in and dominates as he always has, it won't be long before MMA fans are looking for their Cotto again. And he exists. The only question is - will he come out of retirement to play that role and be the man to finally push the champion? For the good of Georges St. Pierre, I hope he does.
Posted in: fight, mayweather, silva, sonnen, cotto
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVIDEO: Chael Sonnen on Rewriting History
Top UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, ahead of his new book "The Voice of Reason," speaks out about Democrats vs. Liberals and the JFK-Ronald Reagan link.
Posted in: contender, sonnen, chael, reagan, liberal
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVIDEO: Chael Sonnen on MMA’s Old Nemesis John McCain
Top UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, ahead of his new book "The Voice of Reason," looks back at the reality of what went down in the infamous John McCain "human cockfighting" saga.
Posted in: sonnen, chael, mma ’s, john mccain, mccain
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVIDEO: Chael Sonnen Tackles Area 51 and Alien Encounters
Top UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, ahead of his new book "The Voice of Reason," takes a look at the Area 51 and alien encounter conspiracy theories that permeated the late '80s and early...
Posted in: contender, sonnen, chael, area, encounter
Read the full article at Heavy MMAChael Sonnen: How Pro Wrestling Duped Your Lawmakers
Listen, and listen good. Top UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, ahead of his new book "The Voice of Reason," explains how professional wrestling fooled the same people you trust with your...
Posted in: people, contender, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVideo: Chael Sonnen calls out Rampage Jackson for being a 'crybaby' and a 'nuisance'
Well, at least he's an equal opportunity destroyer.
Lest you think Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen only talks trash against Brazilians, the raucous ex-Realtor is also taking aim at former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson, who's making headlines with his anti-ZUFFA tirades.
Sonnen tells MMA:30 that "Rampage" better not "try that stuff" around him.
"You know, Quinton is really good, and I’m not sure why. I don’t have the foggiest idea what he’s good at. He can’t wrestle a lick, I don’t believe he knows any submissions, he’s got no real competitive boxing or kickboxing, but he is a fantastic fighter when you stick him in the cage and you turn him loose. You know, I think he’s got a place, but he’s a crybaby, he’s a real ‘poor me’ guy. He comes in, he takes all the money, he takes all the money, he takes all the spotlight, and it’s still not enough. And, you know, it’s coming down to, you know, guys showed him respect for a lot of years but now he’s just a nuisance. You know, you want to come around me talking that crap; I’ll smack you down so fast. You know, you think you have problems with Ryan Bader, you know don’t even try that stuff with some of us that have, you know, kicked and scratched and clawed while you, you know, you’ve been eating at the trough for years. So, you know, ‘Rampage’ has a place, but you know if he doesn’t want to fight anymore, he doesn’t have too."
The full video of Sonnen deconstructing Jackson's recent media outbursts after the jump.
Jackson has just one fight left on his UFC contract. Who wants to see him save it for Sonnen, who has no issues moving up a weight class when called upon?
Posted in: ufc, jackson, sonnen, hersquo, i donrsquot
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen talks Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort, Quinton Jackson's future
Once again, number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael P. Sonnen, shared his thoughts about the latest news in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. This time Sonnen offered his opinion about the Brazilian heritage of his favorite fighters (Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Wanderlei Silva), also talking about Rampage Jackson's future inside the Octagon. Chael Sonnen will return to action on July 7th, facing Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas,
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, wanderlei silva, sonnen, brazilian heritage
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 148's Sonnen understands if 'fake Brazilian' Silva unhappy with venue change
LAS VEGAS - For months, it seemed one of the most-anticiapted rematches in UFC history would take place in front of 80,000 screaming Brazilians.
Instead, the company moved the fight to
Las Vegas, where it now serves as the headlining bout for UFC 148.
While Sonnen will no longer find himself entering
the proverbial lion's den, he admits he's a little disappointed he'll
miss out on being a part of such a historic event. As for Silva, Sonnen believes he has a right to be upset, even if he
is a "fake Brazilian," just like his countrymen Wanderlei Silva and
Vitor Belfort.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, brazilian, mostanticiapted rematches
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC 148 Video: Chael Sonnen Says Anderson Silva Lives in Beverly Hills Mansion, Not Brazil
UFC Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who faces champion Anderson Silva at UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, spoke to Dave Farra and dropped even more than his usual amount of outrageousness. Sonnen talks about Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson in a way guaranteed to not make him any friends.
Sonnen addresses the move of his title fight from UFC 147 in Brazil -- it was originally hoped that Silva vs. Sonnen II would challenge Georges St. Pierre vs. Jake Shields at UFC 129 for the all-time biggest live UFC crowd -- to Las Vegas.
See the rest of the video and read Chael's best quotes after the jump...
More UFC 148 coverage from SBNation
On Not Fighting In Brazil
"I would love to be part of setting a record, you know... If I can be part of that, you know, I'd love to. ... But, the bottom line is the fight is in the octagon. Whatever city, whatever venue, whatever crowd, it doesn't matter. The fight's in the octagon and that's where we'll fight. It's a lot closer trip, don't forget he (Silva) doesn't live in Brazil; he lives in a mansion in Beverly Hills."
On Wanderlei Silva
Every time Wanderlei fights I get the same feeling, sincerely. ‘Man, I hope he gets up and can walk out of the ring'. It's the same thing this time, you know, and I think he's got a big heart, I think he's got a tremendous place in martial arts from the wrasslin' he did over in Japan to the competitive stuff he did here. At the end of the day, this isn't work he can do."
On Quinton "Rampage" Jackson Leaving The UFC
"You know, I think he's got a place, but he's a crybaby, he's a real ‘poor me' guy. He comes in, he takes all the money, he takes all the money, he takes all the spotlight, and it's still not enough....You know, you think you have problems with Ryan Bader, you know don't even try that stuff with some of us that have, you know, kicked and scratched and clawed while you, you know, you've been eating at the trough for years. So, you know, ‘Rampage' has a place, but you know if he doesn't want to fight anymore, he doesn't have too."
Latest From Our Partners
Latest From Our Partners
Biggest Bad Guys (BR)
Who Will Get Title Shots Next? (BR)
Biggest Upsets Ever in MMA (BR)
10 Best Fighters in TUF History (BR)
Best Entrance Songs in UFC (BR)
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, br
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen ‘Disrespected My Country, My Family,’ Says Anderson Silva
The tension in the air will be at an all time high when Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen step inside the Octagon on July 7 at UFC 148 in a UFC middleweight championship match. Sonnen, who has made it his career-quest to go after everything and anything that Silva holds true, continued to do so [...]
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, chael, family ’
Read the full article at MMA ConvertAnderson Silva says Chael Sonnen “talks alone”
UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva will not go to war with Chael Sonnen in terms of words. Instead, “The Spider” prefers to do his talking inside the Octagon with his statement coming on July 7 at UFC 148.
“Chael Sonnen talks alone,” said Silva, in an interview with TATAME. “I don’t like him. He disrespected my country, my family; so there’s nothing like it.”
While Silva was upset the bout had to be moved from Brazil to Las Vegas, he plans on taking out that frustration on Sonnen.
Silva said he is, “disappointed” that the fight won’t take place in Brazil, but added, “to me it doesn’t change much, I’m fighting anyway.”
Silva and Sonnen have met once before, with Silva scoring a fifth round submission after being bruised and battered by Sonnen through the four preceding frames. The two were set for an immediate rematch, but Sonnen ran into some outside-the-Octagon problems and had to earn his second shot at Silva after a year away from the sport.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainTickets for UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2 On Sale Today
Tickets for UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2 go on sale today at 1 p.m. Eastern for UFC Fight Club members. The stacked card, featuring two title fights, a trilogy retirement bout and a pair of former...
Posted in: ufc, vs, sale today, sonnen, title fights
Read the full article at Heavy MMALefko on MMA: Sonnen's book baffles
Chael Sonnen's new autobiography is symbolic of the fighter himself: Entertaining and clever, yet altogether baffling and contradictory.
Posted in: fighter, sonnen, chael, autobiography, lefko
Read the full article at sportsnet.caTickets for UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2 On Sale This Week
Tickets for UFC 148, one of the most anticipated pay-per-views in UFC history, go on sale this week. The card, featuring a pair of title fight grudge matches between Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen and...
Posted in: ufc, week, sonnen, ufc history, week tickets
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 148: Spider camp guarantees 80 percent of the fans will root for Anderson Silva over Chael Sonnen
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) was forced to relocate the middleweight title fight of Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen from UFC 147 in Brazil to UFC 148 in Las Vegas.
Not that it will do Chael Sonnen any good.
He's not as likely to be trampled by an angry mob, but he's still going to be booed by approximately 80 percent of the mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who turn out for their rematch, booked for July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
That's according to Jorge Guimaraes of the "Spider" camp, who tells Tatame.com that UFC fans can (and will) see through Sonnen's "marketing" while recognizing Silva as "the best MMA fighter ever."
Those comments, after the jump.
"Chael Sonnen is a guy who came from the shadows using that marketing thing. He was unknown and then started talking about everyone, he’s talked about Lance Armstrong. He’s a bully, but got the promotion he needed. He’s not a complete MMA fighter. In matters of resources, Anderson has plenty more resources than him. As Dana White said, this sport has transpassed all limits and there’s no such thing, this kind of feeling. Here in Brazil we have that Latin blood, there’s this fanaticism, but on the United States they really admire Anderson as the best MMA fighter ever and I guarantee you 80 percent of the fans will be rooting for Anderson Silva."
Well fight fans, how about it?
Sonnen has continued to ramp up his pre-fight trash talk while Silva remains reserved and withdrawn. Except for when he's reminiscing about blowing his friends away with a shotgun.
So, who are you rooting for in this epic grudge match?
For more on UFC 148: "Sonnen vs. Silva 2" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 148 fight card and rumors click here.
Posted in: ufc, silva, fan, sonnen, mma fighter
Read the full article at MMA Mania
UFC 148 Tickets on Sale This Week
A heated middleweight title bout reboot and a pair of long-awaited rubber matches highlight a loaded UFC® card slated for Saturday, July 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The Ultimate Fighting Championship® announced today that tickets will go on sale to the public this Friday for UFC® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN 2. The main card features: • Middleweight title fight: champion Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen• Bantamweight title fight: champion Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber in a battle of current coaches on The Ultimate Fighter® Live on FX• Light heavyweight bout: Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin• Middleweight bout: Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le• Welterweight bout: Demian Maia vs. Dong Hyun Kim Tickets for UFC® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN 2, presented by Bud Light®, go on sale Friday, May 4 at 12 p.m. PT. and are priced at $1200, $850, $600, $400, $250 and $125. Tickets are available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are subject to convenience and service fees.UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Wednesday, May 2 at 10 a.m. PT via the website www.ufcfightclub.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Thursday, May 3, starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through the field at the top of this page.UFC® 148: SILVA vs. SONNEN 2 will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Avail-TVN, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel, and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.99 US/$49.99 CAN for Standard Definition and $54.99 US/$59.99 CAN for High Definition.
Posted in: ufc, bout, vs, ticket, sonnen
Read the full article at UFCChael Sonnen's girlfriend?!
Chael Sonnen's girlfriend?!
Posted in: sonnen, girlfriend, chael, sonnensnbspgirlfriend
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo of Brazilian media trying to pull a prank on Chael Sonnen and failing horribly
Chael Sonnen approaches the English language as if every word stole his grade-school lunch and the only way he can exert revenge is to combine the most whimsical expressions and aim it directly at one person, usually Anderson Silva. Sonnen lays the verbal smackdown like Lindsay Lohan violates parole, flawlessly.
This Chael Sonnen and his unfiltered stream of consciousness. If only there was some quantifiable way to measure the veracity of smack-talk emerging from this guy's mouth. The energy could power a household of five, a fleet of Cheverolet Impalas and the MiddleEasy.com server for an entire year. You can never call Chael Sonnen a liar, even when a person that sounds like him calls into a radio show and does an interview claiming Lance Armstrong gave himself cancer. It's not called lying when NCAA Division I All-American wrestlers from West Linn, Oregon are involved. More along the lines of 'cleverly elaborated stories' that may conflict with a previous story.
That's why it's senseless to try to prank the guy. In reality, Sonnen pranked you before you were born -- you're just not that sophisticated to discover it. We now turn to exhibit #9403 as evidence that shock pens are impervious to Chael Sonnen.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, middleeasycom server, shock pens
Read the full article at Middle EasyWanderlei Silva on Chael Sonnen: Only p**** say things behind your back
MMA legend Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva had a good choice of words for the current number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael Sonnen. Silva criticized Sonnen for talking "behind his back", claiming that the self-proclaimed people's champion wouldn't be as brave in a face to face situation.
"I have nothing to say to him. I won’t give him that kinda audience. I don’t care about what he says, I’m not interested. If he wants to say those things looking me in the
Posted in: silva, wanderlei silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, audience i
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen Responds To Wanderlei Silva’s Threats
Well, that didn’t take very long now did it? Chael Sonnen, via his Twitter account on Sunday, responded to recent comments made by Wanderlei Silva about the No. 1 UFC middleweight contender. Sonnen, who is set to face Anderson Silva for the belt later this year, continued his verbal warpath against Brazil and the native [...]
Posted in: silva, wanderlei silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, twitter account
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWanderlei Silva has choice words for Chael Sonnen
Wanderlei Silva would like nothing more than to face Chael Sonnen inside the Octagon. However, Sonnen is currently the middleweight division’s #1 contender and is set to face Anderson Silva for the title meaning Silva-Sonnen aren’t likely to mix it up anytime soon.
Though there’s no doubt of Sonnen’s skill, much of his ability to do work inside the Octagon has been overshadowed by his talking skills outside of it. Of course, not everyone is impressed by Sonnen’s verbal skills including “The Axe Murderer”.
“I have nothing to say to him. I won’t give him that kinda audience,” said Silva, in a recent interview with TATAME. “I don’t care about what he says, I’m not interested. If he wants to say those things looking me in the eye, come here. But that way, saying things when we’re distant, he’s an ass face. Only pussies say things at your back.”
Silva also had a stern warning for Sonnen, saying that insulting him to his face instead of through media could be hazardous to his health.
“He’ll leave with a red burning ear,” stated Silva of the potential situation.
Sonnen was recently in Brazil for a special press conference to announce the fight with “The Spider” was going to be moved from Rio de Janeiro to Las Vegas. He made several snide remarks about Brazil, as well as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, during the festivities and has made fun of Silva plenty of times in the past as well.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: silva, face, thing, sonnen, skill
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC Quick Quote: Wanderlei Silva calls Chael Sonnen an 'ass face'
"I have nothing to say to him. I won't give him that kind of audience. I don't care about what he says, I'm not interested. If he wants to say those things looking me in the eye, come here. But that way, saying things when we're distant, he's an ass face. Only pussies say things at your back. (He won't have the courage to call me names in person), never. If he does that he'll leave with a red burning ear".
-- Shit just got real? In a brief interview with Tatame.com, Wanderlei Silva was asked to comment on the smack spewing from Chael Sonnen's motor-mouth aimed at the PRIDE legend and his Brazilian countrymen. His reply was short and sweet, essentially calling the number one middleweight title contender a "pussy" for lipping off from a distance instead of straight to "The Axe Murderer's" face. And with the recent news that Sonnen's title shot against Anderson Silva has been moved to UFC 148 on July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, that means the two won't cross paths again, at least not for a while. Wanderlei is still scheduled to throw down at the UFC 147 event on June 23 in Brazil against Vitor Belfort. Assuming he wins -- and maybe even if he loses -- would anyone care to see him get a shot at Sonnen if he fails to capture the title a second time from "The Spider?" Or is this all just yakking and nothing will ever come of it so let's just move along? You decide, Maniacs.
Posted in: ufc, silva, wanderlei, sonnen, ear shit
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Wanderlei Silva calls Chael Sonnen an “ass face”
Hard-hitting legend Wanderlei Silva is tired of hearing fellow UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen spout venom in his direction from afar. Sonnen, who is as known for his trash-talking and self-promotion as he is for his accomplishments inside the ring, has thrown a number of insults in Silva’s direction associated with his nationality (Brazilian) and knockout losses.
However, from the sound of it, Sonnen better start looking over his shoulder at UFC gatherings if he plans to keep Silva in his smack-spouting sights.
“If he wants to say those things looking me in the eye, come here. But that way, saying things when we’re distant, he’s an ass face. Only pussies say things at your back,” said Silva in an interview with TATAME where he also warned Sonnen that saying things to his face could prove costly. “If he does that he’ll leave with a red burning ear.”
Silva Talks Upcoming Fight at UFC 147
Before the possibility of laying hands on Sonnen, “The Axe Murderer” will face Vitor Belfort in June at UFC 147 to settle their own personal rivalry as well as a recent stint as coaches on TUF Brasil. Meanwhile, Sonnen himself is busy, fighting Anderson Silva for the middleweight title at UFC 148.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, silva, face, thing, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 147: Wanderlei Silva Calls Chael Sonnen 'An Ass Face'
You'd think that UFC Middleweight Wanderlei Silva would have his hands full. What with coaching the first season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil and preparing to face old rival Vitor Belfort at UFC 147 in June. But "The Axe Murderer" feels compelled to respond to Chael Sonnen's taunts and insults.
Sonnen came to Brazil briefly this week to announce that he and MW champ Anderson Silva won't be fighting at 147 but will instead take their scrap to Las Vegas on July 7th for UFC 148. Cheal, in his usual style, took care to insult virtually every Brazilian fighter in the UFC at the press conference.
He called Wanderlei "disabled" while he was at it.
Tatamegot Wanderlei to respond, that's after the jump...
More SBN UFC 147 coverage
"I have nothing to say to him. I won't give him that kinda audience. I don't care about what he says, I'm not interested. If he wants to say those things looking me in the eye, come here. But that way, saying things when we're distant, he's an ass face. Only pussies say things at your back."
When asked if Sonnen would have the courage of calling him names in person, Wanderlei Silva didn't think twice before answering.
"Never. If he does that he'll leave with a red burning ear."
Posted in: ufc, silva, wanderlei, las vegas, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow11 UFC Fighter Impersonations Guaranteed to Make You LOL
Check out this hilarious video with impersonations of Georges St-Pierre, Junior dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Nate Diaz, Rampage Jackson, Chael Sonnen and more.
Posted in: video, sonnen, georges stpierre, impersonation, lol check
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC Reveals Security Steps Taken To Protect Chael Sonnen In Brazil
The UFC had to abandon plans to book UFC Middleweight champ Anderson Silva defending his title against Chael Sonnen in a Brazilian stadium due to logistical issues involving hotel room shortages due to a UN conference. That might not be such a bad thing, for the UFC security team that is since apparently just bringing Sonnen into the country for a press conference is a serious security challenge.
The wise-cracking Sonnen, who gave Silva the toughest fight of his UFC career at UFC 117, certainly knows how to piss off Brazilian fans. He's made a long series of semi-racist remarks about the alleged primitive state of the country, made endless jokes at the expense of the Nogueira brothers and other Brazilian stars and continues to push his luck at every opportunity.
Sonnen and Silva will now meet in the headliner of UFC 148 in Las Vegas. UFC 147 will remain in Brazil, although the promotion is still working to secure a venue. UFC Featherweight champ Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch is expected to headline that event with a co-main of Ultimate Fighter Brazil coaches Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva.
UFC president Dana White spoke to MMA Fighting about the unusual measures required to protect the controversial middleweight. We'll have those quotes after the jump...
More SBN coverage of UFC 148
"With the stuff he said and everything else, we made sure we had proper security. We had seven guys with us who do this for a living. We mapped out the whole route. We literally landed at the airport in Rio, went through customers, then jumped on helicopters that took us right through to the hotel. I came in the front door and we put him through the side door, had him in a holding room.
"You know those disguises with the mustaches and the glasses you get at a joke shop? He had one of those on and he said ‘you wonder how I got into this country, this was my disguise.' He says, ‘everyone was asking me if I was one of the Nogueira brothers, and the people were asking, which Nogueira brother was I, the fat one or the bald one? The one that was good or the one that was never good?'
"We did a scrum with him, the reporters were getting really aggressive. Someone got him with a shock pen, all kinds of stuff like that. He went out the side door, I went out the front door, we got back in the helicopters, got him back through customs, got him on a plane, and got him out of there."
Posted in: ufc, nogueira brothers, chael sonnen, sonnen, front door
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen victim of shock pen prank and 'aggressive' reporters in Brazil
What's the buzz on Dana White's recent trip to Brazil?
According to the Las Vegas fight boss, when Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen flew to Rio earlier this week for a special UFC 148 press conference, you could feel the electricity in the air.
Literally.
That's because the trash-talking wrestler, who spent the better part of two years trashing Brazilian legends like Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Jose Aldo and Wanderlei Silva, was the victim of a shock pen prank after escaping a scrum populated by "aggressive" reporters.
Hearing the "shocking" account from White (via Orange County Register) after the jump.
"We had proper security with us. We had like seven guys with us. These are guys that mapped out the whole route. We literally landed at the airport in Rio, a shuttle took us through customs, jumped on helicopters and the helicopters took us right to the hotel. I came through the front door. We put him (Sonnen) through a side door. We had him in a holding room. We went down to the press conference and he had a scrum. The reporters were getting really aggressive with him at the scrum. Somebody got him with shock pen and all kinds of stuff like that. He went out the side door. I went out the front door. Helicopters took us back. We got on a plane and got him out of there. I wanted to make sure we got in and out and got him safe. I’m still getting texts, ‘Did you and Sonnen get out of Brazil alive last night? I haven’t heard from you. Give me an update.’ I made him (Sonnen) ride in a different car than me."
Apparently his top secret disguise didn't work.
Earlier this week, White revealed during their press conference that the rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen had been relocated from South America to Las Vegas, Nevada, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 7, 2012, because the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion could not secure a suitable venue for UFC 147.
But the show must go on.
While the world's largest fight promotion continues to search for a suitable host in Brazil, Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch has been rumored to fill the UFC 147 main event slot vacated by Silva and Sonnen.
To see how it all unfolded check out the UFC 148 pre-fight press conference updates and live blog here.
Posted in: ufc, press conference, press, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Anderson Silva is a true mixed martial artist, Chael Sonnen is a wrestler
"When I started practicing martial arts, Chael Sonnen, doesn't start practicing in martial arts, he is a wrestler. So he doesn't know what martial arts is. It's respect. Respect for a country, respect for the people and respect toward human beings. Many times, people ask me, 'But isn't he promoting the fight?' Yeah, okay, but there are many different ways to do that. He did not respect our country, he disrespected my family and above all, he disrespected all the UFC audience and some people don't realize that. They find it great what he is doing. In my opinion, I think the best fight of the century would be myself and my clone, that's something I think will never happen. That doesn't mean I am the best, that means I would like to be beaten by someone, many other things may happen, much like Sonnen here. He beat me for five rounds, but he didn't do the most important thing which was to win. So, I am going to continue to do my job, I am going to practice really hard and I am going to try and bring this victory to Brazil."
At the UFC 148 pre-fight press conference, which went down on April 24, 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Chael Sonnen declared that his bout with Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva would be the biggest fight in combat sports history. It very well may be one of the biggest, considering their drawn-out rivalry that has been going on for the past two years (six if you ask Sonnen). Silva, however, begs to differ, seeing as how he feels that the only bout worthy of the fight of the century would be a fight against his very own clone. Scientist aren't quite there yet to make the fight a reality, so "The Spider" is going to have to settle for Sonnen, who he says was only wrestling while he was busy studying all of the martial arts. That wrestling, however, was almost enough to get the job done at UFC 117 when Chael battered the 185-pound champion for all of four and half rounds using his outstanding grappling skills as well as his overwhelming ground-and-pound. Ultimately, Sonnen came up short in his bid to claim the title as Anderson slapped on a fight ending triangle choke with a little over two minutes remaining in the fight. Now, Silva will have another chance to prove to the world that he is Sonnen's superior by attempting to defeat him for the second time as the two are set to face off at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as headliner for the massive Fourth of July weekend event. In the process, Silva can finally rid himself of the trash-talking middleweight who has been in his ear for the past few years. Anyone think he will do it again, or will Sonnen's superior wrestling prevail this time around?
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, respect
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 148: NSAC's Kizer Anticipates No Issues Licensing Chael Sonnen
Yesterday the UFC announced that it would be moving the UFC Middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen from UFC 147 in Brazil to UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The logistical difficulties involved in putting on a stadium show in Brazil have thus far proved too daunting for the organization.
With the news some speculated that Sonnen would have difficulties securing a license to fight in Nevada given his unfortunate history of lying about Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) executive director Keith Kizer in sworn testimony to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC).
Kizer was quick to dampen such speculation.
Talking to Jonathan Snowden of Bleacher Report, Kizer said, "If he files, any and all relevant issues will be addressed. There is always more scrutiny, but that does necessarily mean a hearing is needed. That is something to be decided but I think he may be eligible for administrative licensing, i.e., no need for hearing. The final decision on that point would be the Chairman's."
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Kizer was even more sanguine, "He's done his time. He's come clean on his prior dishonesty, and that's all appreciated."
Sonnen failed a post-fight drug test after nearly beating Anderson Silva at UFC 117 in California. At his hearing to appeal his one-year suspension Sonnen claimed he required testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and should be granted a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) in California. He claimed that he had secured a TUE in Nevada and had personally spoken with Kizer on the matter. The CSAC duly reduced the length of his suspension.
Kizer hotly and publicly denied having ever spoken to Sonnen. That and Sonnen's subsequent guilty plea to multiple federal felony counts deriving from a real estate kick back scheme forced the CSAC to hold a second hearing at which they extended his suspension back to the original year and at one point appeared to be on the verge of blocking Sonnen's re-licensing in any jurisdiction. A paperwork technicality limited his suspension to the original year in California and he has since fought again in Texas, a notoriously lax jurisdiction.
Kizer did prevent Sonnen from coaching The Ultimate Fighter against Michael Bisping by refusing him a second's license. That slot went to Jason "Mayhem" Miller instead. Sonnen and the UFC tried to appeal Kizer's decision in a private meeting, but failed.
Now it appears Kizer wants to look forward, not back and is going to do his best to avoid another farcical commission hearing with Sonnen.
More SBN coverage of UFC 148
Posted in: ufc, anderson silva, sonnen, kizer, hearing
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowNSAC expects 'no problem' with licensing Chael Sonnen for UFC 148
Time heals all wounds.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen, who drew the ire of Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) Executive Director Keith Kizer in May 2011, is expected to have "no problem" getting his license to fight in "Sin City," according to a report from USA Today.
Good thing, too, considering the promotion recently switched his main event title fight against reigning division champion Anderson Silva to UFC 148 on July 7, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Sonnen was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) last year for fabricating testimony in a previous hearing while accounting for his failed drug test at UFC 117 -- not to mention his felony conviction in Oregon for money laundering.
Part of his defense strategy was dropping Kizer's name in reference to conversations they (never) had about policy and procedure as it related to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), the treatment that led to Sonnen's failed drug test.
That's all (tainted) water under the bridge.
UFC President Dana White revealed during a LIVE press conference yesterday (April 24) that the rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen has been relocated from South America to Las Vegas, because the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion could not secure a suitable venue.
UFC 147 will go on as planned elsewhere in Brazil on June 23, 2012, but it just won't have the "biggest fight in the history of combat" sports atop the marquee. On the contrary, that distinction now apparently belongs to the Fourth of July weekend pay-per-view (PPV) event, which most likely demotes Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber to co-main event status.
The show must go on.
For more on UFC 148: "Sonnen vs. Silva 2" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 148 fight card and rumors click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, event, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Moves Silva vs. Sonnen II to Vegas (Full Press Conference Video)
As expected, UFC president Dana White at a press conference in Brazil on Tuesday announced that the promotion was moving the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch to UFC 148.
Retweet this
Share on Facebook
• Email • StumbleUpon • Reddit • Digg • Technorati • Instapaper • Tumblr • Google Reader • LinkedIn
Posted in: ufc, press conference, vs, sonnen, bull
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 148 poster for 'Silva vs Sonnen 2' on July 7 in Las Vegas
"Two grudges will end. Two champions will emerge."
Well, that didn't take very long.
Just hours after Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White boarded a private jet bound for Brazil with number one 185-pound title contender, Chael Sonnen (who claims he wore this disguise to sneak over the border), and announced the new UFC 148 main event, we have a fancy new fight poster.
That's right, earlier this afternoon White revealed during a LIVE press conference that the rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen has been relocated from South America to Las Vegas, Nevada, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 7, 2012, because the world's leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion could not secure a suitable venue.
UFC 147 will go on as planned elsewhere in Brazil on June 23, 2012, but it just won't have the "biggest fight in the history of combat" sports atop the marquee. On the contrary, that distinction now apparently belongs to the Fourth of July weekend pay-per-view (PPV) event, which most likely saddens Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber the most because their 135-pound trilogy fight was expected to lead the bill.
Despite the "demotion" to co main event status, the switch make the UFC 148 main card, which features fights between Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le, Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch and Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz, among others, the most stacked fight card of the year so far.
You mad?
For more on UFC 148: "Sonnen vs. Silva 2" be sure to hit up our event archive right here. To check out the latest UFC 148 fight card and rumors click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, event, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 148: Chael Sonnen insulted Anderson Silva's family and 'Spider' did nothing about it
Even in hostile territory, Chael Sonnen isn't afraid to hold anything back.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White, along with UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva and number one division contender, Sonnen, were on hand today (April, 24, 2012) at a special UFC 148 pre-fight press conference in Rio de Janiero, Brazil (Watch it here), to announce the rematch between the two bitter rivals.
As expected, because of many conflicts the super showdown has been moved to take place at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena as opposed to in Brazil on June 23, 2012, leaving many Brazilian fans downright disappointed.
Originally targeted for an 80,000-seat stadium, which would have crushed the 55,000 fans that filled the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, last April, the fight would have gone down in the record books as the largest attendance for a UFC event. After scouting all over Brazil for other venues, UFC officials had no choice but to pull the plug on Brazil and head home to "Sin City."
Sonnen and Silva didn't seem to mind the change too much, though Dana White did say he had to do a lot of convincing to get "The Spider" to agree to fight outside Brazil. Sonnen, on the other hand, stated he was a bit disappointed that he didn't get the chance to break Georges St. Pierre's and Jake Shields' record set at UFC 129.
However, Sonnen is certain that his rematch with Silva will undoubtedly be the biggest sporting event in the history of combat sports, and is glad to do it in the fight capitol of the world, even if he does have to wait a bit longer to "stomp" "The Spider."
Make the jump to hear Sonnen's comment from the UFC 148 pre-fight press conference:
"Las Vegas is the fight capitol of the world. This is the biggest fight in the history of combat---boxing, wrestling, fighting, anything that's mano a mano, there's nothing been bigger than this and its going to take place on July 7th, were going to the biggest city, were going to the fight capitol of the earth. We will be the biggest sporting event in the history of combat and I would love to do it, you know, my plan was to come in here and tell you guys that I'm not coming to fight. My plan was to come here, take your money, my new belt and go back to America. But, instead, I am going to have to wait, I am going to have to stomp him on July 7th and that is exactly what I am going to do."
Of course, Sonnen could not, and would not go through the whole press conference without addressing his adversary and the buildup leading up to their beef:
"I don't' know man, this guy says the craziest things, he is surrounded by such yes men and it's unbelievable that he actually thinks like that. He talks about his legacy, he is so close to the trees that he can't see the forest. Come to America and ask people what they think of him. I mean this guy is the real deal, wow, he became the number one contender when he beat up the great Chris Leben, he then defended his belt against the great Patrick Cote and the amazing Thales Leites, what a star this guy is. What about the fact that I called him out for six years, 'He disrespected my family.' Yes, I did and what did you do about it? You didn't do a damn thing and you're not going to do anything on July 7th. Get your excuses ready now Anderson. I told everybody the first time I fought him that our skills are not even close, I will destroy him and I am going to tell you again now, our skills are not even close. So, go to your Ed Soares school of excuse making and get them handy because you are going to need them on July 7th."
When asked if his offer to retire should he lose to Silva,which he offered after his victory over Brian Stann at UFC 136 last October, was still on the table, Sonnen said offers don't last forever:
"Look, the offer was on the table, offers do not last. I don't come an offer you $30,000 for your car and you call me two years from now and say, 'Hey, I'll take that 30 grand now.' That's not how it works. That was the offer and he didn't accept it, I had to go fight Bisping instead. At the end of the day, what's the difference, I'll fight them all. I'll never talk like this guy talks. I'll never talk about my career and my legacy and bowing and respect. I will talk about what's the weight class, what's the date and who's ass am I gonna whip tonight."
The trash talking business has picked up again, and with a little under three months left until fight night, expect many more fireworks to pop off before, during and after the Fourth of July weekend pay-per-view (PPV) event. If you thought the lead up to the Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans fight was good, this one just might be able to top it, especially given Sonnen's track record for hyping up and selling fights.
But will it all pay off in the end? Or will he suffer a similar fate to the one at UFC 117 in Oakland, Calif., two years ago?
Predictions, please.
Posted in: ufc, fight, brazil, sonnen, july
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVIDEO: UFC 148 Announcement from Brazil With Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, Dana White
If you missed Tuesday's news conference from Rio de Janeiro announcing the move of Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen II from Brazil to Las Vegas, catch the video replay here at HeavyMMA.
Posted in: video, las vegas, brazil, sonnen, video replay
Read the full article at Heavy MMAAnderson Silva defending his UFC title against Chael Sonnen in Las Vegas, not Brazil
A less-than pleased Anderson Silva joined UFC President Dana White and top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen on a stage in Rio de Janeiro earlier this morning where the organization confirmed the two rivals will no longer fight in Brazil at UFC 147 but rather in Las Vegas a few weeks later. Their original meeting was pushed back in large part due to a United Nations conference scheduled for the week of the event interfering with accommodations in Rio.
White also mentioned the possibility of featherweight champion Jose Aldo stepping up to fight at UFC 147 which is being shifted to an unknown location in Brazil.
Silva, whose body language and demeanor told a story of their own, acknowledged his disappointment in the change of circumstances but would still go out and show why his skills are superior to Sonnen’s.
Sonnen also admitted wanting to be part of such a major show, as UFC 147 was originally expected to fill an 80,000-seat soccer stadium, but would roll with the punches too.
“My plan was to come here, take your money, my new belt, and go back to America. But instead I’m gonna have to wait,” Sonnen ranted, mentioning he would “stomp” Silva on July 7 at UFC 148.
Sonnen Aims Latest Verbal Jabs at Silva Over Magazine Spread
In addition to Silva-Sonnen II, UFC 148 is set to feature a title-fight between bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber, as well as bouts such as Tito Ortiz-Forrest Griffin and Cung Le-Rich Franklin.
Check out the full press conference below including an intense face-off between Sonnen-Silva:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, las vegas, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comAnderson Silva-Chael Sonnen II officially moved to UFC 148
Though a beautiful thought while it lasted, the highly-anticipated rematch between UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and colorful contender Chael Sonnen will no longer take place with the backdrop of a Brazilian soccer stadium filled 80,000 screaming fans. Rather, the title-tilt has indeed been shifted to UFC 148 in Las Vegas as had been rumored with UFC President Dana White confirming the news earlier today at a press conference.
A visibly upset Silva expressed disappointment over the decision but made it clear he would perform as expected. Sonnen shared his sentiments, stating he’d hoped to be part of a show with record-breaking attendance and was looking forward to beating “The Spider” in front of his fellow countrymen.
“My plan was to come here, take your money, my new belt, and go back to America. But instead I’m gonna have to wait. I’m gonna have to stomp him on July 7. And that’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” spouted Sonnen after hyping the match-up as being “the biggest fight in the history of combat.”
The move in venue was forced after the United Nations scheduled a conference in the days preceding UFC 147 (where the two were originally set to scrap), straining Rio de Janeiro’s resources to the point an event so epic was no longer feasible.
On the bright side, while Silva-Sonnen II has been pulled from the June 23 lineup, the organization is looking at putting featherweight king Jose Aldo’s next championship defense on the card. The show will also feature Wanderlei Silva fighting Vitor Belfort, as well as Fabricio Werdum in action against Mike Russow and the finals of TUF Brasil.
As it currently stands UFC 148 is arguably the company’s deepest card to date with other scheduled bouts including Tito Ortiz-Forrest Griffin, Cung Le-Rich Franklin, Michael Bisping-Tim Boetsch, Dong Hyun Kim-Demian Maia, and Dominick Cruz-Urijah Faber.
Watch the full press conference below including the customary face-off between opponents:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, press conference, i ’m, sonnen, combat ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 148 pre-fight press conference full video for 'Silva vs Sonnen 2' from Brazil
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White brought "good news and bad news" to the mixed martial arts (MMA) fans in Brazil today (April 24, 2012). Okay, so it was mostly bad, as the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch is heading to Las Vegas and UFC 147 still doesn't have a venue to host it.
On the brighter side, UFC Featherweight Champion and hometown hero Jose Aldo may get the call to head back home for his next 145-pound title defense.
"Silva vs. Sonnen II" was officially announced for the UFC 148 pay-per-view event on July 7 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Both middleweights were on the scene in Brazil today to field questions and as you can see from the above video (skip to 5:00), Sonnen was able to get his schtick through customs.
For the video impaired, you can get all the results and updates from today's UFC 148 press conference live blog right here.
Posted in: ufc, las vegas, sonnen, garden arena, field questions
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva-Chael Sonnen 2 Moved to UFC 148 in Vegas; UFC 147 Could Get Jose Aldo
Chael Sonnen will still receive another crack at Anderson Silva, only not June 23 in Rio de Janeiro.
Posted in: ufc, rio, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at SherdogSilva vs. Sonnen staredown
submitted by Oznaut [link] [10 comments]
Posted in: vs, silva, staredown, sonnen, oznaut
Read the full article at RedditAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen Officially Moved to UFC 148 on July 7th
UFC President Dana White, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and title challenger Chael Sonnen traveled to Rio de Janeiro to announce that they will not be returning to the city for UFC 147 on June 23rd as planned. Instead, the championship fight has been moved to Las Vegas, and will headline UFC 148 at the MGM Grand Garden Area on July 7th.
White stated that while scheduling this event for Brazil in June, that “everything that could go wrong did go wrong”. That includes a United Nations conference, Rio+20, that is scheduled to take place in the city the same weekend as the scheduled event. Another issue that came up was venue, as the organization originally planned on the event taking place in a soccer stadium. But that, too, caused problems.
Now the fight will headline UFC 148, which features an additional championship fight between bantamweights Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber.
Sonnen was not shy in front of the Brazilian media. “My plan was to come here, take your money, and his belt,” said Sonnen. “But now this fight will take place in Las Vegas, the fight capital of the world. This is the biggest fight in the history of combat sports. It is disgusting that Anderson walks around with a fake belt when the whole world saw me beat him.”
Silva was not shy in making his disgust with Sonnen obvious, stating “Chael is a wrestler and he does not know what martial arts is. He disrespected my country and my family”.
Dana White confirmed that Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva, Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow, and The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil finals will still take place in Brazil. Originally scheduled for the UFC 147 card, White mentioned that the UFC is still looking for a venue to host the event that same weekend, but not in Rio de Janeiro.
In addition to the two championship fights, UFC 148 will also feature Rich Franklin vs. Cung Le, Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch, and Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz III.
For complete coverage of UFC 148, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, las vegas, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen Rematch Moving to UFC 148 in Las Vegas
Logistical problems with a planned UFC 147 show in a Rio soccer stadium have forced the move of the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen rematch to UFC 148 in Las Vegas.
Posted in: ufc, las vegas, sonnen, la, anderson
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC 148 To Feature Anderson Silva Vs. Chael Sonnen On July 7
UPDATE: It is unclear whether UFC 148 will still take place in Las Vegas or whether it will be moved to Brazil.
Although the official press conference has not yet begun, Brazilian media on the scene are reporting that the signage at the press conference indicates that the UFC Middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will take place at UFC 148 on July 7.
Reporter Fernando Kallas of Portal de Vale Tudo has tweeted a photo of the decor at the press conference that shows Silva and Sonnen's faces beneath the UFC 148 marquee. UFC 148 had been set to feature a Bantamweight title fight betweeen Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz as its headliner. Cruz and Faber are the coaches of the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter Live on FX.
Silva vs. Sonnen II, a rematch of their UFC 117 classic, had been set for UFC 147 in Rio de Janeiro but difficulties in securing hotel space due to a UN conference in Rio that same week have apparently forced the move.
No news as of yet as to the fate of the Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva co-main event set for UFC 147. Belfort and Silva are the coaches of the debut season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil which is doing great ratings in Brazil.More SBN coverage of UFC 147
More SBN coverage of UFC 148
Posted in: ufc, press conference, silva, sonnen, debut season
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowVideo: UFC's Chael Sonnen Delivers Singing Promo To Anderson Silva
Just when you thought there wasn't any other type of promo that Chael Sonnen could deliver to his rival Anderson Silva, the No. 1 middleweight contender outdid himself prior to the UFC 145 weigh-ins last Friday.
Sonnen threw out his usual barbs toward the UFC Middleweight Champion and then broke into song. Without missing a beat, the man influenced by pro wrestling promos did his best Honky Tonk Man impression to the crowd's delight.
One particular highlight from the video below:
"So get in the gym and work on your sprawl/I just talked to Uncle Dana and it's winner take all/I'm going to leave you with some string and a whole bunch of welts/You're going to need it Anderson because I'm taking your belt."
<A href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=88859ee0-9404-472f-bbff-261586bdf96d&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" mce_href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?videoid=88859ee0-9404-472f-bbff-261586bdf96d&src=v5:embed:syndication:&from=shareembed-syndication" target="_new" title="Sonnen sings to Silva">Video: Sonnen sings to Silva</A>
Read more great Sonnen quotes from the session after the jump.
"I love easy fights. That's why I've been pining for Anderson and then Vitor. I want to feather my nest with bums."
"I'm not a martial artist. I'm a gangster from the streets of West Linn, Oregon."
"When I was young, they called me the foreman...not because I was in charge, but I did the work of four men."
At 10 AM EST, fans will find out whether Silva vs. Sonnen II will take place in Brazil in June, in Las Vegas in July or a potential surprise location later on this summer. Tim Burke will bring you all the latest here on BE when the press conference starts.
Posted in: anderson silva, promo, sonnen, anderson, im
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 147: 'Silva vs Sonnen 2' 'press conference video and LIVE 'special announcement' updates today (April 24) from Brazil
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will today (April 24, 2012) hold a special public press conference in advance of UFC 147: Silva vs. Sonnen 2, which is tentatively scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro on June 23, 2012, although there have been reports to the contrary.
The press conference will begin at 10 a.m. ET from Brazil.
Scheduled to attend will be the planned main event fighters of the evening, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, as well as UFC President Dana White.
Silva is the current middleweight champion. He fought Sonnen back in 2010 in one of the year's most dramatic fights, withstanding over four rounds of wrestling to score a clutch fifth round submission victory to retain his title. He's since defended his belt twice, knocking out both Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami.
Chael Sonnen has been one of the most controversial and magnetic fighters in the past few years. After losing his title shot and being suspended for high testosterone levels, he returned to defeat both Brian Stann and Michael Bisping to earn his rematch.
We'll have complete updates of the UFC 147 "special announcement" press conference, as well as a LIVE press conference video feed, after the jump:
Brian Hemminger here. The press conference is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET.
Posted in: ufc, press conference, conference, press, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Video: Brazil Press Conference With Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen
Join us at Bloody Elbow at 10 a.m. ET/7 a.m. PT for live coverage of a special UFC press conference from Brazil. The three people at the press conference will be UFC president Dana White, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and his next challenger Chael Sonnen. It is expected (but certainly not confirmed) that the press conference is being held to announce that Silva vs. Sonnen 2, currently scheduled for UFC 147 on June 23rd in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will be moved to UFC 148 on July 7th in Las Vegas. The fate of the other announced bouts for that card hang in the balance as well.
The press conference will be carried live on UFC.com. Join us tomorrow morning to discuss the big news out of Brazil. I'm sure Sonnen and Silva will have some interesting things to say as well.
SBN coverage of UFC 147: Silva vs. Sonnen 2
SBN coverage of UFC 148: Cruz vs. Faber
Posted in: ufc, press conference, conference, press, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen Fan Q&A
Posted in: fan, sonnen, chael, qa
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMike Pierce: Chael Sonnen belly-to-back suplexed me
In this video courtesy of fighthubtv.com, UFC Welterweight contender Mike Pierce talks growing up with Chael Sonnen, saying that he wasn't always so brash for the camera like he is today. He recounts a time that Chael showed him a thing or two in Oregon, and says that deep down, Sonnen is a good guy and not the enemy many think him to
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mike, chael, video courtesy
Read the full article at Low KickQuestions Concering Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen 2 Will Be Answered On Tuesday
UFC president Dana White, in an interview with MMA Junkie’s John Morgan following UFC 145, revealed that the details for Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen’s rematch will be confirmed Tuesday. The UFC will hold a press conference in Brazil, with Silva and Sonnen in attendance. Reports have the fight being moved to Las Vegas and July. Yeah, [...]
Posted in: ufc, press conference, las vegas, sonnen, attendance reports
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen Sings for Anderson Silva
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen, As Only He Can, Responds To Anderson Silva’s Metrosexual Remark
In a recent interview, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva described himself as being a metrosexual. So, as you might have guessed, the comment came up during a Q&A session hosted by Chael Sonnen prior to the UFC 145 weigh-ins. And, as only he can, Sonnen gave a very calculated, well-thought-out response. I am shocked. Really? [...]
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, metrosexual
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen reveals his demand for fighting Anderson Silva in Brazil (Video)
Number one middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen held a special Q&A session just before yesterday's UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" weigh-ins and finally revealed his one demand for his upcoming fight against Anderson Silva.
If the fight is to be held in Brazil, here's what Sonnen wants:
"I have a demand of my own. Anderson had his list and I have but one. There will be 80,000 people in attendance. And my demand is simple ... silence. When I come through the curtain, they will sit down, they will shut their mouths, they will show respect to their American guest or I will go back to the dressing room, back to the car, back to the airport, back to America, and those ingrates aren't going to get to see me fight."
Of course, his demand may be rendered irrelevant if the fight gets moved to the main event of the UFC 148 fight card scheduled for July 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada, as is currently rumored.
To that end, stay tuned.
Sonnen also took a few more digs at the Brazilian people, saying he plans on bringing a bag of gifts once he heads down there for a special press conference next Tuesday in Rio de Janeiro. His plan? Bring them a few amenities they don't currently have, like soap and toothbrushes.
That's not all the pound-for-pound biggest mouth in all of MMA had to say, though. See him go off even more after the jump. To watch the complete Chael Sonnen Q&A session click here.
Posted in: fight, anderson silva, sonnen, demand, brazil heres
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLefko on MMA: Sonnen's art of entertaining
Chael Sonnen has insulted Anderson Silva and the country of Brazil as a form of promotion, but is he putting his safety at risk?
Posted in: anderson silva, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at sportsnet.caChael Sonnen responds in standard fashion to Anderson Silva
Top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen hosted a special Q&A session prior to Friday’s UFC 145 weigh-in. During the festivities, Sonnen, who is scheduled to face Anderson Silva for the title later this year, was asked about a recent interview Silva conducted where he claimed to be metrosexual.
As you might expect, Sonnen handled the question in typical Sonnen-fashion.
“I am shocked. Really? That blows me away. What’s next, you’re going to tell me a UFC ring girl got naked for a few bucks? You are blowing my mind,” Sonnen quipped. “I don’t believe it. That’s like telling me that (Alistair) Overeem was positive. I mean, convincing me of that is like convincing me that Roy Nelson is clean. I’m just not going to believe it. I’m just going to have to see it with my own eyes.”
Sonnen, possibly the most outspoken MMA fighter in history, managed to tie in UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste, Overeem and Nelson into the same statement as Silva. Pretty impressive to say the least.
In more important news, it seems that we’ll find out next Tuesday just where the Silva-Sonnen rematch will take place. The UFC has scheduled a press conference for Rio de Janeiro at which UFC President Dana White will be joined by Silva and Sonnen.
Check out the full Q&A below including Sonnen dissing Silva in a rap, addressing concerns about his entertainment-driven personality, and more:
(Action begins at about the 15:00 mark)
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/Istoé Gente
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, mma fighter, silvasonnen rematch
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen makes light of Anderson Silva being a “metrosexual”
Top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen hosted a special Q&A session prior to Friday’s UFC 145 weigh-in. During the festivities, Sonnen, who is scheduled to face Anderson Silva for the title later this year, was asked about a recent interview Silva conducted where he claimed to be metrosexual.
As you might expect, Sonnen handled the question in typical Sonnen-fashion.
“I am shocked. Really? That blows me away. What’s next, you’re going to tell me a UFC ring girl got naked for a few bucks? You are blowing my mind,” Sonnen quipped. “I don’t believe it. That’s like telling me that (Alistair) Overeem was positive. I mean, convincing me of that is like convincing me that Roy Nelson is clean. I’m just not going to believe it. I’m just going to have to see it with my own eyes.”
Sonnen, possibly the most outspoken MMA fighter in history, managed to tie in UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste, Overeem and Nelson into the same statement as Silva. Pretty impressive to say the least.
In more important news, it seems that we’ll find out next Tuesday just where the Silva-Sonnen rematch will take place. The UFC has scheduled a press conference for Rio de Janeiro at which UFC President Dana White will be joined by Silva and Sonnen.
Check out the full Q&A below including Sonnen dissing Silva in a rap, addressing concerns about his entertainment-driven personality, and more:
(Action begins at about the 15:00 mark)
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC/Istoé Gente
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, mma fighter, silvasonnen rematch
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSonnen delivers poem to Silva at UFC 145 Q&A
Chael Sonnen ended his entertaining UFC Fight Club Q&A Friday in Atlanta with a poem for upcoming opponent Anderson Silva.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, chael, poem
Read the full article at sportsnet.caVideo: Chael Sonnen sings two songs for Anderson Silva at UFC 145 Q&A
To show his affection and emotions toward his nemesis, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, number one division contender, Chael Sonnen, today (April 20, 212) sang two songs he wrote for the Brazilian at the UFC 145 Q&A session (watch whole video here).
The two songs also include some of Silva's close friends such as Lyoto Machida and Wanderlei Silva, as well as long-time manager Ed Soares.
In a bout that's currently in limbo, meaning that as of right now don't clearly now whether it will happen in Brazil or Las Vegas, Sonnen is doing his best to create even more buzz for the highly anticipated showdown between the self- proclaimed "American Gangster" and "The Spider".
What became evident throughout the whole Q&A was that Sonnen was playing to the crowd in a fashion more resembling that of a stand up comedian than a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. And for the most part, the crowd in Atlanta, Ga., totally enjoyed the show.
So here you are, please listen, enjoy and give your honest opinion about the songs coming from the fighter who should be considered a one man hype machine:
:
For everything you need to know about the upcoming rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen click here.
Posted in: song, silva, wanderlei silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen reacts to Anderson Silva being a metrosexual: I am shocked!
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva is not just one of the pound-for-pound greatest fighters who ever lived. He's also a metrosexual, by his own admission.
Upon being alerted to this by a faithful fan at today's (April 20, 2012) special Q&A session before the UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" weigh-ins, Sonnen responded about like you'd think:
"I am shocked. Really? That blows me away. What's next, you're going to tell me a UFC ring card girl got naked for a few bucks? You are blowing my mind. The hell you say, young lady. I don't believe it. That's like telling me that Overeem was positive. I mean, convincing me of that is like convincing me that Roy Nelson is clean, I'm just not going to believe it. I'm just going to have to see it with my own eyes. I'm just not hearing you, young lady."
Take shot at ring card girls? Check. Defend Alistair Overeem against steroid allegations? Check. Knock Roy Nelson for his lack of hygiene? Man, this guy was on fire, huh?
Really, it seems a little too much like Sonnen let Silva off easy, especially considering the material he was given to work with. And surely he had enough time to craft a clever response to such information.
Oh well. We still have a couple months left of the mouthy middleweight spewing hot garbage at his arch nemesis before the two finally tussle at UFC 147 on June 23, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Or maybe it's at UFC 148 on July 7, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reports have varied over the past week and nothing is set in stone just yet.
Except for the fact that they'll fight and Sonnen will have a few more zingers to throw Silva's way. Hopefully better than this attempt. For video of the complete Chael Sonnen special Q&A session click here.
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, roy nelson, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWatch Chael Sonnen’s UFC Fight Club Q&A Live at 2 p.m. Eastern
The UFC's undisputed king of talk, Chael Sonnen, hosts a Fight Club Q&A session before the UFC 145 weigh-ins in Atlanta. Watch the event live at 2 p.m. Eastern.
Posted in: ufc, fight, pm, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Heavy MMAWatch today's UFC 145 Q&A with Chael Sonnen on MMAjunkie.com at 2 p.m. ET
ATLANTA - You can watch a Q&A session with UFC middleweight title
challenger Chael Sonnen today on MMAjunkie.com at 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m.
PT).
Today's one-hour session takes place at Atlanta's Fox Theatre and precedes official UFC 145 fighter weigh-ins.
Sonnen, who's slated to fight UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in June, takes questions from fans during the session.
Posted in: ufc, session, chael sonnen, sonnen, qampa session
Read the full article at MMA JunkieMichael Bisping: I will beat Chael Sonnen in a rematch for the title
Recently, UK MMA star Michael Bisping came out with a bold claim. Never known to be the most soft-spoken of fighters, he believes that Chael Sonnen will indeed best Anderson Silva in Rio (or wherever the fight actually happens). He will then beat Sonnen in a rematch upon being given an immediate title shot. Bisping lost a hotly-contested bout versus Sonnen on UFC on Fox 2 earlier this year. Some thought he won the fight, others vehemently denied this. Bisping was quoted with the following via
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, fight others, hotlycontested bout
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 145 Video: Chael Sonnen Q&A
Join us at Bloody Elbow at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT for live video of the UFC 145 Fight Club Question and Answer session that will feature the one and only Gangster from West Linn, Chael Sonnen. Sonnen is obviously one of the most controversial figures in the organization and has turned past Q&A sessions (which are generally bland) into spectacles full of humor and controversy. Love him or hate him, he's always got something to say and he'll be on stage taking questions from the fans this afternoon. Will his rematch with Anderson Silva actually take place in Brazil? Can he bounce back from his fifth-round submission defeat at UFC 117 and take out the champ in the rematch?
You can watch the Q&A on the Youtube video below the jump, but if that doesn't work for some reason you can check it out over on MMA Fighting. Tune in and see what all the fuss is about.
SBN coverage of UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans
SBN coverage of UFC 147: Silva vs. Sonnen 2
Posted in: ufc, anderson silva, sonnen, sbn coverage, youtube video
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReminder: Live Q&A with Chael Sonnen today at 2pm
submitted by fruitcellar [link] [comment]
Posted in: sonnen, chael, qa, fruitcellar link, fruitcellar
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen live Q&A video at UFC 145 weigh-ins today (April 20) in Atlanta
The UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" weigh-ins take place today (Fri., April 20, 2012) at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, marking the last of all the pre-fight festivities before the big event this Saturday night on pay-per-view.
However, before Jon Jones and Rashad Evans tip the scales to make their 205-pound championship showdown official, number one middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen will take part in a UFC Fight Club exclusive Q&A.
And you just know you can expect a show.
With the recent news that UFC 147, which is expected to see Sonnen challenge Anderson Silva for the 185-pound crown, could be moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, there's plenty up for discussion. Sonnen, meanwhile, still needs to square up with the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Stay tuned.
The live Q&A kicks off at 2 p.m. ET and can be viewed after the jump. Enjoy the show, Maniacs.
Remember, too, that once the Chael Sonnen Q&A concludes, the UFC 145: "Jones vs. Evans" weigh-ins will take place just two hours later, which MMAmania.com will have live coverage of (with video) right here.
For all the latest on UFC 145 click here.
Posted in: ufc, jon jones, chael sonnen, sonnen, qampa
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Fight Club Q&A with Chael Sonnen Live Video
Be sure to tune in to MMAWeekly.com for the UFC 145 Fight Club Q&A with Chael Sonnen, streaming live at 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT on Friday.
Retweet this
Share on Facebook
• • • Email • • • • • • • •
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, bull, friday retweet
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMichael Bisping Picks Chael Sonnen Over Anderson Silva, Himself Over Sonnen
Michael Bisping stepped in for Mark Munoz and had a chance to claim a possible shot at Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title. Instead, Bisping was defeated by Chael Sonnen. Now, “The Count” believes he is headed for a rematch with Sonnen, but with the title on the line this time around. During a [...]
Posted in: anderson silva, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at MMA ConvertRandy Couture thinks Chael Sonnen could beat Jon Jones
Few folks in MMA have the insight and intellect of Randy Couture, a UFC Hall of Famer who held championships in multiple divisions and was a key component of the UFC’s rise over the past decade. His analysis is typically spot on and has been welcomed inside the announce booth on countless occasions.
However, Couture’s latest assessment may leave some fans scratching their heads, as “The Natural” listed Chael Sonnen as one of a select group of people who could potentially dethrone light heavyweight champion Jon Jones if Rashad Evans doesn’t do so first this weekend at UFC 145.
After breaking down Saturday night’s title-fight in an interview with Five Ounces of Pain, saying he could see either man winning, Couture continued by offering his take on what other competitors might pose problems for Jones.
“I think a fighter like Dan Henderson or even Chael Sonnen who is a very big 185-pounder and used to compete as a light heavyweight with strong wrestling,” explained Couture. “They have to take him out of his comfort zone and take away his reach advantage. There is no longer in the division and maybe not in the sport as far as Jones reach. His takedown defense is good and he has very good wrestling. He has very unorthodox striking which makes him very dangerous. I think you have to use the fence, use your wrestling and force him to fight your fight. Either one of those guys can do that.”
Couture Breaks Down MMA’s Top 10 Pound-for-Pound Fighters
While Sonnen’s next fight is scheduled to involve middleweight champ Anderson Silva and he is not known to be in contention for the light heavyweight belt, Henderson has been essentially guaranteed a shot at the winner of Evans-Jones barring some set of unforeseen circumstances.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, jone, chael sonnen, sonnen, sonnen ’s
Read the full article at Fighters.comMark Munoz Feels He Matches Up Well with Chris Weidman, Wants to Fight in July
By Bryan Levick, special to MMAFrenzy.com
Before an injury forced him out of his bout with Chael Sonnen in January on the UFC on FOX 2 card, UFC middleweight Mark Munoz was on one hell of a roll. He had won four straight fights including wins over Chris Leben, former UFC Middleweight Championship contender Demian Maia, C.B. Dolloway and Aaron Simpson. In fact, since coming over to the UFC from the WEC, Munoz has a record of 7-2, with his only losses coming to light heavyweight Matt Hamill and another former number one contender in Yushin Okami. Munoz has become the guy that no other middleweight wants to fight.
The bout with Sonnen was to determine who would go on to face current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, but as fate would have it, Munoz was unable to soldier on with injuries he had been fighting with for a long time. Being the man and the fighter that he is, Munoz chooses to look at the time off as a blessing and despite being 34 years old; he knows that the time off was something his body and his mind really needed. Munoz knows even the toughest warriors have to know when to say when.
“I feel great. I’m training and sparring, I feel really good,” said an excited Munoz in an interview with MMAFrenzy. “For the past few years I’ve had problems with my elbow. I kept ignoring it until they found out I had some bone spurs after my fight with Chris Leben. My elbow was throbbing and the pain was so great, my doctors told me I needed surgery, but by that time I was already informed of the fight with Sonnen for the FOX 2 card and I didn’t want to pass up that opportunity. While I was training my elbow popped and it felt a lot worse than it ever had before. I tried to work through it, but it was too much to bear. I tried to pick up my gym bag and I couldn’t even lift it.
“It turns out that those bone spurs had made their way into my joints. They ended up pulling out 24 pieces of bone six of which were a centimeter and a half in diameter,” Munoz continued. “I was so disappointed afterwards because I had been waiting to get a title shot for a long time, but everything happens for a reason and now I am coming back stronger than before. There is still a little bit of pain, but it’s only been a few months so that’s to be expected. I am definitely looking forward to getting back inside the Octagon and continuing on towards a shot at the championship. I fought eight times in three years; the fight with Sonnen would’ve been my ninth fight in 26 months. I’m not sure when I’ll be back for sure, but my doctors are optimistic about being able to fight in July.”
When Munoz does make his way back to the Octagon there are rumors flying around that an opponent has already been selected. Unbeaten Chris Weidman is the man that many people feel Munoz will face when he comes back and that bout would certainly be an interesting one with certain title implications behind it. Weidman last fought Maia on the FOX 2 card as a replacement for Michael Bisping who stepped into the co-main event slot opposite Sonnen.
“I have been hearing those same rumors as well,” admitted Munoz. “I feel like I match him up against him really well. He has great stand-up and he is a solid wrestler who takes people down and uses top control to force his will on them. He has good BJJ and is always looking for submissions and chokes. I am definitely looking forward to that fight if it does happen. I want to fight someone who makes sense, someone who is going to get me closer to a title shot. I feel like I have earned that opportunity and by defeating someone of Weidman’s caliber I believe I would deserve a title shot.”
Posted in: ufc, fight, time, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen Takes Aim at MMA Media in Alistair Overeem Controversy
In his latest edition of Chael's Corner on Fuel TV's "UFC Tonight," No. 1 middleweight contender Chael Sonnen takes aim at what he says is a big fail by the MMA media in the Alistair Overeem...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, mma media, chaels corner
Read the full article at Heavy MMAReport: Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch could be moved to UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Nevada
Perhaps Chael Sonnen was onto something when his insisted his showdown with Anderson Silva wasn't going to happen.
The long-awaited rematch between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion and the outspoken thorn in his side appears to be headed in a new direction, possibly even Las Vegas, Nevada, according to a report from the Brazilian news outlet O Globo earlier today (April 18, 2012).
The possible rescheduling shouldn't come as a huge surprise because UFC President Dana White recently addressed a potential scheduling conflict last weekend (April 14, 2012) after the UFC on Fuel TV 2 event. In particular, a United Nations Conference that is scheduled to be held the same week the mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion planned the summer showdown at the 80,000-seat outdoor stadium in Rio de Janeiro:
"The problem is, they don't like the idea of us coming the same time this United Nations convention is going on. The other problem is hotel rooms. Most of the hotel rooms are being taken up. And we don't think, we know that the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen fight is one of the biggest sporting events this year, in the world. I think it's a huge sporting event. I think people will come to Rio from all over the world. I think we're going to need hotel rooms. Hopefully we'll get this thing done the next few days, one way or the other."
It appears now like it may be the other way. And the promotion has apparently set it sights on adding the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch to the UFC 148 card, which is expected to take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in "Sin City on July, 7, 2012.
However, like several other high-profile fighters these days, Sonnen's track record with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) is far from squeaky clean.
The prospect of Sonnen being allowed to fight in Nevada after all of his issues with its Athletic Commission seems cloudy at best. Executive Director Keith Kizer informed MMAmania.com that Sonnen will have to apply for his fight license in the state if the rematch against Silva does, in fact, get moved to Las Vegas.
And one can only imagine how much of a circus that could turn out to be.
UFC 148, in its current form, is scheduled to feature a main event Bantamweight title fight between current champion Dominick Cruz taking on Urijah Faber; however, the promotion has yet to officially announce the fight and/or the traditional Independence Day weekend extravaganza.
Nonetheless, inserting a massive fight like Silva-Sonnen 2 would certainly add colorful fireworks to any fight card, much less on on Fourth of July weekend.
Keep in mind that UFC officials have yet to confirm any swapping of dates and/or locations for the massive fight. However, where there is smoke, there often is fire.
As always, stay tuned to MMAmania as more details surface.
Posted in: ufc, fight, sonnen, world i, hotel rooms
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Michael Bisping would 'definitely' beat Chael Sonnen in five-round fight
"I think Chael will out-wrestle Anderson and beat him this time, and then I'll get the rematch with Chael considering how close our fight was. If I had Chael over five rounds, I'd definitely beat him. In that last fight, I'd have stopped him in the fourth for sure. He was spent after trying to submit me in that third round. Towards the end of that round I was raining down shots on him."
-- Speaking to Your MMA, England's most popular mixed martial arts (MMA) export and The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 winner, Michael Bisping, believes he would have defeated Chael Sonnen at the conclusion of their UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" co-main event battle this past January if he had two more rounds with which to work. Sonnen defeated "The Count" via unanimous decision in a very close affair, which earned the top 185-pound contender his long-awaited rematch against bitter rival and current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Bisping hopes to get another crack at the sharp-tongued trash talker if he defeats Tim Boetsch at UFC 148 and if Sonnen indeed gets past "The Spider" at UFC 147 on June 23, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bisping, for one, believes that Sonnen has what it takes to defeat Anderson, should he choose to utilize his wrestling skills, much like he did in their first encounter at UFC 117. Sonnen came up short in his quest for gold as Silva submitted him with less than two minutes remaining in the contest. Bisping also believes that the outcome of a rematch between he and Sonnen will be different, too. Anyone (dis)agree?
Posted in: ufc, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Bisping: “If I had Chael over five rounds, I’d definitely beat him.”
UFC middleweight Michael Bisping hasn’t forgotten how close his match-up with top contender Chael Sonnen was when the two met in January. The fight earned Sonnen a shot at champion Anderson Silva this summer, but many felt Bisping actually deserved the judges’ decision (and title-shot) based on his overall performance against the polarizing grappler.
Though the 33-year old Brit has other things to focus on at the moment – mainly a bout with Tim Boetsch at UFC 148 – Bisping expects to earn a shot at redemption in the near future with the added bonus of a divisional belt being on the line.
“I think Chael will out-wrestle Anderson and beat him this time, and then I’ll get the rematch with Chael considering how close our fight was,” said Bisping in an interview with Your MMA Magazine. Silva-Sonnen’s rematch is scheduled for June and revisits a rivalry seeing Sonnen nearly outpoint Silva in 2010 before being submitted in the final two minutes of action.
If/when Bisping does indeed lock horns with Sonnen a second time he sees things going quite differently, especially within the parameters of a title-fight.
“If I had Chael over five rounds, I’d definitely beat him,” explained Bisping. “In that last fight, I’d have stopped him in the fourth for sure. He was spent after trying to submit me in that third round. Towards the end of that round I was raining down shots on him.”
While Sonnen would undoubtedly disagree with his peer’s extreme confidence in terms of procuring a victory, chances are he’s on board with being wary of the inherent danger in getting hit by “The Count”, paying Bisping a slew of compliments after their bout.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, round, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen: Alistair Overeem did not test positive for anything
Tuesday night Chael Sonnen came to the defense of under-fire Heavyweight Alistair Overeem, who awaits the decision of NSAC concerning his license to fight at UFC 146. Blaming the media, Sonnen essentially considered Overeem's issue to be an overblown phenomenon created by MMA media. Familiar with the issue of elevated T:E levels, Sonnen had the following to say on Fuel TV's “UFC Tonight”:
"Congratulations to MMA media, right when I think you're incompetence can't get to any higher level, the
Posted in: overeem, media, sonnen, media sonnen, ” congratulations
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen: MMA media 'screwed up' Alistair Overeem case; UFC 146 headliner did nothing illegal
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen is familiar with controversy. To take it one step further, he's also no stranger to controversy that pertains to failed drug tests because of elevated testosterone levels.
So it should shock no one that Sonnen, while doing his regular "Chael's Corner" segment on "UFC Tonight" this evening, came to the defense of Alistair Overeem, the heavyweight fighter who has recently found himself in the middle of a media melee because of his failed random drug test after a press conference for UFC 146.
"The Reem" was set to challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior dos Santos in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 24, 2012. He still very well may do that, but his hearing with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) on Apr. 24, 2012, will determine his status for the fight.
In the meantime, Overeem is "innocent until proven guilty," a fact that Sonnen wants us all to remember:
"Congratulations to MMA media, right when I think you're incompetence can't get to any higher level, the Alistair Overeem story comes out. You kids on the interweb, running your little 'dot com's' from the couch in your mother's basement, you beneficiaries of Mark Cuban's tax write-off, you've gone and screwed up the Alistair Overeem case, beyond belief. Is it repairable? I doubt it."
Check out what else Sonnen had to say about "The Reem" and his failed test after the jump:
"Hey. If I'm a member of the media and someone tells me that Alistair Overeem failed a drug test, the very first thing I'm going to say is: ‘Really? What substance did he test positive for?' Now, you see, those basic questions are where the wheels begin to fall off the bus to this entire story. Alistair Overeem did not test positive for anything. End of story. So why is his name getting drug through the mud? Why are they saying, 'Well, he's got an elevated T-to-E ratio. Ok, fair enough. Let's say his T-to-E ratio is outside the norm. That's not illegal. That's outside the norm. That's a red flag. That is a red flag, and Alistair will owe an explanation. If it's not against the rules, why are we having this conversation? MMA Media: Ya failed! It reminds me of a time when Ronald Reagan was President, and somebody in his cabinet had to stand trial. He gets acquitted and he says, 'Well, great. I've won the trial, but who do I see to get my reputation back?'"
Of course, there are some valid points in his rant, but Sonnen isn't exactly approaching this story from an objective position.
He may very well be right. Overeem may end up being vindicated, be totally clean, and the MMA community may owe him an apology. But, certainly, Sonnen should be able to see the reason(s) people are skeptical.
Kenny Florian (a co-host for "UFC Tonight") made just such an argument against Sonnen's scathing tirade. He clearly isn't giving Overeem the same benefit of the doubt:
"If you have common sense, you realize that is not a normal ratio. A male's normal ratio of testosterone-to-epitestosterone is 1-to-1. You have the Nevada State Athletic Commission that allows you to have a 6-to-1 ratio. Overeem's ratio is 14-to-1. How does it get there? Did it just happen, out of the blue? Is this guy just more superhuman than everybody else out there? No. That's happening because he's taking something. Alright? That's the only way you get there. You know, we'd all love to take this stuff. But what it does is, it gives you an unfair advantage because you can train harder, you can train longer, you can recover faster. To me, maybe I can get another 20 fights under my belt if I take this stuff, but I can't. I'm not gonna use it to fight another human. I think it's unfair. Something's going on there. At the end of the day, there is gonna be a legal meeting to determine whether Overeem fights or not. But, it's obvious -- he's taking something. "
Are they both right, or are you picking a side in this debate? Who ya got in this debate? And do you think we'll actually see Junior dos Santos vs. Alistair Overeem come to fruition?
For everything you need to know about Overeem, his abnormal T/E ratio, his upcoming NSAC hearing and so much more be sure to hit up our complete fighter archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, overeem, alistair, sonnen, ratio
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva rematch date may be moved due to United Nations conference
Apparently, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) ain't got nothing on the United Nations.
That's because the date of the upcoming UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen 2" event, which had previously been penciled in for June 23, 2012, at the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is likely going to be moved thanks to a United Nations conference taking place during the very same week.
Obviously, that's a big problem, especially considering UFC President Dana White was hoping to take over the entire city once he brings his organization to town.
Following yesterday's (Sat., April 14, 2012) UFC on FUEL TV 2 event, White spoke of the issues the UFC is currently facing with holding UFC 147 on June 23 in Rio (via MMA Fighting):
"The problem is, they don't like the idea of us coming the same time this United Nations convention is going on. The other problem is hotel rooms. Most of the hotel rooms are being taken up. And we don't think, we know that the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen fight is one of the biggest sporting events this year, in the world. I think it's a huge sporting event. I think people will come to Rio from all over the world. I think we're going to need hotel rooms. Hopefully we'll get this thing done the next few days, one way or the other."
This could be a blessing in disguise in many ways. UFC on FX 4: "Maynard vs. Guida" is scheduled to go down on June 22 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, just one night before UFC 147 was set to take place.
This way, White isn't completely stretched thin, not that he isn't otherwise.
Then again, there are only so many Saturdays available and only so much time to get things squared away. Originally, "Silva vs. Sonnen 2" was going to be held in Sao Paulo but when those plans hit too many snags, they were abandoned in favor of Rio.
The good news? The biggest rematch of all time is going to happen. The bad news? We just don't know when. Stay tuned, Maniacs.
For all the latest and greatest news on UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen 2" click here.
Posted in: ufc, vs, nation, sonnen, world i
Read the full article at MMA Mania5 Oz. MMA Link Club
Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. Enjoy…
Highlights from Chael Sonnen’s Recent Q&A with Fans (Fightline.com)
Nick Diaz’s Attorney Issues Second Statement to NSAC (5thRound.com)
Who are the Pros Picking in the Upcoming Title-Fight Between Jon Jones-Rashad Evans? (TheFightNerd.com)
Ten Questions with Martin Kampmann (HeavyMMA.com)
A Look at Five Possible Opponents for Brian Stann (BleacherReport.com)
Jim Miller Signs Sponsorship Deal with TapouT (MMAPayout.com)
Things Getting Messy for FEG in Japan (FightOpinion.com)
Conference Call Audio from the Recent Sitdown with Jones-Evans (MMAConvert.com)
Ed Soares Thinks Sonnen is an “Idiot” (LowKick.com)
One-Handed Fighter Nick Newell Remains Undefeated with Win at XFC 17 (MMAMania.com)
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: mma, nick, mma community, sonnen, pain ‘s
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen Gives His Take On A Number Of Subjects During Fan Q&A
UFC middleweight top contender Chael Sonnen conducted a Q&A with MMA fans prior to Saturday’s UFC on FUEL TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva event. The session allows fans to ask Sonnen anything and everything, including possibly fighting UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and future foe and UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Here’s some of [...]
Posted in: ufc, fan, sonnen, mma fans, future foe
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWith mounting pressure on Rio de Janeiro mayor, UFC 147 date still undecided
STOCKHOLM - Maybe Chael Sonnen really hasn't signed that contract after all.
As it turns out, the planned UFC 147 rematch between Sonnen and UFC
middleweight champion Anderson Silva may not take
place on June 23, as was originally announced.
UFC president Dana White on Saturday revealed, a United Nations meeting,
"Rio +20" schedule for June 20-22 in Rio de Janeiro is causing a few
complications that may force the company to move UFC 147 to a different
date.
Posted in: ufc, rio, chael sonnen, sonnen, janeiro
Read the full article at MMA JunkieAnderson Silva-Chael Sonnen Rematch Date Could Be Changed
In March, the UFC officially announced the date and location of the Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch, but now the timing of the fight appears to be up in the air.
At a press conference following Saturday's UFC on FUEL event, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the date is no sure thing. In trying to finalize the show -- originally scheduled for June 23 -- the UFC has come up against some resistance because Rio happens to be hosting a United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development during the same week.
"The problem is, they don't like the idea of us coming the same time this United Nations convention is going on," he said. "The other problem is hotel rooms. Most of the hotel rooms are being taken up. And we don't think, we know that the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen fight is one of the biggest sporting events this year, in the world."
The UFC is expecting to run their event at Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, a soccer stadium which will likely hold around 55,000 people when reconfigured for MMA.
The UN conference is a three-day affair which takes place from June 20-22. The event's website does not estimate an attendance for the conference, saying it will draw "thousands," but does list 194 member nations. That conflicts greatly with the UFC's hope of taking over the city that week for Silva-Sonnen.
"I think it’s a huge sporting event," he said. "I think people will come to Rio from all over the world. I think we're going to need hotel rooms. Hopefully we’ll get this thing done the next few days, one way or the other."
The first Silva-Sonnen fight took place in August 2010, with Sonnen controlling the action for the first four-and-a-half rounds before Silva trapped him in a fight-ending triangle choke to retain his UFC middleweight championship.
Posted in: ufc, conference, event, sonnen, hotel rooms
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen To Host Live Chat Prior To UFC On FUEL TV 2: Gustafsson Vs. Silva
UFC middleweight No. 1 contender Chael Sonnen will talk one-on-one with MMA fans Saturday morning, as Sonnen hosts a live chat prior to making an appearance on the pre-fight show for UFC on FUEL TV 2: Gustafsson vs. Silva. The session with Sonnen will begin at 11:30 a.m. ET on FUEL.TV/livechat. Sonnen, who seems to [...]
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, fueltvlivechat sonnen, sonnen hosts
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBrian Stann: Strategy Was Right Against Chael Sonnen, But Couldn’t Execute
Brian Stann will look to rebound from his loss to Chael Sonnen when he fights Alessio Sakara on Saturday at UFC on Fuel TV 2.
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, couldn ’t
Read the full article at SherdogEd Soares plea to Brazil: Chael Sonnen's an idiot but please let Anderson Silva take care of him
At this point, I think we can all be sure that Chael Sonnen is playing a character when someone shoves a microphone in front of his face. That means whatever is said within the context of said character should be taken as though it wasn't said at all.
That's the message mixed martial arts (MMA) manager Ed Soares is sending to the people of Brazil ahead of Sonnen's trip to the South American country for the upcoming UFC 147 event to take on Anderson Silva on June 23, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro.
In short, Soares hopes fans let "The Spider" take care of all the heavy lifting (via portaldovaletudo.uol.com):
"Hopefully people will understand that they shouldn't do anything against Chael, just boo him. Let Anderson settle this with him in the Octagon. It will be very bad for Brazil if something happens to him. The guy is an idiot, but he is promoting the fight and it will be the greatest MMA fight of all time."
Essentially, let Sonnen keep running his mouth in character and Silva will kick his ass for real here in just another two months.
If you're thinking Soares is being a little melodramatic with his pleas, you may not remember that a Facebook page was set up calling for Brazilians to take matters into their own hands once he comes down to the country. Of course, nothing ever came of it and he's been there multiple times since then.
Still, let the fighters do the fighting and all that.
For more on the upcoming Silva vs. Sonnen rematch click here and for the latest and greatest on UFC 147 click here.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, soare
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEd Soares says Chael Sonnen is an idiot, but he is promoting the greatest MMA fight of all time
Ed Soares has come out with a plea for Brazilian fans in Rio de Janeiro on June 23, 2012, for UFC 147. Soares, the manager of UFC Middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, wants the fans to know that he knows how they feel, but has bigger plans in store for Sonnen. Many have speculated that the physical health of Sonnen would in jeopardy in Brazil, a country that he has created a great deal of highly-publicized smack against. Soares had the following to say today:
“Hopefully people will understand
Posted in: mma fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, soare, brazilian fans
Read the full article at Low KickMayhem Miller promises to end 'Fael' Sonnen's career after Anderson Silva 'kicks his head in'
Mayhem Miller vs. Chael Sonnen Twitter war, round two.
After the two mouthy middleweights exchanged barbs yesterday via the popular social media platform, Miller opened fire when prodded by fans over the difference in their respective accomplishments. In short, he promised to "end Sonnen's career" -- just as soon as Anderson Silva was done "kicking his head in."
From @MayhemMiller:
I love the MMA media's obsession with Fael. After the Brazilian kicks his head in, I'm going to end his career.
Sonnen actually defeated Miller via unanimous decision just over 10 years ago at the Hitman Fighting Productions "Rumble on the Reservation" event from the Cahuilla Creek Casino in Anza, California.
Miller is currently booked to face off against C.B. Dollaway at the UFC 146 pay-per-view (PPV) event on May 26, 2012 from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after that, Sonnen will try (again) to dethrone middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva at the UFC 147 extravaganza on June 23 in Rio.
After that?
It's not hard to imagine that if Sonnen loses and Miller wins, they could be paired off for a 185-pound grudge match at a future event. But would the results be any different the second time around?
For more on their recent Twitter war click here.
Posted in: anderson silva, miller, end, sonnen, reservation event
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJason 'Mayhem' Miller Continues To Badger Chael Sonnen On Twitter
Another day, another tweet. Yesterday, Jason Miller decided to start a dreaded twitter war with the king of the putdown, Chael Sonnen. He received a witty retort, of course. Today Mayhem was back at it, and decided to switch tactics a bit - apparently Tuesday is bold promise day in Mayhem World:
@mayhemmillerJason Mayhem Miller I love the MMA media's obsession with Fael. After the Brazilian kicks his head in, I'm going to end his career. Apr 10 via Twitter for iPhone Favorite Retweet Reply
I honestly don't know what Mayhem's trying to accomplish here. Even if he beats C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146, he's still in no position to face the number two middleweight in the world. The outcome of Silva vs. Sonnen 2 doesn't really matter in this regard. We'll see if Sonnen continues to respond or just chooses to turn the other cheek this time, but this kind of stuff doesn't interest me all that much. Lots of folks love a good twitter war though, so what can you do?
Posted in: mayhem, sonnen, twitter, cb dollaway, twitter war
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow“Mayhem” Miller calls out Chael Sonnen over TRT remarks
For the most part, anyone who has anything to do with Mixed Martial Arts has shared an opinion or two on UFC heavyweight contender Alistair Overeem’s recently failed drug test. Among those with something to say was Chael Sonnen, the outspoken middleweight challenger set for a collision with rival Anderson Silva this summer in Brazil.
“I’m shocked. (He) has the body fat of a tooth brush (and) looks like the guy on Street Fighter. My mind is blown, just blown,” Sonnen sarcastically wrote on Twitter.
Apparently his comments didn’t sit well with fellow UFC 185er Jason Miller who took Sonnen to task for what he felt was a hypocritical stance given Sonnen’s own past issue with testosterone use.
“Chael berating someone on their test level is like me making fun of someone’s bad haircut,” wrote Miller (also on Twitter). Sonnen was handed a yearlong suspension based on an issue with testosterone use after his original meeting with Silva in 2010.
Sonnen caught wind of the remarks, firing back a salvo of his own, saying, “MayHem: Due to time constraints I am currently confining my Twitter wars to active, relevant, fighters ONLY. Buy a T-shirt on your way out.”
“Don’t worry – you’re a beatdown away from obscurity,” Miller quickly retorted. “I’ll be happy to beat your head in – that’s if it’s not still on a pike in Rio.”
Miller Says He Will Quit the UFC if He Loses Next Fight
While a meeting in the immediate future between the two seems far fetched given the division’s current status, anything is possible down the road. Sonnen fights Silva in June while Miller is matched with CB Dollaway over Memorial Day Weekend at UFC 146.
PHOTO CREDIT – STRIKEFORCE
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, miller, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Fighters.comCSAC Moving Forward with TUEs for TRT and Marijuana
Chael Sonnen can add another interesting distinction to his already interestingly distinct MMA career, as his 2010 dust-up with the California State Athletic Commission over testosterone replacement therapy has led directly to the CSAC passing a new amendment on the issue.
More specifically, the CSAC passed an amendment that will grant fighters the ability to request therapeutic use exemptions for drugs which are banned for competition but not for medical treatment by California. That encompasses both testosterone replacement therapy and marijuana, the two drugs at the forefront of the TUE discussion.
The story was first reported by Sport’s Illustrated.
The amendment has not been passed into law yet. The state’s Department of Consumer Affairs and Office of Administrative Law will both be required to review and sign off on the amendment before that can happen. This could take a considerable amount of time and there’s no guarantee that the amendment will be passed into law.
Following his UFC 117 title fight loss to middleweight champ Anderson Silva in 2010, Sonnen registered raised testosterone levels, in addition to testing positive for synthetic testosterone. Sonnen cited his affliction with hypogonadism as the reason for taking testosterone and said that he’d been cleared to undergo TRT by previous CSAC officials. Due to the confusion around his claims and the fact that no set process was in place to determine how or if a fighter could obtain a TUE, the CSAC got to work creating one.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, the legitimacy by which fighters can obtain TUEs for varying substances is currently being called into question. Nick Diaz’s positive test for marijuana brought up the possibility of TUEs for that drug. Several high-profile fighters have been revealed to be undergoing TRT questionably and/or have registered elevated T/E Ratios (Chael Sonnen, Nate Marquardt, Alistair Overeem) recently, leading many to ask if TUEs for TRT aren’t just loopholes to allow for sanctioned doping.
One way or the other it’s an issue that athletic commissions, like California, need to be addressing.
Posted in: sonnen, testosterone, amendment, csac, tue
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC Tonight Looks At Silva vs. Sonnen II and Other Upcoming Rematches
From UFC Tonight, Todd and Kenny discuss Silva vs. Sonnen II, Wanderlei vs. Vitor II, and Forrest vs. Tito III.
UFC Tonight airs every Tuesday at 10pm ET/7pm PT on FUEL TV.
Posted in: ufc, vs, silva, sonnen, ii
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen-Jason “Mayhem” Miller take aim at each other on Twitter
Chael Sonnen doesn’t tend to let a fight – physical or verbal – go without getting in his fair share of blows. After making some remarks concerning Alistair Overeem and his failed drug test for elevated levels of testosterone over the weekend, Sonnen was verbally attacked by Jason “Mayhem” Miller. Apparently, like many fans, Miller seems to remember a certain contender failing a drug test following his loss to Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title in 2010.
“Chael berating someone on their test level is like me making fun of someone’s bad haircut,” Miller posted on his Twitter account.
The words struck a chord with Sonnen who quickly replied back on his own Twitter page with, “MayHem: Due to time constraints I am currently confining my Twitter wars to active, relevant, fighters ONLY. Buy a T-shirt on your way out.”
The host of MTV’s Bully Beatdown and ex-Ultimate Fighter coach didn’t let it end there, replying back, “Don’t worry – you’re a beatdown away from obscurity. I’ll be happy to beat your head in – that’s if it’s not still on a pike in Rio.”
Despite their conflict, Sonnen and Miller are not likely to meet up anytime soon inside the Octagon, as Sonnen has a title match set with Silva at UFC 147 in Brazil, while Miller is taking on C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, miller, sonnen, twitter, drug test
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen and Mayhem Miller collide in Twitter war
How do mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters do their trash talking these days?
They take it to the Twitter boards, of course.
At least, that's what Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight combatants Jason Miller and Chael Sonnen, who is no stranger to taking to the popular social site to express his feelings on all things MMA, did yesterday (April 9, 2012) as the two were involved in a brief, yet entertaining, war of tweets.
Following Sonnen's tweet in what one would assume was his response to Overeem's failed drug test via his personal Twitter account, "Mayhem" got on his personal account and fired a verbal jab at the master of trash-talk, insinuating the hypocrisy of his tweet due to the fact that Chael tested positive for performance enhancing drugs after his bout with Anderson Silva at UFC 117 two years ago to which Chael stated that he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Sonnen, of course, quickly dismissed Miller, and his relevance in MMA for that matter, with his own Sonnen-esque rebuttal.
Make the jump to see for yourself:
@mayhemmillerChael berating someone on their test level is like me making fun of someone's bad haircut.
@sonnenchMayHem: Due to time constraints I am currently confining my Twitter wars to active, relevant, fighters ONLY. Buy a T-shirt on your way out.
@mayhemmiller@sonnench don't worry-you're a beatdown away from obscurity. I'll be happy to beat your head in-that's if it's not still on a pike in Rio
Those is fighting words!
Though Sonnen and Miller are very far apart in the rankings, Chael being the clear number two 185-pound fighter in the world and Miller not even cracking the top 10, the two are unlikely to meet anytime soon. However, the possibility of the two trash-talking 185-pounders meeting inside the Octagon is something most fans wouldn't mind seeing become a reality.
Both, however, do have a recent common opponent. Miller fell quite short against Michael Bisping at the Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale this past December while Sonnen proved victorious against "The Count" at the UFC on Fox 2 co-main event the following month, earning a unanimous decision victory over the British brawler.
Sonnen will next be in action this summer as he is scheduled to receive his long desired rematch against UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 147 on June 23, 2012 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "Mayhem," on the other hand, will look to prolong his stay in the UFC by looking to take out "The Doberman" C.B. Dollaway at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012.
While both have their hands full with other respective opponents, that hasn't stopped either of them from firing taunting tweets at one another.
How about it Maniacs, any of you interested in seeing these two exchange leather inside the eight-walled cage instead of verbal jabs on the world wide web?
Posted in: ufc, miller, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMayhem Miller and Chael Sonnen Get Into On Twitter Over Alistair Overeem’s Drug Test
I'm shocked.. Has the body fat of a tooth brush, looks like the guy on STREET FIGHTER. My mind is blown, just blown.April 4, 2012 10:51 pm via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
Someone was bound to say something after Chael Sonnen took a shot at Alistair Overeem last week for failing the same drug test he did.
That someone was Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
Chael berating someone on their test level is like me making fun of someone's bad haircut.about 23 hours ago via txtReplyRetweetFavorite@mayhemmillerJason Mayhem Miller
Never one to be outdone, Uncle Chael fired right back.
MayHem: Due to time constraints I am currently confining my Twitter wars to active, relevant, fighters ONLY. Buy a T-shirt on your way out.about 18 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
Surprisingly though, it was Mayhem who got in the last word.
. @sonnench don't worry-you're a beatdown away from obscurity. I'll be happy to beat your head in-that's if it's not still on a pike in Rio.about 10 hours ago via Twitter for iPhoneReplyRetweetFavorite@mayhemmillerJason Mayhem Miller
Chael is generally the better trash talker, but I think I gotta give this one to Mayhem. Mayhem pointing out how obscenely hypocritical Chael was being by taking a shot at Overeem (a fact which I’m sure was not lost on Sonnen) was just too much for the self-proclaimed UFC middleweight champion to overcome.
Posted in: chael sonnen, someone, mayhem, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertTwitter Beef: UFC's Mayhem Miller And Chael Sonnen Go At It
UFC middleweight Jason "Mayhem" Miller isn't one to be shy about expressing his opinions so when fellow UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen took to Twitter to bag on Alistair Overeem for failing a pre-UFC 146 drug test, Miller was quick to pipe up:
@mayhemmillerJason Mayhem Miller Chael berating someone on their test level is like me making fun of someone's bad haircut. Apr 09 via txt Favorite Retweet Reply
No shrinking violet himself, Sonnen didn't pull any punches on his response:
@sonnenchchael sonnen MayHem: Due to time constraints I am currently confining my Twitter wars to active, relevant, fighters ONLY. Buy a T-shirt on your way out. Apr 09 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Sonnen faces UFC champ Anderson Silva for the title at UFC 147. Miller faces C.B. Dollaway on the undercard of UFC 146. He has promised to retire if he loses that bout.
Posted in: ufc, miller, mayhem, sonnen, test level
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen Hosts Q&A Prior To UFC 145 Weigh-ins
No stranger to a microphone, top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen gets the UFC Fight Club Q&A duties April 20 prior to the UFC 145 weigh-ins at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, chael, weighin, fox theatre
Read the full article at Heavy MMAJason Mayhem Miller takes a stab on Twitter at Chael Sonnen and PEDs. Sonnen's reply in comments
submitted by asdf482 [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: jason, miller, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen Reports, As Only He Can, On Alistair Overeem Incident
Chael Sonnen, known by many as the mouth of the UFC, has decided to give us his take on the Alistair Overeem situation.
Unles you’ve been living under a rock, or don’t follow the UFC, Overeem was tested by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and found to have an extra-large amount of testosterone in his system. The failed test is putting a dark cloud over the scheduled Junior dos Santos-Overeem UFC heavyweight title fight for UFC 146.
Sonnen posted an interesting few words on his Twitter account recently, in regards to the Overeem failed drug test.
I’m shocked. Has the body fat of a tooth brush, looks like the guy on STREET FIGHTER. My mind is blown, just blown.
We are still awaiting word on what Overeem plans to do in terms of possible trying to see his fight license from NSAC. Sonnen, however, is set for a match with Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title later this year.
Photo credit: Tracy Lee/Yahoo Sports!
Posted in: ufc, overeem, sonnen, nsac sonnen, extralarge amount
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 145 weigh-ins slated for April 20 in Atlanta, Chael Sonnen hosts Q&A
Official fighter weigh-ins for this month's "UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans" event take place April 20.
Atlanta's Phillips Arena hosts both the weigh-ins and the following day's pay-per-view event.
Prior to the weigh-ins, which are free and open to the public, UFC 147 headliner and middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen hosts a Q&A session with UFC Fight Club members.
Posted in: ufc, host, sonnen, weighin, qampa session
Read the full article at MMA Junkie
'Bisping Hit Me Hard and it Hurt a Lot' True Confessions from Chael Sonnen: Fan's Look (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
On the April 3rd edition of "UFC Tonight" on Fuel TV, fans were treated to another episode of "Chael's Corner". Here's a snippet of what he had to say, "Fighters have recently seen it as their quasi-job to continually put out misinformation.
Posted in: fan, edition, sonnen, chael, confession
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsChael Sonnen sick of the lying in MMA
UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen once again lived up to his reputation as a sliver-tongued scrapper this week during a segment of “Chael’s Corner” on UFC Tonight where he took his peers to task over a topic many would argue he himself is quite familiar with – lying. Sonnen made it clear he isn’t necessarily concerned about things his fellow fighters say to help promote future pairings so much as their lack of general honesty with the public.
“There’s a tremendous difference with what fighters say versus what fighters mean,” began Sonnen before going into a full-fledged rant. “For example, ‘I don’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges,’ means, ‘I didn’t train to go three rounds.’”
Sonnen listed off a variety of other instances involving similar misinformation, then turned his focus towards fighters who don’t give full credit to opponents they’ve faced as a way of acting tough instead of being completely open on the subject.
“I don’t understand why fighters don’t just talk plainly. In my last fight I took on a gentleman named Michael Bisping. He hit me very hard and it hurt a lot. And people were shocked that I’d admit that. Because they’re all so used to lying,” Sonnen explained of his January 28 meeting with the talented Brit. “Well guess what, if a guy hits you hard and it hurts, is your ego so small that you can’t pay him a compliment? Is your ego so fragile that you can’t say, ‘Look, I had my bell rung in the middle of a fist fight’? It kinda seems like a normal thing to happen to me. I expect to be hit hard. I expect to be kicked hard. I don’t need to hide from those things.”
If only he extended the same courtesy to Triangle Choke finishes at the end of a fight…
Check out the complete video from Sonnen below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fighter, ’t, thing, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBrian Stann wants a Top 5 opponent next, picks Chael Sonnen to win middleweight title
After recently suffering his first loss as a middleweight Brian Stann gained new appreciation in two areas – how important a win in his next bout would be and the amount of talent possessed by Chael Sonnen. Both topics recently came up while Stann, preparing to face Alessio Sakara on April 14 at UFC on Fuel 2, sat down to speak with the crew on UFC Tonight.
When asked about where he saw himself in the 185-pound division, Stann pointed to the importance of a stoppage in proving he belonged at the top of the heap, saying, “I think a win…a finish…puts me right back where I was, right back on the ladder climbing towards a title-shot.”
“Hopefully I’ll only be 2-3 fights away from one after a win over Alessio,” he continued. “I haven’t thought who I’d fight after this fight to be honest. I know that this is an important fight for me…this is a big fight to me, I haven’t looked past it. Beat Alessio Sakara, get a finish in this fight. That’s what I wanna do and then I want a Top 5 guy. I wanna get back towards a title run.”
Stann Talks New Perspective After Personal Loss
On the subject to championship clashes, Stann weighed in on the upcoming bout between middleweight king Anderson Silva and fierce rival Sonnen.
“I think that Chael Sonnen takes it,” stated Stann, straying from popular opinion. “I think there are a lot of factors that are gonna play into that. Just similar to when I fought Chael, I think he’s particularly a very, very difficult match-up for Anderson Silva just due to the years and years of difference in grappling, just how physical Chael is when he’s on top. We’re gonna have to see some new techniques from Anderson that he wasn’t able to showcase in that first fight.”
Though the decorated military veteran admitted Sonnen’s last opponent, Michael Bisping, had exposed a few areas Silva could focus on against the colorful grappler, in the end Stann still felt Sonnen would show up with his “A” game in June and do the unthinkable by taking Silva’s belt in front of a Brazilian crowd.
“I think he’ll be on like he normally is and I think the advantage goes to Chael in that rematch,” Stann concluded.
Watch the complete interview below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann, chael
Read the full article at Fighters.comBJJ Black Belt Vinny Magalhaes To Help Chael Sonnen Train For UFC 147
Chael Sonnen is dead-set on learning from his loss to Anderson Silva via triangle choke in the fifth round.
Sonnen, who was winning the fight on all three scorecards before “The Spider” caught him and forced the submission, will be training with second-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Vinny Magalhaes, according to Magalhaes’ Twitter account.
Forget about my last post about competing. Instead, I’m heading to Oregon to help the UFC MW (middleweight) Champ get ready for his title fight in Brazil.
Referring to Sonnen as the champion is something Sonnen himself has done since falling to Silva, as he believes he won the title because he won the fight. Silva, of course, will enter the fight as the UFC middleweight champion.
Magalhaes is currently a free agent after leaving M-1 as its champion because of a contract issue. He is a former runner-up on The Ultimate Fighter, and has won his last five fights.
Silva-Sonnen 2 takes place in June at UFC 147 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sonnen’s decision to bring in someone with the credentials of Magalhaes shows that he does want to improve his game, and hopefully avoid another submission by Silva.
Photo credit: Esther Lin/FanHouse
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, magalhae
Read the full article at MMA ConvertSonnen seeks help from BJJ ace Magalhaes
UFC top contender Chael Sonnen has recruited Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Vinny Magalhaes to help prepare for his bout vs. champ Anderson Silva.
Posted in: silva, sonnen, magalhae, chael, ace
Read the full article at sportsnet.caChael Sonnen enlists jiu-jitsu world champion Vinny Magalhaes to help train for Anderson Silva rematch
If you think Vinny Magalhaes is "that guy who got knocked out by Ryan Bader" in The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 Finale, then you better ask somebody.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) black belt is the winner of five straight, finishing all five of his opponents in the process en route to capturing the M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Championship. And in his spare time, he packed on a few pounds to win the 99 kilogram division of the 2011 Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) submission grappling world championships by defeating Fabricio Werdum.
Not too shabby.
Those are the kind of credentials that keep you employed, and Magalhaes' next paying gig will take place in Oregon, where he'll lend his grappling expertise to current UFC middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen, who unfortunately has a long history of tapping to Brazilians.
That includes a heartbreaking loss he suffered to Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 117 back in 2010, where he brutalized "The Spider" for four-and-a-half rounds prior to getting caught in a fight-ending triangle choke.
Will history repeat itself in their UFC 147 rematch on June 23 in Brazil? Not if Magalhaes, who Renzo Gracie says has the best jiu-jitsu in the heavyweight division, has anything to say about it.
But what about the critics who question his motivation behind training Sonnen, widely perceived as Brazil's number one enemy in all of mixed martial arts (MMA)?
Vinny says, "Shut the F--- Up."
From his official Twitter account:
I do have all these responsibilities, so If you're going to question why I'm going to train with Chael, why don't you just pay me to sit at home and not go to Oregon, I will do that for you without a problem, but if you are not willing to do that, sometimes is just better not give your opinion and shut the fuck up before you get all your facts straight.
Fedor wanted me to go there train with him, when the rumors were that he was going to have a rematch against Fabricio Werdum (A brazilian), did I go to Russia to train with him? No... Why I didn't? Because there was not going to be any pay for my services. I will always put my family in first place, I don't know if that's how you guys think, but with me If my family depends on me, I will do whatever I can to provide them the best I can.
Also, I'm Not sure if it was noticed, but on the title of the thread it clearly says "HIRES", I guess that makes it pretty clear that I'm not going there as a favor. And I guarantee that neither was Chael expecting me to leave my job and family just to help him as a favor.
Nothing personal, just business.
Let's get some feedback here, Maniacs. Sonnen is clearly making every possible effort to correct the mistakes that have plagued him throughout his career and has already proven he's got the juice to hang with Silva across five rounds.
But will it make a difference?
Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II at UFC 147 from the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 23, 2012.
Who ya' got?
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, fabricio werdum, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: One Hour of Epicness
submitted by ThunderDomePatrol [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: hour, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, epicnes
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen on "What fighters say vs. What fighters mean"
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who will challenge division champion Anderson Silva in Brazil, dedicates his "Chael's Corner" segment on UFC Tonight to exposing common lies told by his fellow mixed martial artists. Sonnen explains why a fighter dodges questions, avoids going the distance, switches training camps, and much more.
Posted in: fighter, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, artists sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickBrian Stann Points To Chael Sonnen To Defeat Anderson Silva At UFC 147
Brian Stann has been inside the Octagon with Chael Sonnen, and has watched UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva compete for several years now.
So, when Stann decides to give his opinion on a fight, it carries some weight to it. While appearing on UFC Tonight recently, Stann offered his insight on the upcoming rematch between Silva and Sonnen, which is scheduled for UFC 147.
I think that Chael Sonnen takes it. I think he’s particularly a very, very difficult match up for Anderson Silva.
Stann is currently awaiting his next fight, which is set for later this month from Sweden against Alessio Sakara at UFC on FUEL TV: Silva vs. Gustafsson. Stann lost to Sonnen late in 2011, and will need to make a strong impact against Sakara if he wants to remain in the Top-10 in the division.
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at MMA Convert‘The Voice of Reason’: Chael Sonnen’s Debut Book to be Released May 15
Just in time for the buildup for his UFC 147 main event against Anderson Silva in Rio de Janeiro, Chael Sonnen's first book hits shelves on May 15. Look out, world.
Posted in: anderson silva, book, sonnen, chael, shelve
Read the full article at Heavy MMAChael Sonnen believes there are liars in the UFC that need to be exposed
Even when Chael Sonnen lies, he's still telling the truth. His lies hijack facts for ransom and will only let them free if they give into their demands. Chael Sonnen is a reality terrorist. If you've followed the UFC middleweight since his rise within the division, then you're fully aware that Sonnen's tongue is harmonized with the great orators of the past. In fact, the guy is like Muhammad Ali and Cassius Clay combined -- and Sonnen will absolutely make you believe they are two separate people. The truth is, Chael Sonnen knows who the liars are in the UFC and on last night's episode of UFC Tonight on Fuel TV, he did his best to expose these individuals.
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, hijack facts
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael's Corner: Chael Sonnen Exposes Liars In The UFC
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, mattyblayze, chael, liar
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen Exposes Liars In The UFC
Chael Sonnen never pulls any punches and that extends to his fellow fighters when it comes to the interviews they give to the media.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, fellow fighters, liar
Read the full article at MMA Weekly
Will Chael Sonnen be murdered in Rio?
That seems to be the general concern of the MMA fanbase. From a letter to the Sunday Junkie:
This is one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history but could come at a terrible cost. With all the trash Sonnen has said about Brazil, the Brazilians hate him so much that one of Yushin Okami's Brazilian sponsors threatened to take away its sponsorship if Sonnen went Brazil to support Okami. Sonnen has gotten numerous threats due to what he has said. So just think what will happen if Brazil's No. 1 enemy walked into their house and took down their hero. What if he gets mobbed on his way to or from the cage? How does that make the UFC look? Is the reward of breaking attendance records worth risking fighter safety/life?
It's a general misconception that all lands south of the US / Mexico border are Mad Max style battlegrounds where one wrong step will result in getting stabbed in the eye. We joke about it all the time because what can we say, we're scared of Others and making vaguely racist jokes about societies we don't understand makes us feel better about ourselves. Plus the Mad Max thing is at least 30% truthish.
Does the UFC share the same fear of Brazilians? Well, maybe a fear of soccer hooligans, but overall Dana White says everyone needs to chillax a little:
"I think Brazil is getting a bad rap. To be honest with you, the first few times that I went to Brazil I was very nervous and thought, 'oh my God,' this and that. I've been to Brazil many times and Brazil as a country and Brazilians as a people are getting a bad rap. Brazil isn't as dangerous and as scary and as crazy as everybody thinks it is. I mean sure, there has been some bad things that have happened down there in the past. Bad things happen everywhere, you know? We can say the same thing in Detroit, we can say the same thing in New York, we can say the same thing in a lot of cities across the United States. Yes, he (Sonnen) has said a lot of stuff about Brazilians and that country and lots of people are going to tune in and show up to see Anderson Silva kick his ass because that is what the Brazilians want. I don't think that it's at a point where, you now, people down there want to hurt Chael Sonnen, you know what I mean? They are going to show up, watch a sporting event and they are going to look for their countrymen and their hero and the best fighter ever to come out of Brazil or any other country around the world to win that night against Chael."
Posted in: brazil, chael sonnen, thing, sonnen, brazilian
Read the full article at FightlinkerCM Punk Hoping to Corner Chael Sonnen in Middleweight Title Fight at UFC 147
After being unable to attend UFC on Fox 2 in January, WWE wrestler CM Punk is hoping he will be able to corner Chael Sonnen at UFC 147 in Brazil in June. The wrestler expressed interest in cornering the UFC middleweight and friend in Sonnen, who will face UFC champion Anderson Silva at the event on June 23rd in Rio de Janeiro.
CM Punk, a Chicago native, was unable to corner Sonnen during Sonnen’s last fight due to unannounced circumstances. While he admits the chances are slim, CM Punk does state that he is still very interested in helping out his friend. He spoke with ESPN, and discussed his intentions.
“I would love to be down there in Brazil, literally, in Chael’s corner,” said Punk. “Because that just seems like my kind of environment, you know. I’d love to start a riot with my homeboy [Sonnen].”
Sonnen has yet to discuss the situation, but he did state his support for the decision prior to UFC on Fox 2, where he defeated Michael Bisping to earn the title shot.
With CM Punk being unable to participate in an event taking place in his hometown, it seems unlikely that he will be able to attend an event that is over 4000 miles away. But for now, the possibility does remain just that, a possibility.
Posted in: ufc, punk, sonnen, cm punk, cm
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC's Dana White: 'Brazil Is Getting A Bad Rap'
One of the most common "concerns" that seems to come up with regard to the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is the idea that the Brazilian fans will attempt to attack Sonnen. While Chael has certainly been condescending toward Brazilian fighters, the idea that the fanbase is a group of wild, violent savages is a bit unfair.
That's something UFC president Dana White backed up while talking to Heavy MMA:
Quote after the jump.
Here's what Dana had to say (transcribed by MMA Mania):
I think Brazil is getting a bad rap. To be honest with you, the first few times that I went to Brazil I was very nervous and thought, 'oh my God,' this and that. I've been to Brazil many times and Brazil as a country and Brazilians as a people are getting a bad rap. Brazil isn't as dangerous and as scary and as crazy as everybody thinks it is. I mean sure, there has been some bad things that have happened down there in the past. Bad things happen everywhere, you know? We can say the same thing in Detroit, we can say the same thing in New York, we can say the same thing in a lot of cities across the United States. Yes, he (Sonnen) has said a lot of stuff about Brazilians and that country and lots of people are going to tune in and show up to see Anderson Silva kick his ass because that is what the Brazilians want. I don't think that it's at a point where, you now, people down there want to hurt Chael Sonnen, you know what I mean? They are going to show up, watch a sporting event and they are going to look for their countrymen and their hero and the best fighter ever to come out of Brazil or any other country around the world to win that night against Chael.
Posted in: brazil, chael sonnen, thing, sonnen, brazilian
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC Quick Quote: Dana White says the country of Brazil and its people are getting a bad rap
"I think Brazil is getting a bad rap. To be honest with you, the first few times that I went to Brazil I was very nervous and thought, 'oh my God,' this and that. I've been to Brazil many times and Brazil as a country and Brazilians as a people are getting a bad rap. Brazil isn't as dangerous and as scary and as crazy as everybody thinks it is. I mean sure, there has been some bad things that have happened down there in the past. Bad things happen everywhere, you know? We can say the same thing in Detroit, we can say the same thing in New York, we can say the same thing in a lot of cities across the United States. Yes, he (Sonnen) has said a lot of stuff about Brazilians and that country and lots of people are going to tune in and show up to see Anderson Silva kick his ass because that is what the Brazilians want. I don't think that it's at a point where, you now, people down there want to hurt Chael Sonnen, you know what I mean? They are going to show up, watch a sporting event and they are going to look for their countrymen and their hero and the best fighter ever to come out of Brazil or any other country around the world to win that night against Chael."
Ever since the long awaited rematch between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen was rumored to go down in "The Spider's" home country of Brazil, fans and media alike immediately started to worry for Sonnen's safety. After all, the country has been Sonnen's favorite target when it comes to his ever-so entertaining verbal jabs. Even UFC Heavyweight contender Frank Mir has expressed his concerns should he ever have to fight a Brazilian in his own home country. Now that the bout has been confirmed for June 23, 2012, in Rio de Janeiro, UFC President Dana White assures everyone (via Fight Day) that Chael will be fine once he touches down for his fight against one of Brazil's most beloved sons, Anderson Silva. Known for its sandy beaches and beautiful women, Brazil is also known for its dangerous crime ridden "favelas." But, as White states, danger can be present in any country in the United States, if not the world. Anyone think Chael should beef up his security while in Rio, just in case? Or is all this worrying for Sonnen's safety all for naught?
Posted in: brazil, thing, sonnen, chael, country
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWrestling Superstar CM Punk Discusses Being In Chael Sonnen’s Corner In Brazil
Back when Chael Sonnen was preparing to face Michael Bisping at an event earlier this year, reports of WWE superstar CM Punk being in the corner of Sonnen picked up steam. The card was held in Chicago – the hometown of Punk’s – but, according to reports, either his schedule, WWE chairman Vince McMahon or a combination of both kept Punk from cornering Sonnen.
Well, Sonnen went on to win the fight and secure the title of No. 1 contender in the UFC’s middleweight division. Now, he’s on schedule to face Anderson Silva for the belt later this year in Brazil at UFC 147: Silva vs. Sonnen 2. In a recent interview with ESPN’s James Walker, Punk talked about why he’s such good friends with Sonnen, and the slim chance of him going with the challenger to Brazil.
I think the reason Chael and I are good friends is because we are both extremely honest. He shocked the world last time when he took it to Anderson. His takedown is second-to-none, and that’s Anderson’s weakness. They match up on paper beautifully. Chael has to take him down and grind it out. Obviously, I’m in Chael’s corner. I would love to be down there in Brazil, literally, in Chael’s corner. Because that just seems like my kind of environment, you know. I’d love to start a riot with my homeboy.
Punk, who is set to compete this coming weekend at Wrestlemania 28 against Chris Jericho, added that his schedule forces him to work most Saturdays, so the odds of him being with Sonnen don’t appear good.
If there is ever an opportunity for pro wrestling and MMA to come together, Sonnen and Punk seem to be the perfect tag team.
Posted in: punk, brazil, sonnen, chael, corner
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 147 fight card and rumors for 'Silva vs Sonnen II' on June 23 in Brazil
Event: UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen II"Date: Sat., June 23, 2012, at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-viewLocation: Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Main Event:
155 lbs.: UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen
Other scheduled bouts:
185 lbs.: Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva145 lbs.: TUF: Brazil featherweight finals185 lbs.: TUF: Brazil middleweight finals265 lbs.: Mike Russow vs. Fabricio Werdum155 lbs.: Felipe Arantes vs. Milton Vieira
For all the latest and greatest updates on UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen II" check out our complete news archive by clicking here.
Posted in: vs, silva, lb, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaReader Rants: Mo Lawal’s dismissal, the Anderson Silva/Chael Sonnen rematch, and an overweight fighter (Cagewriter)
Welcome to another edition of Reader Rants, where Cagereaders get their say. This week, though we're still in a Zuffa drought, you all had plenty of opinions to share.
On King Mo's release from Strikeforce after calling a commissioner a bad name on Twitter :
It was kind of ignorant for her to ask him if he knew how to read or write. Instead of being "funny" or "racist" she could have just plainly asked him if he read through the application----in particular the part with the question of taking different meds/steroids/drugs. -- David Feinblatt
He should have not lost his job. There have been a lot of worse things said on Twitter by Dana White and other UFC fighters. He'll get his job back. -- Angel D. Gutierrez-Ruiz
Nothing was commented on more than the Anderson Silva/Chael Sonnen rematch :
I believe the rematch will allow Sonnen to back up what he said about the first fight. Win it and give Silva the beating hes never experienced in the cage before. -- Larry Conley
Posted in: rematch, sonnen, reader rants, gutierrezruiz nothing, fighter cagewriter
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsDana White Assures Everyone Silva vs. Sonnen 2 is Happening; Presser Scheduled
Don’t let Chael Sonnen fool you, he's fighting Anderson Silva at UFC 147 in Brazil and he'll be heading there in April along with Dana White to officially announce UFC 147.
Posted in: ufc, silva, dana, anderson silva, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA Weekly
ULTMMA Podcast Episode 19: Look back at UFC buying Pride, Nick Diaz please come back, & the 15 minutes of Sonnen fame
Podcast Powered By Podbean Topics covered in this episode- A fan's perspective and look back at the UFC buying out Pride in March 2007-The debacle that was the King Mo hearing with the NSAC- Does the UFC need to play a larger role in testing for PEDs? - Our longing for another Nick Diaz fight before the end of 2012-Sonnen vs. Silva II prefight build and where does Sonnen go if he loses again?
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, ufc need, podbean topics, fans perspective
Read the full article at UltMMAChael Sonnen promo on Anderson Silva: Of course your rib hurts, it's inside of a coward
"The Voice of Reason," according to his new book at least, is back with more firepower he's slinging at Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
Chael Sonnen's promo work started strong back before the first match-up between the two but has since fizzled into outright stealing pro wrestler's old material. Now, though, he seems to be back to his old ways with this solid little bit:
"I stomped you before and I will stomp you again. You are a nuisance to me and to everybody else. You ducked me for six years. You ducked me for two years after that. There's nothing I can do more than pick a fight. You put every stipulation on this thing that you could think of and I answered them all, including coming to Brazil like that's some kind of a big deal. What's the difference? It's a plane ride somewhere. I'm not fighting you in Brazil, I'm not fighting you in Chicago, I'm not fighting you in Florida; I'm fighting you in the Octagon. And when you get in there and I get in there, I'm going to stomp you this time same as I did last time. You can complain about your rib. I'm sure your rib did hurt; your rib is inside of a coward. That's the problem your rib's got, it's got the same problem your hands and feet have -- they're attached to you, dummy. I'm going to be attached to you, too, for 25 minutes or until you give up."
The rematch between the two is still not officially official, as contracts have yet to be signed, sealed, and delivered, but the date has been set for UFC 147 on June 23 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
While Sonnen did, indeed, give "The Spider" all he could handle for 23 minutes back in Aug. 2010 in Oakland, it's going to be a whole new ball game when he goes traveling into the belly of the beast to attempt to dethrone the middleweight king on his home soil.
In front of rabid fans that, let's face it, aren't exactly fond of Mr. Sonnen.
Can he finish the job this time out? Is he good enough to avoid another last minute submission? We'll find out soon enough. In the meantime, hear more from the number one contender after the jump.
Posted in: time, sonnen, minute, im, rib
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen's demands have not been met
While the UFC has officially announced Silva vs Sonnen 2, Chael sonnen would like you to know he hasn't actually signed his contract yet:
“My demand has not been met,” said Sonnen to MMAFighting, adding he’d signed nothing and would let the world know his terms in the immediate future.
Who knows if this is referring to his challenge at UFC 136 where he laid down the gauntlet and said "If I beat you, you leave the Middleweight division. If you beat me, I'll leave the UFC forever" or something else. Maybe he's cooked up some fresh pro wrestling angle he's trying to weave into the fight. Winner gets his steak cooked by Anderson's wife however he likes it. Loser has to stick his face in Roy Nelson's sweaty gunt. Stuff like that.Barring Chael not signing his contract (yeah, sure), you should now be prepared for three months of what I'm sure will be non-stop sh*t talking. Let's get it started with the above video:
Anderson said I need to stop talking and start training and my response simply would be: why? Why is it that I would do that? And by the way, Anderson, if I want you opinion I will beat it out of you. Don’t walk around handing out free advice, why don’t you grab a sharpie and draw Steve Segal’s widow peak on him. His hairline is about as authentic as his fighting abilities. So, you go sing to your hamburgers and dance on stage with Justin Bieber and I’ll handle the heavy work in this company live I have done for the past 5 years in your absence. You don’t matter, Anderson, and when you talk to me and talk down on me – don’t talk down on me, don’t talk to me like you’re my equal cause you’re not, I stomped you before and I’ll stomp you again. You are a nuisance to me and to everybody else, you ducked me for 6 years, then you ducked me for 2 years after that. There’s nothing I can do more than pick a fight. You put every stipulation you could on this thing that you could think of and I answered them all, including coming to Brazil like that’s some kind of a big deal. What’s the difference? It’s a plane ride somewhere. I’m not fighting you in Brazil, I’m not fighting you in Chicago, I’m not fighting you in Florida; I’m fighting you in the octagon and you when you get there and I get in there, I’m going to stomp you this time the same as I did last time. You can complain about your rib, I’m sure your rib did hurt, your rib is inside of a coward, that’s the problem your rib’s got. It’s got the same problem your hands and feet have, they’re attached to you dummy. I’m going to be attached to you to for 25 minutes or until you give up.
Posted in: ’t, i ’m, ’m, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at FightlinkerMMA Roundtable: Should King Mo Have Been Cut, UFC vs. PRIDE Heavyweight Rosters and More
As we all digest the news of what happened to Muhammed Lawal and keep waiting for UFC 145 to get here already, MMA Fighting felt it appropriate to have my colleague Mike Chiappetta and I debate the weighty topics of today in another installment of the MMA Roundtable.
This week: Mike and I discuss whether Zuffa made the right call in cutting Lawal for his comments about the NSAC on Twitter, if there's a case to be made to change Bellator's tournament format, what chances Chael Sonnen has in his rematch with Anderson Silva and how the UFC heavyweights of today compare with PRIDE's best heavyweight era.
1. King Mo's cut: is that the right call by Zuffa?Chiappetta: No. I would have preferred he was simply fined. It would have been one thing if they released Lawal due to his nine-month suspension ruling by the Nevada state athletic commission stemming from a positive steroids test. At least then they could say they were punishing him for an illegal act related to the sport. Instead, it seems he has been let go due to his reaction to the suspension. More specifically, a tweet he sent out aimed at NSAC commission member Pat Lundvall, which referred to her as a "racist b----" for asking him if he could read and write English.Now, two wrongs don't make a right here, so Lawal wasn't exactly justified in his words. You can't have your athletes going around firing off venom, because that sets a terrible precedent. Policing the fighters has to be done. But stripping him of his livelihood for it seems a little bit harsh. I can understand his anger for being asked such a degrading question. He's not exactly a nobody, and any cursory knowledge of his background -- something by the way, that should exist in a ruling body judging him -- would clearly indicate his level of schooling. By the way, commissioner Lundvall had been speaking to him for a while by the time she asked the question that offended him, and clearly she knew he spoke English. Again, this doesn't excuse Lawal's tweet, but at least it gives some context into the emotion that led up to it. Sadly, the whole situation turned out like a fiasco on every side.
Thomas: Mike's absolutely right here. Certainly Lawal's words were incendiary. They were also unprofessional. But in the absence of a defined social media policy all fighters sign and agree to (like a terms of service agreement), any kind of punishment is capricious and unfair.
The UFC is trying to encourage use and novel application of social media among it's fighters (who, by the way, are not really employees but 'independent contractors'; would you fire your plumber for insulting others on Twitter?). That's a truly excellent idea and the vast majority of the times yields positive results. But fighters need to have a clear sense about what is and isn't expected of him. Relying on some notion of 'common sense' is plainly negligent on the part of the UFC.
Let's also make note of how utterly rude and patronizing commissioner Lundvall was in asking Lawal if he understood English. The notion that line of questioning is somehow common is total myth. Alistair Overeem failed to properly take a drug test in the specified amount of time and English is his second language. Was there any questioning about whether his proficiency in reading or writing English inhibited him from following through on his responsibilities? Please. The commissioner may or may not be racist, but they are most certainly condescending.
2. Bellator's heavyweight tourney ended terribly. Can their model be tweaked?
Chiappetta: Of course it can be tweaked, but should it be? I think the answer is no. The way the heavyweight tournament ended was unfortunate, but it's no different than when a title challenger or No. 1 contender drops out of a UFC bout and has to be replaced. In a way, Bellator has to face the same problem the UFC does: an unrelenting schedule. The shows must continue even when the fighters can't, and so there is only so much wiggle room when an injury takes place.In the past, Bellator has delayed title fights with one injured participant, but the tournament bouts must continue on and generate a winner, otherwise they become pointless. The heavyweight tourney had gone on so long, I can understand why CEO Bjorn Rebney basically threw his hands up and surrendered. Of course we want to see things decided in the cage, but you can only try to set up a fight so many times before it becomes obvious it's not going to happen. The tournament format is one of the few things that differentiates Bellator from other promotions, and they shouldn't give up that uniqueness to be just another fight promotion. Unforeseen issues are going to be pop up from time to time, but you just have to do your best to plug in the hole and move forward.
Thomas: There are obviously tweeks that can be made to Bellator's format. You know who knows that? Bellator. The question is how much? Therein lies the more challenge part of this problem.
This past week on The MMA Hour, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said as much. They'll be having more tournaments per season, moving to three hour shows and more. I can even see a case for abandoning heavyweights and focusing more on women.
But all of those alterations still keep the tournament model in tact. That, above all else, should not be abandoned. It's the key differentiator and a boon to the company. Moreover, there is time to get things right before moving to a bigger and much more important platform. While on MTV2, Bellator has the opportunity to make the adjustments necessary to properly leverage and execute on their business model. Those who argue about lackluster ratings fail to realize Viacom doesn't really care about them. In this window of opportunity, Bellator has the chance to get things right. As long as they don't abandon the tournament format, they'll likely move in the right direction.
3. Sonnen-Silva II was recently announced. What is Sonnen's realistic chance of winning?Thomas: I'd say his chances are slightly diminished from the last time, but still very real. It's well-known (though not exactly proven) Silva suffered from a rib injury during their first bout. He managed to win late, but took a beating along the way and looked dreadful at defending the takedown. He looked better at UFC 134 when he easily bested another strong wrestler in Yushin Okami, but Okami's a significantly different type of fighter. Among other notable differences, he isn't nearly as aggressive and doesn't run through his takedowns.The question on my mind is Silva. If he's healthy, is he still up to to peak performance? His game is so heavily predicated on speed and reflexes. At 37, are they still there? Liddell was cruising up through the second Tito Ortiz bout before his career fell off a cliff. I have no idea if he's there or not, but it wouldn't totally surprise me to see him not move, bounce and counter with the same nimbleness we are accustomed to seeing.I don't know if Sonnen will get rattled when a soccer stadium full of prideful Brazilians are wishing him to lose the fight or his life. There's arguments to be made Sonnen is both properly game for challenges and a bit of a choke artist. Either way, I expect a tough fight that will close inside the distance.Chiappetta: Sonnen has a very real chance to win. Luke makes some valid points, particularly the question we must ask every time Silva walks out to the octagon: Have we already seen his last great performance? This rematch will only intensify that question, only because the 10-month layoff will be his longest inactive stretch since a multi-year rest from 1997-2000 when he was still a young buck. He's been extremely active since then, and that's allowed him to be consistently sharp over the years. Will that time away from the cage adversely impact him against Sonnen? It's certainly possible. On the other hand, Sonnen didn't look particularly terrifying against Michael Bisping last time, though he got the job done. The one thing Sonnen has going for him is he knows he can repeatedly take down Silva, and that's a huge boost for his confidence as he walks into hostile territory. As long as he can stay out of traps, he has a very legitimate chance to win. The odds have Silva as a 3-to-1 favorite. I may be going out on a limb here, but I think it's closer to a coin flip, with Silva a slight favorite. It's not like Sonnen didn't come within two minutes of beating him last time around. 4. Are today's UFC heavyweights better or worse than PRIDE's best era of heavyweights?Thomas: I'd say they are at least as good if not better.Make no mistake: PRIDE's heavyweights were an elite group. And the major triumverate of rivals - Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko CroCop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira - mirrored the close contests among the sport's top light heavyweights at that time (Tito Ortiz. Vitor Belfort, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell) that helped push MMA forward. A lot of credit goes to them for helping to create a spectacle while competing in sport. Beyond the big three, there were MMA and heavyweight pioneers who grew the game with their outsized personalities as well as the technical evolutions they introduced (Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman and Gary Goodridge). And there were x-factors like Aleksander Emelianenko, who before catching a blood-borne disease, showcased the type of excellent boxing-for-mma skills rarely seen at that time in the sport's growth.But let's be serious: outside of the big three in their prime, none of the other heavyweights would stand a chance not only with the UFC's top three today, but possibly even their top 10 or top 15. Do I really believe a prime Kevin Randleman or Mark Coleman have anything for Frank Mir or Antonio Silva? In defense of the PRIDE heavyweights, some are still floating around among the UFC's top ranks. Nogueira may have had his arm broken against Frank Mir at UFC 140, but he was winning that bout and is still a top ten talent. Mark Hunt, for all his faults, is in the top 15 as well. At the top, it's arguably competitive. Across the division, though, the UFC ranks are significantly deeper.Chiappetta: It's always difficult to compare eras due to improvements in training and technique, but it's a fun debate. Let's imagine an eight-man tournament of the UFC's best four current heavyweights against PRIDE's four best all-time. If I'm doing the picking, I have Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, Alistair Overeem and Frank Mir for the UFC, and Fedor Emelianeko, Mirko Cro Cop, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Josh Barnett for PRIDE.I think a prime Fedor beats Dos Santos, Velasquez mauls Cro Cop, Nogueira submits Overeem and Mir tops Barnett. So we have Fedor vs. Velasquez and Nogueira vs. Mir in the semis. Well, we already know that Mir beats Nog, and Fedor squeaks past Cain to set up Fedor vs. Mir. I've got Fedor in that final, but of course, if you re-seed them and set up the matchups differently, you might get a different result. Still, I think that's a very competitive scenario, and if that's the point, we can't say they're any worse than the old PRIDE set. That said, it's just another reason why rolling the Strikeforce heavies into the UFC is a great move. We won't have to have this debate again five years from now.
Posted in: ufc, bellator, time, heavyweight, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSteven Seagal speaks on Silva / Sonnen 2
Posted in: silva, sonnen, steven seagal, seagal, steven
Read the full article at FightlinkerChael Sonnen Continues Verbal Assault on Anderson Silva: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
UFC middleweight number one contender, Chael Sonnen, is never short of words. And he took a few more shots at his arch nemesis, Anderson Silva, in a recent interview . Even though he'll be facing Silva in a few months (in front of 80,000 Brazilian MMA fans, who are not exactly...
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsChael Sonnen says he has not signed contract to fight Anderson Silva
In what might be casually termed a “buzz kill”, UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen has come forward to reveal he hasn’t actually inked a deal to face champion Anderson Silva on June 23 at UFC 147 in a Brazilian soccer stadium or anywhere else for that matter.
Yesterday the UFC announced rivals Sonnen and Silva would meet on the aforementioned date in Rio de Janeiro. The bout is a rematch of their 2010 battle where Sonnen nearly took Silva’s title by way of decision before a last-minute submission by “The Spider” ended things in the fifth frame.
Both Sonnen and his manager, Mike Roberts, confirmed to MMAFighting a bout agreement had yet to be put in place. Sonnen also added he has a “demand” he wants to include in the deal but remained secretive beyond the basic statement.
Sonnen vs. Silva II is easily one of the most anticipated fights in recent years based on the closeness of their first encounter, an even more impressive feat when considering Silva’s dominance inside the Octagon against all other opponents. Adding to the intrigue, Sonnen has also directed an extraordinary amount of trash-talk at Silva, calling him a coward on multiple occasions in addition to numerous other insults both personal and professional.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, lastminute submission, intrigue sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva's stipulation to fight in Brazil is nothing special
Number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael Sonnen, unleashed another verbal attack on Anderson Silva, this time relating to The Spider's demand to fight in Brazil. According to Sonnen, Silva's stipulation is "nothing special", especially when the fight is taking place inside the Octagon, and not on the streets of Rio or Sao Paulo. Sonnen also related to Anderson Silva's comments about fighting with broken ribs at UFC 117, once again claiming that the champ's limbs and insides are attached
Posted in: fight, anderson silva, sonnen, champs limbs, spiders demand
Read the full article at Low KickAccording to Chael Sonnen, Anderson Silva Rematch Not Official Yet
The UFC officially announced on Monday that Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2 will take place June 23 in Rio de Janeiro. However, according to Sonnen, nothing is official just yet. "My demand has not been met," Sonnen told MMAFighting.com when asked for a comment on the rematch. "I've signed nothing." Sonnen's manager Mike Roberts also confirmed that Sonnen has yet to sign a bout agreement, but it appears as though that is just a formality at this point. As for what his demand is, Sonnen only said, "it's coming."UFC 147 is scheduled to take place at Rio de Janeiro's Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, and according to UFC president Dana White, the venue will seat approximately 80,000 people for the highly-anticipated rematch.
That is, of course, if Sonnen decides to sign the bout agreement.
Posted in: rematch, sonnen, bout agreement, highlyanticipated rematch, sonnen nothing
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMorning Report: Ronda Rousey Upstages Cyborg Santos, Fights Three Japanese Men
Another lazy spring afternoon passes and we're again left to make our own fun until the MMA schedule picks back up. So while we wait, let's use the contrast of yesterday's and today's odd Japanese game show clips to kickstart a little discussion.
Ronda Rousey is unquestionably the queen bee of women's mixed martial arts right now. Her next test will likely be Sarah Kaufman -- a relentless Canadian who poses her own problems -- but for the sake of argument, let's say "Rowdy" does what she does and finishes Kaufman in the first round via armbar, and then offs one more opponent in the same fashion. Around that time, the exiled former queen bee, Cris "Cyborg" Santos, would likely be priming for her return, and she has already made it very clear she intends to cut down to 135 pounds and smash Rousey's face in. Santos, of course, has violently ruled the WMMA throne since 2009, though now that reign is plagued with doubt because of her positive steroid test.
Given the dearth of depth in the women's divisions, it isn't that crazy to think "Cyborg" would be immediately thrown into a promoter's dream title fight against Rousey. So what do you think, readers? Would "Cyborg" return with a vengeance and crush the champ? Or would the rowdy one run through a PED-less Santos? Let us know in the comments below.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
The MMA Hour. Ariel Helwani and The MMA Hour return with another two-plus hour show that features Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney in studio, as well as interviews with Phil Davis, Miguel Torres, Rory MacDonald, Eddie Alvarez and Tom "Kong" Watson.
Cesar Gracie not going to let Nick Diaz quit MMA. The person closest to Nick Diaz, his brother Nate, believes his abrupt retirement is for real. Diaz's trainer Cesar Gracie, however, isn't about to watch that happen.
Silva-Sonnen II confirmed for UFC 147. MMA's biggest rematch is finally on the books for UFC 147, as Chael Sonnen will take on Anderson Silva at the 47,000-seat Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on June 23, 2012.
The Ultimate Fighter 15 ratings. The third episode of TUF: Live aired last Friday night and averaged 1.2 million viewers on FX.
Top trainer Freddie Roach lists top five boxers in MMA. Legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach broke down his list of the top five boxers in mixed martial arts.
MEDIA STEW
Check out the sequel to yesterday's Battle of the Sexes between Cyborg Santos and a Japanese man. This time the champ herself, Ronda Rousey, ups the ante by taking on three Japanese men in a clip from the same bizarre game show. (Big thanks to reader @pegson for the tip.)
Has there ever been a UFC commercial that prominently featuring an English-speaking Anderson Silva? Maybe that's why this UFC on FOX promo seems a tad weird. (HT: MMA Mania)
Speaking of Anderson Silva, his old buddy Mr. Chael P. Sonnen had some choice words after the champ said Sonnen should stop talking and start training. (HT: Middle Easy)
Mark Matheny is known as one of the better refs in MMA, so you'd figure he has reasonably good judgment. But after watching what he does in his spare time, that dream has been thoroughly crushed.
Bloody Elbow's Anton Tabuena brought this to our attention and it felt criminal not to share. Fresh from a loss to Johny Hendricks, Jon Fitch set out on a beard conquest of sizable proportions. Several weeks later he showed off the progress via Twitter, and it was impressive:
But springtime is coming, so earlier this week Fitch stepped up his facial hair game dramatically, shaving down the all-arounder into a legendary 'stache that would make Sam Elliot proud. Well done, sir. Well done.
HUSTLIN' UP NORTH
How I make extra money in Montreal. #hustle t.co/qoDZ3YNl
— Miguel Angel Torres (@MiguelTorresMMA) March 25, 2012
EVERYDAY PROBLEMS OF PAT BARRY (NSFW)
#9youtube.com/watch?v=B7vVg9…
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) March 26, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Monday, March 26, 2012):
- UFC 147: Anderson Silva (31-4) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-11-1) confirmed for June 23, 2012 at Estádio Olímpico João Havelange in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- UFC 147: Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1) vs. Vitor Belfort (21-9)
- UFC 149: Bryan Caraway (16-5) vs. Mitch Gagnon (8-1)
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day is compilation of Don Frye magic from MMA Mania's (shonuff): Don Frye 2012: Predator for President?
Recently there's been a lot of talk by the MMA media christening Chael Sonnen as the best talker in MMA history. But have they lost their historical perspective? Perhaps they have forgotten the hilarious off-the-cuff rants of former UFC Heavyweight Champ and perennial patriotic tough guy, Don "The Predator" Frye, possessor of not only the craziest fight in MMA History (vs Takayama) but also the most outrageous comments.
...
Personally, I think he should throw his hat into the Republican Primary race. Not only would he add spice to the campaign trail, we'd finally have a candidate in this race who says what he really thinks (and then some). Here are a few gems that would make wonderful soundbites on CNN.
On improvising new techniques in MMA:
"I been studying Buddhism. I'm learnin' to levitate. I'm gonna levitate off the ground about a foot so he can't get that kneebar on me. So when he goes down to the ground, I'll be up here. Then I'll swing round and kick him in the head. Can't miss that head. Thing's gotta be about that big, like a 5-gallon bucket, a 5-gallon bucket full of buttholes. Yeck!"
On fighting top competition:
"You gotta excuse me, my stomach's upset. I had the Tim Sylvia breakfast special, ham & eggs and a can of tomatoes."
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we'll include it in tomorrow's post.
Posted in: ufc, mma, silva, sonnen, rousey
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen On Anderson Silva: ‘If I Want Your Opinion, I Will Beat It Out Of You’
Chael Sonnen responds to Anderson Silva’s comments of “shut up and train” as he prepares for their rematch at UFC 147.
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, opinion i
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen headed to Brazil in June for shot at Anderson Silva’s strap
After months of speculation the long awaited rematch between controversial contender Chael Sonnen and UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva has been awarded an official date/venue. According to the organization, the June 23 bout will indeed take place in a Brazilian soccer stadium, as had been rumored, with more than 60,000 seats being made available for fans interested in being part of history as the largest crowd ever assembled for a UFC event.
UFC 147 is also expected to feature a fight between Brazilian icons Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva in addition to the finals from the current season of TUF Brasil.
Silva Thinks Sonnen Possibly Possessed by a Demon
Sonnen nearly dethroned “The Spider” in 2010 before succumbing to a submission in the closing minutes of a match-up he was unquestionably winning on the scorecards beforehand. The 27-11-1 Sonnen has won both of his bouts since the defeat with the success coming against Brian Stann and Michael Bisping.
Silva has also gone 2-0 since their meeting at UFC 117 with strike-based stoppages against Belfort and Yushin Okami. He holds an overall record of 31-4 with the longest winning streak ever inside the Octagon at fourteen straight including nine defenses of the belt he took from Rich Franklin nearly five years ago.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, silva, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 147 announced for June 23 in Rio featuring Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen rematch
All the doubt surrounding the biggest rematch in mixed martial arts (MMA) history is no more.
That's because Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today released all the details for its upcoming blockbuster fight card in Brazil. The event: UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen 2." The date: Sat., June 23, 2012. The time: 10 p.m. ET live on pay-per-view. The place: Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Yes, the world's largest fight promotion is expecting to shatter the record for live event attendance with its biggest show ever, both figuratively and literally. From the press release:
"This will be the biggest sporting event of the year" said UFC President Dana White. "Bigger than the NFL, the NBA, you name it - UFC 147 will be the biggest. The whole world wants to see this fight between Silva and Sonnen. We are broadcast in over 150 countries in 22 languages in half a billion homes. Wherever those fans are, they are going to be watching this fight."
Indeed, more than 55,000 fans packed the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to watch native son Georges St. Pierre defend his welterweight championship against Jake Shields back on April 29, 2011.
Chump change compared to what the promotion is hoping for this coming June. And they're putting their best foot forward as far as headlining attractions go.
Obviously, the rematch pitting Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva against his bitter arch-rival Chael Sonnen will be the marquee fight on the show. But the co-headliner also features an exciting showdown of Brazilian bangers in Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva.
This after they complete their coaching gigs on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Brazil, which just kicked off its season last night. To stay up to date on all things TUF: Brazil click here.
The UFC breaks down the two big match-ups:
The rivalry between Anderson Silva (29-4-0) and Chael Sonnen (28-11-1) has produced the biggest grudge match in UFC history. The two bitter rivals first faced each other in August of 2010 at UFC 117 in Oakland, California. The battle featured arguably the biggest come-from-behind win ever; as Silva, who was being dominated from the beginning of the fight, submitted his American rival with a triangle choke in the last round. It was the seventh of nine title defenses for the Brazilian champion.
In what has been one of the long-awaited rematches in UFC history, Brazilian fans will also get a chance to witness Vitor Belfort (21-9-0) and Wanderlei Silva (34-11-1) square off in the Octagon®. In their first meeting in 1998 in São Paulo, Belfort knocked out Silva 44 seconds into their fight. Since then, MMA fans have eagerly waited for over 10 years to witness the rematch between two legends of the sport. Belfort is coming off of a win over American fighter Anthony Johnson in UFC Rio (UFC 142), while Wanderlei dramatically knocked out opponent Cung Le at UFC 139.
In addition, it's expected the finals for TUF: Brazil will take place on this card. In short, this event is kind of a big deal, perhaps bigger than the previous two fight cards hell in Rio combined.
For all the latest and greatest news on UFC 147: "Silva vs. Sonnen 2" click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch is on for June in Brazil ()
After months of rumors, the UFC finally confirmed that they will head back to Brazil in June. At Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva will rematch with Chael Sonnen for the UFC middleweight belt. After a season of coaching of the first Brazilian "The Ultimate Fighter," Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort will fight. To the press release:
"This will be the biggest sporting event of the year," said UFC president Dana White. "Bigger than the NFL, the NBA, you name it - UFC 147 will be the biggest. The whole world wants to see this fight between Silva and Sonnen. We are broadcast in over 150 countries in 22 languages in half a billion homes. Wherever those fans are, they are going to be watching this fight."
Don't anybody tell White, but this is an Olympic year. One fight card in Brazil will not surpass even the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics, but it's a nice goal. Joao Havelange holds 46,931 for a soccer match, but presumably, floor seats will help the UFC break their record of 55,000, set at UFC 129 in Toronto.
Regardless of how many people tune in or turn out for the fights, this rematch will be fun. The last time the two fought, Sonnen beat up Silva for four and a half rounds. Three minutes into the final round, Silva used a triangle armbar to submit Sonnen. Since then, animosity between the two has reached epic levels. Sonnen still refuses to admit that he lost to Silva.
Though it's still March, the build-up for this fight should border on insane. Before we get lost in the insanity, how do you see this fight going down? Tell us in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter .
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch is on for June in Brazil (Yahoo! Sports)
After months of rumors, the UFC finally confirmed that they will head back to Brazil in June. At Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Silva will rematch with Chael Sonnen for the UFC middleweight belt. After a season … Continue reading →
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, season …
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsAnderson Silva-Chael Sonnen Rematch Confirmed for UFC 147 in Rio de Janeiro
Long rumored, highly anticipated and often denied -- by Chael Sonnen, at least -- the rematch between the outspoken Team Quest product and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is finally official.
Posted in: ufc, rematch, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at SherdogAnderson Silva-Chael Sonnen II Official For UFC 147
It has finally been announced. Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen have signed on to square off in the main event of UFC 147 on June 23 from Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the UFC announced in an official release on Monday, complete with a bold statement from UFC president Dana White.
This will be the biggest sporting event of the year. Bigger than the NFL, the NBA, you name it – UFC 147 will be the biggest. The whole world wants to see this fight between Silva and Sonnen. We are broadcast in over 150 countries in 22 languages in half a billion homes. Wherever those fans are, they are going to be watching this fight.
Silva and Sonnen faced off in 2010, with Silva claiming a victory via submission in the fifth round. Sonnen was dominating “The Spider” through the first four rounds, but Silva locked up the submission to remain champion.
Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva, who are currently coaching on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, was also made official for the event.
Ticket information is expected to be announced, along with more fights, next month by the UFC. Tickets are expected to go on sale in May.
Posted in: ufc, fight, event, silva, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 147: Silva Vs. Sonnen II Officially Set For June 23rd
Chael Sonnen is officially getting another shot at Anderson Silva's UFC middleweight title, and it's going to be in hostile territory. The UFC sent out a release to the Brazilian media today that confirmed UFC 147 for June 23rd in Joao Havelange Stadium (known as Engenhao) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Along with that bout, the TUF Brazil coaches fight between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva was confirmed for the card as well. Here's what the release has to say:
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® will return to Brazil for an epic sporting event as legendary fighters collide on the biggest fight card in UFC® history at UFC® 147 at Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on June 23, 2012. The largest crowd ever is expected for the highly anticipated rematch between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and American contender Chael Sonnen, a grudge match two years in the making. The event also features a live finale of The Ultimate Fighter Brasil™, the showdown between two Brazilians and icons of the sport – coaches Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva.
From the beginning of the negotiations for the UFC’s next event in the country, the cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo both emerged as strong options to host the event. Engenhao, home to football club Botafogo and future venue for the 2016 Olympics, has hosted many legendary sports and entertainment events since its opening in 2007. The event marks the first time for a UFC event in a soccer stadium and the organization expects a record audience. The mark to beat is UFC 129, held in April of 2011 at Rogers Centre in Canada, which had a record attendance of 55,000 fans.
Silva and Sonnen first met at UFC 117 in one of the most revered fights in UFC history. Sonnen surprisingly controlled the first four rounds of the bout, only to be submitted by Silva in the fifth and final round. Sonnen has been campaigning for a rematch ever since, often taking shots at Brazil in the process. Belfort vs. Silva is also a rematch, with the first fight coming way back in 1998 at UFC Brazil. Belfort won by TKO in just 44 seconds.
According to the release tickets will go on sale in May, but an actual date isn't listed.
SBN coverage of UFC 147: Silva vs. Sonnen II
Posted in: ufc, event, silva, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II set for June 23 in Rio de Janeiro
It’s official! Not only will Anderson Silva defend his title against rival Chael Sonnen this summer but the card, as rumored, will take place inside a Brazilian soccer stadium with more than 60,000 fans expected to attend.
According to an official statement from the UFC, the two will headline UFC 147 on June 23 at Engenhao Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The card is also expected to feature a long awaited rematch between TUF Brasil coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort as well as the featherweight/middleweight finals from the show’s ongoing season.
Silva and Sonnen originally met at UFC 117 where the latter nearly lived up to the extraordinary amount of smack he spewed leading up to the bout by grinding on Silva for the fight’s first four frames. However, with less than two minutes remaining “The Spider” was able to procure an Armbar-Triangle Choke hybrid and torqued Sonnen to the point of tapping out.
Since their encounter Silva has scored a pair of strike-based stoppages against Belfort and Yushin Okami with Sonnen picking up wins over Brian Stann and Michael Bisping. While nearly two years will have passed since their first fight the middleweights’ bad blood still exists with Sonnen questioning Silva’s heart while bringing up the 185-pound champion’s wife and countrymen along the way.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, official statement
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 147 Officially Set for June 23rd at Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro
After months of speculation and anticipation, UFC 147 finally has an official date and venue. The UFC’s third trip to Brazil within a year will take place on June 23rd at Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The stadium, which can hold up to 80,000 fans in attendance for this event, will host the rematch between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen.
UFC President Dana White declared that UFC 147 will be “the biggest sporting event of the year”, stating that the event is expected to break UFC attendance records. UFC 129 in April 2011 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, hosted 55,000 fans to set the current attendance record. With this event being the first ever UFC card to take place in a soccer stadium, the event is expected to smash that record by over 20,000 fans.
The historic event will be headlined by the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. The two first fought at UFC 117 in August 2010 in one of the greatest UFC fights of all-time. Going into the fight undefeated in the UFC, with an 11-fight win streak and six consecutive title defenses, Silva was expected to continue those streaks with little issue. Sonnen stunned Silva and the crowd from the beginning, knocking Silva down in the first round and implementing his gameplan for the following four rounds. In the fifth round, Silva once again found himself on his back, but took advantage of a lapse in judgement by Sonnen, pulling off a triangle armbar submission, and thus pulling off one of the greatest comebacks in UFC history.
Since then, Sonnen has continued to call out Silva, claiming that he is the real champion. After defeating Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2 in January, Sonnen earned the opportunity to rematch Silva for the true middleweight belt.
Another rematch that is officially set for the event is the even longer anticipated rematch between Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort. The two, which are currently coaches on The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, first fought at UFC: Brazil in October 1998. Belfort defeated “The Axe Murderer” by first round TKO. Now the two will rematch in a matchup nearly 15 years in the making.
Also expected for the event will be the finals between the two finalists of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. The season, which kicked off over the weekend, features 8 middleweights and 8 featherweights vying to become the first TUF champion of the show’s history to take place outside of the United States.
In addition, a heavyweight matchup between Fabricio Werdum and Mike Russow is likely for the event.
For complete coverage of UFC 147, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Posted in: ufc, event, silva, rematch, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA FrenzySilva-Sonnen II Confirmed for UFC 147 on June 23 in Rio de Janeiro
Get ready to dial up the volume on the trash talk. The rematch pitting Chael Sonnen against Anderson Silva is on, and now we have a date and location. The long-awaited sequel to one of 2010's best fights will take place on June 23 at Rio de Janeiro's Estádio Olímpico João Havelange, otherwise known as "Engenhão."
The information was released to the Brazilian news media by the UFC on Monday morning.
It will mark the UFC's third trip to Brazil since August 2011, but the first time the promotion has run an event in a soccer stadium.
Engenhao holds about 47,000 fans for soccer games, according to seating capacity charts, but the UFC should be able to increase that number substantially by adding seats on the grass. The final number could threaten the promotion's all-time attendance record of 55,724, set less than one year ago at UFC 129 at Toronto's Rogers Centre.
Silva and Sonnen first fought in August 2010, with the challenger controlling nearly all of the first four rounds with takedowns and ground and pound. The fifth started off the same way, until Silva trapped him in a triangle/armbar combination, causing Sonnen to tapout with less than two minutes remaining.
Afterward, Sonnen was suspended after a drug screening found him with an elevated testosterone to epitestosterone ratio, and follow-up testing revealed testosterone usage. Sonnen later claimed that he had divulged his usage to the commission and claimed a therapeutic use exemption, and the California state athletic commission ultimately reduced his suspension from 12 months to six months.
In the aftermath, Sonnen continued his campaign for a rematch. In a memorable rant after his UFC 136 win over Brian Stann, he challenged the champion to another bout, but with a twist.
"I'm calling you out Silva, but we're upping the stakes," he said then. "I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever."
Sonnen later said the offer had expired, and that he didn't think Silva would ever face him again. Now, we know he will, but Sonnen will have to go into hostile territory to claim the title he's long wanted.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, silvasonnen ii, epitestosterone ratio
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMMA Top 10 Middleweights: Anderson Silva's Last Challenge?
UFC President Dana White said last week that the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen rematch will take place in a Rio soccer stadium big enough to break the promotion's all-time attendance record, and the UFC is already hyping the fight as the biggest in history.
I wouldn't go quite that far, but I do wonder if it's the last challenge at middleweight for the greatest champion in UFC history. Silva has so dominated the middleweight division that Sonnen is just about the only opponent who has even made Silva break a sweat inside the Octagon.
So as I rank the best middleweights in MMA, I'll look at whether any of them could potentially beat Silva down the road, or whether the rematch with Sonnen is the last chance we'll have to see someone who can really threaten the best fighter the UFC has ever seen.
Top 10 Middleweights in MMA
1. Anderson Silva: The best fighter in the world turns 37 in April and has talked about retiring. If he beats Sonnen in the rematch would he consider doing what so few fighters ever do and retire on top?
2. Chael Sonnen: Sonnen wasn't at his best in defeating Michael Bisping in January, but he's now beaten two Top 10 opponents since returning from his suspension and has earned another shot at Silva.
3. Vitor Belfort: Belfort hits as hard as anyone at 185 pounds, and I think he'll crush Wanderlei Silva. But I'm not all that interested in seeing the rematch with Anderson Silva that Belfort wants. Silva knocked Belfort out in spectacular fashion last time, and I think he'd do it again.
4. Mark Munoz: Munoz is an option as a future opponent for Silva: He has the great wrestling and is currently riding a four-fight winning streak. But realistically, it's hard to see Munoz as much of a challenge to Silva. If you get knocked cold by a Matt Hamill head kick, what's an Anderson Silva head kick going to do to you?
5. Luke Rockhold: The Strikeforce middleweight champion has a good chance of reigning over the division as long as Strikeforce lasts. It would be better to see him take on some of the best in the UFC, although I think the likes of Silva, Sonnen and Belfort would beat him handily.
6. Michael Bisping: Bisping put up a good fight in his loss to Sonnen and will try to rebound against Tim Boetsch at UFC 148. Bisping has always seemed to be just on the periphery of title contention without ever getting there.
7. Hector Lombard: The Bellator middleweight champion has even fewer good opponents available to him than Rockhold has in Strikeforce. I'd love to see Lombard, who's an incredible 24-0-1 in his last 25 fights, step into the Octagon, although I think he'd get messed up by Silva.
8. Brian Stann: After taking a tough loss from Sonnen, Stann will be back against Alessio Sakara in April. Stann is a fighter the UFC would love to promote as a title contender, but it's not realistic to think he could ever be on Silva's level.
9. Chris Weidman: After beating by far the best opponent of his career in Demian Maia, Weidman is a perfect 8-0. At age 27 he may become a middleweight title contender some day, but that day will likely be after Anderson Silva has hung up the gloves.
10. Tim Boetsch: I loved the heart Boetsch showed in his comeback win over Yushin Okami. He's now 3-0 since dropping down to middleweight.
Posted in: ufc, silva, middleweight, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseWhat Will Happen To Chael Sonnen in Brazil?
Will Brazilian fervor results in Sonnen injury?
Posted in: result, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Low KickMatt Hughes and Chael Sonnen discuss upcoming Frankie Edgar-Benson Henderson rematch
While appearing on a recent episode of UFC Tonight, iconic former welterweight champion Matt Hughes and current #1 middleweight contender Chael Sonnen covered a number of subjects. Among those things talked about was the upcoming rematch between lightweights Benson Henderson and Frankie Edgar for the divisional title.
Hughes, who is quite familiar with rematches during his career, said, “Frankie had to give rematches to both (BJ) Penn and (Gray) Maynard, so I think Frankie brought in a great point and he should get the rematch too.”
Edgar, after defeating Penn for the title, was put into an immediate rematch with “The Prodigy.” He also won that fight. The trilogy with Maynard is quite possiblly one of the best in MMA history, as Maynard won the first, the two fought to a suspenseful Draw in the second, and “The Answer” ended it with a vicious stoppage victory in the third after getting rocked early.
As for Sonnen, he will be looking to exact revenge on UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva in his own rematch when they fight later this year.
“I don’t care who these guys fight as long as it’s not me,” Sonnen exclaimed of Edgar-Henderson. “There are so many great fighters in that weight class. Those guys are so good, it’ll be a great fight.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, hughe, rematch, sonnen, frankie
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainThis video proves it will be impossible for Chael Sonnen to take down Anderson Silva at UFC 147
James Brown made a career by telling an entire planet to 'get down' whenever possible. Chael Sonnen made his career from having the ability to take down any middleweight on this planet. I'm sure I could spend my entire day drawing comparisons from Chael Sonnen and James Brown. Chael is notorious for giving the most entertaining interviews in the MMA industry -- and James Brown did this interview on local television. The fact is, if aliens visited this planet and our government had to provide them with the single greatest performance humanity has ever witnessed, they would undeniably show them this video of James Brown on stage in Zaire, Africa from 1974. That's as good as it gets, Chael Sonnen can only aspire to be a close second.
We all witnessed Chael Sonnen take down The Spider at will during UFC 117 only for Anderson to submit Chael off his back in the fifth round with an illustrious triangle. Now it appears Anderson Silva added some points to his takedown defense skill tree, and this video just may prove it. [Source]
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, jame, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasyIs Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2 Finally Set? (MMAWeekly.com)
It’s just about the worst kept secret in MMA. Everybody knows that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will next defend his title against top rated challenger Chael Sonnen in a rematch that is sure to be one of the most watched pay-per-views of the year. The only problem is the fight still has not officially been signed or agreed up for any particular event. Sonnen spoke out about the highly publicized rematch when appearing on UFC Tonight on Tuesday, where he shed a little bit of new light on the much talked about fight with Anderson Silva.
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, mma everybody, event sonnen
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II will take place in this soccer stadium...
Engenhao, or as Chael Sonnen calls it, 'the place that the Nogueira brothers will try to feed a carrot to.' According to Dana White, this summer's UFC Rio card will take place inside of a soccer stadium in Rio de Janeiro and it will seat upwards of 80,000 patrons. TATAME has confirmed that the event will take place in the 'Estádio Olímpico João Havelange' (or 'Engenhao'), home of the Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas -- or as Chael Sonnen calls them 'an entire team of soccer players that feed carrots to inanimate objects.' Actually, a lot of soccer teams play at Engenhao -- and Chael Sonnen vehemently believes they all have an obsession with feeding carrots to automobiles.
Check out the pics from the stunning stadium below, a structure that cost $192,000,000 to build with a seat capacity of 46,931 according to Wikipedia.
Posted in: place, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, soccer
Read the full article at Middle EasySilva vs. Sonnen 2 to take place in stadium
UFC president Dana White says Anderson Silva's middleweight title defence against Chael Sonnen this summer in Brazil could draw 80,000-plus.
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, summer
Read the full article at sportsnet.caAnderson Silva And Chael Sonnen To Rematch In Rio Soccer Stadium In Front Of 80,000 Fans
The long awaited rematch between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva continues to draw nearer with the bout being scheduled for UFC 147 this June. There were some snags as plans to hold the event in Sao Paulo, Brazil fell through due to noise ordinances, exacerbated by the need for the event to run well past midnight due to time zone differences, among other issues.
Related: UFC's Hopes For A Stadium Show In Sao Paulo Appear To Be Dead
At today's UFC press conference, president Dana White announced that the bout would remain in Brazil but would be held in Rio de Janeiro, the city that is fast becoming the UFC's Brazilian home base. Here's the tweet from the UFC's Twitter account:
@ufcUFC Dana says the Chael/Anderson rematch is going to be in a soccer stadium in Rio that holds 80K Mar 21 via web Favorite Retweet Reply
80,000 fans is no joke, it is going to be quite the atmosphere as the hated Sonnen enters Brazil in an attempt to wrest the title from the firm grasp of pound-for-pound king Silva.
In the first bout, Sonnen dominated the fight only losing when caught in a triangle choke in the waning minutes of the UFC 117 bout. Sonnen would go on to test positive for elevated testosterone after the fight and would be suspended. That, combined with a rib injury for Silva coming into the evening, has many thinking the rematch will go quite diferently.
Posted in: ufc, silva, rematch, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White: Rio de Janeiro Soccer Stadium to Host Silva-Sonnen 2
The much-anticipated Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen rematch will take place inside a Rio de Janeiro soccer stadium, Dana White announced at a UFC 149 press conference in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on Wednesday. The UFC president added that the event will take place in front of 80,000 fans. White did not specify which venue in Rio would host the card or the date, but sources close to the event have confirmed with MMAFighting.com that it is expected to take place on either June 16 or June 23. Originally, Silva vs. Sonnen 2 was slated for Sao Paulo, but the organization ran into issues booking a venue in that city, so it appears as though they'll be returning to Rio for the third time in 10 months.
Interestingly enough, on Tuesday's episode of UFC Tonight on FUEL TV, Sonnen said he had yet to sign a contract for the rematch. Of course, Silva (31-4) defeated Sonnen (27-11-1) via triangle armbar at UFC 117 in Aug. 2010. Also expected to take place on the same card is Vitor Belfort vs. Wanderlei Silva 2, the finals of TUF Brazil and Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow.
Posted in: ufc, rio, silva, place, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen self-help book 'The Voice Of Reason' on sale May 15
God Chael helps those who help themselves.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen, who is expected to challenge Anderson Silva for the division crown at UFC 147 later this year in Brazil, has decided to impart his wisdom upon the mixed martial arts (MMA) fan base with a self-help book titled "The Voice of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment."
Sonnen describes his literary offering (via Amazon.com):
Presence. Tenacity. Insight. Omniscience. No need to look these words up. They are defined by yours truly. Who am I? I'm the one who needs no introduction, the walking thesaurus, the UFC's most infamous and feared destroyer of men. I am Chael P. Sonnen, and you want to be just like me.
It's your lucky day. What you are holding in your hands is nothing short of a V.I.P pass to enlightenment. In the coming pages my humor and tales of heroic adventure will baptize you in superhuman greatness. Allow me to carry you like a frail damsel as I make a nightmarish decent into the bowels of Sao Paulo. Sit before me as a student as I teach you about my plans of creating a Chaelocracy, which translates to "A Better Earth." Shower me with praise as I take you into my manly mitts like a lump of seemingly worthless clay and craft you into something far better than yourself-me.
Like all great men of myth and legend, I strive for the betterment of the human race. Prometheus brought us fire; Dana White brought us the modern day gladiator; and I bring you a step-by-step guide to being just like me. Do you have what it takes? Is there truly a chance that one day you will be able to walk in my shoes? Purchase this book and find out. There is no better day to stop being you and start trying to be me.
You're welcome civilization.
You too, can be like Chael for a mere $24.95 (list price) by heading over to Amazon and pre-ordering your copy today. "The Voice of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment" hits bookshelves on May 15, 2012.
See what else Sonnen has in store for readers after the jump.
Why Dance Dance Revolution is the national fighting style of Brazil.
How vegans are ruining themselves and the world.
Why you should never feed carrots to a school bus.
Why you don?t need an athlete to be your hero.
How fighters and fashion models have the exact same job.
Why republicans are more compassionate, pioneering, rebellious, and generally cooler than any liberal.
Alright Maniacs, it's confession time. Who's going to pick this book up and change their lives for the better? If not, it should at least be good for a few laughs, but I don't expect it to be a huge hit in Brazil.
Who's buying?
More on "Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II" right here.
Posted in: day, book, sonnen, chael, voice
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen To Release 'The Voice Of Reason' Self-Help Book
The number one contender and next to challenge UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, former politician and Realtor, occasional television MMA analyst, and a one man army waging war on Blackhouse, Chael Sonnen now has another role to add to his resumé: author.
Sonnen's schtick is perhaps the most divisive in mixed martial arts; fans and fighters alike either love or hate it, and are usually quite vocal about it. We've seen the interviews and read the tweets, and now we get to delve deeper into the world according to Chael P. Sonnen while consuming our caffeinated beverage of choice.
Entitled 'The Voice of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment' , here's part of Sonnen's description of his fledgling tome:
Presence. Tenacity. Insight. Omniscience. No need to look these words up. They are defined by yours truly. Who am I? I'm the one who needs no introduction, the walking thesaurus, the UFC's most infamous and feared destroyer of men. I am Chael P. Sonnen, and you want to be just like me.
It's your lucky day. What you are holding in your hands is nothing short of a V.I.P pass to enlightenment. In the coming pages my humor and tales of heroic adventure will baptize you in superhuman greatness. Allow me to carry you like a frail damsel as I make a nightmarish decent into the bowels of Sao Paulo. Sit before me as a student as I teach you about my plans of creating a Chaelocracy, which translates to "A Better Earth." Shower me with praise as I take you into my manly mitts like a lump of seemingly worthless clay and craft you into something far better than yourself-me.
Like all great men of myth and legend, I strive for the betterment of the human race. Prometheus brought us fire; Dana White brought us the modern day gladiator; and I bring you a step-by-step guide to being just like me. Do you have what it takes? Is there truly a chance that one day you will be able to walk in my shoes? Purchase this book and find out. There is no better day to stop being you and start trying to be me.
You're welcome civilization.
Sonenn's book is due for release on May 15, and can be pre-ordered now on Amazon.
Posted in: day, book, sonnen, chael, stepbystep guide
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen: I still don't have the contract to fight Anderson Silva
Number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael Sonnen, spoke about his upcoming rematch with Anderson Silva, revealing that he's yet to sign an official contract for the fight. However, Sonnen admitted that "something is going on", claiming that the Countdown crew will start filming his training camp this week.
UFC Tonight (via Yahoo.com):
UFC fighter, Chael Sonnen is planning on fighting Anderson Silva, but he hasn't signed a contract yet. "I believe I have the fight. I believe it'll happen
Posted in: anderson silva, contract, sonnen, week ufc, official contract
Read the full article at Low KickVideo: Anderson Silva Back to Training for Chael Sonnen
Anderson Silva (31-4) is the most decorated UFC champion of all time, holding the records for both the most consecutive UFC title defenses, as well as the record for most consecutive wins in the promotion.
As The Spider gets up in age — he turns 37-years-old next month — his appearances in the Octagon become less frequent, as the injuries he’s incurred over a lifetime spent training and fighting flare up more often and take longer to heal. Most recently, following his ninth straight title defense, Silva was sidelined with a nasty case of bursitis in his shoulder.
The initial prognosis had Silva returning to the cage sometime in mid-2012 and appears accurate, as he’s rumored to be facing his nemesis, Chael Sonnen, in a highly-anticipated rematch this June. Though that fight has yet to be made official, The Spider is healthy enough to be back on the mat training, as evidenced in this recent video shot by Portal do Vale Tudo:
In their first meeting, Silva fought through a broken rib to rally back against a dominant Sonnen in the fifth frame, submitting the triangle-prone Oregonian in the closing moments of the fight. Since then, Silva has gone on to defend the belt dramatically against both Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami, knocking out both men in classic Anderson Silva fashion.
Sonnen has finally managed to work his way back to a title shot, which is rumored to come to fruition at UFC 147. UFC 147 also remains officially unannounced, but is expected to take place on June 16 in Sao Paulo, Brazil and host the finals matches from The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.
Posted in: ufc, silva, training, sonnen, ufc champion
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyIs Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2 Finally Set?
It's just about the worst kept secret in MMA. Everybody knows that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will next defend his title against top rated challenger Chael Sonnen in a rematch...
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, chael, mma everybody
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChael Sonnen Confirms UFC Is Coming To Film Countdown Show Soon
Chael Sonnen returns this evening as a guest on UFC Tonight and discusses the prospects of an upcoming match with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Sonnen, who said he has not signed a contract yet, did confirm that the UFC was sending out a film crew for the “Countdown” show that normally airs to help hype upcoming pay-per-view fights. That would leave many to believe an official decision is on the horizon.
I believe I have the fight. I believe it’ll happen in June. But I still don’t have a contract. But the ‘Countdown’ show is scheduled to come out to my home in two days, so I guess something is going to happen.
The rumors have Silva-Sonnen II taking place this summer from Sao Paulo, Brazil. “The Spider” earned a submission victory against Sonnen in the first meeting, pulling the win out of nowhere while down on the scorecards.
If this match does take place in Brazil – Silva’s native country – it will be anything but a polite welcome for Sonnen. Since the Silva fight, Sonnen has attacked Silva, his family and the Brazilian people seemingly every single day.
Photo credit: CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: ufc, fight, show, silva, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen Wants to Help You Be a Better Person
Number one UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen is on a crusade to reshape the world in his image, a goal he hopes to bring closer to reality with his impending self-help book, The Voice of Reason: A VIP Pass to Enlightenment.
With the help of Victory Belt publishing, Sonnen’s book is to hit the stands on May 15. Perhaps it’s best to let the former real estate agent explain things in his own terms:
Presence. Tenacity. Insight. Omniscience. No need to look these words up. They are defined by yours truly. Who am I? I’m the one who needs no introduction, the walking thesaurus, the UFC’s most infamous and feared destroyer of men. I am Chael P. Sonnen, and you want to be just like me.1
It’s your lucky day. What you are holding in your hands is nothing short of a V.I.P pass to enlightenment. In the coming pages my humor and tales of heroic adventure will baptize you in superhuman greatness. Allow me to carry you like a frail damsel as I make a nightmarish decent into the bowels of Sao Paulo. Sit before me as a student as I teach you about my plans of creating a Chaelocracy, which translates to “A Better Earth.” Shower me with praise as I take you into my manly mitts like a lump of seemingly worthless clay and craft you into something far better than yourself—me.
Like all great men of myth and legend, I strive for the betterment of the human race. Prometheus brought us fire; Dana White brought us the modern day gladiator; and I bring you a step-by-step guide to being just like me. Do you have what it takes? Is there truly a chance that one day you will be able to walk in my shoes? Purchase this book and find out. There is no better day to stop being you and start trying to be me.
You’re welcome civilization.
Oh, but there’s more, you say?
Not convinced? Here is some addition information you will glean from The Voice of Reason:
Why Dance Dance Revolution is the national fighting style of Brazil.
How vegans are ruining themselves and the world.
Why you should never feed carrots to a school bus.
Why you don?t need an athlete to be your hero.
How fighters and fashion models have the exact same job.
Why republicans are more compassionate, pioneering, rebellious, and generally cooler than any liberal.
1—Inside this book I offer you my knowledge of physics, politics, linguistics, history, and physiology. Unless you are currently standing in the checkout line or speeding home, wanting to save my brilliance for when you are curled up in a recliner sipping on some tea, you have already failed at becoming something similar to me. Chael P. Sonnen knows what he wants and buys it. He doesn’t need a dust jacket to tell him a book is good. He can feel it.
So, make sure you get out to book stores on May 15 or reserve your own copy of Sonnen’s book in advance. Rumor has it there’s a section on how to cut sweet real estate deals.
Posted in: day, book, sonnen, chael, checkout line
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen wrote a book
One of the more interesting divisions under the World Wrestling Entertainment umbrella is WWE Books, the creators of such fine tomes as "The Hardy Boyz: Exist 2 Inspire" and "Mick Foley's Blood and Sweatsocks." The UFC hasn't gotten in on this racket - they prefer to just blackball the writers of UFC books they don't like - but that hasn't stopped a few of their own superstars from putting together writing projects. Most successful has been Forrest Griffin, who's general humor books on fightin' and the apocalypse have made him a legit bestselling author. Next up to see if he too can reach that brass ring: Chael Sonnen. Here's the description of his book, The Voice of Reason, out May 15th.
Presence. Tenacity. Insight. Omniscience. No need to look these words up. They are defined by yours truly. Who am I? I'm the one who needs no introduction, the walking thesaurus, the UFC's most infamous and feared destroyer of men. I am Chael P. Sonnen, and you want to be just like me.It's your lucky day. What you are holding in your hands is nothing short of a V.I.P pass to enlightenment. In the coming pages my humor and tales of heroic adventure will baptize you in superhuman greatness. Allow me to carry you like a frail damsel as I make a nightmarish decent into the bowels of Sao Paulo. Sit before me as a student as I teach you about my plans of creating a Chaelocracy, which translates to "A Better Earth." Shower me with praise as I take you into my manly mitts like a lump of seemingly worthless clay and craft you into something far better than yourself—me.Like all great men of myth and legend, I strive for the betterment of the human race. Prometheus brought us fire; Dana White brought us the modern day gladiator; and I bring you a step-by-step guide to being just like me. Do you have what it takes? Is there truly a chance that one day you will be able to walk in my shoes? Purchase this book and find out. There is no better day to stop being you and start trying to be me.You're welcome civilization.
Posted in: ufc, day, book, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at FightlinkerChael Sonnen is releasing a book, and it's your 'VIP pass to enlightenment'
I'm sure you've probably stayed up late at night in order to figure out what type of name 'Chael Sonnen' is. His mother chose his first name because it was the last five letters of the name 'Michael'. As far his last name, Sonnen's are heavily distributed throughout Texas and Pennsylvania. The last name originated from Germany and is applied as a term of endearment for a loved one, or a habitational name for someone living at a house distinguished by the sign of a sun. In 1984, a 'Sonnen' lived to be 95. Now in 2012, another Sonnen has released a guide to self enlightenment -- and it will only cost $16.47 on Amazon. The Voice of Reason: A V.I.P. Pass to Enlightenment will be published May 15th 2012; check out the description written by none other than the UFC pseudo-middleweight champion himself.
Presence. Tenacity. Insight. Omniscience. No need to look these words up. They are defined by yours truly. Who am I? I'm the one who needs no introduction, the walking thesaurus, the UFC's most infamous and feared destroyer of men. I am Chael P. Sonnen, and you want to be just like me.
It's your lucky day. What you are holding in your hands is nothing short of a V.I.P pass to enlightenment. In the coming pages my humor and tales of heroic adventure will baptize you in superhuman greatness. Allow me to carry you like a frail damsel as I make a nightmarish decent into the bowels of Sao Paulo. Sit before me as a student as I teach you about my plans of creating a Chaelocracy, which translates to "A Better Earth." Shower me with praise as I take you into my manly mitts like a lump of seemingly worthless clay and craft you into something far better than yourself—me.
Like all great men of myth and legend, I strive for the betterment of the human race. Prometheus brought us fire; Dana White brought us the modern day gladiator; and I bring you a step-by-step guide to being just like me. Do you have what it takes? Is there truly a chance that one day you will be able to walk in my shoes? Purchase this book and find out. There is no better day to stop being you and start trying to be me.
You're welcome civilization.
Check out the cover for the soon-to-be legendary book below. Feel free to get your preorders in for 320 pages of epicness.
Posted in: day, name, sonnen, enlightenment, name sonnens
Read the full article at Middle EasyAin't No Sunshine: Anderson Silva continues his preparations for the rematch with Chael Sonnen
Reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva continues his preparations for the long-anticipated rematch with Chael Sonnen, which will take place later this year in Brazil. Silva will look to prove his superiority over the trash-talking genius in Chael Sonnen, which will also be his tenth UFC Middleweight title defense. Silva vs. Sonnen II will headline UFC 148, currently scheduled to take place on June 16th in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
Further Reading: Submit your picks for Bellator
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Low KickVideo: Anderson Silva training for Chael Sonnen fight in Brazil
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva puts on a show for fans down in Brazil while training for his upcoming title defense against Chael Sonnen, reportedly scheduled for UFC 147 on June 16, 2012, in Sao Paulo.
There's a lot of doubt surrounding the event, however, from whether or not it will take place in Sao Paulo or Rio de Janiero, to Sonnen repeatedly claiming he's signed no contract and the rematch against Silva has yet to even be officially offered to him.
UFC President Dana White has repeatedly stated that it's happening, it's happening in June and it's happening in Brazil. We'll see.
In the meantime, enjoy watching Silva hit mits to the soothing sounds of DMX's cover of "Aint No Sunshine."
Posted in: silva, title defense, chael sonnen, sonnen, sao paulo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaApparently Chael Sonnen has a book coming out
submitted by fruitcellar [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: chael sonnen, book, sonnen, chael, fruitcellar
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen passionately defends testosterone use
After Quinton Jackson’s recent admission of using testosterone to help him heal from an injured knee that would have otherwise kept him out of a scheduled bout with Ryan Bader, the debate on TRT has heated back up with Chael Sonnen serving as an unofficial spokesman on the controversial therapy. Sonnen’s link to testosterone replacement therapy stems from a situation where he was suspended for showing an elevated level of testosterone after a 2010 fight with Anderson Silva.
The popular middleweight addressed the issue on last night’s episode of MMA Uncensored where he stood up for athletes’ rights to use medically prescribed testosterone.
“First off, if you’re gonna associate a guy with TRT, make sure you also associate the fact that it’s legal and it’s not banned. Second thing with TRT is people are really getting confused, they look at TRT and they’re missing the stuff that really is good. TRT is eight, nine, (or) ten on the list of things that a person could take to help their careers go along,” an animated Sonnen replied when questioned about the treatment.
“Secondly, any time a person says ‘performance enhancer,’ stop talking to them, because they don’t have the intellect to debate with you,” Sonnen continued, pointing out that everything any fighter does is to enhance his/her performance.
Sonnen Calls “Rampage” Jackson a “Crybaby”
Until athletic commissions recognize TRT as illegal it appears to be an avenue more and more fighters over the age of 30 are using including Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson. Sonnen’s next fight is expected to come this summer when he’ll rematch rival Silva for the middleweight championship.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, testosterone, trt, ” sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comChael Sonnen calls Quinton Jackson a “crybaby” but still likes him
When you give Chael Sonnen an open mic and allow him to speak his mind you better believe he is going to do just that.
While a guest on last night’s episode of MMA Uncensored, Sonnen was asked his opinion on a number of subjects. One of them included Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, specifically in terms of how the former UFC champion has been going about trying to get out of his contract.
“I like him. Look, he’s a crybaby, but I find it interesting,” said Sonnen. “I like it when he goes on his campaigns about entitlement and how he should be given easy fights. A lot of things are expected of him and he’s not quite delivering.”
Jackson, you might remember, missed weight for his bout with Ryan Bader in the co-main event of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson last month in Japan. He quickly let it be known a knee injury caused him to miss several days of training, not allowing him to get in the kind of shape he needed and thus he couldn’t cut the necessary weight.
In more recent days, Jackson has tried to push his way out of competing in the final fight on his UFC contract. Instead, it was announced “Rampage” would meet Mauricio “Shogun” Rua later this year, though, before a date could be set, Jackson remarked he would undergo double-knee surgery and be out for an extended amount of time.
When the 33-year old caught wind of Sonnen’s comments, Jackson addressed them on Twitter, writing, “I’ll walk up to him and smack him like a bitch on camera for the whole (world) to see.”
Sonnen is rumored to be fighting Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title later this year in Brazil, though the outspoken 185er reiterated he still hasn’t signed a bout agreement and that nothing official is in place.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, jackson, year, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMMA Uncensored Live – Chael Sonnen, War Machine’s Last 48 Hours
Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored Live from March 15th, 2012. The panel is joined by guest host Chael Sonnen, and discuss Rampage’s actions as of late, Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2, Bellator 60, and War Machine’s last 48 hours before he went to prison.
Posted in: mma, hour, machine, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen Talks 'Crybaby' Rampage Jackson And Testosterone
Chael Sonnen co-hosted Spike TV's MMA Uncensored last night and, as Chael is wont to do, he did a lot of talking. The focus of much of his talk this time around was Quinton Jackson. Jackson has recently been in the news for taking testosterone replacement before his last fight and wild Twitter rants about wanting to be out of the UFC.
When Rampage's recent behavior came up, Sonnen had this to say (transcribed by MMAMania):
I like him. Look, he's a crybaby, but I find it entertaining. I like it when he goes on his campaigns about entitlement and how he should be given easy fights. I don't agree with any of it, but, you gotta understand, everybody's gonna stumble, at times, but to miss weight at a fight poorly, when you're paid what he's paid -- he's the second highest paid fighter in the industry now that Brock Lesnar is retired -- it kind of puts him in a different ballpark. A lot of things are expected of him and he's not quite delivering. But as far as retirement talk, the guy ought to be able to have a bad performance here and there. Randy Couture, the greatest of all time, had bad performances, but he always came back.
That wasn't all Sonnen had to say about the subject though.
Chael also wanted to make it clear that Rampage's use of TRT shouldn't be viewed negatively:
There's two things there. Hold on. If you're gonna associate the guy with TRT, make sure you also associate the fact that it's legal and it's not banned. Second thing with TRT is people are really getting confused. They look at TRT and they're missing the stuff that really is good. TRT is eight, nine or ten on the list of things they could take to help their careers. Secondly, any time a person says 'performance enhancer,' stop talking to them, because they don't have the intellect to debate with you.
...
"I wanna make this point. I would never take anything if I didn't think it would help my performance. That's what medicine is in 21st Century America. Imagine if you go to the doctor and say, 'Doc, I'm feeling great. You got anything that can bring me down a notch?' That's malpractice. It's all meant to help your performance."
Of course, I'd argue that there is a big difference between medicine keeping people healthy and "feeling good" and making an athlete unnaturally virile for his age.
Posted in: thing, sonnen, performance, chael, trt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC's Chael Sonnen calls 'Rampage' a crybaby, comments on TRT usage
There are guys who flip the switch when they get in front of a microphone and a camera, and then there's Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight loud-mouth Chael Sonnen, who will get a title rematch when he faces Anderson Silva at UFC 147 in Brazil on June 2, 2012.
Sonnen is on a whole other level. He plays the heel like a virtuoso on a violin. You can love him or hate him, but there's something about the way he fires off soundbytes that, deep down, you have to respect.
Last night (March 15, 2012), Sonnen appeared on Spike TV's "MMA Uncensored" with hosts Craig Carton, Mike Straka and Nate Quarry, and aimed a few more candid shots at a few folks who have caught his ire of late.
That includes Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, who has recently been bickering back and forth with the UFC. And what are Sonnen's thoughts on this?
Buckle your seatbelts. We're about to hit turbulence:
"I like him. Look, he's a crybaby, but I find it entertaining. I like it when he goes on his campaigns about entitlement and how he should be given easy fights. I don't agree with any of it, but, you gotta understand, everybody's gonna stumble, at times, but to miss weight at a fight poorly, when you're paid what he's paid -- he's the second highest paid fighter in the industry now that Brock Lesnar is retired -- it kind of puts him in a different ballpark. A lot of things are expected of him and he's not quite delivering. But as far as retirement talk, the guy ought to be able to have a bad performance here and there. Randy Couture, the greatest of all time, had bad performances, but he always came back."
Though Sonnen may have been backhandedly critical of "Rampage," he has at least one thing in common with him in that they have both admitted to using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) with both taking heat for doing so.
Things started to heat up as Sonnen spoke his mind on the subject:
"There's two things there. Hold on. If you're gonna associate the guy with TRT, make sure you also associate the fact that it's legal and it's not banned. Second thing with TRT is people are really getting confused. They look at TRT and they're missing the stuff that really is good. TRT is eight, nine or ten on the list of things they could take to help their careers. Secondly, any time a person says 'performance enhancer,' stop talking to them, because they don't have the intellect to debate with you."
It was at the point that Carton interjected and challenged Sonnen to say he was not using performance enhancing drugs (PED). Here's what he had to say:
"I wanna make this point. I would never take anything if I didn't think it would help my performance. That's what medicine is in 21st Century America. Imagine if you go to the doctor and say, 'Doc, I'm feeling great. You got anything that can bring me down a notch?' That's malpractice. It's all meant to help your performance."
The tension reached a climax as Carton proceeded to argue with Sonnen, accusing him of taking testosterone directly before his fight against Silva at UFC 117 on Aug. 7, 2010 in Oakland, as well as testing for "obscenely high levels."
Chael was not pleased:
"No, no, no. Absolutely not. Not only did I not take more of it, I was never even accused of that. Josh Gross, who's incompetent beyond measure, went on ESPN and said that I did, so it became my reality and I went with it. I was never even accused of that. Is it legal or is it not legal? If a person's taking a legal substance, that's the end of the conversation. You're sounding a lot like Josh Gross."
Incredibly, Sonnen was able to compose himself and did not storm off the set, as we've seen in the past when he has been confronted with a line of questioning he was unprepared for.
He was asked how his training is going for his upcoming rematch against Silva. According to Sonnen, he's ready to start training, but the fight deal has still not yet been inked:
"Couple of things: First off, I don't even know if I have that fight. I'm telling people I do. I'm reading about it in the media. I don't have an agreement for that bout. And, second off, I'm gonna start in April. So, we haven't even begun yet."
The question was posed to Sonnen on the actual root of his hatred for "The Spider." He said his real problem isn't even with Silva but rather the people who put up with him:
"Listen, here's the deal with Anderson. My beef isn't so much with him, it's with everybody else. I get real sick and tired of seeing guys in the back asking him for his autograph with him, and then when they get on camera themselves, they portray themselves like they're tough guys. If you put a microphone in somebody's face, and he calls out anybody other than the champion, he might as well just turn in his pink slip. If you're not here to be the best, get to the end of the line. You don't belong. I'm not sidestepping this guy or anybody else. You know, any time someone publicly slaps Dana White in the face, publicly spits on Lorenzo Ferttita, I don't understand that. When Anderson comes out and he publicly says, 'I disagree with you' to the decision makers, the guys who put the process in place, who say, 'Here's how we're gonna determine a number one contender,' tells these guys he's got a better idea of their business than they do, I don't really understand that. So, that's not really a slight at me when Anderson says that, but he is telling his bosses that he disagrees with them."
Finally, Sonnen answered the question no one really cares about everyone wants to know: If Steven Seagal is in Silva's corner again for their next fight at UFC 147, will Sonnen make use of Chuck Norris?
"No, I will not have Chuck Norris. That is not true. I'm more of a Steve Austin guy."
Good to know.
Be honest, Maniacs. How ready are you for this fight to finally go down? And what of the rest of this madness?
Comments, please.
Posted in: fight, guy, thing, sonnen, dont
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Chael Sonnen And War Machine On MMA Uncensored Tonight
Tonight on Spike TV, MMA Uncensored will return for the third episode. Chael Sonnen, who will be fighting Anderson Silva for the Middleweight championship at UFC 147, will be a guest host along side Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka. As with any televised Sonnen appearance, we can be sure to expect his usual over the top personality. Specifically, he will be addressing the upcoming rematch with Silva and the "apology" he delivered on UFC Tonight earlier this week. Additionally, Sonnen will be taking questions from MMA fans via Twitter. Just address your questions to @SpikeTV #MMAUncensored.
If the contrived controversy of Chael Sonnen isn't your cup of tea, MMA Uncensored will also be showing an in depth interview with UFC Veteran War Machine. This will be one of the final interviews War Machine's able to give before beginning a year long prison sentence.
After the jump, a preview of the War Machine interview
Preview - War Machine's New FightGet More: Preview - War Machine's New Fight
Posted in: mma, preview, war, machine, sonnen
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendAnderson Silva teases possibility of fighting for ten more years
UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva doesn’t appear to be going anywhere in the immediate future except to the gym and the Octagon. Silva, who has a clash with Chael Sonnen likely coming later this year, believes he still has a decade left in him as far as being an active fighter.
“The Spider” is currently 36-years old and has been competing since 1997, meaning the number could just be an exaggeration on his part to show his interest in sticking around the UFC for several years to come. Then again, when it comes to the dynamic Brazilian it seems nothing is impossible.
“I think I still have another ten-year career, but have not discussed my contract with the UFC,” said Silva in an interview with SporTV. “After this fight, I think there are still two or three, I’m not sure.”
Silva and Sonnen is rematch of a 2010 meeting where “The Spider” earned a submission victory over Sonnen via Triangle-Armbar. Sonnen has used the public forum to constantly call out Silva, though the divisional king has ignored his trash-talk for the most part.
When Silva was asked in the interview who he would most like to compete against, he reiterated his desire to face his clone, adding, “I want to fight even with my clone. (That) would be a fantastic fight.” He also pegged Roy Jones Jr., as the one person he would most like to box against if he were to compete inside the squared circle.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, year, “ i, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC Programming Alert: Chael Sonnen to join 'MMA Uncensored,' Thurs. at 11pm ET to talk Silva rematch and more
On Aug. 7, 2010, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and mixed martial arts (MMA) landscape was 1.5 minutes away from changing forever when Chael Sonnen very nearly defeated the legendary Anderson Silva.
For more than four rounds, Sonnen bludgeoned the Middleweight Champion with punches, takedowns and two-handed, open palm strikes to the sides of the head. He was closer to defeating "The Spider" then any man has been in a very long time.
Since that fateful night, Sonnen has one his last two fights in a row and earned a rematch at the title (at least in the eyes of UFC management) when the two are expected to headline UFC 147 in Brazil this June.
Silva has also won his two most recent contests, both by way of devastating knockout.
The cage hasn't been the only place Sonnen and Silva have been active. Far from it. Both fighters have been very vocal in the media and the tone has been less than cordial. Recently, Silva spoke out about his nemesis, going so far as to suggest that Chael is possessed by a demon.
What will Sonnen have to say in response, this time?
Thursday (March 15, 2012), Sonnen will make an appearance on the new Spike TV program, "MMA Uncensored Live." He will sit down with hosts Craig Carton, Mike Straka and Nate Quarry to discuss his upcoming bout, his feelings for Silva and whatever else pops up in that crazy head of his.
If it's anything like his last showing on "UFC Tonight," where he issued a mock apology to Silva, it should make for some good footage.
Sonnen and Silva shouldn't have to do much to sell their impending rematch, but that has not stopped either of them, thus far.
Of course, it has been "Uncle Chael" who has stolen the show (and the majority of the air time), in contrast to Silva, who really has only answered a few questions here and there, as terse as his responses may have been.
"MMA Uncensored Live" can be seen on Spike TV on Thursday nights at 11 p.m. ET. Make sure to tune in!
Will you Maniacs be watching to see what bomb Chael is going to drop next? Do you think he's getting under Silva's skin, or is he just a mere annoyance that will be disposed of at UFC 147?
Comments, please.
Posted in: ufc, mma, silva, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen’s stylings headed to tomorrow night’s episode of MMA Uncensored
Whether fans love or hate UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen, chances are each rabid MMA enthusiast out there is interested in hearing what he has to say. Now, thanks to Spike TV’s MMA Uncensored, they’ll have a chance to do so this week with the added bonus of Sonnen’s commentary coming live as the show unfolds from the studio.
Sonnen will join the cast and address a number of topics, one of which will of course be Anderson Silva, while also fielding questions from viewers who submit topics on Twitter. The episode is also set to feature an interview with War Machine who is set to start serving a year-long jail sentence in the coming days.
MMA Uncensored is Spike TV’s recently unveiled version of a news-magazine program where numerous topics are covered, both pertaining to UFC and organizations outside of the Zuffa umbrella. Hosts include former TUF alumnus and UFC veteran Nate Quarry as well as well-known journalist Mike Straka. Catch it every week at 11:00 PM EST.
Check out a preview of the interview with War Machine below:
Posted in: mma, war machine, sonnen, days mma, tuf alumnus
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAnderson Silva: 'Disrespectful' Chael Sonnen shouldn’t get the chance to fight me again
In the nearly two years since Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva submitted Chael Sonnen at UFC 117, he's (for the most part) taken the high road during the unrelenting barrage of taunts from his 185-pound nemesis.
No longer.
Now that Sonnen has finally worked his way back into a rematch against "The Spider" this June in Brazil, the longtime division kingpin is finally speaking out on the "disrespectful" attitude of his challenger, who continues to parade around town with a replica belt and call himself the champ.
And he holds the media (partly) responsible.
Not just the stateside reporters, but the boys back in Brazil as well, who should "be more patriotic" like their American counterparts.
Silva breaks it all down for SporTV (via Bloody Elbow) after the jump.
"He’s possessed by a demon. That’s the truth. He’s an athlete that failed the drug test, I fought him while injured, and he had problems with the American Justice system. He respects nothing and he didn’t respect our country. What does he represent? Nothing. I respect the opinions and the positions of the promoters of the fight and the owners of the event, but in my opinion he shouldn’t get the chance to fight me again. But that’s not something that I can decide. I will get ready for the fight just as I would with any other. He disrespected our idols that made history in the world of sports, such as Lance Armstrong. This guy is complicated, he’s got personal issues. The attention that the Brazilian media gives him, the attention that Palmeiras gave him, it’s very bad. If any Brazilian would be in the position that he finds himself in, if they would talk about the US and he does about Brazil, and the American idols, we wouldn’t even have the same opportunities of going in their country or talking to the American media. I think that Brazilians should be more patriotic, like the Americans."
Sonnen was just a few short minutes away from defeating Silva back in August 2010, beating the silk out of "The Spider" for four-and-a-half rounds.
Then, with victory in sight, he choked (literally) when plopping into his opponent's guard -- and right into a triangle choke. A drug test suspension for TRT overload promptly put him on the shelf for six months after the loss.
He rebounded at UFC 136 by tapping out Brian Stann before co-headlining UFC on Fox 2 opposite Michael Bisping, narrowly squeaking past "The Count" via unanimous decision.
In his absence, Silva embarrassed Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 in Las Vegas and Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in "Rio."
Now the rematch is set and Silva sounds like he's starting to get a little annoyed. Will he be able to dispose of Sonnen once and for all? Or will the mouthy middleweight contender finish what he started in their first fight?
Predictions?
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, american
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen to Make Appearance on “MMA Uncensored Live”
Set your DVRs kids: West Linn’s most respected gangster, Chael Sonnen, will be dropping by the MMA Uncensored Live studios tonight to get a few things off his chest.
The number one middleweight contender will be given the floor to air his grievances and he’s most assuredly prepared content suitable for the occasion.
Hosted by Nate Quarry, Craig Carton and Mike Straka, MMA Uncensored Live airs — wait for it — live on Thursday nights beginning at 11pm ET/10pm CT on SpikeTV.
Since losing via last ditch triangle to his chief rival, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, at UFC 117 in 2010, Sonnen has impressively run through Brian Stann and squeaked by a game Michael Bisping to earn another shot at The Spider.
The fight hasn’t been made official yet, but is rumored to be going down in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this June, possibly as the main event of UFC 147.
Posted in: ufc, mma, sonnen, middleweight contender, thursday nights
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen stopping by set of MMA Uncensored Live
If there’s one fighter who knows how to put together a soundbyte it’s unquestionably Chael Sonnen, the outspoken middleweight with a penchant for creating both comical and controversial statements about his peers, MMA, and the world in general.
Sonnen will get a chance to let loose tomorrow night on Spike TV when he shows up as a guest on MMA Uncensored Live, a news-magazine program covering the sport from all angles hosted by Mike Straka, Craig Carton, and former UFC middleweight Nate Quarry.
While the topics he’ll discuss are unknown, chances are rival Anderson Silva will come up at least once given Sonnen’s history with the 185-pound champion and apparent love of laying into him. Sonnen recently apologized to Silva in a video professing his sorrow for talking trash only to turn things around at the end, saying he’d changed his mind while adding Silva could kiss his ass.
Sonnen Calls Silva a “Fake” and a “Phony”
Make sure to tune in at 11:00 PM EST on Thursday and see exactly what Sonnen has to say. Also set for the program, War Machine (i.e. Jon Koppenhaver) will talk about his new legal issues after seemingly putting the trouble behind him after a year-long stint behind bars.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: mma, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, newsmagazine program
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 147: Anderson Silva Says Chael Sonnen Shouldn’t Have Received A Rematch
Although Anderson Silva is already set to defend his title in a rematch against Chael Sonnen on UFC 147, the champion apparently still doesn't think that Sonnen deserved the rematch to begin with. He said as much in an interview with SporTV (translated by BloodyElbow.com's Orcus):
"(What does Chael Sonnen represent for my career?) Nothing! He’s possessed by a demon. That’s the truth. He’s an athlete that failed the drug test, I fought him while injured, and he had problems with the American Justice system. He respects nothing and he didn’t respect our country. What does he represent? Nothing.
"I respect the opinions and the positions of the promoters of the fight and the owners of the event, but in my opinion he shouldn’t get the chance to fight me again. But that’s not something that I can decide. I will get ready for the fight just as I would with any other."
"He disrespected our idols that made history in the world of sports, such as Lance Armstrong. This guy is complicated, he’s got personal issues. The attention that the Brazilian media gives him, the attention that Palmeiras gave him, it’s very bad. If any Brazilian would be in the position that he finds himself in, if they would talk about the US and he does about Brazil, and the American idols, we wouldn’t even have the same opportunities of going in their country or talking to the American media. I think that Brazilians should be more patriotic, like the Americans."
Related: Anderson Silva And Dana White Battle Over Idea Of Teammates Fighting Each Other
It's been two years since Chael started talking his way to the limelight, and from these statements from Silva, it appears that Sonnen has really gotten under his skin. It's an exciting stylistic match up either way, but as the smack talk intensifies, the lead up to the event will be more interesting, especially if we see Silva starting to take things more personally.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, chael, american
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen Questions Anderson Silva’s Cardio: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network)
MMA veteran Chael Sonnen talked a lot of trash leading up to his UFC 117 encounter against middleweight champion Anderson Silva. And he's sticking to the same strategy for his UFC 147 rematch with Silva, targeted for São Paulo, Brazil.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsChael Sonnen offers fake apology to Anderson Silva
During Tuesday night’s episode of UFC Tonight it appeared outspoken middleweight Chael Sonnen had a change of heart regarding rival Anderson Silva.
Sonnen, who is scheduled to face Silva for the title later this year, read a letter of apology he’d written for “The Spider” based on all the remarks he’d made in the past about the dynamic Brazilian. However, as soon as the letter concluded, the real Sonnen surfaced once again.
“Anderson, over the last several months, I’ve disparaged your name in an attempt to garner respect and attention for my own. That was wrong and I apologize,” said Sonnen. “I wish no further confrontation with you in the Octagon or through the media. In short, I surrender.”
Sonnen signed off before quickly adding, “P.S. I changed my mind. Anderson, you can kiss my ass.”
Silva and Sonnen are set to meet up this June in Brazil if all the paperwork can be completed for the card to take place.
Check out the complete video Sonnen below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, spider ”, video sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen issues an official apology to Anderson "The Spider" Silva
Number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael P. Sonnen, issued an official apology to the reigning champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva. However, before anyone believed to Sonnen he included an "obnoxious laugh", alongside "you can kiss my *ss" verdict. Once again, Sonnen will look to back-up his neverending trash tallk, when he faces Anderson Silva in the long-awaited rematch from UFC 117.
Further Reading: Submit your picks for upcoming MMA
Posted in: anderson silva, sonnen, spider silva, official apology, ss verdict
Read the full article at Low KickVIDEO: Chael Sonnen Issues Apology to UFC Champ Anderson Silva … Sort Of
UFC top middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has a contentious history with Anderson Silva. Tuesday, he went on "UFC Tonight" to issue an apology, Sonnen style.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, chael, apology
Read the full article at Heavy MMAVideo: Chael Sonnen’s ‘apology’ to Anderson Silva (Yahoo! Sports)
As we near Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen's bout in Brazil this summer, the trash talk between the two will undoubtedly heat up, right? Well, maybe not. Maybe Sonnen, after saying he stole Silva's middleweight championship belt and offering to … Continue reading →
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsVideo: Chael Sonnen’s ‘Apology’ To Anderson Silva
Well here it is, video of Chael Sonnen’s “apology” to Anderson Silva on FUEL TV tonight. Was it sincere? Or just Sonnen’s latest shot at Silva? I’ll let you watch to find out.
Posted in: video, silva, anderson silva, fuel tv, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ConvertVideo: Chael Sonnen issues heartfelt apology to Anderson Silva on 'UFC Tonight,' then tells him to kiss his ass
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 185-pound number one contender Chael Sonnen has been linked to Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva ever since the two engaged in a war that very nearly went the distance and caused the title to change hands at UFC 117 on Aug. 7, 2010, in Oakland, California.
Since then, Sonnen has been doing his darndest to fight and (possibly more importantly) talk his way back into a rematch with "The Spider." And after defeating Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 1 on Jan. 28, 2012, Sonnen earned another shot at dethroning the man who many consider to be the greatest mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter of all time.
During an appearance tonight (March 6, 2012) on "UFC Tonight," Sonnen decided to briefly clear the air with his long hated rival:
"I've taken the time to write Anderson Silva a letter. 'UFC Tonight' has afforded me a few moments to share it with him. I wrote this myself..."
Check out the Sonnen's letter to Silva after the jump, as well as the video from "UFC Tonight:"
"(melodic music playing in the background)
Anderson, over the last several months, I've disparaged your name in an attempt to garner respect and attention for my own. That was wrong and I apologize. My actions were unsportsmanlike, they were uncalled for. Though they weren't mean-spirited, I do regret them. As you know, I've recently become the number one contender, which is a position that respectfully and immediately I am resigning from. I wish no further confrontation with you in the Octagon or through the media. In short, I surrender.
Signed,
Chael P. Sonnen
(music stops)
P.S. I changed my mind. Anderson, you can kiss my ass.
(laughs)
Include the obnoxious laugh"
Looks like "Uncle Chael" is not done antagonizing Silva just yet.
The rematch is tentatively scheduled for sometime in July as the main event for UFC 147 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. It is a card that is also rumored to feature the final showdown between The Ultimate Fighter (TUF): "Brazil" coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort.
As Sonnen continues to agitate Silva and essentially trash talk the entire nation of Brazil, the question is becoming less about whether he can defeat the champion as it is a question of whether or not he will be able to make it in and out of the country in one piece.
Here's the video excerpt from "UFC Tonight," just in case you missed it:
For more on the "biggest rematch in the history of this business" click here.
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: "Anderson, I Apologize."
submitted by Virgin_Headquarters [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: sonnen, anderson, chael, virginheadquarter
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen To Publicly Apologize To Anderson Silva Tonight?
So hell is apparently freezing over tonight.
According to a press release FUEL TV sent out today, the same Chael Sonnen who has been verbally assaulting UFC Anderson Silva for years now is going to apologize to him on tonight’s episode of UFC Tonight. The release didn’t offer any of kind of explanation or context, only the following quote:
Quote of the Week: Chael Sonnen apologizes to Anderson Silva: “Anderson, over the last several months, I’ve disparaged your name in attempt to garner respect and attention for my own. That was wrong and I apologize. My actions were unsportsmanlike, they were uncalled for.”
So let me get this straight. Months before his big rematch Sonnen is all of sudden feeling regretful and remorseful for all the things he’s said about Silva? That doesn’t seem right.
What’s Sonnen up to here? Is this really a genuine apology? Or did FUEL TV conveniently leave out the part at the end where Sonnen yells “PSYCH!!!”? I don’t know, but I suppose we’ll find out tonight.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, feeling regretful
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen makes light of himself during post-fight show for UFC on FX 2
Chael Sonnen, without cracking a smile, likely gave viewers watching the post-fight show on Fuel TV for this past Friday’s UFC on FX: Alves vs. Kampmann a grin from ear-to-ear after offering an insight on the bout many probably didn’t expect to hear.
In the card’s main event, Martin Kampmann caught Thiago Alves coming in for a takedown with a Guillotine Choke, earning the submission with less than a minute remaining on the clock in a bout where Alves appeared to be up on the scorecards and well on his way to securing a victory.
Sonnen experienced the same fate during his title-fight with UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva with “The Spider” locking him in a choke as their bout winded down with Sonnen unquestionably leading on the scorecards.
“There is nobody else more surprised that (Alves) tapped out than Martin Kampmann,” Sonnen dead-panned. “I think Martin will tell you himself, he didn’t have that choke. You have to be a real boob to get caught at the end of the fight like that.”
Sonnen is expected to get another shot at Silva this summer with the date/location still up in the air though rumored to be in Brazil this June.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, alve, martin, postfight show
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainMichael Schiavello Calls Chael Sonnen A "Wanker"
Michael "The Voice" Schiavello is one of the most well known personalities in MMA commentary. He's been in the business for many years with several promotions like Dream, Sengoku, HDNet Fights, and currently Strikeforce. On top of fight commentary he's been doing an interview series since 2010 called The Voice Versus, notable interviewees include Joe Rogan, Wanderlei Silva, Jason Miller, and Alistair Overeem. However, it seems not just anyone gets the privilege of appearing on Schiavello's show. Today, on Twitter, Jason High asked The Voice if he would like to invite UFC Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen to the show. Schiavello's response:
via i1229.photobucket.com
Jason High followed up with a question regarding The Voice's view of Sonnen:
via i1229.photobucket.com
No response yet from Chael Sonnen, though, considering the contender's propensity for trash talk, it's likely that he will strike back.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, schiavello, voice, voices view
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendChael Sonnen: Thiago Alves is a 'boob' for getting submitted at end of Martin Kampmann fight
Dear Kettle: You're black! Signed, Pot.
Number one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight contender Chael Sonnen put his analyst hat on for FUEL TV last night (Fri., March 2, 2012) for the UFC on FX 2: "Alves vs. Kampmann" post-fight show and his comments regarding Thiago Alves' last minute submission loss to Martin Kampmann are brilliant.
"There is nobody else more surprised that (Alves) tapped out, more than Martin Kapmann. I think Martin will tell you himself, he didn't have that choke. You have to be a real boob to get caught at the end of the fight like that."
Sonnen would know better than any what it's like to dominate a fight only to find himself trapped in a tight submission so close to the finish line. UFC 117 and Anderson Silva triangle/armbar anyone?
Had Alves held on, he would have undoubtedly earned a unanimous decision win. Instead, he tapped his way all the way to the back of the welterweight line.
A real "boob," indeed.
Then again, Sonnen bounced back by winning his next two fights and will now have his rematch against "The Spider" this coming June in Brazil. Alves will get the chance to do something similar, though a second go-round with Kampmann isn't likely to be on the horizon.
Unless of course you Maniacs want to see it bad enough. Well ... do you?
Posted in: fight, sonnen, alve, kampmann, martin
Read the full article at MMA ManiaGood Guy Sonnen
submitted by CarlWhite [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: guy, sonnen, carlwhite, guy sonnen
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen: “Anderson Silva is a fake and a phony.”
Though the rematch between UFC middleweights Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva has yet to be booked, Sonnen certainly isn’t backing down from trying to paint the 185-pound champion in a less-than flattering way. This time around Sonnen has taken aim at Silva’s record and overall approach to MMA, accusing him of being more interested in making money through sponsorships than facing the sport’s best to cement his status as an all-time great.
“Anderson Silva’s not even a fighter,” said Sonnen in an interview with Stephan Bonnar for the TUF veteran’s Trash Talkin’ Kids brand. “Anderson Silva’s a part of the sport that makes his money and his fame off of endorsements that are ill-gotten and tainted.”
“Anderson Silva’s a fake and a phony and he’ll be remembered the same way Mike Tyson is: as a guy with a padded record who didn’t fight anybody,” the outspoken grappler concluded.
Sonnen Sees Silva as a “Coward”
Silva holds an overall record of 31-4 with past wins over Sonnen, Nate Marquardt, Demian Maia, Yushin Okami, Vitor Belfort, Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, and Forrest Griffin. Ironically, Sonnen himself has actually lost to a handful of the names in Silva’s win column including Maia and Griffin.
The two rivals are expected to face off in June with a possible venue in Brazil though nothing official has been confirmed.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, stephan bonnar, isn ’t
Read the full article at Fighters.comChael Sonnen Says UFC Champ Anderson Silva Will Be Remembered Like Mike Tyson
Somehow I missed this video of UFC middleweight #1 contender Chael Sonnen trash talking Anderson Silva. Sonnen very nearly defeated Silva at UFC 117 in August of 2010 but since then has had a long road back to the top. After failing a post-fight drug test Sonnen didn't fight again for over a year and his issues with the California and Nevada State Athletic Commissions kept him from both an immediate rematch against Silva and coaching The Ultimate Fighter against Michael Bisping.
Sonnen is expected to finally get his shot at Silva at UFC 147 on June 16. The event is expected to take place in Brazil but logistical issues have made it unlikely that it will be held in Sao Paulo as originally hoped.
In the video above, shot by Stephan Bonnar as an ad for his apparel line (Chael is modeling a "I want Anderson Silva") Sonnen says that Silva will be looked back on by history like Micheal Tyson because of his padded record.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, anderson, sao paulo
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva has a padded record
Current number one contender for the UFC Middleweight title, Chael Sonnen, once again shared thoughts about his ongoing war with the reigning champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva. Sonnen will meet Silva in a rematch later this year, with sights on finishing the job started at UFC 117. In his new "video message" for Silva, Sonnen declared the champ has a "padded record" and will be remembered just like Mike Tyson, who also fight anyone worth mentioning throughout his boxing career.
Further Reading: Submit
Posted in: silva, sonnen, mike tyson, silva sonnen, video message
Read the full article at Low KickNo Andy vs Chael 2 in Brazil???
What the hell is going on in Brazil? First our Sambadrome stadium dreams are dashed because of f*cking noise complaints, and now it sounds like our chances of seeing Chael Sonnen ripped limb from limb by an angry crowd of South Americans is also decreasing rapidly. From GracieMag:
Filming of the TUF Brazil reality show is going full steam. As is the tradition, in the final episode of the show, the coaches of the two teams face off, and that’s just what Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva are set to do, in one of the most long-awaited rematches of all times.The showdown between the two will likely be the main event, as it is rumored that the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will no longer be in Brazil.The final of the reality show was planned for a soccer stadium in São Paulo—Pacaembu Stadium—, but the idea was nixed. When queried about the venue for the TUF final, at the post UFC 144 press conference, Dana White said it had yet to be determined.“We’re working on it.”The mystery continues…
Is there something that's keeping Andy vs Chael from happening in Brazil or is this just another example of the UFC spreading it's headline-calibre fights out so it can fill the tops of it's many, many, many cards? If that's the case, it's a huge mistake. I'm sure the little corporate dickface in all of us can see the appeal of having two 500k+ PPV events instead of a single 600k - 700k one, but think of the historical ramifications! Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2 was MEANT to happen in Brazil. The location (and the possibility of a riot) is half the excitement.Ah well, this is all just rumor and speculation at this point, nothing to get the blowguns out for just yet. But I bet there are a bunch of Brazilians prancing and praying to their demon effigy that Anderson Silva gets his chance to crucify Chael Sonnen in their back yards. And rightfully so!
Posted in: anderson silva, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at FightlinkerMMA Marketplace: Chael Sonnen makes a convincing Uncle Sam (Yahoo! Sports)
Cbael Sonnen has called out Anderson Silva after fights, in interviews, on Twitter, and now, on a shirt. The good news is that if you are on Team Chael, you can own the shirt, too. If Uncle Sam needs a … Continue reading →
Posted in: anderson silva, sonnen, chael, uncle sam, team chael
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsVideo: Must-see Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2 fan-made trailer
It's the biggest rematch in the history of this business.
And the esteemed "NickTheFace" put this little ditty together to get us pumped up for Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen 2, which is expected to take place somewhere in Brazil in June 2012.
The first meeting between these two elite middleweights took place all the way back in Aug. 2010 in Oakland, Calif., at UFC 117, a five-round classic that saw Sonnen back up his big talk by beating down the champion for 4.5 rounds.
Then he got caught in a triangle/armbar submission and was forced to tap with just minutes remaining.
The thrilling finish had fans the world over clamoring for a rematch to see if Sonnen could finish what he started. Silva, feeling as though the result was definitive, wasn't on board with said plan. Outside problems -- like failed drug tests, money laundering and the link -- got in the way but that's all been settled now.
And we can finally see the end of one of the best feuds in Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) history.
Will their rematch play out like their first fight, with Sonnen dominating the Champ for most of fight, or will Anderson be able to fend off his attack. Make your position on this fight known in the comments, Maniacs.
Poll
Which upcoming and confirmed Championship fight are you most looking forward too?
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Jones vs Evans
UFC Heavyweight Championshup: Dos Santos vs Overeem
UFC Bantamweight Championship: Cruz vs Faber
UFC Middleweight Championship: Silva vs Sonnen 2
49 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, vs, silva, championship, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Bisping seeking May match-up
Now that UFC middleweight Michael Bisping has had some time to rest/recover since facing Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2 it looks like “The Count” has gotten the itch to fight again and is already talking to the UFC about scheduling a summer scrap. The only problem is that the Brit isn’t quite sure who he wants to face next with a number of the division’s biggest names already set for action in the coming months.
Bisping discussed his desire, as well as his belief that an impressive win would put him back into title-contention, in a recent interview where he started things out by saying he didn’t feel his controversial decision loss to Sonnen had damaged his stock so much as improved it.
“I don’t think it was a step backward. If anything, I cemented myself as one of the top contenders in the division,” said Bisping as a guest on MMAJunkie Radio before adding, “I want to fight again soon. I’m aching to fight.”
The polarizing Sonnen narrowly outpointed Bisping in a top contenders’ bout many felt the Ultimate Fighter 3 winner deserved the nod in. As far as who Bisping could be paired with next, the 33-year old (who celebrated his birthday today) is open to suggestion.
Sonnen Says He’s Never Been Hit as Hard as He Was by Bisping
“All the top guys seemed to be booked up at the moment, so I’m scratching my head thinking of who to ask the UFC for,” explained Bisping. “I’m sure they’ll come up with someone decent for me. That’s what they do. I just tend to accept the fights and try to do my best. I was thinking about that last night, and I couldn’t think of anyone.”
“I’m hoping that (with) one more good win over a good opponent, I should fight the winner of Chael and Anderson (Silva) later in the year,” Bisping concluded.
While his opponent is still up in the air, if Bisping has his way the date won’t be, stating he wants to fight in May so he’ll still have seven months left in the year to fight again. The UFC has three shows scheduled in May though two are already full meaning UFC 146 (5/26) is the most realistic option.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, fight, year, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comSome of Chael Sonnen's funniest quotes
submitted by cynical69 [link] [comment]
Posted in: sonnen, chael, quote, chael sonnens
Read the full article at RedditUFC middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen was backstage at WWE Monday Night Raw last night...
UFC middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen was backstage at WWE Monday Night Raw last night (Feb. 27, 2012), likely to hang with his buddy CM Punk. He was also ringside to take in the main event of the evening. The show featured the return of The Rock, so maybe Sonnen was hoping for some pointers? Or something he could blatantly rip off, even? For you pro wrestling fans out there, make sure to hit up CagesideSeats.com, SB Nation's home for all things pro wrestling. You'll even see a few familiar faces over there.
Posted in: night, wwe, contender, sonnen, number
Read the full article at MMA ManiaJacare talks Silva vs. Sonnen rematch: “Sonnen won’t even touch him”
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: ’t, silva, jacare, sonnen, mattyblayze
Read the full article at RedditWest Linn, Oregon's finest citizen Chael Sonnen taking in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's promo at...
West Linn, Oregon's finest citizen Chael Sonnen taking in Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's promo at tonight's WWE RAW in Portland. Uncle Chael, how do you know what pro wrestling is if you didn't have TV as a kid?!
A tweet from Chael as well: At #RAW. @WWEDanielBryan cheated against @CMPunk. Threw him into the guard rails. I’m disgusted. #WWE
Promoted to the Front Page by Anton Tabuena
Posted in: sonnen, front page, chael, tonights wwe, dwayne
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen will get zero takedowns in his rematch against Anderson Silva
Because "The Spider's" takedown defense is "excellent."
In fact, Sonnen "won't even touch him" if and when they finally hook 'em up in a 185-pound rematch, after first facing off at UFC 117 way back in August 2010. But don't take my word for it, when you can hear it from jiu-jitsu wizard Ronaldo Souza, who recently got a taste of Silva's gi-less grappling.
"Jacare" talks to Tatame.com:
"I believe that if he’s in good shape no one can beat him, especially Sonnen. Anderson has a black belt level at Jiu Jitsu. When he puts the gi on he does great. He can attack and defend himself well with no gi and, fighting MMA, no comments. But I believe that next time he won’t let Sonnen take him down. He has excellent takedown defense. Sonnen won’t even touch him."
Sonnen had a 43-percent success rate against Silva when they first fought for the Brazilian's strap nearly 18 months ago, landing three takedowns in seven attempts.
But it wasn't how many times he got him to the floor, it was what he did with him once there, that told the story.
Silva struggled mightily across four-and-a-half rounds against Sonnen, who out-struck the striker by a staggering score of 320-64. In fact, he might have walked away with the belt had he not gotten careless and silver-plattered a triangle choke in the final minutes of the fight.
Will history repeat itself in June?
Sonnen's first fight back after running afoul of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) was a lopsided submission win over Brian Stann at UFC 136; however, his most recent performance against Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2, where he seemed unable to replicate his dominance in previous fights, left many fans wondering if he still has the chops to get it done in a Silva rematch.
We know what Souza thinks.
How about you?
Posted in: takedown, silva, rematch, sonnen, belt level
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRonaldo Souza praises Anderson Silva’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
One of the top BJJ practitioners in MMA is unquestionably Ronaldo Souza, a former Strikeforce middleweight title-holder with numerous awards on the mat from his days as a competitive submission-grappler. Likewise, one of the apex strikers in the sport is UFC 185-pound champion Anderson Silva. However, a major difference between the two is Silva’s ability to remain competitive in Souza’s discipline of choice while “Jacare” is light-years behind “The Spider” when it comes to stand-up.
Even Souza himself can’t help but be impressed by Silva’s jiu-jitsu, a point he recently made clear in an interview when asked about the UFC superstar’s chances against Chael Sonnen when the two face off for a second time later this year.
“I believe that if he’s in good shape no one can beat him, especially Sonnen,” said Souza to TATAME. “When he puts the gi on he does great. He can attack and defend himself well with no gi (too)…I believe that next time he won’t let Sonnen take him down. He has excellent takedown defense. Sonnen won’t even touch him.”
Sonnen nearly beat Silva in their initial encounter due to his ability to take the Brazilian down, controlling him from the top throughout until Silva’s BJJ saved the day at the end.
Silva Sick of the Sonnen Subject
The 31-4 Silva has six career wins by way of submission with 3X as many involving a strike-based stoppage.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, souza, ronaldo souza
Read the full article at Fighters.comWhat Is The Best Combat Sports Moment You Witnessed Live?
We have all seen spectacular moments in combat sports on television that have embedded themselves in our minds forever. I will never forget which stool I was sitting in when Anderson Silva robbed Forrest Griffin of his soul at UFC 101. I just stood sat there in absolute disbelief and laughed. It wasn't even like it was funny. I mean, it was but I was just laughing out of sheer disbelief. I was stunned that any person could do that to another human being.
I believe it is a whole different thing to witness these moments live. There is something about being in that building at that time that adds so much to those moments in time. Just being in the same room when something that profound and memorable happens is something that can be difficult, if not impossible to describe.
I have been lucky enough to witness a few great moments live in the few events I have attended. I have seen Machida KO Rashad Evans for the belt, Cain Velasquez destroy Brock Lesnar and the 25 minute epic between Dan Henderson and Mauricio Rua. But one moment stands head and shoulders above the rest: Anderson Silva's hailmary triangle armbar on Chael Sonnen @ UFC 117.
The build up to this moment was I think what made the payoff so great. Chael had claimed his title as the p4p best trash talker in MMA and had said everything imaginable to get under Anderson's skin. The pre-fight press conference and the weigh in had only poured more fuel on an already raging fire. Oracle Arena was rocking as the fighters were introduced and only got more intense with every Sonnen takedown. The chants of "SON-NEN" and "U-S-A" grew more and more deafening as the fight progressed and once Sonnen secured his takedown in the 5th round, people around me were celebrating the victory he had seemingly sealed. Then, it happened. Anderson snuck his left leg over Chael's head and locked up that triangle armbar sending the crowd into hysterics. When Josh Rosenthal pulled Anderson off of him, the building almost collapsed from the reaction. I was personally stunned silent. I literally could not believe what I had just seen and knew right away that I had been witness to something I would likely never experience again.
Now it is your turn. I would like to know what your answer is to this question and what it was that made it so special. Some of us have probably even been in the same place at the same time for these moments. I am very interested in hearing from everyone.
Posted in: sonnen, anderson, something, moment, witness
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendSilva vs. Sonnen 2 Close to Done Deal, but Where Will It Take Place?
The saga of putting together a rematch between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva continues.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyAnderson Silva says Chael Sonnen respects nothing, promises a "different fight" in Brazil
Chael Sonnen has good wresting - but not good enough to defeat a healthy Anderson Silva. That's according to the champ himself, who says that much of Sonnen's success in their first encounter can be attributed to his broken ribs...
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, chael, sonnens success
Read the full article at Low KickWe're not sure what to think of the Evans/Jones trash talk from the UFC 145 press conference
I think we can all agree that everything there is to know about the scientific universe can be found on the Wu-Tang Forever double album. The rest of life is pretty much down hill from there. Chael Sonnen proved his allegiance to the Wu back in 2010 by inserting a teleportation reference in one of his many verbal daggers aimed at Anderson Silva prior to UFC 117. That's the moment when we all realized the landscape of trash talk will never be the same. Sonnen did to verbal altercations what The Matrix did for action films over a decade ago.
We can't expect all of our favorite fighters to manifest trash talk that is on par with the genius that is Chael Sonnen's larynx. Sometimes we have to settle for two verb-wielding apprentices like Jon Jones and Rashad Evans to provide press conference antics. My primary critique is there's absolutely no reference of the infamous 'Jon Jones swagger jacking incident of 2011.' It was like Jon Jones hired Anonymous to hack Rashad Evans' wardrobe.
Check out this excerpt from the UFC 145 on-sale press conference and tell me what I should tell you that I think. [Source]
Posted in: jon, jon jones, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Middle EasyAnderson Silva Says He Won't Fight Jon Jones, Thinks Chael Sonnen Is Bad For The Sport
It is no secret that Anderson Silva's days in MMA are numbered. He is getting older and we hear chatter from him and his camp constantly that he'll be out of the sport in a handful of fights. Anderson has been on the shelf since his dominating August victory over Yushin Okami but is supposed to face long-time rival Chael Sonnen after Sonnen's win over Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2.
In a recent interview with UOL Esportes, Silva talked about Sonnen and many other topics (transcription by Orcus).
On Sonnen:
A lot of people who hears the crap he says end up thinking; "I don't like MMA, it's a joke." What he does only hurts the sport in general. That's never good. We are in a good phase with MMA and we have to capitalize on it. It looks like Chael doesn't understand that, all he wants is for people to get angry.
On getting older:
I’m no longer the same, everything hurts and it takes much longer for me to recover (from injuries).
More after the jump including Silva discussing a desire to fight GSP and never wanting to fight Jon Jones...
On a potential superfight with Georges St. Pierre:
GSP is very educated and I like him a lot. A fight against him would be very, very, very big and this could actually happen.
On fighting Jon Jones:
I don't plan on moving up in weight anymore. He's in a different weight (class). I train with bigger guys, such as Lyoto Machida and Big Nog and I know how complicated it is. ...Every time I see Jones I tell him to keep focus, because if he does that, there's no opponent for him. He's better than everyone. He'd have a lot of advantages (over me), he's much younger and it wouldn't be something interesting (for me).
I can't blame Silva for not wanting to go up and fight a huge, young light heavyweight when he already feels he is getting older. It's not exactly a good career choice for him to make as hi
Posted in: fight, jone, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC boss: NSAC's handling of Mayweather, Diaz, Sonnen woefully inconsistent
OMAHA, Neb. - UFC president Dana White admits he doesn't know how the
Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to handle the failed UFC 143 drug test
of top welterweight Nick Diaz.
But after observing what White considers incomprehensibly inconsistent
recent handling of boxer Floyd Mayweather and UFC middleweight Chael
Sonnen, the UFC boss is praying for fair treatment.
"We'll see what happens," White told MMAjunkie.com. "We'll see if inconsistency prevails again."
Posted in: ufc, diaz, sonnen, ufc boss, nevada state
Read the full article at MMA JunkieChael Sonnen still has not officially been offered Anderson Silva rematch
One of the biggest rematches in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen for the middleweight title, is supposed to go down in June in Brazil.
Or at least that's what UFC President Dana White said.
Sonnen, however, is singing a different tune, at least in the official sense. He says he hasn't actually been offered the fight, though he's proceeding as if it's going to happen:
"I have not even been offered the fight. I've read in the media that I'm going to have the fight. I'm telling people that I have the fight, but the reality is I've never been offered it."
Unofficial fight is unofficial. Got it.
"The Spider," meanwhile, is approaching this with the same attitude, albeit for differing reasons. His opinion is that Sonnen doesn't even deserve the rematch but after all the garbage he's spewed, he's ready to get inside the Octagon and settle it once and for all.
"In my opinion, Chael doesn't deserve a rematch, but I'm ready for this fight," Silva told the LA Times. "I'll go back to my home, with my family, remembering Chael disrespects the people of Brazil, and start my focus on this fight."
The first meeting between these two elite middleweights took place all the way back in Aug. 2010 in Oakland, Calif., at UFC 117, a five-round classic that saw Sonnen back up his big talk by beating down the champion for four and a half rounds.
Then he got caught in a triangle/armbar submission and was forced to tap with just minutes remaining.
The thrilling finish had fans the world over clamoring for a rematch to see if Sonnen could finish what he started. Silva, feeling as though the result was definitive, wasn't on board with said plan. Outside problems -- like failed drug tests, money laundering and the link -- got in the way but that's all been settled now.
And we can finally see the end of one of the best feuds in UFC history.
You know, whenever they get around to sending out contracts, signing on the dotted line, crossing the t's and dotting the i's, to make it officially official.
Posted in: ufc, fight, rematch, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaYour day is not complete without a little Chael Sonnen smack talk towards Anderson Silva
What many people don't realize is Chael Sonnen is the founder of planned parenthood. Not even unborn children can escape his verbal daggers. When it comes to slinging enough adjectives and verbs to give your cerebral cortex whiplash, Sonnen has absolutely cornered the market. If words give birth to ideas, then Chael Sonnen has impregnated the entire English language. No linguistic contraception can stop this man.
Today on his Twitter account, Chael Sonnen fired off a few warning shots towards Anderson Silva's general direction. We're not sure what incited the response, but we just hope Steven Seagal doesn't get wind of it. [Source]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, people dont, man today
Read the full article at Middle EasyIt's a little late, but I found Anderson Silva's reaction after seeing Sonnen beat Bisping.
submitted by Phargo [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: bisping, sonnen, anderson, reaction, phargo
Read the full article at RedditAnderson Silva: Chael Sonnen is bad for the UFC
Reigning Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, who will face Chael Sonnen in June, discusses his opponent, as well as fighting in his home country of Brazil. Silva says that he was not impressed by Sonnen's recent victory over Michael Bisping, and insists that the Team Quest fighter is "bad for the UFC." Photo: Francis Specker
Posted in: silva, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, brazil silva
Read the full article at Low KickAnderson Silva Doesn’t Want To Talk About Chael Sonnen
I think it’s safe to say that Chael Sonnen is Anderson Silva’s least favorite person on the planet.
Chael’s response to this interview today:
When I want your advice I'll beat it out of you, Stupid. Now go back to singing to hamburgers and telling Segal he's legit.about 5 hours ago via Mobile WebReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, interview today
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBig Nog isn't down with Chael Sonnen's marketing
Fighters Only has a story about a run-in between Chael Sonnen and his bus-feeding buddy Big Nog. You can check that out or read the Google Translate version of the original story off Brazilian site SporTV.com below. It just has more entertaining flavor that way. Bonus fun if you imagine it being read by Ranato Laranja.
One of the victims of controversial statements and provocations of Chael Sonnen, Rodrigo Minotauro already had its moment of cover. The episode happened after UFC 117 in August 2010, when Anderson Silva defeated talkative and kept the belt middleweight Ultimate. At the time, Sonnen tried Minotaur shortly after the fight to apologize, but ended up taking a reprimand and a "get away," from the Brazilian.In relaxed conversation with SPORTV.COM, the hippest of the Nogueira brothers [nice hip-replacement pun, google translate! - ed] revealed that Sonnen tried to justify it by saying that everything he said was pure marketing and the heavyweight should not call his words. In vain. Angered, Minotaur has a "get away" to the middleweight and would not talk.
Sonnen sent out from him and even called him "asshole" (in Portuguese, bacaca). According to "Big Nog", the veteran fighter Matt Lindland, former UFC, witnessed the scene and tried to separate the confusion and defending compatriot repeating the grounds that it was all in favor of marketing. But neither was sufficient to diminish the anger of the Brazilian. Since then, Sonnen never sought him, but followed the usual provocations.
Nogueira said he would love to face a fighter like Chael Sonnen . It would believe that a motive much greater than the normal against the American: "I like guys who do not fight with Sonnen, who talk a lot of nonsense. This motivates a lot. I would not even get to sleep so much anxiety to hit him."
Sadly, the two are separated by two weight classes and the UFC has decided to run Japanese shows like *sigh* proper sporting events instead of a home for all the freakshow fights we'd really love to see. Maybe Lil Nog can take care of things? Chael Sonnen has said he'd move up to light-heavyweight if he can't get that Anderson Silva fight, but that'd be forgetting that everything Sonnen says is 'pure marketing.' Besides, Anderson Silva sounded perfectly ready to fight on UFC Tonight:
"Chael talks too much," Silva said. "Chael needs to train. No more talk, train. Going to Brazil? Big problem."
Posted in: fight, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at FightlinkerAnderson Silva Tells Chael Sonnen To Train, Not Talk
With Chael Sonnen defeating Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2, it set up a rematch between Sonnen and UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Silva beat Sonnen with a literal last minute submission in their first meeting after Sonnen had dominated the fight.
Since, it has been non-stop trash talk about Silva by Sonnen. Silva talked about the fight on UFC Tonight. Via MMA Fighting:
Silva told Ariel Helwani on Fuel TV's UFC Tonight that he believes Sonnen would be wise to keep his mouth shut and get to work on training.
"Chael talks too much," Silva said. "Chael needs to train. No more talk, train. Going to Brazil? Big problem."
Silva gave the interview in English, perhaps another sign that he's hoping to match Sonnen's talk before matching up with him inside the Octagon. But Silva also said that Sonnen isn't going to get under his skin.
"I don't care about Chael Sonnen," Silva said.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAnderson Silva: Chael Sonnen Needs to Train, Not Talk
Anderson Silva has some advice for his next opponent: Stop talking about me, and start training for me.
That opponent, Chael Sonnen, has hurled relentless trash talk in Silva's direction for years, and Silva has largely brushed it off. But with Silva and Sonnen set to square off this summer in Silva's native Brazil, Silva may have finally reached the point where he feels the need to talk back to Sonnen.
Silva told Ariel Helwani on Fuel TV's UFC Tonight that he believes Sonnen would be wise to keep his mouth shut and get to work on training.
"Chael talks too much," Silva said. "Chael needs to train. No more talk, train. Going to Brazil? Big problem."
Silva gave the interview in English, perhaps another sign that he's hoping to match Sonnen's talk before matching up with him inside the Octagon. But Silva also said that Sonnen isn't going to get under his skin.
"I don't care about Chael Sonnen," Silva said.
Silva and Sonnen originally fought on August 7, 2010, with Sonnen winning the first four rounds before Silva made him tap in the fifth. Their long-awaited rematch will be one of the UFC's biggest fights of 2012.
Posted in: silva, sonnen, train, chael, sonnen silva
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSilva verbally agrees to Sonnen rematch
Anderson Silva has verbally agreed to a rematch with Chael Sonnen in Brazil in June, according to UFC president Dana White.
Posted in: silva, rematch, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at sportsnet.caAnderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II set for June in Brazil
The long awaited rematch between Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and top contender Chael Sonnen is set.UFC President Dana White has confirmed that, despite Sonnen's insistence to the contrary, both the champ and challenger have verbally agreed to meet in June.It's a bout that Sonnen (27-11-1) has campaigned for since his oh-so-close submission loss to Silva back at UFC 117. Though the rematch had been tentatively scheduled following his defeat, a series of mishaps saw the Team Quest fighter sidelined
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, chael, sonnens insistence
Read the full article at Low KickDana White confirms Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen 2 for summer
Chael Sonnen’s doubts regarding UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva’s willingness to fight him appear to have been misplaced, as “The Spider” has indeed accepted a rematch and will face his rival this summer, likely in June at an event in Brazil. The outspoken 34-year old had expressed his skepticism in Silva taking the tilt based on their history including an earlier bout Sonnen nearly won before being submitted in the final few minutes of the five round affair.
“It’s not signed, but it’s verbally agreed to,” said Dana White of the match-up when asked for an update on the scrap’s status at the post-even press conference for UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit.
Sonnen Confident Silva Is Trying to Avoid Him
The UFC President’s statements marked the first time actual confirmation of the clash was provided with comments being speculatory in nature prior to this past weekend’s news.
The two talented 185ers have been going back and forth at each other since meeting at UFC 117 where the dynamic Brazilian retained his title in dramatic fashion. Sonnen has been the primary aggressor in terms of trash-talk, bringing Silva’s wife into the discussion and even offering to retire if beaten a second time.
Silva has been healing from a shoulder injury and has only recently made his return to training.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, bout sonnen, fashion sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comChael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva 2 Set for June UFC in Brazil
The anticipated rematch between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is set to take place in June in Silva’s home country of Brazil.
UFC President Dana White announced at Saturday’s UFC 143 post-fight press conference that Silva and Sonnen had verbally agreed to the matchup with an exact date and venue to be finalized soon.
Sonnen (27-11-1) kept his hopes for another shot at Silva and his title alive as he edged Michael Bisping by unanimous decision one week ago at UFC on Fox 2. The win was Sonnen’s second-straight since returning to the Octagon in October after serving suspensions for a positive drug test and guilty plea in the wake of his near upset of Silva in August 2010.
Following the near-loss to Sonnen, Silva (31-4) has turned in dominant wins over Vitor Belfort via first-round KO one year ago and Yushi Okami via second-round TKO in August, but has been sidelined by a shoulder injury since.
Sao Paulo, Brazil is the front-runner to host the event, which is also expected to feature The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil’s coaches fight between Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort and tournament finals.
For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, silva, vitor belfort, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyAnderson Silva and Chael Sonnen Agree to UFC Title Rematch
Chael Sonnen will get a second chance at Anderson Silva.
Even after Sonnen's recent and repeated claims that Silva would never accept a fight with him, the middleweight champ has in fact agreed to once again put up his belt in an upcoming title defense, UFC president Dana White said on Saturday night. Sonnen has also agreed to the bout, according to White.
The fight is likely to take place in June, in Silva's home country of Brazil.
The first fight between the two took place at UFC 117 in August 2010. Memorably, Sonnen controlled the action deep into the fifth, until Silva pulled off a dramatic submission win. In the aftermath, Sonnen was granted an immediate rematch, but that was quickly derailed when he was suspended for failure to disclose testosterone replacement therapy.
Sonnen served a suspension and his since gone 2-0, defeating Brian Stann and Michael Bisping in consecutive fights.
In the meantime, Silva has continued his swath of destruction, earning knockout wins over Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami. After the Okami fight, the 36-year-old Silva addressed several nagging injuries, and he hasn't fought since the August 2011 date.
The exact date for the Silva-Sonnen fight is yet undecided, though the promotion has been scouting locations in Sao Paulo in June.
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, anderson silva, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSilva vs. Sonnen 2 Is On for June in Brazil
"It's on." With those two words, UFC President Dana White made Chael Sonnen the happiest man in all of MMA.
Posted in: silva, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyIn case you forgot that Chael Sonnen is the most awesome man alive
submitted by L1mb0 [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, case, man, chael
Read the full article at RedditDana White talks GSP vs. Diaz, Silva vs. Sonnen 2, UFC on Fox, and much more
UFC President Dana White, who was in attendance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas following the UFC 143 pre-fight press conference, sat down with members of the media to discuss a host of hot topics, including GSP vs. Diaz, last weekend's UFC on Fox event, Silva vs. Sonnen 2, and much more. Photo: Scott Hirano
Posted in: ufc, vs, las vegas, sonnen, weekends ufc
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on Fox 2 review podcast: In defeat Michael Bisping makes case for title shot after Silva vs. Sonnen
Podcast Powered By Podbean By, D.J. San Marco After an impressive performance that belies the fight metrics Michael Bisping (22-4) looks primed and deserving of the winner of Anderson Silva (31-4) vs. Chael Sonnen (27-11-1). Despite the 5-1 odds that bookmakers had on this fight Bisping wrestled and struck his way to an impressive performance against Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2. Bisping's more effective striking, wall walking and jiu jitsu on the ground made the first two rounds of the three round fight closer than expected.Bisping has now beaten wrestlers, strikers, BJJ experts and judo players. In 16 career UFC fights many have come but very few have found success against the well rounded Bisping. The Brit's in cage antics, two fisted birds at the weigh-ins and occasional mischief have drawn the ire of many MMA fans, however the man is 22-4 overall. Bisping's four losses of Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Rashad Evans and Sonnen are all top fighters and possibly future hall of famers.Bisping is not the coddled fighter or merely the UFC's link to the British audience who matchmakers were trying to protect. Bisping's performance on Saturday night proved he will battle you anywhere the fight goes and there are no easy nights against him. Bisping is a tried and true mixed martial artist in the truest sense of the word; his striking is excellent while not Silva spectacular, his wrestling is effective without resembling Sonnen, his jiu jitsu won't invoke visions of Marcelo Garcia but he's quite good at not taking damage and his ability to move back to his feet shows improvements in his defensive wrestling. If UFC rankings were the court of law, Bisping would have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that he is worthy of a title shot against the winner of Silva/Sonnen and in some circles he should be fighting for the title now. The MMA community can no longer have a discussion of high level 185 pounders without including Michael Gavin Joseph Bisping in the discussion.
Posted in: ufc, fight, title shot, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at UltMMAChael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva rematch 'set' for June 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil
A rematch nearly two years in the making.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen, who was just a few short minutes away from defeating Anderson Silva at UFC 117 back in August 2010, will have a chance to exorcize his submission demons in a championship rematch against "The Spider" later this year.
That's according to UFC President Dana White on the UFC on Fox 2 post-fight show, who confirmed that Silva vs. Sonnen II was "set" for June 2012 in Brazil, most likely headlining a pay-per-view event in Sao Paulo.
Sonnen co-headlined the Jan. 28 event opposite Michael Bisping, narrowly squeaking past "The Count" via unanimous decision. That, coupled with his submission win over Brian Stann at UFC 136, was enough to put him back into a main event title fight across from his Brazilian nemesis.
And beating the brakes off Silva for four-and-a-half rounds in their first encounter may have helped expedite the process.
Silva is currently on the sidelines rehabbing multiple injuries and has yet to comment on his return to the fight game; however, White insists he's a lock for this June in the wake of Sonnen's victory over Bisping.
Sonnen claims otherwise.
Regardless, it looks as though this could be the final run for Silva as the top dog in combat sports. If he manages to get past Sonnen in June, few challenges remain inside the anemic 185-pound division.
Until then, expect a lengthy trash-talking campaign from you-know-who.
You ready?
More on the UFC on Fox 2 fallout here.
Posted in: ufc, event, silva, sonnen, june
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On FOX 2 Results: Is Chael Sonnen's Bark Beginning To Hide His Lack Of Bite?
For me, the most indelible image of Chael Sonnen was at UFC 55. Renato Sobral is dominating the fight. Sobral is the one scoring the takedowns from the clinch, and batters Sonnen at one point with a high kick, which he follows up with several punches that rock Chael. Thirty seconds are left in the first when Sobral applies an ankle lock. With the camera situated in front of Chael as he's gripping the fence, all that's heard in response is the sound of Sonnen screaming in pain.
Most fans are aware of this moment, and the Sobral fight was probably one of the first fights that came to any mind for those scratching their heads while Sonnen claimed to have "never lost a round" in his interview with Ariel Helwani.
Given the persona he's created for himself, one wonders whether or not Chael's cry of pain at UFC 55 has been his most sincere outburst ever since.
Recalling that moment is not an attempt to ‘be cute', or to fondly remember Sonnen's failures. Instead it's a vivid reflection of what has changed (besides the move to MW), if anything has changed at all.
Who is this guy and where did he come from? Is he playing to the crowd, or is this who he is? I think the fact that he's nurtured and developed this "character" of his tells us that he is who says he is, at least in part. But that's not to say his words deserve any more weight. He has a record of mortgage fraud and money laundering, and was the architect of a circus involving CSAC over rules he broke. If his words do deserve weight, a pinch of salt comes first.
None of this is news, or even insight. But for the first time, his performance at UFC on FOX 2 reminded us that the reinvention of who he is did not bring with it a reinvention of how he fights.
Sonnen deserved his title shot, and he beat very good fighters to get there. But against Bisping, we still saw the awkward standup. We saw the anxiety and predictability of Chael getting the fight to the ground because he needs to, or else his flaws are laid bare. Except we saw him struggle with the latter, while validating the former against Michael Bisping. To set up a fight against Anderson Silva.
The fight wasn't terrible, but the performance by Sonnen wasn't masterful. And it merely lent credence to the admittedly oversimplified narrative in the aftermath of UFC 117 that Silva was injured enough to be truly hindered, and that Sonnen was juiced enough to be truly effective. Even his usually clever post-fight speech felt forced, rushed, and no matter how inspired an attempt at imitation, was "incongruous", as Nate Wilcox put it.
Sonnen can ‘crack wise' with his barely contained xenophobia with the MMA media. He can play games with the California State Athletic Commission, or Decision One Mortgage. But he can't play games in the cage against Anderson Silva, and his bout this weekend did little to convince the "blowhards with their blowdarts" he's ready to replicate his performance in Oakland when the summer rolls around.
SBN Coverage of UFC on FOX 2
Posted in: ufc, fight, anderson silva, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowIf you’re skeptical about Sonnen’s win at UFC on FOX, this FightMetric chart may provide some answers
This weekend I was hanging out in the living room of a New York Times Best Seller, and I nearly flipped my chair over when Michael Buffer announced the unanimous decision in favor of Chael Sonnen. When it comes to being professional in social settings, I fail every time. I'm the guy that will bring a flask to the Academy Awards and refuse to share it with Brad Pitt. Everyone in the room insisted that Michael Bisping grabbed a 29-28 decision over the pseudo-middleweight champion, but I wasn't sure if it was just some elaborate troll job. Judging by a few of your responses on MiddleEasy and Twitter, a select handful of you sincerely believe that Bisping defeated Sonnen. I just can't imagine a scenario in which Bisping even won a single round at last weekend's UFC on FOX 2. Fortunately, this FightMetric chart somewhat supports my hypothesis and completely crushes yours. Awesome.
Posted in: bisping, sonnen, weekends ufc, time im, fightmetric chart
Read the full article at Middle EasyDespite his loss against Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping can still beat Anderson Silva
And "The Count" gets that unlikely vote of confidence from none other than Sonnen himself.
The freshly-minted 185-pound division number one contender, who told media members at the UFC on Fox 2 post-fight press conference that Michael Bisping hit him so hard he didn't even know what round it was, also claimed the British banger proved to him with that performance he had the chops to defeat reigning middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva.
"Having fought Bisping and the alleged champion, I can tell you Bisping could beat him today. I was surprised by everything. I was never in a position where I was comfortable. I looked at him and thought 'my God, you have no idea how hard you hit me'."
Saving face?
Perhaps Sonnen is heaping on the praise to downplay his performance from last Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Despite a unanimous decision win, his performance was far from dominant and some mixed martial arts (MMA) fans and pundits, including UFC President Dana White, thought Bisping should have won the decision.
Nevertheless, Sonnen gets his "Spider" rematch in an attempt to finish what he started at UFC 117 way back in August 2010. After sticking it to the Brazilian for four-and-a-half rounds, Silva managed to pull off the fifth round submission win with a last-minute triangle choke.
But would he be so "lucky" against Bisping? We may never know.
For more UFC on Fox 2 results and fallout click here. To see full fight video highlights of Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping click here.
Posted in: ufc, bisping, sonnen, performance, british banger
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 Reaction from the Action: Winners, Losers, and Matchups to Make
Dana White has to be hoping the third time is a charm.
After a second showing on FOX, the UFC is 0-for-2 so far on network television. With the brief debut back in November, and now 55 minutes of minimal action on Saturday, the organization’s welcome to the masses has not started off as White had envisioned.
While it certainly cannot be predicted whether three matches would turn out similarly lackluster, part of the blame must go to matchmaker Joe Silva and anyone else that decided the matches for this particular event. Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, and Demian Maia, while all certainly talented, have never been fighters to endear themselves to crowds as the most exciting to watch.
UFC on FOX 2 turned out very similar to Strikeforce: Nashville, which was actually the last Strikeforce event to air on CBS. Three fights, three decisions. While Saturday did not feature a post-fight brawl like the Strikeforce event (“Mayhem” Miller being ambushed by Cesar Gracie’s camp), it still did not carry out the task that White and the rest of the UFC desire: persuading the public masses into becoming UFC fans.
The opposite aspects of UFC on FOX 1 and 2 are very similar, both a brief fight and a drawn-out decision entice no one. Plus, with Chael Sonnen grabbing the microphone and acting like he just knocked out Michael Bisping, many new onlookers probably assumed they were watching pro wrestling. After narrowly edging Bisping in a closely contested grappling match, Sonnen did what he usually does, he talked the talk. That certainly is not an issue for those who are aware of the kind of character he is, but for those tuning into MMA for the first time, it likely seemed more WWE than MMA.
I am not declaring the event a complete failure, as the city of Chicago was buzzing throughout the week, and while the matches were not the most exciting, the results still brought together two matches that fans have been looking forward to for months.
But let’s just say I am glad I did not go to a friend’s house to watch the event as I had originally planned. And I know what you’re thinking; no way this guy has friends. While that is mostly true, I likely would no longer be friends with anyone at all had I made them watch the event.
Biggest winner: UFC fans
Yes, that does seem like an oxymoron, as I just lauded the event. However, as I mentioned, even with the lackluster event, UFC on FOX 2 brought together two matches that will be amongst the most highly anticipated of 2012: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen.
Jones vs. Evans will take place on at UFC 145 on April 21st in Atlanta, as long as Evans is not injured. That is certainly no guarantee given the last two years for Evans.
Silva and Sonnen will rematch more than likely in Sao Paulo, Brazil in June. Sonnen has said be believes the fight will never happen, but Dana White says it will. I’ll take White’s word on this one.
Biggest loser: Demian Maia
Losing to a top prospect in Chris Weidman is nothing to be ashamed of. But losing to him in the way he did is, as Weidman took the fight on just eleven days’ notice, which included a 32 pound weight cut. That cut made its appearance known in the third round, as Weidman was visibly exhausted. But Maia was just as exhausted.
Maia looked to have just one weapon, repeatedly attempting to knock Weidman out with his left hand. That never happened, but Maia never strayed from it. I’m not sure what happened to the jiu-jitsu practitioner in Maia, but he has seemingly moved on from that stage of his career, as he has not submitted anyone since February 2009, and doesn’t even attempt to use his world class grappling skills anymore. In order to make his way back up the middleweight class, Maia needs to return to his roots. He will never be mistaken for a premier striker, and at 34 years old, he doesn’t have much longer to return to fighting for the title.
Biggest question: What do we make of Phil Davis?
Davis was never overly impressive in the five round affair with Evans, as he looked nervous going into the fight, and he fought that way. While it looked like he was walking on an ice rink, as he was slipping throughout the match, he looked pedestrian with his striking even when he could stand straight. Davis needs to return to the gym and go through many sparring sessions before his next match. He needs to learn to be able to use his reach much better, along with working his striking and takedowns together, instead of picking one or the other.
Future matchups:
Rashad Evans vs. Jon Jones
This was decided the minute Evans had his hand raised, as UFC officials announced Jon Jones would be making his return to the octagon in April. With Evans declaring he did not sustain any injuries during the fight, this is the match that will likely take place.
Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva
Another matchup that was decided going into the match, Sonnen and Silva will be talked about non-stop until they make their way into the cage in June.
Chris Weidman vs. Mark Munoz
Munoz was originally expected to fight Chael Sonnen on Saturday, but withdrew due to an elbow injury. He had surgery last week, and is expected to return to training in 4-6 weeks.
Weidman continued his amazing start to his UFC career on Saturday, defeating Demian Maia. A win here for either one could pit them against the winner of Silva vs. Sonnen in June.
Phil Davis vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Davis needs some time off, even though this was the first time he graced the cage since March 2011. He needs to work on his standup, and someone like “The Janitor” would be able to test that work when he returns to fight once again.
Michael Bisping vs. Rousimar Palhares
Palhares was considered to replace Bisping on Saturday, but he declined that opportunity. Bisping does not deserve to fall far down the ladder after his performance against Sonnen, and a title shot for either fighter in 2013 is not out of the question.
Posted in: ufc, vs, sonnen, evan, maia
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC on FOX 2 results recap: Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis event wrap up from Chicago
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returned to the network TV airwaves this past Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) with UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis," featuring "Suga" Rashad Evans earning a light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones with a dominant decision victory over Phil Davis.
Chael Sonnen failed to impress in his controversial unanimous decision victory over Michael Bisping. Sonnen's win, although lackluster, sets up one of the biggest rematches in the history of the sport when he takes on Anderson Silva this coming June in Brazil.
And what's there to say about Chris Weidman's performance against Demian Maia? No, really, what's there to say?
In cased you missed any or all of it -- or just want to keep the discussion alive -- below are links to all the major storylines borne from Saturday night's event in Chicago.
In we go.
UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis"
Results and live fight coverage
Recap and morning after discussion
Post-fight press conference video
Bonuses and awards
Event photos gallery
Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis fight video highlights
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight video highlights
Chris Weidman vs. Demian Maia fight video highlights
Lavar Johnson "Knockout of the Night" video
"Prelims" results and recap
Fight recap: Rashad Evans dominates Phil Davis
Fight recap: Chael Sonnen decisions Michael Bisping
Fight recap: Chris Weidman squeaks by Demian Maia
Fight review and analysis: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Fight review and analysis: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Fight review and analysis: Chris Weidman vs. Demian Maia
UFC on FOX 2 post-fight fallout
Big winners and lowly losers
Event report card
Parting shots for the network television event
Careful what you wish for: Suggestions for getting MMA right on network TV
What's next for Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen?
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans set for UFC 145 in Atlanta on April 21
UFC on FOX 2 predictably fails in Chicago
UFC on FOX 2 wasn't as big a disappointment as some suggest
Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans last stop before "Rematchville" for "Bones"
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight metric report shows judges made the right call
Love him or hate him, Chael Sonnen makes you care about his fights
Beat Chael Sonnen if you can, his greatness is mesmerizing
Chael Sonnen rips off 'Superstar' Billy Graham in post-fight promo
Michael Bisping vs. Chris Weidman should be next
Michael Bisping hit Chael Sonnen so hard, he didn't know what round it was
Dana White thinks Michael Bisping beat Chael Sonnen
Chris Weidman's body was shot, performance against Demian Maia 'all mental'
Lavar Johnson inspires with thrilling knockout win over Joey Beltran
Charles Oliveira pulls off first calf slicer submission in UFC history
Photo of Nik Lentz's nasty cut suffered at the hands of Evan Dunham
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being. What gets your vote for the biggest story coming out of UFC on FOX 2?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: fight, vs, sonnen, evan, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: “Michael Bisping hit me so hard in the first round I didn’t even know what day it was.”
If you tuned in to UFC on FOX 2 and thought last Saturday’s scrap between Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen was close you weren’t alone. Apparently both of the involved individuals felt the same way, and though Sonnen got the judges’ nod he would have understood if the scorecards had favored Bisping instead.
The two outspoken middleweights discussed their bout during the post-fight press conference where respect was shown throughout, at least regarding each other.
Check Out Highlights from the Sonnen-Bisping Bout
“I was surprised about everything. Michael Bisping hit me so hard in the first round I didn’t even know what day it was,” said Sonnen when asked if he was impressed by Bisping’s grappling prowess. “I remember when I came to, looking at him and thinking, ‘Oh my god you have no idea how bad you hurt me or you’d step in and do something about it.” I mean the whole fight I was never in a position I was comfortable, not one. It was fifteen awkward minutes.”
“I don’t have a bad thing in the world to say about the guy,” he concluded on Bisping.
As expected, the topic of Anderson Silva came up and Sonnen was a little less cordial in addressing him.
“I’d rather talk about real men like Mr. Bisping who steps in on ten days’ notice and fights me. Those are the kind of guys I’d rather give media attention to, not some bum hiding in Brazil,” replied Sonnen when asked if he felt Silva would agree to a rematch.
Check out the full press conference below with things starting up at about the thirty-minute mark:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ’t, bisping, sonnen, ’d, round i
Read the full article at Fighters.comDespite White’s Assurances, Chael Sonnen Will Believe Silva Fight When He Sees It
Despite getting assurances from UFC president Dana White earlier in the week, Chael Sonnen still doesn't believe his win over Michael Bisping will lead to a rematch with Anderson Silva.
Posted in: silva, michael bisping, sonnen, chael, silva fight
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC On Fox 2 Results Recap: Chael Sonnen Vs. Michael Bisping
In the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2, Chael Sonnen booked a date in a Brazilian soccer stadium by narrowly defeating a very game Michael Bisping.The scores weren't very indicative of how close the fight was, but Sonnen took all three cards with a 30-27 and two 29-28's. Both the first and second rounds were very close, with Bisping doing an excellent job of avoiding Sonnen's takedowns, and popping right back up if he did get taken down. The first round looked to be Chael's, the second Bisping's. The third round was a different story though, with Sonnen getting a takedown into side control and eventually advancing to the mount position for an extended period of time. Bisping eventually escaped and briefly got on top, but it was too late.
The winner of this bout was guaranteed a shot at Anderson Silva's UFC middleweight title, and Sonnen will now likely meet Silva in the summer (even though he insists Silva won't take the fight). It will be a rematch of their classic UFC 117 bout.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Sonnen's advance to mount and attempts to set up an arm triangle were pretty interesting. Neither of the fighters managed to catch each other with anything devastating on the feet, so that'd probably be it in my opinion.
Where do these guys go from here?
Sonnen's path looks pretty clear. He keeps saying Anderson Silva won't fight him, but Dana White has made it clear that Sonnen will be rematching Silva in a soccer stadium, likely in Sao Paulo, Brazil in the summer.I'm sure Sonnen will have plenty to say in the leadup to that proposed bout.
Bisping might have lost, but it was one of the best performances of his career and he proved that he's a legitimate top-tier middleweight. The loss was another setback on his path to a title shot, but he will definitely be staying on the top of cards and competing against top guys. He was scheduled to face Demian Maia before the big shakeup, but that bout seems like it wouldn't even be competitive now. Mark Munoz vs. Michael Bisping looks like logical booking if Munoz will be back from his injury fairly soon.
Watch it now, later or never?
Now. The bout wasn't 15 minutes of insane action or anything, but there was a lot going on and it was amazing to see Bisping do what Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt couldn't, for two rounds at least. Plus, Chael's post-fight speech was humorous (if rehearsed).
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC on Fox 2 in the full entry.
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Demian Maia Vs. Chris Weidman Fight Video Highlights - Anton Tabuena
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Chael Sonnen Pays Homage To 'Superstar' Billy Graham - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Chael Sonnen Vs Michael Bisping Video Fight Highlights - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Rashad Evans Vs Phil Davis Video Fight Highlights - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results And Post-Fight Analysis - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 2 Post-Fight Press Conference Video - Tim Burke
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 129: UFC On Fox Results Review - Matt Bishop
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Rashad Evans Earns Title Shot With Win Over Phil Davis - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2: Live Results And Play-By-Play For Main Card - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Chael Sonnen Earns Title Shot With Victory Over Michael Bisping - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Chris Weidman Wins A Hard Fought Decision Over Demian Maia - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Photo: Nik Lentz' Eye After Evan Dunham Fight - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Evan Dunham Defeats Nik Lentz By Doctor Stoppage - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2: Live Results And Play-By-Play For Fuel TV Undercard - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Mike Russow Decisions Jon Olav Einemo - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Cub Swanson Picks Up Win With KO Of George Roop - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Charles Oliveira Submits Eric Wisely With A Calf Slicer - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Michael Johnson Defeats Shane Roller By Decision - Matthew Roth
UFC On Fox 2 Results: Lavar Johnson Successfully Makes UFC Debut With KO - Matthew Roth
Posted in: ufc, result, fox, sonnen, roth
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 2 results recap: Parting shots for the Jan. 28 network television event in Chicago
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has just made good on another weekend of mixed martial arts (MMA) action as UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" entertained (for the most part) those in attendance at the United Center in Chicago, Ill.
Like countless cards before it, this event was affected by injuries and had multiple bouts that had to be swapped around, in order to make things copacetic (including one fight that was removed altogether).
However, after all the drama, everything came together in a way that delivered a card that was, quite possibly, better than it would have been originally.
The aftermath produced two number one contenders in Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen who will both finally get the respective grudge matches they've been publicly campaigning for.
Let's take a look at the more memorable ins and outs of UFC on FOX 2:
The conflict between Rashad Evans and UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been one of the prevalent stories in the MMA world for the last year or so. It's inescapable.
At some point, the talk gets old and it's time to get into the cage and work out the differences. But Evans had business to take care of before that could become a reality.
Leading up his fight with "Mr. Wonderful," Evans stated that he believed Davis wasn't ready for him and that he'd melt under the bright lights. Though that didn't exactly happen (he did last all five rounds), the disparity between the two fighters was clear.
Evans was never threatened at any point. Rashad won every minute of every round and was dominant in the process. Though he wasn't able to secure a finish, he accomplished his mission, nonetheless.
On April 21, "Suga" will fight "Bones" at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Georgia, in a showdown that will be about as simultaneously polarizing and entertaining as we've ever seen.
Read a full recap with in-depth analysis of the Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis fight at UFC on FOX 2 here. For full fight video highlights of "Evans vs. Davis," click here.
The co-main event brought together two of the loudest mouths in all of MMA when Chael Sonnen took on Michael Bisping in a middleweight mash up with gigantic implications.
Both fighters had dreamed of one day being a UFC champion. Both have been underestimated. Both have been the object of scorn, becoming widely unpopular for their brashness and arrogance.
For three rounds, Sonnen did his darndest to impose his wrestling on Bisping, who did an excellent job of avoiding trouble and was able to elude Sonnen's attempts, for the most part.
The margin was razor thin and, ultimately, had to go to the judge's scorecard to be resolved. UFC President Dana White believe Bisping deserved the win. Both fighters believed that they were the rightful recipient, but the judges favored Sonnen as the winner.
Chael will now get his re-match versus current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. The date and place are undetermined, but it has been strongly rumored to be taking place this summer in Brazil.
Check out an informative synopsis of the Michael Bisping vs. Chael Sonnen fight at UFC on FOX 2 here. For full fight video highlights of "Bisping vs. Sonnen," click here.
Also on the FOX main card, Chris Weidman filled in on 11 days to notice to take Michael Bisping's (who filled in for Mark Munoz versus Chael Sonnen) place against Demian Maia.
Though the fight had the potential to be very exciting, the combination of Weidman being drawn out from a rough weight cut and Maia just flat out having a weak performance left a bad taste in everyone's mouth after it was all said and done.
The fight came down to a split decision, which ultimately favored Weidman.
Maia has now lost two of his last three fights. Additionally, his last seven fights have all gone to decision. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) specialist has failed to submit an opponent since he finished Chael Sonnen with a triangle choke at UFC 95 on Feb. 21, 2009 in London, England.
Weidman is still widely regarded as one of the top prospects in the 185-pound division and still has a nice upside.
Watch full fight video highlights of the Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman fight at UFC on FOX 2 here.
The preliminary fights were fought on FUEL TV, and featured five of the seven fights being finished by submission or (technical) knockout.
One-time lightweight top contender Evan Dunham put together his second consecutive win by defeating Nik Lentz, due to a nasty cut on his left eye (possibly a broken orbital bone) and a doctor's stoppage.
Former Strikeforce heavyweight Lavar Johnson was able to secure a "big" knockout over Joey Beltran, gaining a win in his Octagon debut.
Watch highlights of Lavar Johnson's KO victory over Joey Beltran at UFC on FOX 2 here.
For his troubles, Johnson was awarded a cool $65,000 for the "Knockout of the Night" award. Who says UFC fighters are underpaid? Not Johnson. That's for sure.
He wasn't the only one lucky enough to take home a big check.
Read the list of fight bonus award winners, including "Knockout of the Night," "Submission of the Night," and "Fight of the Night" here.
That's our version of what went down at UFC on FOX 2. Does anything stand out to you Maniacs that bares repeating? Use the comment section to enlighten us.
For complete UFC on FOX 2 results and a detailed recap of all the action click here. To check out a recap of the UFC on FOX 2 prelim fights that were seen on FUEL TV, click here.
And just in case you want to get up to speed on the entire UFC on FOX 2 fight card from top to bottom click here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX2 Musings
EVANS UNDOUBTEDLY DISAPPOINTED, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT APPROACHRashad Evans will be the first to admit that his win over Phil Davis, while completely one-sided, was far from pretty. Evans controlled his younger, larger foe from bell to bell with far quicker strikes, much more effective takedowns and vastly superior grappling. The problem is that Evans failed to put away his overmatched opponent. And the failure to end fights has become an albatross around Evans’ neck in recent fights, the recent knockout win over Tito Ortiz notwithstanding. The opportunities were there. Evans could have stepped up his standup, opting to sit down more on his punches and increase the volume in search of a crowd-thrilling knockout. He also could have taken more chances on the ground in search of a submission or stoppage due to strikes. He did none of those things. Evans instead remained focused on completely controlling the action without really taking any chances, which made the bout feel more like a sparring session than a fight.It is no secret that I have criticized the former champion more than once for his conservative approach to competition. Not this time. In fact, I am going to take the opposite view of his performance. I applaud Evans for the intelligent victory. Why? He did what he had to do in order to give the fans the biggest light heavyweight bout out there – the long-awaited grudge match with champion Jon Jones on April 21.Evans knew going into the fight with Davis that, if he won, there would only be 84 days to heal up, rejuvenate his body and properly prepare for what could be the most significant fight of his career. He also knew that the short turnaround time meant the opportunity to face Jones would go to someone else, likely Dan Henderson, if he sustained anything more than a very minor injury against Davis. So, Evans did what he needed to do in order to set the stage for 2012’s first true mega fight and likely the most lucrative payday of his career.I know. I know. Saturday was the biggest and brightest stage that Evans has ever performed on. This was a golden opportunity for “Suga” to turn himself into a fighting legend. But all that pales in comparison to securing the mouth-watering matchup with Jones. I’m sure many will take the opposite view, but this was one time when I completely support his decision to fight with a conservative approach. Well done, champ.DAVIS LEARNS VALUABLE LESSONPhil Davis was a much better collegiate wrestler than Rashad Evans. That much was obvious from their respective Big Ten careers. Evans, however, is a much better mixed martial arts wrestler. That was equally obvious from Saturday’s fight.Davis needs to learn how to transition his elite wrestling skills into effective fighting techniques. I have no doubt that he will do just that, but it sometimes takes a wrestling reality check, like the one he received courtesy of Evans, to force the issue for someone with his amateur chops. Davis should focus on learning how to use strikes to set up his power double. He needs to better develop his clinch game so that he can execute judo-style throws and pull off high-crotch takedowns. And he needs to learn how to strike while still maintaining his balance so he can effectively sprawl. Once he does those things, the sky is the limit for this guy.By the way, was it just me or did Davis look like he was a full weight class bigger than Evans? He looked absolutely huge inside the cage. I have no idea how much weight he cuts, but one has to assume that it is a significant amount. It would not shock me to see Davis pull an Alistair Overeem and put on a bunch of muscle in search of a run at heavyweight sometime in the next couple of years.DID THE PRESSURE GET TO SONNEN?Let’s get right to the point. Chael Sonnen had better hope that his performance against Michael Bisping was an off night. Otherwise, he is going to get brutalized by Anderson Silva this summer.Sonnen appeared gassed as early as the end of the first round. His takedowns throughout the fight seemed telegraphed and lethargic. And his strikes were as robotic as usual. Those are harsh words, I know. But this is a guy who repeatedly claimed heading into the fight that he was “undefeated” and “undisputed.” He walked around with a fake championship belt. And, in true WWE style, he delivered a message about a “disclaimer” with the affect and cadence of a heel hoping to appear intimidating. It was fun stuff. Even Bisping acknowledged that the banter was entertaining. Boastful words like those, however, create tremendous pressure to deliver an impressive performance. Sonnen won, but he didn’t back up his words. Indeed, some, including maestro commentator Joe Rogan, felt that Bisping should have been awarded the victory. For the record, I agree. But the fight was close enough that nobody can really complain in earnest about the judges’ scores, other than maybe the one judge who saw it 30-27 in favor of Sonnen.The former title challenger’s struggles against Bisping weren’t wholly unexpected. “The Count” is one of the most difficult middleweights to take down, and he is even more difficult to hold down. What was completely unexpected was Sonnen apparently running low on gas as early as the end of the first round. While the Team Quest standout will never be confused with the Energizer Bunny, he is not known as a guy with a particularly small gas tank, either. I have always viewed his cardio as better than average. Yet, it clearly betrayed him on Saturday night.One has to wonder if the pressure of fighting on broadcast television contributed to the quick depletion of his conditioning. One must further wonder if Sonnen’s own mouth added to the pressure. Those are the likely culprits for performance, absent an unknown injury suffered during training that prevented him from getting into top shape. If that is the case, Sonnen needs to figure out how to deal with that sort of pressure because his next bout will be an even bigger event. And Silva won’t be entering the cage with an injured rib, either. NOTHING BUT POSITIVES FROM BISPING’S PERFORMANCEAnyone who read my pre-fight breakdown knows that I didn’t give Michael Bisping much of a chance to defeat Chael Sonnen. It wasn’t that I believe Sonnen to be the better fighter. My opinion was solely based on the notion that 11 days wasn’t sufficient time to prepare to defend Sonnen’s takedowns, based on Bisping’s lack of an amateur wrestling pedigree. The Brit ultimately lost the bout because he was taken down in each round. Nonetheless, he showed tremendous takedown defense and an even more impressive ability to work back to his feet once taken down. Remember, folks, that Sonnen is a former US Olympic alternate in wrestling, whereas Bisping has no amateur wrestling experience at all. Viewed through that filter, his performance on Saturday was nothing short of amazing.WEIDMAN’S GAMBLE PAYS OFFChris Weidman obviously isn’t afraid of taking risks. With less than two weeks to prepare, Weidman agreed to replace Michael Bisping as Demian Maia’s opponent for the UFC’s second televised event on FOX. It was the kind of opportunity that could make or break the career of a young fighter like Weidman. On one hand, a win over a contender on broadcast television is the best possible shot of adrenalin for a young prospect’s marketability. On the flip side, a brutal one-sided loss to Maia, whether by knockout or submission, in front of what was sure to be one of the largest television audiences in the history of MMA doesn’t do much to build interest in future bouts. That second scenario was a very real risk, since it was all but certain that Weidman would gas out, if he didn’t score a stoppage in the first round. There was simply no possible way to get into proper shape in less than two weeks. Weidman didn’t care. He stepped up to the challenge anyway. He expectedly hit a massive cardio wall early in the second round, but that did nothing to prevent him from gutting out a clear victory over arguably the most dangerous submission artist in the sport. Weidman’s decision to take the fight against Maia turned out to be a brilliant way to catapult his own career. I don’t know whether it was a calculated risk based on the matchup or just an example of Weidman’s unbreakable confidence in his own skills. Either way, this guy just made himself relevant in the 185-pound division.MAIA NEEDS TO GO BACK TO HIS ROOTSMaia’s dramatic change in style from grappler to striker over the last few years has done nothing to improve him as a fighter. Quite the opposite is actually true. Maia is a very predictable striker, one that a guy like Weidman would have no qualms about facing on short notice. By contrast, Maia is the single-most dangerous ground fighter in the sport, in my opinion. Remember him basically throwing Chael Sonnen on his head before quickly submitting him with a perfectly executed triangle choke? This is the same Chael Sonnen who almost defeated Anderson Silva.I will forever wonder why Maia chose to work back to his feet, rather than work his submission game, on the two occasions that Weidman took him to the ground. Those takedowns were the only glaring mistakes by committed Weidman during the bout, in my opinion. They were perfect opportunities for the Brazilian to score an impressive win over his exhausted foe. Yet, Maia did nothing with them. Can you imagine the Maia of 2008 wasting those opportunities? Me neither. Someone in Maia’s team needs to sit this guy down for a major heart-to-heart. At 34-years-old, there isn’t enough time left in his career to evolve into Anderson Silva or Vitor Belfort on the feet. It just isn’t going to happen for Maia. Sure, he needs to continue to improve his overall skills if he wants to rise to the top of the division. Yes, he needs to continue to develop his striking to make himself a more dangerous fighter. But he should never forget what made him great in the first place—his otherworldly submission game. Allow me the egomaniacal moment of suggesting the best way for Maia to maximize his game. First and foremost, he needs to learn how to strike with his right hand. That lone improvement will make him more effective in the standup game. Next, he needs to learn how to use strikes to set up takedowns. Third, he should work takedown after takedown, until he actually starts to believe in that part of his game.As mentioned, Maia isn’t going to develop into a homerun hitter on the feet. No chance. And he isn’t going to turn into a stick-and-move guy any time soon, either. So, outpointing guys on the feet like Silva, Belfort, Bisping, Munoz, Okami or other top middleweights not named Sonnen probably isn’t in the cards.His game plan for every fight should focus on getting the fight to the ground. His striking should be solely focused on setting up takedowns—period. Abandoning his world class submission game is the biggest crime being committed in the UFC at the moment. Getting guys to the ground will always present the best opportunity for Maia to win. I’ll take him all day every day against any middleweight in the world, including Anderson Silva, in a ground-focused fight. I feel the exact opposite about standup-focused fights.
Posted in: fight, ’t, sonnen, evan, maia
Read the full article at UFCShowdown: Sonnen vs. Silva II in Brazil?
Showdown Joe breaks down the UFC on Fox 2 event and looks ahead to the Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva rematch this summer.
Posted in: vs, silva, showdown, brazil, sonnen
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC on FOX 2 results: Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis event photos gallery from Chicago
UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" took place last night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, featuring Rashad Evans earning yet another crack at the light heavyweight championship with a five-round beatdown of the still green Phil Davis.
Look out, Jon Jones, "Suga" is coming.
Michael Bisping hung tough with Chael Sonnen for 15 minutes strong -- even hitting him so hard, the mouth middleweight forgot what round it was -- but ultimately came up short, as the judges sided with Sonnen unanimously. The win sets up a highly-anticipated rematch against Anderson Silva in June in Brazil.
Finally, Chris Weidman overcame 11 days notice and a 30-pound weight cut to defeat Demian Maia in the opener of the evening.
A photo gallery (via UFC.com) is available for your viewing pleasure after the jump.
Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
Brittney Palmer in da howse!
Posted in: vs, sonnen, phil, evan, davi
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWinners and losers reflect on performances at UFC on FOX 2 post-fight presser
Saturday night’s UFC on FOX 2 post-fight press conference had a different feel to it, as those in attendance seemed to have nothing but respect for each other.
Main event fighters Rashad Evans and Phil Davis were joined by Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping and others, minus UFC President Dana White who was attending to other duties.
The attendance was announced at 17,425 with a gate of $1.2 million.
As expected, Sonnen dominated the majority of the questions during the early-portion of the press conference, which actually starts in the video below at the 33-minute mark. Sonnen, who defeated Bisping, was complimentary of the Brit, saying, “I was surprised about everything. Michael Bisping hit me so hard in the first round, I didn’t even remember what day it was.”
Below is the complete post-fight press conference:
Posted in: ufc, conference, bisping, sonnen, postfight
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC on FOX 2 results: Michael Bisping vs Chris Weidman should be next
They were on opposite ends of decision wins Saturday night, but Chris Weidman and Michael Bisping are logical next opponents for one another. Each offers precisely what the other guy needs in terms of that "next big win" to bump up a few notches on the middleweight ladder.
For Weidman, a name opponent like Bisping is a solid test, especially after edging out the crafty Demian Maia on the heels of weight cut that was reportedly more than 30 pounds for the short notice fight.
The unbeaten prospect, now 8-0, had been a substitute soldier previously. In his UFC debut, he decisioned Alessio Sakara on two weeks' notice in what was probably as impressive a first-time performance as you'll see. Bisping offers him a chance to secure a win over a respected veteran, one whose stock was raised considerably with a competitive showing in defeat to Chael Sonnen.
For Bisping, while the bout against Sonnen didn't go his way, he showed excellent takedown defense and, in spots, was able to negate Sonnen's attack entirely. If the Brit had been able to land a couple more telling combos in the feet, he may well have been able to steal another round and the bout.
A bout against Weidman would be a great opportunity for him to prove he can beat a talented fighter. For the UFC, it's a win-win, as they build a viable challenger for the middleweight title to be plugged in after the rematch between Sonnen and Anderson Silva is made (assuming it gets made next).
At this point, Bisping is no longer a high-value marketing attraction that needs to be protected in terms of choosing opponents, which seemed to be the case in spots when they wanted to build the U.K. product.
He's proven himself a legitimate middleweight contender. He might not secure a title shot, but he's certainly capable enough to warrant getting one if you can beat him. If Weidman does it more definitively than Sonnen did, that only reinforces the fact that he has earned one. There is a decidedly thin bench at 185-pounds, but outside of Sonnen, who else is there?
The interesting thing about Silva's run of terror through the division -- Sonnen bout notwithstanding -0 is that he's basically bookended by Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones, both of whom would present megabouts with fan interest than would far surpass future middleweight defenses (outside of the Sonnen rematch, of course).
I'm not sure either of those fights will happen, but the longer Silva remains champion, the more the public will gravitate toward seeing him against St. Pierre or Jones.
Jason Probst can be reached on Twitter or at jason@jasonprobst.com.
Posted in: bout, bisping, middleweight, sonnen, weidman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFOX hooks up highlights of Chael Sonnen’s semi-controversial win over Michael Bisping
Though last night’s main card clashes at UFC on FOX 2 may not have been quite as thrilling as their preliminary peers there’s no question all three bouts were competitive, especially in the case of the co-headliner between middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. Both men went at it for fifteen solid minutes with “The Count” holding his own against the accomplished grappler rather than suffer on his backside for the bout’s duration like many predicted he might.
In the end Sonnen walked away with a closely contested decision victory that left a number of fans, including UFC President Dana White, with a look of surprise when the scorecards were read. While the outcome was not as outrageous as other examples in the past, debate remains as to whether or not Bisping should have earned the judges’ nod and a title-shot in the process.
Now FOX has released a series of highlights from the fight, allowing fans to re-live the exciting affair and either have their opinions on the result either changed or strengthened based on a second look.
Check it out below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, sonnen, card clashes, count ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC on FOX 2 results: Michael Bisping hit Chael Sonnen so hard he didn't know what round it was
Pillow fists? What pillow fists?
Everyone's favorite old chap, Michael Bisping, has been saddled with the reputation that he couldn't bust a grape, even if he tried. He's got plenty of (technical) knockout victories and his striking is definitely a force to be reckoned with but when's the last time you saw him put someone out cold?
Exactly.
So headed into his fight against Bisping last night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) at UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., Chael Sonnen didn't necessarily think he had to worry about the Brit's power.
But he was wrong. Way wrong.
That's what he said at the post-fight press conference, at least, when talking about what it was like to get hit by "The Count" during their three-round battle:
"I was surprised by everything. He hit me so hard I didn't know what round it was. I was never in a position where I was comfortable. I looked at him and thought, 'My God, you have no idea how hard you hit me.'"
Surely Bisping enjoyed hearing those complimentary words but hitting your opponent really hard and winning the fight are two entirely different things. The former is nice, the latter is what the sport is all about.
Of course, there are still questions regarding who exactly was the rightful winner of this fight. There are cries far and wide that Bisping should have been awarded the decision but the judges -- and the stats -- sided with Sonnen.
Moral victories be damned, a loss is a loss.
Still, Bisping can take solace in the fact that one of his opponents, and the one with the biggest mouth, is finally applauding his power and putting him over to the media and fans.
Anyone ready to change their mind about the British bad boy?
Get a more detailed recap of Sonnen vs. Bisping by clicking here. Watch the highlights of this bout by clicking here. And for complete UFC on FOX 2 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, brits power, knockout victories
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 2 Post-Event Press Conference Video: Rashad Evans, Chael Sonnen Speak
As you eagerly await the offensive displays and drama that are the NHL All-Star Game and the NFL Pro Bowl, kill some time on a Sunday afternoon with the full video of Saturday's UFC On Fox 2 post-event press conference from Chicago.
The video here (which actually starts at the 33-minute mark) features UFC PR king Ant Evans, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Lavar Johnson and Chris Weidman talking about their wins, losses and what's next. Dana White didn't attend.
Evans said the event drew 17,425 for a live gate of $1.2 million. Evans defeated Davis by unanimous decision in the main event, while Sonnen bested Bisping in a close unanimous decision win. Weidman defeated Demian Maia by unanimous decision (incorrectly announced as a split decision), while Johnson earned Knockout Of The Night for his first round KO of Joey Beltran on the Fuel TV undercard.
See the full 45-minute video after the jump.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, decision, video, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowShould Bisping Have Gotten Decision? Sonnen Wouldn’t Have Complained
Nearly everyone had a set opinion about Saturday night's Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping decision... including Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping.
Posted in: decision, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC on FOX 2 results recap: Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping fight review and analysis
Chael Sonnen was hoping to set up a megafight in Brazil later this summer, but first he had to get past Michael Bisping last night (Jan. 28, 2012) in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Bisping is perhaps the most despised fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today, with one of his primary criticisms being a lack of top quality opposition in the middleweight division.
Well, if "The Count" could beat Sonnen, the consensus number two ranked 185 pound fighter on the planet, he'd have more than proved his worth as a title hopeful. Sonnen, meanwhile, was expected to steamroll the Brit with his superior wrestling.
So how did the fight end up nearly being a toss-up? And what happens next for both elite middleweights?
Follow me after the jump for our Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping UFC on FOX 2 post-fight review and analysis:
The fight began just as many predicted, with Sonnen scoring a huge takedown and immediately throwing a heavy volume of punches into Bisping's face.
But instead of wilting until the onslaught, "The Count" remained composed and actually worked his way back to his feet. Once there, he became the first man to ever outstrike Chael Sonnen in the UFC, actually sitting on his punches and throwing with more power than fans were used to.
Sonnen, on the other hand, looked very wild with his stand-up, throwing almost exaggerated overhand rights to try to close the distance and work for more takedowns. Sometimes he would get the takedown, other times he would get stuffed, but Bisping always popped back to his feet regardless.
To me, it looked like Bisping was the first fighter to not have Sonnen's wrestling stuck in his head, and this allowed him to throw as hard if not harder than he normally throws his strikes. He found a home repeatedly on Sonnen's face and a frustrated Sonnen spent a large majority of the first two rounds battling the Brit along the cage with both men trading inside position. He surprisingly allowed The Ultimate Fighter season 3 winner to grab double underhooks repeatedly to fend him off along the fence.
With the first two rounds being very close, as Bisping's striking was evenly matched with Sonnen's takedowns, the third was all Sonnen, as he scored a huge takedown and did not let his opponent up for well over half the round, even taking Bisping's back and passing to mount before letting "The Count" slip from his clutches at the end of the round.
While it was close, the judges unanimous sided with Chael Sonnen, although two of the judges gave Bisping one round.
For Michael Bisping, he actually fought a terrific fight last night. He gave this new and improved Chael Sonnen his toughest test since his UFC return against Demian Maia. Bisping was landing the harder shots with significantly bette technique, stuffed a decent amount of takedowns and usually got back to his feet quickly. He also more than held his own with the Oregonian in the clinch as both men battled back and forth from that position.
The only fault to Bisping's performance was giving away the third round and when the first two rounds are close while the third is guaranteed for a fighter, it usually winds up that the fighter with a guaranteed round will win. I actually moved "The Count" up in my middleweight rankings after his performance last night so he should not be ashamed one bit. Some intriguing future opponents for Bisping include fellow main card loser and originally intended opponent Demian Maia, the winner or loser of Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch or perhaps Brian Stann if he gets past Alessio Sakara.
For Chael Sonnen, this wasn't nearly as dominant a showing as was expected, but he still did enough to win. He was wildly aggressive in his striking, perhaps to a fault, but the openings he gave Bisping might have even been intentional as he was able to put the Brit on the ground when he fired back with counters. He was active with strikes when he had Bisping stuck in a rough spot against the fence, but he was not nearly top heavy enough to keep him there.
Sonnen will need everything to be clicking in his next fight, which will be the much anticipated rematch against Anderson Silva in a soccer stadium in Brazil later this summer. If he shows up with the same holes in his striking that he had last night, it could be a very short rematch for the promo-dropper.
So what did you think, Maniacs?
Who's side were you on in the close decision? Will Chael Sonnen be Anderson Silva's kryptonite later this year?
Sound off!
For complete UFC on FOX 2 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
Posted in: ufc, round, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaThe Sunday Junkie: Jan. 29 edition
Chael Sonnen returned to the octagon on Saturday night, and Chael Sonnen is now, of course, the talk of the MMA world.
But unlike his recent performances, Sonnen isn't exactly being praised
for his work against Michael Bisping at Saturday night's UFC on FOX 2
event.
In fact, in this week's winner of our weekly reader-feedback feature,
"The Sunday Junkie," Texas' Cole Jasper, praised "The Count" for his
effort and insists it's now time for Bisping to get the respect that he
deserves.
Posted in: michael bisping, chael sonnen, mma world, sonnen, weeks winner
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC On Fox 2 Results: Dana White Thinks Michael Bisping Beat Chael Sonnen
The co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 saw Michael Bisping put on a much better performance than most expected against Chael Sonnen. While many expected that Sonnen would be too strong and too good for the Brit, Bisping showed that he was more than capable of not taking damage on the times he was taken down and looked more than able to compete in the strength department.
Sonnen took the fight by what was announced as a unanimous decision, but it turns out that the fight was actually a split decision for Bisping making it the second consecutive fight with incorrect scores announced on the Fox broadcast. Via F4Online:
In the Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight, Judges Brad Odom and Otto Torriero gave Sonnen rounds one and three and Bisping round two. Judge Clay Goodman gave all three rounds to Bisping.
UFC president Dana White told Ariel Helwani during the Fuel broadcast that he also scored the fight for Bisping:
I actually, I did score that fight, I had Bisping two rounds to one. I was actually saying before the fight, this isn't a five to one (under)dog. Bisping wrestled with Rashad, the way Bisping wrestled with Hamil...Bisping has great wrestling, good stand up and great submissions, too.
Edit: Front Row Brian points out in the comments that it actually was a unanimous decision, not a split. Not sure what happened with Meltzer's report, but it appears to be inaccurate.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: fight, round, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMichael Bisping: I just beat Chael Sonnen for two rounds, I will be the champ one day
Top Middleweight contender Michael Bisping, who came up short on the scorecards against Chael Sonnen, discusses his performance, and explains why he felt he won the fight. Though Bisping congratulates Sonnen on the victory, the Brit feels that he did enough to take the first two rounds, and insists that he will, eventually, be the UFC champion.
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, rounds i
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 2 results: Event wasn't as big a disappointment as some suggest
Immediately after the event was over, mixed martial arts (MMA) fans and analysts were quick to label UFC on FOX 2 a failure, a dud. Some didn't even wait until the end and began decrying it as such as early as the first fight between Demian Maia and Chris Weidman, a plodding three round affair that saw the American pick up the biggest win of his career.
And who can blame them?
While the FUEL TV "Prelims" included two incredible knockouts (Watch on of them here) courtesy of Lavar Johnson and Cub Swanson, a fancy submission from Charles Oliveira and Nik Lentz's eye swollen up to the size of the moon, the FOX broadcast was 11 rounds of mostly tedious action with a judges' decision following each bout.
Maia continued to prove his only reliable trait in his unreliability, while in the co-main event, both Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping looked nothing like the middleweight freight trains who plowed through Brian Stann and Jason Miller, respectively. The decision, controversially, went to the former -- and now current -- number one contender.
The headlining bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis might have been the most egregious offender of the bunch. "Mr. Wonderful," taking the biggest leap in competition of his short career, proved he was nowhere near the level needed to stand side-by-side with the light heavyweight elite. Evans, for his part, did very little to convince anyone he has what it takes to defeat Jon Jones in Atlanta on April 21, 2012, at UFC 145.
Calling last night's (Jan. 28, 2012) event a failure is far off, but it's not wholly correct, either. The ho-hum performances certainly didn't light up any potential fanbase but the event wasn't as big a dud as you would think. Coming out of the event are two huge fights, something the UFC is in dire need for right now.
Think of the four UFC on FOX cards that will air on 2012 as appetizers.
While Rupert Murdoch and company paid a pretty penny for the fight promotion's broadcasting rights, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) still makes most of its money through its pay-per-view (PPV) model. Once a month, fight fans pluck down a handful of Hamiltons to watch a huge fight. This Saturday (Feb. 4, 2012), for example, is an interim welterweight title bout between Carlos Condit and Nick Diaz that headlines UFC 143.
PPV is the UFC's bread and butter and will continue to remain so for the foreseeable future. And while last night's card was lackluster, it did offer up two huge PPV match ups for a company that's been hurting in the star power division ever since Georges St. Pierre went down for 18 months because of an injury and Brock Lesnar retired.
Sonnen defeating Bisping puts him back in the sights of Anderson Silva, the champion who Sonnen nearly unseated way back at UFC 117. The Team Quest fighter talked an inordinate amount of smack leading up to the bout, seemingly making a fool of himself as it was expected that "The Spider" would walk right through him.
Surprisingly, Sonnen lived up to all the trash talk ... at least for 22 minutes or so. An amazing come-from-behind triangle choke submission kept the belt on the Brazilian and helped ignite one of the most talked about rivalries in the sport's history.
Their rematch -- arguably the biggest since UFC 100's bout between Lesnar and Frank Mir -- will take place later in 2012, expected to top the bill of the UFC's third trip to Brazil since making its way back to MMA's birthplace at UFC 134.
UFC on FOX 2 also provided 205-pound champion, Jon Jones, with his next challenge, Rashad Evans. Much like Sonnen and Silva, the feud between the two former teammates has reached a fevered pitch. Jones has looked unstoppable during his UFC career and amazingly, upped his game as his competition got tougher. His last three opponents had been, at one point or another, considered the best light heavyweight in the world and "Bones" dispatched of each with relative ease.
Despite this, Evans has continued to claim an insight to Jones' game thanks to their previous training partnership. When combined with the suspect manner in which the champion handled a hand injury when he was first slated to take on "Suga, it helps to lend credence to Evans' assertions. Their bout at UFC 145 will answer any questions between the two once and for all.
Last night fans saw Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen fight, but the fights everyone really wants to see them in will have to be purchased. UFC on FOX 2 was just an appetizer.
PPV is the main course.
Posted in: ufc, fight, bout, event, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on Fox 2 Aftermath: Who will win in a rematch, Anderson Silva or Chael Sonnen?
Chael Sonnen earned his second shot at Anderson Silva's UFC Middleweight title, in a fight that will take place this summer. Who will win in the long-anticipated rematch between those to arch rivals? Make your vote, and don't be shy to use your keyboard!
Posted in: sonnen, anderson, chael, arch rivals, longanticipated rematch
Read the full article at Low KickUFC Quick Quote: Dana White thinks Michael Bisping beat Chael Sonnen
0 0 1 150 859 University of New Mexico 7 2 1007 14.0 Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
"I actually, I did score that fight, I had Bisping two rounds to one. I was actually saying before the fight, this isn’t a five to one (under)dog. Bisping wrestled with Rashad, the way Bisping wrestled with Hamil. There is debate as to who won the Hamill fight. He was in there with Hamill. Bisping has great wrestling, good stand up and great submissions, too."
-- Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White tells Ariel Helwani the UFC on Fuel TV post-fight interview that he feels "The Count" did enough to earn the victory over Chael Sonnen last night (Jan. 28, 2012) in the UFC on Fox 2 co-main event in Chicago, Illinois. The judges, however, saw it differently, scoring the three round middleweight fight a split decision in favor of the trash talker from West Linn, Oregon. Helwani also revealed to White in the interview that Michael Bisping told him (Helwani) that Sonnen told him (Bisping) after the fight that Bisping won the fight. The plot thickens. Regardless, it will soon be an afterthought as the focus begins to shift on the looming rematch between Sonnen and Anderson Silva, which is penciled in to take place in Brazil later this year. In the meantime, any of you Maniacs agree with the UFC head honcho, or did the judges get it right? And what’s your take on Chael’s comments to Bisping telling him he really won the fight if indeed accurate?
Posted in: ufc, fight, bisping, michael bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 results recap: 'Report Card' for 'Evans vs Davis' in Chicago
Rashad Evans took a one-sided decision over Phil Davis Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) in the UFC on Fox 2 main event from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
The experience and solid wrestling of "Suga" carried him to a 50-45 sweep on all three judges scorecards. It capped off a tepid fight card on which all three televised matches went the distance.
Evans stymied Davis' takedown attempts in the bout, using excellent counter-grappling to consistently win out on positional battles. He's now slotted as the UFC 145 main event April 21 against Jon Jones, challenging for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight title.
However, it wasn't the only mixed martial arts (MMA) action to hit primetime network television. Not even close.
Here's a closer look at how the UFC on FOX 2 competitors graded out:
Michael Bisping: B+Bisping lost a surprisingly wide decision on the judges' cards against Chael Sonnen, with cards of 30-27 and 29-28 twice, prompting UFC head honcho Dana White to tweet that the judge with the 30-27 should "never judge a fight again." Bisping's takedown defense was especially good, as was his ability to limit Sonnen's ability to strike from top position.He had a strong second round, but Sonnen, according to the judges, pushed enough in the third with a pair of takedowns to cinch the decision.Performance-wise, this was a good showing for the Brit. He landed punches in spots, and didn't get steamrolled as the prefight match up "predictions" would suggest. Ironically, while Sonnen likely earned a title shot with Anderson Silva (pending any post-fight announcements to the contrary). We're not quite ready to anoint him as ready for Silva, but I had Bisping winning this fight 29-28, for what it's worth.
And I was sure Sonnen would win handily.Rashad Evans B+"Suga" showed veteran know-how and seasoning in shutting down Davis, stuffing several takedown attempts en route to a one-sided sweep on the scorecards.
The good news is that he finally gets a title shot against Jon "Bones" Jones. However, Evans' stand up didn't fully materialize tonight, perhaps because he was content to let Davis lead and counter effectively in spots.
He'll need the full complement of skills against Jones. However, as the main event veteran, he performed well enough, but like Sonnen, didn't add any hype to the mix as he heads into a title shot.Chael Sonnen: C+It was an utter lackluster showing by the middleweight, who edged out Bisping in a somewhat uneventful bout.
Bisping essentially ran a four-corner stall on the ground, but it was effective enough to keep Sonnen from scoring consistently and visibly enough to definitely seize the momentum. One night is precisely that, but promotionally, this was far short of the dominant performance the UFC needed to optimally hype a Sonnen-Silva rematch.
It will still happen, and be a huge showdown, but the promotion got nothing for the highlight reel to build it tonight.Demian Maia: C-In a snoozer of a bout that opened the telecast, Maia's fight with Chris Weidman never got out of second gear. All three cards were 29-28, with two for Weidman, nudging the unbeaten middleweight's record to 8-0. Though both are outstanding ground fighters, there was little effective action on the mat, with much of the fight taking place on the feet with limited meaningful striking.The UFC middleweights are the thinnest division, and an impressive win can boost a fighter over several more notches than in other weight classes.
Maia and Weidman had a big opportunity here, and both dropped the ball.Chris Weidman: C+In his defense, Weidman took the bout on short notice, and his limited gas tank hampered him. The prospect gutted through a bout where he had a difficult weight cut, but it was a solid win.
The style match made it hard for him to rely on his great wrestling -- where ideally he could plant an opponent and pace himself to a wrestling-heavy win -- because Maia's bottom game was too tricky. In his UFC debut, Weidman decisioned tough Alessio Sakara."His striking has improved a lot," said Weidman in his post-fight interview with the Fuel TV broadcast team. "It was definitely a tough test." Whomever he fights next, he's definitely earned the right to a full camp and proper time to train and peak properly.Phil Davis: C+In a year or two, Davis fans will point to tonight's five-round decision as a learning experience.
As it stands, Davis came up flat in the loss, the first of his career, to the former 205-pound champion. He couldn't get untracked in the stand up department, and though he landed a few solid kicks, his standing technique eroded considerably (along with his output) as the fight progressed.Evans' experience and savvy allowed him to fight off several takedown attempts, and with a penchant for beating Davis in transitional battles, he ended up in the crucifix position twice, hitting Davis with strikes to cinch rounds.Now 9-1, Davis is one of the rare fighters to get his first loss via five-round decision, and showed some mettle; however, he'll need to regroup and put together better stand up and an integrated overall game. Losing to a former champ in five is the kind of gut check that will pay off in the future, given Davis' talent.
It just wasn't enough tonight.
For complete UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here.Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst.com.
Posted in: ufc, fight, sonnen, davi, weidman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen says he's still unsure about the possibility of a rematch with Anderson Silva
Chael Sonnen re-claimed his spot as the #1 contender in the UFC Middleweight division, after beating Michael Bisping via Unanimous Decisiona at UFC on FOX 2. Sonnen earned his right for a rematch with Anderson Silva, which will take place this summer in Brazil. According to Sonnen, there's still a good chance Anderson Silva will find his way out of the fight with "the undefeated and undisputed People's Champion". One way or another, Chael Sonnen declared he will be fighting for the UFC Middleweight title,
Posted in: anderson silva, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 2 results recap: What's next for Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen?
The second broadcast for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on network television was a mixed bag with UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" blowing through "The Windy City" last night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012).
In the main event, Rashad Evans looked to back up the bravado and prove that he is worthy of a title shot versus Jon Jones. Phil Davis had equally "wonderful" aspirations of taking home a win and earning himself the title shot for which he's worked so hard.
It wasn't even close.
During the pre-fight hype campaign, Evans repeatedly said Davis wasn't ready to face a fighter on his level. It looks like he was right. "Suga" proved he's still a force to be reckoned with at 205 pounds and will now get his shot at "Bones'" belt.
In other action, everyone's favorite mixed martial arts (MMA) villain, Chael Sonnen, sought to quiet the brash Brit, Michael Bisping, when they collided in the cage for a chance to fight Anderson Silva on his home turf of Brazil later this summer.
It was neck-and-neck the whole way in a very close fight that went to the judges. Though the decision may have been a little controversial, the fight itself disappointed no one. Sonnen received the nod, meaning he'll finally get the rematch against "The Spider" he's been not-so-humbly requesting for more than one year.
After the jump, we'll discuss what's next for UFC on FOX 2's big winners, Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen:
Unless you've been living under a massive boulder, you're aware of the backstory and the bad blood between "Suga" and "Bones."
They don't like each other. It's not for promotional purposes. The loathing is legit. The potential clash has been building for about a year now, but for various reasons, it's never come together.
Eventually, it had to happen.
Now, both fighters will finally get a chance to settle their differences in the Octagon. No more talk (except for the banter that is certain to fill the airwaves and tweets for the next few months). When it's done, one man will have to suck up his pride, admit the other is the better man and shake his hand.
Hopefully.
It's been confirmed that the grudge match will take place at UFC 145 on April 21 in "Hotlanta."
Read about the current fight card rumors and rumblings here.
Sonnen has been fuming and waiting for a rematch since Aug. 7, 2010, when he fell prey to an Anderson Silva triangle choke in the fifth round of their epic battle at UFC 117.
Since their first fight, Sonnen was popped for testosterone misuse, came back a year later, beat the hell out of Brian Stann at UFC 136 on Oct. 8, 2011, in Houston and then took care of business tonight against Bisping to finally punch his passport to Brazil and a championship bout.
It's been a whirlwind of a year (and some change) to say the least.
During that same timeframe, Silva has fought Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami and made quick work of them both.
So many questions will be answered when they finally go toe-to-toe in the cage once again. All I can say is: It's about time!
As to when and where? The event has not been named, but there has been plenty of talk to suggest that the fight will happen this summer and that it will happen in Brazil.
We'll keep you posted.
It's still a ways off, but do you Maniacs have any predictions fired up and ready to go? Who ya got in these two titanic championship bouts?
Fire away!
Posted in: ufc, fight, title shot, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 Post-Fight News & Notes: Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans UFC 145, Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II Brazil
Rundown of UFC on FOX 2 post-fight news and notes…
— 17,625 attendees filled the United Center in Chicago, Illinois for a $1.2 million live gate.
— Lavar Johnson picked up a cool $65,000 KO bonus for knocking out Joey Beltran in his UFC debut. Charles Oliveira was awarded Submission of the Night for finishing Eric Wisely with a calf slicer. Evan Dunham and Nik Lentz earned Fight of the Night.
— Rashad Evans didn’t get the finish he wanted against Phil Davis, but he did get the win and more importantly, the long-awaited title shot against former teammate Jon Jones. Evans wasn’t thrilled with his performance, but he was relieved he got the win and now looks forward to finally settling the score with Jones.
I don’t know. I just… I’m happy the fight’s over,” said Evans when asked about his subdued manner. “I’m happy I got the win, but I wanted to do better. I wanted to put on a more spectacular win for the Chicago fans and for the Fox fans. I didn’t do it like I wanted to or I envisioned myself doing it, but at the same time, I got the job done. I can’t be too overly critical because, nights like this, winning on this stage in the UFC, wins are hard to come by. So, I should really just be thankful. After I get offstage, I’ll probably smack myself into reality and think, ‘You know what? Things could’ve been a lot worse.’”
“I definitely wanna put the rivalry to bed and, more importantly, get a chance to get my belt back. I feel like I can beat Jon Jones. I see areas in his game where I can capitalize on, and I know it’s gonna be a good fight,” Evans told reporters. “Jon Jones has one thing over other opponents that he doesn’t have over me: we’ve faced each other before, many times. I’m not really too worried about the mystique of Jon Jones because I know what’s at Jon Jones’ core. I remember Jon Jones when he used to come up to me and be like, ‘Hey, man, what is it like when everybody takes pictures with you?’ So, I see Jon Jones a little bit differently than everybody else sees Jon Jones.
“He said something to me a while ago when we got into it. He said he wants to show everybody that I’m all hype and he’s gonna destroy me. That right there is the biggest motivation in the world. For him saying that, I’m gonna make him pay.”
Assuming Rashad passes all his medicals, Jones and Evans will finally meet on April 21 in Atlanta at UFC 145. The UFC confirmed earlier tonight that Jones will headline that card and with Rashad’s win tonight, he’s pretty much a lock to be Jones’ opponent. Both said they’re looking forward to fight after the show tonight.
“Yeah I’m ready to fight in April or whenever,” [Evans] said. “There’s a couple of things I need to work on. I look forward to going into camp and working on things, but I’m looking forward to fighting Jon and giving the fans the fight they want to see.”
“I can’t wait to get past this chapter in my career,” [Jones] said. “I’ve been calling him my antagonist because of all the hype and drama. So I’m a happy man. I’m looking forward to retaining my title on April 21st in the ATL.”
This is the part where everybody crosses their fingers that it actually happens this time.
— Pretty much everyone but Michael Bisping, his camp and his most loyal fans thought Chael Sonnen was going to smash him tonight. Well, everyone was wrong. Bisping put up one hell of a fight against the self-proclaimed “world’s greatest fighter.” So much so, many thought Bisping should have won the fight including Dana White. Heck, even Sonnen himself said he wasn’t confident the judges would give it to him at the post-fight press conference.
“Michael Bisping hit me so hard in the first round I didn’t even know what day it was,” Sonnen said during the post-fight press conference. “I remember when I came to, looking at him and thinking, ‘Oh my God you have no idea how bad you’ve hurt me or you’d step in and do something about it.’”
“I was never in a position tonight where I was comfortable, not one,” Sonnen said. “It was 15 awkward minutes. I got him down on the ground, and he’d throw a hook in, blocking me. As soon as I [would] create a space, he pushed away [and] popped up.”
“I knew we were in the middle of a close fight. I knew I needed to win the third round. I had a sense of urgency for sure; I think we both did,” he said.
“I said, ‘Hey what do you think?’ He said. ‘I don’t know, I think I got the first two.’ And I said, ‘I think you might be right,’” Sonnen recalled. “That doesn’t mean I disagree with the judges. They were close rounds.”
Nevertheless, Sonnen did win the decision and will go on to rematch Anderson Silva in Brazil in June, according to Dana White. Still, Sonnen isn’t sold that Silva will accept, however in a rare moment of honesty, Sonnen assured that he would do his part to make the fight happen.
“I know I’ll do my part,” he said. “Do I think [Silva] will sign to fight? No, I don’t. But we’ll see. I’ve been wrong before. But I’ve tried to get him to fight four times. That’s the one thing they don’t tell you, and I’m not trying to go against the brass here, but that’s the one thing they haven’t revealed. They’ve offered him the fight four times, and he said no four times. Mysteriously, he’s supposed to accept on the fifth?
“I’ll tell you this: I’ve never backed down, and I never will.”
Silva vs. Sonnen II. In Brazil. In a 80,000 seat soccer stadium. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. Cross your fingers that one happens too.
— Let’s be honest, the FOX broadcast opener between Demian Maia and Chris Weidman didn’t exactly set anyone’s hair on fire, but for Weidman, getting a win on FOX given the circumstances was awesome enough even if it wasn’t his most impressive performance.
“I took this fight on very short notice,” Weidman said. “My friends and family said I was crazy, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. To be able to fight a top contender like Maia on FOX was incredible.
“Walking out of the octagon after a fight like that with a ‘W’ was exactly what I wanted to accomplish. I showed everyone and myself what I am capable of. This win puts me pretty far up the middleweight ladder and right in the mix with the rest of the top fighters.”
Meanwhile, Maia said he regretted that he didn’t use more of his jiu-jitsu in the fight. I regret it too. Really miss Maia subbing people.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: fight, jon, jone, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC on FOX 2 Post-Fight Interviews: White, Sonnen, Bisping, Weidman, More
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Dana White, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Chris Weidman, Michael Johnson, Lavar Johnson, Cub Swanson, Mike Russow, Evan Dunham and Charles Oliveira to get their thoughts on the fights at UFC on FOX 2.
Posted in: ufc, fox, bisping, sonnen, charles oliveira
Read the full article at MMA ConvertSonnen Survives ‘15 Awkward Minutes’ Against Bisping
A little more than a week out from his scheduled co-main event bout with Mark Munoz, Chael Sonnen was thrown a curveball when Michael Bisping stepped in to replace the injured “Filipino Wrecking Machine.”
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, sonnen, “ filipino, minutes ’
Read the full article at SherdogFollowing close UFC on FOX 2 win, Sonnen says Bisping could beat champ Silva
CHICAGO - For a man who's famously (or perhaps, infamously) walked the walk after talking the talk, Chael Sonnen nearly was tripped up by Michael Bisping.
In the co-headliner of Saturday's UFC on FOX 2 event, Sonnen edged the fellow middleweight contender to secure an April title fight and rematch with elusive foe Anderson Silva.
After the fight, Sonnen was all compliments when it came to Bisping. Silva, on the other hand, didn't get off so easy.
Posted in: sonnen, fight sonnen, saturdays ufc, hand didnt, man whos
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC On Fox 2 Results: Chael Sonnen Pays Homage To 'Super Star' Billy Graham
Following his unanimous decision victory over Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox in Chicago, Chael Sonnen took the opportunity to cut another promo. For those that grew up as professional wrestling fans, the promo seemed like something they had heard before. Those instincts were correct as Sonnen was playing homage to 'Super Star' Billy Graham.
Joe Rogan, tonight is not for questions for me, this is your night brother. I want to know how you feel being only inches away from greatness. I want you to tell everybody how it feels. Are you not mesmerized? Do you not have chills going up your spine for the first time on Fox for you to be here in Chael's octagon on Chael's channel holding Chael's microphone interviewing Chael.
While you're thinking about that, remember this: when you're the greatest fighter in the world today they've got a name for you. They don't call you a great fighter they call you Chael Sonnen! Beat me if you can.
Billy Graham's promo after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: fox, promo, sonnen, chael, billy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 2: Love him or hate him, Chael Sonnen makes you care about his fights
The gangster from West Linn, Ore., has struck again.
After going 1-2 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) half a decade ago, it seemed as if Chael Sonnen would be one of the many fighters who would only amount to being a footnote in the big book of mixed martial arts (MMA). He had his chance in the spotlight, but the sport is as unforgiving as any other.
Chewed up and spit out as the old saying goes.
But then something strange happened. Sonnen signed with the online gambling website-backed bodogFIGHT and rattled off four straight victories, including wins over future UFC fighter Tim Credeur and old school Russian stalwart Amar Suloev. It was impressive enough for Zuffa -- parent company of the UFC -- to give Sonnen a buzz and offer him a middleweight title shot in its recently acquired World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC).
And just like that, "The People's Champion" was back and our lives have never been the same since.
From becoming the uncrowned king of the middleweight division in the WEC after defeating an overweight Paulo Filho to crowning himself the king of the UFC's 185-pound crowd, despite not winning the belt from Anderson Silva at UFC 117, there is always a hubbub surrounding the Team Quest fighter.
Now, after outlasting Michael Bisping tonight (Jan. 28, 2012) in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2, a rematch with "The Spider" is all but signed in what could be the biggest fight in the promotion's history without Brock Lesnar or Georges St. Pierre's name attached to the bill. Sonnen hasn't shut his mouth over Silva for more than two years and with a second chance at UFC gold, it's only going to get (depending on your point of view) much better or much worse.
Growing up as an enormous professional wrestling fan, I enjoy what Sonnen does when promoting fights. But more than enjoying it, I appreciate it. Sonnen gets people -- fans or not -- to care.
And in the fight game, that's the most important thing.
There is a very clearly divided line when it comes to the number one middleweight title contender. There are MMA fans who love Sonnen's shtick -- and let's not mince words, that's exactly what it is -- and on the other side, there are those who have either grown tired of it or downright abhor it.
But what those in the latter half don't realize is that Sonnen outside of the Octagon is as much a carnival barker as his boss, Dana White. Both men will say anything and everything under the sun to get someone to pluck down 50 bucks for a pay-per-view (PPV) or tune into Fox on a Saturday evening. They'll make up pound-for-pound rankings, assign labels like "world class" where it obviously doesn't belong or even channel "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes for a post-fight interview.
Sonnen has two jobs: 1) fight and 2) make people care about number one. If no one is tuning in, the financial incentive for the middleweight fighter becomes insignificant. Before he became outspoken, saying ... well, flat-out crazy stuff, Sonnen's name wasn't in the headlines, he wasn't spoken in the same breath as the greats in his division. A few wins coupled with eight times as many outlandish statements and fans can't shut up about him.
And that's a bad thing how?
You either want to see Sonnen make good on his insane claim he'll wrest the middleweight strap away from Silva or revel in seeing his face get pounded in like the fraud he is. Whatever the reason, you want to see him fight. Sonnen is a fight promoter as much as he is a fighter. The trash talking, the elevated testosterone, the dominating performances, the felony convictions ... all of that and so much more paint the very complicated picture of who Chael Sonnen is.
One thing is for certain, however. After his win last night over Bisping, Sonnen is the number one contender to Silva's middleweight title.
Brace yourself, folks, it's going to be quite a ride.
Posted in: ufc, fight, fighter, middleweight, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaIs 5th Time the Charm for Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II?
With a win on Saturday night, Chael Sonnen is once again the man to challenge Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title but will the fight actually happen?
Posted in: night, silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC on FOX 2 results: Chael Sonnen rips off 'Superstar' Billy Graham in post-fight promo (Video)
Chael Sonnen is a rip-off.
Not that we didn't know this already, of course, but tonight he took it to an entirely new level. After defeating Michael Bisping in the co-main event of the UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" fight card last night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) in Chicago, Ill., Sonnen cut yet another pro wrestling-style promo when interviewed by Joe Rogan.
In fact, it sounded oddly familiar to old school WWE fans. And that's because they heard it before.
For you newer fans of mixed martial arts (MMA) who keep hearing about how Sonnen rips off pro wrestling and think it's all a load of bull, allow me to present you with the most damning evidence possible.
Sonnen almost word-for-word ripped off a promo cut by the late, great "Superstar" Billy Graham. Watch Sonnen's version and then watch a real pro do his job after the jump.
First, Sonnen's rip-off that you saw last night:
Now, the real deal Holyfield:
Thoughts, Maniacs?
Posted in: michael bisping, sonnen, comain event, arts mma, wrestlingstyle promo
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 2 Results: Chael Sonnen Vs Michael Bisping Video Fight Highlights
Chael Sonnen secured his rematch with Anderson Silva after a unanimous decision victory over Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago Saturday evening. Originally booked to face Mark Munoz, an injury created the intriguing match up between the Brit and the gangster from West Linn, Oregon.
Fans and media believed that Sonnen would utilize his wrestling to dominate Bisping until he finished the fight. Bisping apparently didn't get the memo as he repeatedly stuffed takedowns and worked his boxing keeping Sonnen at range.
Though Chael Sonnen walked away with a unanimous decision, the judges didn't see it as a blow out. Bisping won a round on two score cards and rewatching it, the fight could have gone either way. Sonnen is expected to face Anderson Silva this summer in Brazil. The UFC is targeting the return to Brazil to take place in a soccer stadium in Sao Paulo.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, score cards
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 2 results: Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping fight metric report shows judges made the right call
In the co-main event of tonight's UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" fight card, Chael Sonnen was awarded a unanimous decision victory over Michael Bisping by scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.
But was it really deserved?
Despite the bout having just taken place no more than a few hours ago, it's already the subject of great debate on forums and in social media circles. One faction feels as though Sonnen did enough with his takedowns and high volume to earn the points necessary to win. The other thinks Bisping negated his Sonnen's wrestling and was superior striking, seemingly outlanding his opponent in strikes.
The judges make the final decision -- and they've already rendered their verdict -- but that doesn't mean we can't analyze the numbers provided by the fine folks at Fight Metric.
Let's look at who did the best, at least as far as statistics go:
As you can see here, in a bit of a surprise, Sonnen actually outlanded Bisping in both total strikes (135-102) and significant strikes (40-30). The only area "The Count" had the advantage was in head strikes, in which he landed one more (80-79).
Probably weren't expecting that, huh?
The round-by-round breakdown can be seen by going over to Fight Metric but it also shows a 2 to 1 advantage for Sonnen for the first and third rounds.
How about the grappling report:
Here, Sonnen gets credit for four takedowns on seven attempts, including one pass to half-guard and one to Bisping's back. I'm not entirely sure why he didn't get credit for taking full mount the way he did in the third but nonetheless, he has the clear edge in the grappling department, considering the Brit was only successful on one takedown.
Finally, the performance ratings:
As per the effectiveness score and performance rating, Sonnen was the rightful winner (statistically speaking) with a 29-28 score. It was close but the judges got it right.
These numbers change anyone's mind about the fight?
To read a full recap of the Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight click here. For complete UFC on FOX 2 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: fight, michael, bisping, strike, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Fight Video Highlights from UFC on Fox 2
Fox Sports has released highlights of Chael Sonnen’s narrow win over Michael Bisping in Saturday’s UFC on Fox 2 co-main event to set up an anticipated rematch between Sonnen and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva for later this year.
More UFC on Fox 2 coverage: UFC on Fox 2 results, UFC on Fox 2 bonuses
Posted in: ufc, fox, michael bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping full fight video highlights from UFC on FOX 2
Chael Sonnen works his way to a somewhat controversial unanimous decision victory over Michael Bisping in the co-main event of the UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" card tonight (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) that took place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. With the victory, Sonnen earns a middleweight title shot against Anderson Silva, which is likely to take place in a soccer stadium in Brazil, possibly in June. Don't expect it to take long, though, before Sonnen lights the fire on the hype for what should prove to be one of the most highly anticipated rematches in the history of the promotion. To read a full recap of the Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight click here. For complete UFC on FOX 2 results and blow-by-blow coverage of all the night's action click here.
Posted in: vs, bisping, sonnen, chael, blowbyblow coverage
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 2 Results And Post-Fight Analysis
Rashad Evans proved that he was just too advanced for Phil Davis in tonight's UFC on Fox 2 main event. In a fight that represented significant risk to Evans in the eyes of most observers, Rashad was able to dominate every round in an interesting stylistic match-up.
It may not have been the most exciting bout in the world (more on that in a moment) but seeing Evans win every phase of the fight (wrestling, striking, grappling) while not seeming to gas too horribly was a good sign and should set up the Jon Jones fight quite well.
The unfortunate thing about the Fox effort is that it was seen by many as being somewhat of a failure again. There were many tweets during the main event that fans were leaving the building, the opening fight was a horrible bout and while Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen put on a good fight some saw it as a controversial decision and it did involve a lot of clinching against the cage.
I'm deeply interested in seeing the ratings breakdown for the event to see when people were tuning in and tuning out to get a better idea of the mass appeal of the event. But we do know that we've still yet to see that huge moment where the sport totally shines on Fox.
What I found interesting about Evans vs. Davis was seeing how having a bigger reach doesn't mean you have an advantage. Davis doesn't quite understand the dynamics of spacing and utilizing his reach, this led to him coming up short on his punches much more often than Rashad. Evans was able to just move in enough to get his punches off and out just enough to prevent Davis from landing. It was much less "flashy" on the in and out than his usual work but was arguably much more effective.
I just hope that this wasn't a case where Davis was pushed a little too far too soon and is broken going forward. He kept fighting to win which is a good thing but (to over-analyze body language) he looked like he was breaking in the third round.
I scored the Michael Bisping vs. Chael Sonnen fight for Bisping but I'm not upset that Sonnen got the decision. I thought Bisping controlled the fight a bit more but Sonnen did enough to earn at least two rounds depending on what you focus on.
The best part of the fight may be that it was fairly entertaining and both guys looked good. So you don't come out of a national broadcast with either guy having their stock fall. Bisping is a star, even if people don't like him and he'll take no damage off of this and Sonnen is now going to get his rematch against Anderson Silva.
The fight did play out much as I expected. While people expected Sonnen to run through him, Bisping's skills were perfect for the game that Sonnen brings to the table. Well, obviously not perfect but very good. Maybe some day people will stop underrating Bisping.
Sonnen's mic work is getting worse though. It's so much more rehearsed and so much less crazy and seeming off-the-cuff. It's just less interesting than it was around the first Silva fight.
Demian Maia looked absolutely horrible and I think that Bisping would have hurt him badly if the Mark Munoz injury didn't cause the shuffling on the card.
While Maia's fight with Chris Weidman was not exactly exciting or anything resembling a good fight, Weidman deserves a lot of credit for taking a dangerous fight on late notice. He had to cut a lot of weight and go in without having time to craft and train a full gameplan and got the win. He deserves a lot of respect for that.
Much more after the jump including thoughts on the Fox production...
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
My biggest gripe with the Fox production was far too many times where they were showing the action from directly behind one fighter (Punchout! style). It makes it very hard to see what is landing and what isn't and, while looking neat, is a very inefficient angle for combat sports.
Beyond that I thought the production was very sharp, polished and made everything look super professional.
Jon Jones wasn't very good in his analyst role tonight, but damn am I excited to see him face Rashad finally.
Evan Dunham was really punishing the new "exciting" version of Nik Lentz. I thought the fight was entertaining and don't hate Lentz like others, but abandoning his grinding style leads to him getting hit in the face a lot.
Mike Russow rarely seems like the "better" fighter in the cage, but he keeps getting his hand raised, so you can't hate him too much for that. But Jon Olav Einemo is not a UFC caliber fighter at all. Two horribly disappointing performance in two trips to the cage.
I may not like Cub Swanson's tattoos, but he was very solid in demolishing George Roop. Swanson got takedowns, wasn't nearly as wild as he has been in the past and the right hand that set up the finish was crushing.
Charles Oliveira is going to be a real force at 145 pounds, I'm very interested to see what is next or him after the beautiful calf slicer.
Michael Johnson was so much better than I remember ever seeing him for two rounds against Shane Roller but then almost fell into the "Michael Johnson trap" of finding a way to get himself beat in the third. He survived though and took the decision. I'm interested to see his next fight if he continues this level of growth.
Lavar Johnson is a guy who I just never imagined in the UFC but holy crap...he just crushed Joey Beltran. Johnson was so much more composed than I ever thought he would be and his striking was so much more sound than I expected it to be. Putting Beltran to sleep is no small feat and if I'm going to watch a heavyweight brawler who throws hands I'd rather watch Johnson than Beltran.
Posted in: fight, fox, bisping, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowEvans, Sonnen earn UFC title shots (Yahoo! Sports)
Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen earned championship matches with wins in their UFC on Fox 2 co-feature bouts.
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, evan, evans sonnen
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsUFC On Fox 2 Results: Sonnen Edges Bisping for Shot at Anderson Silva
The UFC’s most charismatic middleweight, Chael Sonnen, will now get his wish to rematch Anderson Silva after edging out a close decision victory over Michael Bisping.
Posted in: anderson silva, bisping, sonnen, decision victory, ufc ’s
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySomething tells me Chael wants steak for dinner tonight. Silva vs. Sonnen II is in our future
There is a bronze statue of Michael Jordan outside the United Center, and I have a feeling a smile has broke out on it's face. It's been over three years since the UFC has come to Chicago, now it's back, being broadcast by Fox and the fans inside the Madhouse on Madison are going absolutely bonkers for Chael Sonnen. Either that or they hate Bisping that much. It could be that. It's probably that.
But more importantly: Chael Sonnen Vs. Anderson Silva II is freaking going down sometime soon and that's all that matters really matters in life right now. Anderson Silva is somewhere watching Fox as his wife prepares him a steak and he's nodding solemnly at Chael Sonnen's chest hair creating win over Michael Bisping. The mountain has been climbed, it's almost like fate is bringing this together for all of us. I'm going to type it again because it feels so good.
Anderson/Chael II. Yes!
Posted in: silva, sonnen, chael, michael jordan, andersonchael ii
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC on FOX 2 results: Sonnen edges scrappy Bisping, earns rematch with Silva
CHICAGO - With a rematch with UFC middleweight Anderson Silva hanging in the balance, Chael Sonnen did what he had to do.
And not much more.
Michael Bisping put in a valiant effort in the pair's UFC on FOX 2
co-main event, flashing improved wrestling defense and gritty clinchwork
in the 15-minute affair, but Sonnen ultimately took over in crunch time
and walked away with the unanimous-decision win at Chicago's United Center.
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, pairs ufc, crunch time, silva chicago
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC on Fox 2 Results: Sonnen Edges Bisping to Set Up Rematch with Anderson Silva
Chael Sonnen narrowly beat Michael Bisping by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 on Saturday night to set up an anticipated rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Bisping nearly spoiled the rematch as he staved of most of Sonnen’s early takedowns and countered with punches, but Sonnen mounted Bisping in the final round and attacked with submissions and ground and pound to earn the unanimous decision with 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28 scores from the judges.
MMAFrenzy.com’s play-by-play of Sonnen vs. Bisping is below:
Round 1 – Big John is our referee and we’re underway. Sonnen storms out and immediately counters a Bisping hook with a takedown. Bisping escapes and Sonnen pokes Bisping on the way and Sonnen attacks. Sonnen looking for takedowns now and Bisping defending. Sonnen with a nice clinch to a back trip takedown. Nice punches by Sonnen from the top but Bisping escapes. Bisping turns Sonnen along the cage and then goes for a takedown of his own that Sonnen defends. Sonnen clinches Bisping against the cage and Bisping with a nice knee. Bisping turns Sonnen against the cage and is working shots to the ribs. Chael throws a wild combo that misses and Bisping counters beautifully. Chael’s takedown attempt is blocked and Bisping turns him agains the cage. Nice knee by Chael but Bisping with another nice one. Wild strikes by Sonnen miss and Bisping lands a nice combo. Chael misses another takedown and ends up pinned to the cage again. Bisping misses a slow spinning kick and the round ends. Chael started strong but struggled late with Bisping’s takedown defense and more accurate strikes. MMAFrenzy scores the round 10-9 Bisping.
Round 2 – Chael extremely rigid with his standup and goes for another failed takedown attempt. Bisping then reverses Chael against the cage and goes to work with dirty boxing ala Randy Couture. Sonnen has not looked good grappling so far. Nice combo by Bisping. Sonnen with another double and finally gets Bisping down. Sonnen looking to smother, Bisping being active with strikes off his back. Bisping is controlling posture well. Sonnen lets Bisping up and lands some nice strikes as the Brit stands. Bisping with a nasty overhand left. Bisping works Sonnen against the cage again and lands some nice dirty boxing strikes. Bisping briefly attempts a single and misses but keeps Sonnen pinned to the cage. Nice pair of elbows from Bisping. Sonnen grabs a thai clinch but does nothing with it. Bisping with a nice knee. Ugly spinning kick attempt by Bisping misses. Bisping is fighting like Couture tonight. MMAFrenzy scores the round 10-9 Bisping (20-18).
Round 3 – Fighters touch gloves and we’re off. Another double from Sonnen and he lands this one. Sonnen controlling posture and lands a nice strike but Bisping is staying active. Bisping threatens with a leglock but lets it go. Sonnen lands a few shots and Bisping tries to position for an armbar but misses it. Bisping gives up his back to escape and Sonnen immediately seizes the opportunity to look for a finish but Bisping ties him up. Sonnen gets back to full mount and is looking for an arm triangle. Sonnen is basing out and not landing much damage now. Shoulder slams from Sonnen. Bisping hip escapes to half-guard and throws punches to the ear of Sonnen. Sonnen is looking for an arm triangle but Bisping regains full guard. Bisping grabs a whizzer and gets back to the cage with thirty seconds left. Bisping gets back on his feet and reverses Sonnen against the cage and lands a takedown of his own. Big elbows from Bisping to end the round leave Sonnen dazed at the end. MMAFrenzy scores the round 10-9 Sonnen but the fight should go to Bisping (29-28).
Chael Sonnen def. Michael Bisping via unanimous decision (30-27,29-28,29-28)
Posted in: takedown, round, cage, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA Frenzy
Sonnen vs. Bisping Official UFC Statistics
UFC on Fox 2 - Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Posted in: ufc, vs, michael, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at Fight MetricUFC on FOX 2 results: Chael Sonnen beats Michael Bisping, earns title shot against Anderson Silva
The co-main event of the evening at UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" tonight (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) in Chicago, Illinois, featured a middleweight number one contender bout pitting former title challenger Chael Sonnen againt British bad boy Michael Bisping.
It was a style match-up showcasing a strong wrestler who likes to bury people into the mat and punch until they quit against a stand-up striker who does essentially the same thing, only vertically. The winner was promised a shot against Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva in his home country of Brazil.
And the lucky boy headed to greet him will be the same man who came within minutes of defeating him back at UFC 117, Chael Sonnen, who earned a close unanimous decision victory.
He didn't cut a promo on Silva after the fight, instead electing to spit some hot garbage at Joe Rogan. Nonetheless, the rematch that everyone wanted to see is coming this June to a Brazilian stadium near you, Maniacs.
It didn't take long at all for the two to engage and start slugging it out. Sonnen opened fire early with punches, all designed just to get Bisping to the mat. That's what he did, too, dragging the Brit to the floor and landing a few hard shots.
But back up came "The Count."
The crowd chanted "U.S.A." because Bisping is from England, which is all the reason anyone in America needs to tout that we are, in fact, stateside. While this was going on, Sonnen was again pushing the pace and pressuring Bisping into the fence. He couldn't keep him on the mat but he damn sure worked his hardest to do so.
Each time they separated, it was Bisping who landed the cleaner and more efficient strikes but Sonnen maintained pressuring and stayed aggressive all throughout. But would that furious pace come back to haunt him?
Much to the surprise of basically everyone on Earth, Bisping handled Sonnen's grappling far better than anyone thought he would be able to. Much of the round was spent with Bisping pushing his foe against the fence and controlling the action.
Finally, Sonnen earned a takedown and got on top to deliver some shots. Unfortunately for him, "The Count" once again did what he does best and got right back to his feet before any significant damage was done.
The slugged it out for the remainder of the second stanza and it sure looked as though Bisping was the one getting the better of the action. He went to his corner sucking air like it was running short on supply, though.
Sure enough, to start the third Sonnen came across and got himself a takedown fairly quick. In a close fight lie this, those points scored are crucial. He did manage to take Bisping's back and rolled him over with both hooks in, looking for the rear-naked choke.
It wasn't long before he transitioned to full mount and had Bisping flat and in a very bad position. Bisping, though, like he's so good at doing, was able to hip escape and get back to half guard. Sonnen used this new position to look for an arm triangle but the Brit's defense was too good.
Finally, with 20 seconds remaining in the round, Bisping got back up and managed to get a takedown into some ground-n-pound to end the 15-minute contest.
Bisping was close but his quest to attain a title shot continues while Sonnen will get his second within the last year. Here we go, Maniacs. Hype time begins soon.
Be sure to keep up with MMAmania.com's live coverage of the UFC on FOX 2 event by clicking here.
Posted in: ufc, title shot, bisping, shot, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 2 Results: Chael Sonnen Earns Title Shot With Victor Over Michael Bisping
Chael Sonnen defeated Michael Bisping by Unanimous Decision. The judges scored the fight 30-27, 29-28, and 29-28. The win earned him a rematch with Anderson Silva.
Chael Sonnen opened up the first round with a fast takedown. Bisping was able to regain his feet but the relentless Sonnen pressed the action and attempted a second takedown. Bisping defended well and circled away. Chael's third attempt was successful and resulted in some ground and pound from Michael Bisping's guard. Bisping was able to get back to his feet and surprisingly he attempted his own take down. He was unsuccessful but was able to clinch Chael against the fence. They released and against Chael attempted another takedown only to be stuffed by Michael Bisping. With a minute left in the first round the two fighters traded punches before another clinch. Bisping attempted a spinning kick as the round came to an end.
The second rund opened with both fighters trading punches before Chael Sonnen attempted a takedown. Bisping defended well and clinched Sonnen against the fence. The two fighters traded punches from the clinch before John McCarthy split the fighters. Sonnen completed a power double against the cage and there was some blood trickling down the face of Michael Bisping. Huge punch from Chael Sonnen and then a knee on the break. Bisping clinched with Sonnen against the cage but he was unable to do any damage from the position. Bisping attempted a single leg but was unsuccessful. With thirty seconds left in the round Michael Bisping attempted a hook kick but it didn't land.
Chael Sonnen opened the third round with a left hand and followed it up with a power double. Sonnen landed some punches to the body and worked to pass MIchael Bisping's guard. Bisping defended the pass with a leg lock which forced Sonnen to reset back to guard. Bisping attempted to regain his feet but Sonnen swarmed his back and got both hooks in. Sonnen transitioned to mount and started raining down punches to the body. The crowd started the "U-S-A!" chants. Bisping hip escaped and regained his half-guard. Bisping scooted his hips back in order to wall walk but Sonnen stayed heavy in his positioning. Michael Bisping stood up and got his own takedown as the round came to an end.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: round, michael, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen Thinks Michael Bisping Could Beat Anderson Silva
Filed under: UFC, NewsFor colorful personalities such as Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping, trash-talk between the two middleweights has been uncharacteristically almost non-existent.
On Saturday at UFC on FOX 2, their hard-fought, three-round decision only reinforced their mutual respect. In fact, Sonnen thinks even more highly of Bisping now than ever.
"I can assure you -- Having fought [Bisping] and the alleged champion, he could win the title today if they gave him the opportunity," Sonnen said at the press conference.
With Sonnen, it's difficult to tell if he honestly believes that or if it's another opportunity to take a shot at Silva. Because despite winning his No. 1 contender bout by unanimous decision, Sonnen still maintains he's unsure if a championship bout with Silva will happen. According to Sonnen, it's up to Silva to sign on the dotted line.
"Do I think he'll sign to fight? No, I don't," Sonnen said. "We'll see. I've been wrong before."
Sonnen curiously made no mention of Silva in his post-fight interview with announcer Joe Rogan. Rather than aggressively call out Silva like he did in his previous win over Brian Stann, could this be Sonnen's passive-aggressive approach to making the fight happen?
"I can tell you this -- I have never backed down and I never will," he continued. "If he wants to fight and is willing to, I will do my part. But this isn't my goal to help lure him out. I talk like this not to talk about Anderson. I rather talk about real men like Mr. Bisping who steps in on 10 days notice and fights me. Those are the kind of guys I want to give media attention to. Not some bum hiding in Brazil."
If Silva-Sonnen 2 happens, it will likely take place this summer in Brazil. For all the shots that Sonnen have fired against Silva and Brazilians in general, there are some concerns of Sonnen's safety in that country. Sonnen, though, doesn't seem to be worried.
"If those blow-hards (in Brazil) with their blow darts, want to come for me, tthey can send anyone they want," Sonnen said. "But don't send anyone they want back." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, silva, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen Agrees to Fight Anderson Silva in Brazil, Still Not Convinced It'll Happen
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Chael Sonnen talks about his win over Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2, whether he thought the fight would play out that way, fighting on FOX and why doesn't think the Anderson Silva rematch will happen.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, news videoschicago
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMichael Bisping Believes He Won First Two Rounds Against Chael Sonnen
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosCHICAGO -- Watch below as Michael Bisping talks about his unanimous decision loss to Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2. "The Count" discusses why he thought he won against Sonnen, his wrestling, what he felt he could have done differently in the third round and much more.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, decision loss
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen Beats Michael Bisping by Unanimous Decision
Filed under: UFCCHICAGO -- Chael Sonnen has the rematch with Anderson Silva he so desperately wants.
Sonnen beat Michael Bisping by unanimous decision at Saturday night's UFC on Fox 2, winning 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28 on the judges' scorecards. As he usually does, Sonnen turned the post-fight interview to an exercise in absurd self-promotion.
"When you're the greatest fighter in the world today they've got a name for you," Sonnen said. "They don't call you a great fighter, they call you Chael Sonnen."
The win will earn Sonnen a shot at Silva, the UFC middleweight champion, likely this summer in Brazil.
Sonnen took Bisping down just seconds into the first round, eliciting a huge cheer from the crowd. Bisping popped back up quickly, but within another minute Sonnen had taken him down again. Bisping was able to shrug off that takedown, too, and most of the first round was fought standing up, but Sonnen clinched with Bisping for most of the first round and controlled the pace of the fight, even though he couldn't do much damage.
At the start of the second round Bisping appeared to be doing a better job landing punches and avoiding the clinch, but after a couple of minutes Sonnen took Bisping down and got on top of him again. Before Bisping could get back up he ate some hard punches. However, Bisping did better on the feet once they stood back up. It was a close fight through two rounds.
Sonnen went for an immediate takedown at the start of the third and got on top of Bisping, and when Bisping briefly stood up, that just allowed Sonnen to take his back. From there Sonnen transitioned into full mount, and he was in control on the ground for most of the rest of the round. Bisping did get back on top in the final seconds of the fight, but Sonnen had done enough to win -- and his second shot at the title. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: round, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, round bisping
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC On Fox 2 Fight Card Primer: Chael Sonnen Vs. Michael Bisping
People have wanted to see this bout for a long time, and it's finally here. It's a shame there wasn't more time to build it up, but sometimes these things can't be helped in the quickly-evolving world of MMA. On one side of the cage, you have a self-proclaimed champion and gangster. On the other side, you have a brash, colorful Brit. The winner gets the (real) champ, Anderson Silva. Chael Sonnen (26-11-1, 5-4 UFC) meets Michael Bisping (22-3, 12-3 UFC).
Sonnen currently sits in the 2 spot at middleweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, while Bisping is at number 7. Sonnen will stay right where he is with a win, and will have a date with Anderson Silva in a soccer stadium in Brazil. If Bisping can get the W, he'll move into the top five for the first time in his career and could possibly meet Silva in his home country of England. This middleweight UFC on Fox 2 fight will be the second fight of the main card and will be aired live on Fox. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
How do these two stack up?
Sonnen: 34 years old | 6'1" | 74" reachBisping: 32 years old | 6'2" | 76" reach
What have these two done recently?
Sonnen: W - Brian Stann (SUB) | L - Anderson Silva (SUB) | W - Nate Marquardt (UD) Bisping: W - Jason Miller (TKO) | W - Jorge Rivera (TKO) | W - Yoshihiro Akiyama (UD)
How did these two get here?
After a disappointing 1-2 run in the UFC back 2005-06, Chael Sonnen spent a couple of years on the AAA circuit before being brought into the WEC. His memorable run there included questionable submissions, crazy opponents, and the typical Sonnen bluster. After a move back to the UFC, he was brilliantly submitted in his first bout by Demian Maia, and it seemed like Chael was destined to be average. Three straight wins over top competition changed that though, and once he turned up the volume on his character and got more and more outrageous, he managed to capture the attention of the MMA world and earned a title shot in the process. His bout with Anderson Silva is a classic, where Chael dominated Anderson for 23 minutes before Anderson managed to submit him from the bottom. Sonnen rebounded with a dominant win over Brian Stann at UFC 136 and was supposed to meet Mark Munoz here, but an injury to Munoz has given Bisping the spot on the other side of the cage.
Michael "The Count" Bisping is a staple of the UFC middleweight division. He was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter 3 at light heavyweight, and competed at 205 until a split-decision loss to Rashad Evans in 2007. He is 8-2 at middleweight since dropping down, with his only losses coming to Dan Henderson's H-Bomb and Wanderlei Silva by decision. He is currently on a four-fight winning streak and was expected to face Demian Maia here, but will now get a shot at Sonnen and a possible title shot if he can win.
Why should you care?
You shouldn't even need to ask this question. Both of these guys are controversial and either loved or hated. Even if you take the characters out of the situation, you have two top middleweights vying for a chance at the belt. This is top-level stuff here.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
You can catch more UFC on Fox 2 preview content from Bloody Elbow after the jump.
UFC On Fox 2: Michael Bisping Flips Off Fans At Weigh Ins, Nearly Loses Sponsor - Kid Nate
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 128: UFC On Fox Preview
UFC On FOX 2 Evans Vs. Davis: Fight Card And Staff Predictions
UFC On Fox 2 Weigh-In Video And Coverage - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 2: Haters Be Damned, Rashad Evans Is A Big Star - Josh Nason
UFC On Fox 2 Video: Dana White On Chael's Fake Belt, Fox Production, The Internet - Josh Nason
UFC On Fox 2 Video: WWE Champion CM Punk On Brock Lesnar, Chael Sonnen Walkout - Josh Nason
UFC On Fox 2 Video: Complete Pre-Fight Press Conference - Kid Nate
UFC On Fox 2: Fuel TV Prelims Dissection (Part Two) - Dallas Winston
UFC On Fox 2: Phil Davis Striking Analysis - Fraser Coffeen
UFC On Fox 2: Evans vs. Davis Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen Does Interview With UFC Fake Belt, Calls Kenny Rice A Liar - Kid Nate
Demian Maia Thinks You Only Need Two Brain Cells To Know Chael Sonnen Is Joking - Brent Brookhouse
UFC On Fox 2: Fuel TV Prelims Dissection (Part One) - Dallas Winston
UFC On Fox 2 Video: A Day In The Life Of Phil Davis - Josh Nason
UFC On Fox 2: The Time For Joe Rogan To Shine Has Arrived - Josh Nason
UFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen's Coach 'Bisping Breaks Easily' - Matthew Roth
Phil Davis Discusses Differences From Rashad Evans' Wrestling Game - Brent Brookhouse
Michael Bisping Skewers Chael Sonnen On Inside MMA - Tim Burke
UFC On Fox 2: Dana White Releases First Video Blog - Josh Nason
UFC On Fox 2: Middleweight Division State of the Union - Fraser Coffeen
UFC on Fox: Dana White Guarantees Chael Sonnen Will Face Anderson Silva With Win - Brent Brookhouse
Posted in: ufc, fox, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 2 fight card: Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping prediction, preview and breakdown
Chael Sonnen ought to send a Christmas card to whomever cranked the kimura that injured Mark Munoz, because he gets a stylistically great replacement in Michael Bisping at UFC on Fox 2 this weekend (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
With just one win standing between him and a rematch against middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Sonnen's challenge (with Munoz's withdrawal) went from taking on a hell-on-wheels heavy-handed wrestler and friend, to a longtime rival he's long wanted to fight and would probably do so for free.
Bisping, originally slated to face Demian Maia, gets Sonnen and a huge opportunity in return. He can upset the apple cart, and the UFC's biggest potential pay-per-view headliner in the near future, by knocking off Sonnen.
To do so, Bisping will have to pitch a perfect game.
Style-wise, the winner of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 winner is the classic ‘tweener. He's a decent striker, with good conditioning and tactics, but lacks a dominant core skill that will allow him to take over fights against world-class competition. With neither a strong wrestling pedigree nor power in his striking, Bisping has consistently looked great against mediocre competition, while coming up short against elite opponents.
Dropping down to 185 pounds mitigated some of the size issues he had against bigger wrestlers in Rashad Evans and Matt Hamill, but thus far, even at middleweight, he has shown obvious signs of the ‘tweener curse. Bisping doesn't lack for conditioning, heart and the willingness to map out a gameplan and stick to it, but at times he just doesn't seem to have to ability to beat the better fighters.
A recipient of, at times, kid-gloves matchmaking on part of the UFC, Bisping's losses to Rashad Evans and Wanderlei Silva were followed by cautiously chosen opponents in an effort to build him up as he's the UFC's main attraction in the United Kingdom.
Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 co-main event fight between Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping:
The Breakdown
Sonnen's last showing -- an overpowering second round submission of Brian Stann -- marked him looking as good as he ever has. Relentless in his approach, Sonnen's stand up is easy to overlook, as he uses it essentially to set up clinches and takedowns, but it's technically sound. He'll throw sharp punches from his southpaw stance, gauge the distance, and keep striking or close the gap as necessary. Bisping has been working on settling down and putting more heft in his punches, as at times he's been too focused on flitting in and out, a tactic that Dan Henderson exploited to brutal effect.
Sonnen's biggest chink in his armor is his susceptibility to submissions, with eight of his 11 career defeats via that route. However, that is somewhat misleading, as three were to Jeremy Horn, and others to Paulo Filho, Demian Maia, Renato Sobral, Forrest Griffin and Trevor Prangley, most of these at 205 pounds. At middleweight, Sonnen represents as good a combination of takedowns and punishing top control as there is in the division, and he has the conditioning and relentless approach to exploit anyone who can't fight him off once he forces a clinch.
For Bisping, he's got to stay vertical, especially early. To be effective, right-hand leads are always effective against a southpaw, a punch which Bisping can throw well. He'll also have to make sure to circle away from Sonnen's lead right foot to create more space and cut down on takedown opportunities, and keep his hips back and clear when Chael clinches. Sonnen is perfectly happy to tie up and jam his opponent against the fence, where he'll work a dizzying succession of takedown attempts and uncork general mayhem to create openings. Bisping has to circle off the cage and use the middle, and angles, score points while preventing Sonnen from turning it into a phone-booth battle.
Bisping's defensive Brazilian jiu-jitsu won't likely be enough to submit Sonnen, but he does have improved ability to scramble back to his feet, too, negating opponents trying to punish him from the top, something he did very well against Evans in what was essentially a dreadfully uneventful fight.
The Pick
This is Sonnen's fight to lose, and it's no accident oddsmakers have installed him as a 5-1 favorite. Style-wise, Bisping offers the perfect live sacrifice for building up a megabucks rematch between Sonnen and Silva. Look for Sonnen to gauge the angles and distance early and force a tie-up and takedown in the first three minutes of the opening stanza.
From there, his top control will prove unlike anything Bisping's ever experienced.
Sonnen's ground and pound and the way he uses positional advancement and consistent punishment is a rare combination of intensity and smarts. And you have to like how he smashes opponents wherever he can, whether it's in the ribs, or the double Mongolian chop when they're trying to cinch underhooks from the bottom. Sonnen's work rate from the top runs people out of gas and he only gets stronger -- provided he's not caught in a fight-changing submission, something that is doubtful Bisping can do.
Over the second and third round the pattern will become obvious. Bisping doesn't have the big-time power or takedown defense to deter Sonnen, who will deliver an increasingly one-sided beating en route to a clear-cut decision win.
Sonnen via unanimous decision
Be sure to join MMAmania.com this evening for LIVE, detailed UFC on FOX 2 results of all the "Evans vs. Davis" action on primetime. It will include blow-by-blow coverage of the "Prelims" under card bouts, and of course, the network telecast. We'll start RIGHT HERE at around 5 p.m. ET and carry straight on through into early Saturday morning.
See you then!
Jason Probst can be reached at www.twitter.com/jasonprobst
Posted in: ufc, fight, takedown, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 Live Blog: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Updates
Filed under: UFCCHICAGO -- This is the UFC on FOX live blog for Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping, a middleweight bout on tonight's event from the United Center.
Sonnen (26-11-1) won in his return from suspension against Brian Stann at UFC 136 last October. Bisping (22-3) has won his last four fights and is coming off a dominant win over Jason "Mayhem" Miller last month at TUF 14.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: UFC on FOX 2 Results | Latest UFC News
Bisping walks to his entrance song, Blur's Song 2. The music is loud enough that you can't hear the boos. Once the music fades out, the crowd lets him have it. Sonnen enters next to a country song. The crowd loves Sonnen. Fans in Chicago have been cheering him every time he's appeared on the screens. "Big" John McCarthy is the referee.
Round 1:
Round 2:
Round 3:
%VIRTUAL-Gallery-145874%
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, round, bisping, sonnen, country song
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMichael Bisping vs Chael Sonnen fight video preview UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago
Chael Sonnen has talked the talk. Now it's time for him to walk the walk TONIGHT (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Sonnen will co-headline the sophomore effort from Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on FOX, taking on Michael Bisping in a number one middleweight contender eliminator match. The winner of the UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" co main event will go on to challenge 185-pound deity, Anderson Silva, later this year for his world title.
The primetime mixed martial arts (MMA) event that is set to start at 8 p.m. ET, meaning that we can expect Sonnen and Bisping to finally let their fists do the talking right around 9 p.m. ET.
It's an attractive altercation between two polarizing figures, one that "The Count" feels he can finish in less than 15 minutes:
"A lot of people are wishing for a double knockout in this one but that ain't going to happen. There's only going to be one person knocked out and that's Chael Sonnen."
Sonnen keeps it simple:
"I'm going to take these (fists), I'm going to walk across the ring, and I'm going to hit him with them repeatedly. If he hits me more times with his fists, he'll win, if I hit him more, I'll win."
For more on the bout between Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping be sure to check out our comprehensive fight archive right here. And for all the latest news and notes on UFC on FOX 2 that you can handle click here.
Posted in: ufc, fox, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBisping ready to face Sonnen in Chicago
Brash English middleweight Michael Bisping isn't feeling any pressure heading into his fight against Chael Sonnen in Chicago on Saturday.
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chicago, face sonnen
Read the full article at sportsnet.caChael Sonnen and Michael Bisping Trade Shots On FUEL TV
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping finally came face-to-face last night in a duel interview with FUEL TV’s Ariel Helwani. Check out the video to see what happened.
Posted in: michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, fuel, duel interview
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC on FOX 2 fight card: Previews, predictions and a complete guide to 'Evans vs Davis'
For fans of mixed martial arts, this past week has been a slow crawl of steadily rising anticipation for tonight's "Evans vs. Davis" event, going down at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
UFC on FOX 2 will feature a light heavyweight title eliminator bout pitting "Suga" Rashad Evans against one of the division's brightest prospects in "Mr. Wonderful," Phil Davis.
In the co-main event of the evening, Chael Sonnen is back to go on the attack and this time his venom will be directed at British bad boy Michael Bisping. In the final network broadcasted fight, middleweights Demian Maia and Chris Weidman will hit the mats in a 185-pound showcase.
It's been a flurry of non-stop news, analysis, quotes, predictions and previews for the past week and it's certainly understandable if you missed out on a few stories.
But don't worry, Maniacs, we've got you covered.
In cased you missed any or all of it — or just want to keep the discussion alive — below are links to all the major storylines heading into tonight's broadcast.
In we go:
UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis"
Fight card and line-up
Results and live fight coverage
UFC on FOX 2 predictions and previews:
Predictions from the myth himself, Nostradumbass
"Prelims" preview and predictions part one
"Prelims" preview and predictions part two
Fight preview: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
Fight preview: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Fight preview: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
UFC on FOX 2 press conferences:
Pre-fight press conference
Press conference video
Press conference staredown pics
Chael Sonnen busts out a few rhymes at the press conference
UFC on FOX 2 weigh-ins:
Weigh-in results
Weigh-in video
Weigh-in staredown pics
Weigh-in photos gallery
UFC on FOX 2 news:
Event poster
Conference call live blog
Open workouts photos gallery
Latest odds and betting guide
Complete statistical analysis of Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Complete statistical analysis of Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Exclusive interview with Shane Roller
Exclusive interview with Phil Davis
UFC on FOX 2 editorials:
UFC plays it safe with its second network offering and it could produce disastrous results
History in the Making: Rashad Evans becomes a star at the expense of Chuck Liddell at UFC 88
Rashad Evans: Phil Davis looks like John Salley and Arsenio Hall had a baby
What will Rashad Evans say if Jon Jones confronts him in the cage?
Jon Jones picks Rashad Evans to beat Phil Davis
Rashad Evans kind of likes being booed now
Rashad Evans and Phil Davis spar verbally before their fight
Phil Davis is a little bit afraid of Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans: Michael Bisping is a tricky scrapper but Chael Sonnen will maul him
Chael Sonnen becomes a parody of himself
Chael Sonnen calls his fight against Michael Bisping the true main event
Chael Sonnen claims he's undefeated while conducting an entire interview with a fake UFC championship belt
Who will Chael Sonnen thank if he beats Michael Bisping?
Michael Bisping apologized to Demain Maia for taking the Chael Sonnen fight
Michael Bisping: Chael Sonnen uses PEDs because he only has one testicle
If Chael Sonnen takes Michael Bisping down, he'll get submitted
Chael Sonnen is not on the anti-Bisping bandwagon and he never has been
Michael Bisping would have been a fool to turn down the Chael Sonnen fight
Where does a win over Chris Weidman put Demian Maia in the middleweight rankings?
Chris Weidman the wrestler will be looking for submissions against Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Demian Maia
Chris Weidman isn't worried at all about Demian Maia's jiu-jitsu
Can Mike Russow crack the top 10 with a win over Jon Olav Einemo?
UFC on FOX 2 videos:
Dana White video blog episode one
Dana White video blog episode two
Rashad Evans video blog
Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis preview
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping preview
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping trade barbs face-to-face
Michael Bisping doesn't give a crap if you cheer him
That, my friends, should be enough to keep you talking -- at least for the time being.
What has been the biggest story heading into this event? Chael Sonnen and all his antics? Rashad Evans and Phil Davis bickering back and forth? Something else?
Sound off, Maniacs.
Posted in: michael, rashad, sonnen, evan, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on Fox 2: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Video Highlights
Officially kicking of their multi-year broadcasting deal with the FOX network, the UFC offered up a stacked "triple-header" tonight, which featured a Middleweight title eliminator between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping. After a closely contested match-up, which saw the two competitors go toe-to-toe for three-rounds, the judges' scored the bout, unanimously, in favor of Sonnen. Below are highlights of the action, which took place at United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Posted in: michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, broadcasting deal, fox network
Read the full article at Low KickUFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen Vs. Michael Bisping Dissection
Two polarizing, love 'em or hate 'em middleweights will tangle for the number-one contender slot in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 tonight. Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping both ooze an obscene amount of confidence, have a knack for getting under their opponent's skin and are either revered or reviled by fans. The similarities pretty much end there though.
Chael Sonnen (26-11-1), currently ranked as the #2 middleweight in the world, blared a truckload of scathing taunts at Anderson Silva in the weeks leading up to their collision at UFC 127. Silva was considered virtually untouchable and Sonnen had been submitted by Demian Maia the year before, so everyone chuckled and chalked it up as the challenger merely exercising his K-1 level smack-talking skills. Sonnen ended up shocking the world by walking his talk, dominating the pound-for-pound deity for four and a half rounds with takedowns and topside pounding until Silva pulled off the Hail Mary triangle choke.
Sonnen would then become embroiled in multiple controversies in his personal and professional life, ranging from a suspension of his license in Nevada and California after pissing hot for banned substances and pleading guilty to some shenanigans involving mortgage fraud and money laundering. The drama kept the unequivocal Oregonian out of the cage for a little over a year, but he picked up where he left off against Brian Stann at UFC 136 last August, submitting him with a second round arm-triangle.
Do I really need to expound on Michael Bisping's (22-3) caustic personality? How's this -- he greeted the booing crowd at yesterday's weigh-ins by flipping the double birds and mouthing the phrase that often accompanies the lewd gesture. Unless he was just politely announcing an equipment malfunction, as in, "Stuck shoe!", or lending advice to a front-row attendee on grooming her eyebrows, as in "Pluck two!"
Nah. "The Count" has embraced the role of the villain like Sonnen has, and plays it just as well. The Team Wolfslair product first emerged on TUF 3 as a light-heavyweight and breezed through all three foes, finishing each, to win the show. Some were left with an unsatisfied feeling as Matt Hamill, who Bisping seemed destined to collide with in the finals, had suffered an injury in his quarterfinal win and was knocked out of the running. After Bisping picked off Eric Schafer and Elvis Sinosic by TKO, he was aligned with Hamill at UFC 75.
The split-decision ruling for Bisping was one of the most contentious verdicts of 2007, and the brash UK fighter didn't earn any fans when he jeered "Back to wrestling!" at Hamill in his post-fight interview. Regardless, Bisping displayed an admirable level of takedown defense, as he did in the follow up performance against another reputable wrestler in Rashad Evans. However, Bisping found himself on the opposite end of the split-decision affair, which was the first loss of his career. His remaining ten fights would take place at middleweight, where only legendary Pride veterans Dan Henderson (KO) and Wanderlei Silva (unanimous decision) would top him. Bisping is currently on a four-fight roll.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
The big question leading into Sonnen's title fight was how he was going to hang with Silva's electric striking.
The answer, which was the first of many jaw-dropping surprises that evening, was to come out of his corner and punch the champ square in the face. The clean left hand put "The Spider" on temporary roller skates and the Sonnen soiree began.
Propelled by the best fight IQ we've seen of Chael, he kept hurling gloves with the Muay Thai expert -- cracking him again with a swift three-piece combination -- just long enough to lullaby him, then exploded for double-leg takedowns like he was shot from a cannon.
Sonnen accomplished what most thought to be impossible by setting up his takedowns with his hands and penetrating deep in the pocket to control Silva's hips. Even though he didn't wing punches and then transition to a level drop in sequence, Sonnen engaged the Brazilian so ferociously on the feet that the set up was already in place. Chael needed only to patiently await a proximity and position in which Silva would run out of real estate with his back against the cage wall. A startling stat is that Sonnen only secured three takedowns in the five-round affair, yet maximized his efforts by staying active enough from the top to preclude a referee stand up.
Whether you want to call it a resurgence or a reinvention or whatever, Sonnen has undoubtedly flipped the switch and rolled out a reconstructed game plan. The distinct evolution was born immediately after he became the WEC champion by defeating Paulo Filho and was subsequently manhandled in his UFC return by Demian Maia.
His string of dominant decision wins over Dan Miller, Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami proved that Sonnen wouldn't just swan dive into the first available triangle or armbar his opponent offered up (8 of 11 career losses via submission). Those fights consisted wholly of airtight boxing that paved the way for his synthesis of engulfing takedowns and frenetic top control.
Above, we see Sonnen's modus operandi on the mat. He's been slicing into half-guard right away and locking down a ten-ton base high above the knee on his opponent's trapped leg. This is a classic Team Quest slaughterhouse position made famous by Randy Couture, who was just as malicious from here as many fighters are in full mount. Notice how Chael maintains excellent posture, slithers ahead and uses his left knee to trap his opponent's right arm. This can end up with Chael having both of his hands free to thwack undefended strikes, attack the other arm with two-on-one control or hop to the other side for the arm-triangle (left, against Stann).
Michael Bisping takes a lot of flack for having no punching power. "Pillow fists" is an internet burn he's been branded with for a while now.
Let me address this up front: first, fourteen of his twenty-three career wins are by TKO. That rounds up to a 64% finishing ratio by strikes. Sure, for all intents and purposes, Bisping only recently finished his first A-level fighter in Jason Miller ... yet submission all star Demian Maia has only submitted one A-level opponent in Chael Sonnen and beat the rest by decision, but I sure as hell don't hear many people quipping that his grappling is soft. Bisping is an elite striker. Period.
His goal is to stay upright, and if you analyze the common symptoms of strikers who are taken out of their element by wrestlers, the two root-causes of failure are (1) planting their feet too heavy and too deep in the pocket while (over-) committing to punches and (2) a lack of fundamentally sound clinch and sprawl technique. Bisping is phenomenal in both aspects.
His lack of unruly knockout power is the exact reason why he excels at (1) rarely getting caught with his feet stationary. To put major mustard on your punches, you have to plant your feet, dig in and pivot while torquing your hips and core into the motion.
While the upside is an increase in velocity and heft, the downside is that the predatory wrestler is fixated on timing his takedown to connect at the precise fraction of a second when the striker's feet are planted. That's because the mechanics of elusive footwork to counter an incoming shot are the opposite: light on the toes, never directly in front (12:00 o'clock) of your foe, constantly at an off-center angle and poised to react defensively to evade the wrestler's grasp.
Bisping embodies those traits in the two gifs above versus Hamill. While the best approach to stay afoot is to eschew contact entirely, ala Lyoto Machida, eventually the sprawl and clinch elements (2) come into play.
Against UFC on Fox 2 main-eventer Rashad Evans (above), one of the most adept wrestlers at 205-pounds, we witness Bisping's defensive clinching arsenal. Staying light on his feet to keep his balance (1) when Rashad times an explosive double leg, "The Count" gets and holds an overhook with his left hand, aka "the whizzer", and underhooks his right into Evans' armpit. This gives Bisping a clinch hold to apply massive upward leverage against Rashad's downward force, powered by the strong base of his low and wide stance.
At the tail-end of the gif above and in the one to the left, we see Bisping's final line of defense from his back.
In the first he uses his hips to create space and keeps extending that distance until his back is against the cage. Then, again with the whizzer, Bisping, who was just flat on his butt, breaks free and scrambles up to the standing position. The last animation depicts Bisping's mannerisms when he's in his least favorable spot, which is on his back in the center of the cage with no fence nearby to assist him. He goes with an old school, closed full guard and snatches paralyzing wrist control with both hands. This lets him sit on Rashad's hips, manipulate his posture by pulling his head down with his right hand and planting a short left elbow.
Notice how, as soon as Rashad breaks loose and tries to posture up, Bisping immediately opens his guard, activates his hip motion and threatens to escape. Rashad, not wanting to lose the top position he worked so hard to achieve, postures back down on Bisping to hold him in place, and the original process starts all over again.
This will be the chess match that ensues on Saturday night. Sonnen will have to set up his takedowns by committing to his strikes while waiting for the right time and position to rifle a double leg; Bisping will stay fleet afoot and sting with a high volume of medium-power punches from alternating angles while staying in open space and out of corners.
I think Sonnen has the slight edge here, but I'm telling you -- Bisping at +400 are extremely lucrative odds to throw some couch-cushion change at. My personal slant would put Sonnen around -125 and Bisping in the neighborhood of +150ish. I think this fight is that close. Bisping has never been submitted and should be hell on wheels for Sonnen to get and keep down.
My Prediction: Chael Sonnen by a close decision.
Sonnen vs. Stann gif via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
All others via my "gif wingman", Caposa
Poll
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Sonnen
Bisping
22 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, takedown, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC On Fox 2 Video: Chael Sonnen And Michael Bisping Get Heated After Weigh-Ins
Middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping fight at tonight's UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, Illinois' United Center. Despite a relatively restrained build to the fight by the standards of these two outspoken athletes, the tension is definitely building as seen in this video after yesterday's weigh-ins.
Sonnen has been wearing a fake UFC belt he acquired somewhere and claiming to be the real champion. Bisping has been outspoken about Sonnen's use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and has claimed Sonnen needs it because he has only one testicle.
The winner of the #1 contender's bout is expected to face middleweight champ Anderson Silva this summer in Brazil in what the UFC hopes will be their first stadium show in that country.
From Fuel TV:
UFC Tonight's Ariel Helwani nearly gets caught in the cross-fire. Can Sonnen and Bisping back up their smack talk in the Octagon at UFC on FOX: Evans vs. Davis? At least Bisping will never take away Chael's fake belt!
Posted in: ufc, fox, bisping, sonnen, ufc belt
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen admitting he makes up stuff
submitted by SoulTemerity [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: chael sonnen, stuff, sonnen, chael, soultemerity
Read the full article at RedditUFC on Fox 2: Chael Sonnen defeats Michael Bisping via unanimous decision
Chael Sonnen has cemented his place as number-one contender, defeating Michael Bisping to earn his long awaited rematch with reigning Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.As the fight got underway, Sonnen's strategy was immediately evident: take the Brit to the mat. Despite finding mixed results with doing so throughout the first two-rounds of the bout, keeping Bisping there was proving harder said than done for Sonnen. Able to quickly regain his footing following each takedown, Bisping looked to score
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, sonnen, sonnens strategy, takedown bisping
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen, ‘I Want Everything Anderson’s Got’
Chael Sonnen compares Anderson Silva's mystique to that of former boxing champion Mike Tyson, and explains why he has such a dislike for the UFC's middleweight champion.
Posted in: champion, sonnen, mike, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC on FOX Main Card Results - Evans, Sonnen Earn Title Shots
CHICAGO, January 28 –Rashad Evans knocked Phil Davis from the ranks of the unbeaten Saturday night with a conservative five round performance in the UFC on FOX main event at the United Center, but he will probably need to take more risks when he faces friend-turned rival Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight crown. The title bout may take place April 21 in Atlanta, Evans’ post-fight medical report permitting. Uncharacteristically playing it safe, Evans rarely tried to unload heavy leather on Davis, despite clearly owning superior standup skills to his less experienced foe. Perhaps it was Evans’s way of respecting the explosive wrestling skills of Davis, a former NCAA champ at Penn State University. Or perhaps it was also the pressure of another title shot on the line. “I fought at a pretty high pace. I felt like I wanted to put him away but I just couldn’t land those big punches,” said Evans (22-1-1), who won his fifth straight since losing the world title to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98. “I’m excited. The monkey has been on my back; it was hard to get up for this fight because everybody kept asking about that fight (with Jon Jones). But I got my shot and I’m very excited.” Though cautious offensively, Evans was masterful defensively, pretty much deflecting most of Davis’s strikes and takedowns. The exception came in round four, when Davis landed a nice kick to the body and left hand to the face, and in the third round, when Davis (9-1) recorded two takedowns. A big key for Evans was making Davis pay for low kicks by scoring takedowns and ground and pound. In the first round, Evans’s strongest, he trapped Davis on the canvas and unloaded punches before Davis escaped. Judges awarded the bout to Evans via scores of 50-45 across the board. Watch Rashad's post-fight interviewIn the evening’s co-main event, Chael Sonnen, the UFC’s silver-tongued and beloved Big Mouth, once again backed up his over-the-top smack talk with a smothering win over a feisty Michael Bisping, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated rematches in MMA history. Anderson Silva: Penny for your thoughts?While the newly-minted top contender has contended the UFC middleweight champ wants no parts of a sequel, UFC president Dana White has said that if Sonnen prevailed there would be a rematch at a soccer stadium in Brazil later this year. Triumphant in five of his past six bouts, Sonnen did not immediately afterwards call out Silva, the only fighter to beat him in the past three years. But he left no doubt as to his own grandeur and place in the UFC hierarchy when commentator Joe Rogan attempted to interview him inside the Octagon.“Joe Rogan, tonight is not for questions for me, tonight is about questions for you,” Sonnen said with the royal air of a king. “I want to know how you feel being inches away from greatness? Do you not have chills down your spine? You’re in Chael’s Octagon, holding Chael’s microphone … When you’re the greatest fighter they got a name for you -- Chael Sonnen. Beat me if you can.” Originally slated to face Mark Munoz (who dropped out two weeks ago with an elbow injury that required surgery), Sonnen had his hands full with Bisping (22-4), who had been victorious in four straight entering the contest. The well-rounded Brit is notoriously difficult to take down and hold down, and he gave Sonnen fits in rounds one and two in that regard. But Sonnen did get his takedowns, did score with punches on top, and never let Bisping get into the stick-and-move groove that would have been ideal for the British star. Rather, as he does with every opponent, Sonnen largely cornered Bisping and made him fight in close quarters and in the clinch. Bisping was solid in the clinch (with knees and dirty boxing) and occasionally landed combinations, but the ultra-aggressive Sonnen held his own there and also landed timely right hands and straight lefts. The crowd sporadically showered Sonnen with “U-S-A!” chants. Quite simply, Sonnen made Bisping fight his fight, leading to a unanimous decision by scores of 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28. Hear what Chael had to say after the fightIn other main card action: DEMIAN MAIA VS. CHRIS WEIDMANFighting on only two weeks’ notice, undefeated Chris Weidman eked by former No. 1 contender Demian Maia via unanimous decision in what qualifies as the signature win of his career and a big statement to the rest of the division. Scores were 30-27 and 29-28 twiceA replacement for Michael Bisping, the New Yorker predominantly exchanged blows with the Brazilian, though it was Weidman’s several takedowns that may have swayed judges in the closely contested opening two rounds. When he did take Maia down, Weidman wisely Maia threw a lot of left hands, and when they landed they mostly hit Weidman’s head, perhaps hurting Maia’s hand more than Weidman’s head. The standup action was steady, perhaps explaining why both fighters were fighting on fumes by midway into the third round. On the most rubbery of legs, they barely seemed able to stand. Watch Weidman's post-fight interview
Posted in: ufc, round, sonnen, evan, davi
Read the full article at UFCUFC on FOX: ‘Evans vs. Davis’ Preview – The Main Card
Yeah, so, there’s a big UFC on FOX tomorrow night, a three-fight doozy featuring matchups whose results will have serious repercussions in two divisions. For the light-heavyweights, and particularly champ Jon Jones, there’s a top-contender slot at stake for Rashad Evans when he takes on Phil Davis. For the middleweights and their lord and king Anderson Silva, there’s Demian Maia, angling toward another shot at the belt in the future if he gets past up-and-comer Chris Weidman. And of course, there’s the piece de resistance 185-pound pairing (and what truly should be the headlining bout) of brash Brit Michael Bisping and ultimate trash-talker Chael Sonnen. The winner of that one gets Silva next, which is a whole lotta “yikes!” for a free fight on major network television. You know, the last time the UFC did their FOX thing, we got a heavyweight title bout that lasted just over a minute and left us all saying “That’s it?” Now we’re going to get a trio of worthwhile battles that could knock our socks off. Let’s break them down, shall we?
-Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis – There’s supposedly some kind of friction between Evans and Jones, which should in theory make us care about the TUF winner beating the stud wrestler on Saturday night. I say hogwash to that. The heat Evans and Jones generate couldn’t melt a snowflake. What is compelling, however, is the fact that the champ has cleaned out the division with such authority, there’s literally no one left to legitimately challenge him – save Evans, who’s still waiting for his turn to get his ass kicked. Granted, Davis a tough competitor who’s beaten the likes of Brian Stann and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, but no one in their right mind believes he’s even close to being worthy, or even close to being able to make Jones break a sweat. Evans, while certainly not the favorite if and when a Jones/Evans matchup materializes, is an ex-champ with a lot of tools. Of all the residents of the light-heavyweight division that Jones has yet to murder, “Sugar” is at the top of the list of guys who should be next. So how will things go when Evans squares up against Davis? Wrestling accomplishments notwithstanding, Davis is out of his league, and Evans is going to spend three rounds avoiding his takedowns and beating him up against the fence. Then, further down the road, Evans and Jones will do the dance, and Jones will Force Choke him from across the cage, rendering him unconscious with pugilistic powers as yet unseen in the Octagon (and unseen in normal human beings).
-Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping – As unlucky turn of events go, Mark Munoz pulverizing his own elbow in training yielded perhaps the best possible matchup in terms of finding champ Silva a suitable opponent. For while Munoz and Sonnen would’ve made for a decent fight, Sonnen versus Bisping makes for an even better one – whether we’re watching a mouthy dude get his comeuppance or a mouthy dude earn his shot, either way we’re going to be entertained, both now and later. Setting aside the fact that Sonnen is going to destroy Bisping by slamming him to the canvas and grinding him into chopped meat (which is guaranteed to be the outcome of Saturday night’s fight), whoever wins gets to be the foil Silva needs to make people want to tune in when next he defends his belt. If Sonnen crushes Bisping, we get to have the American spew the most outrageous things, amusing us with words that he can apparently back up. And if, by some miracle, Bisping defeats Sonnen, then further down the line we get to watch the Brazilian bust open the Brit like he was a poorly-constructed piñata. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who wins at UFC on FOX 2, because at the end of the day both guys will make great foes for the champ.
-Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman – Maia looked okay when he tried to pry the belt from Silva’s uncaring middleweight hands. Not great, but not bad. Just okay. So although Munoz squeaked by him with a decision at UFC 131, you have to think the jiu-jitsu master is still in the running to face Silva again. On the flip side, Weidman, who’s filling in as a late-replacement but who’s got Division I collegiate wrestling skills, a modicum of jiu-jitsu knowledge and decent striking, has got absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain in this matchup. If Weidman loses, so what? He’s only had three fights in the UFC thus far, and seven fights overall. A loss (which would be his first) against such a high-caliber opponent would only make him more seasoned. And if he wins, well, there goes Maia’s title aspirations, and the American establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the middleweight division. Sadly, as much as I like Weidman (he’s a product of the Northeast MMA circuit), I see Maia’s jiu-jitsu and experience proving to be too much. But it should be interesting.
Posted in: ufc, jone, silva, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at MMA ConvertBehind the UFC on FOX 2 numbers: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping fight complete statistical breakdown
Is it Saturday yet?
This is the question mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have been asking all week, due to the fact that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will be engaging in combat at UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago, Ill., to determine who gets the next shot at Anderson Silva.
It's the kind of fight that generally doesn't need the hype. That said, the fighters haven't exactly been miming their emotions in the week leading up to it.
Regardless of how you feel about either polarizing fighter, you're going to have a hard time not getting excited for a bout of this magnitude.
Come with me after the jump and we'll inspect the numbers that make up Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping.
The genius mathematicians at CompuStrike worked overtime this week to bring you the numbers behind this fantastic number one contender eliminator match. The numbers obtained have been based on nine fight averages for Chael Sonnen and 15 fight averages for Michael Bisping.
First, let's analyze the overall striking game of both fighters:
Total Strikes:
Sonnen -- 125 of 229Bisping -- 62 of 139Percentage:
Sonnen -- 55 percentBisping -- 45 percent
Total Power Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 84Bisping -- 41
Total Non-Power Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 41Bisping -- 21
Not even close. Are you still sure that Sonnen is incapable of standing in the pocket and trading strikes with Bisping?
Not so fast.
Those are the big picture striking numbers. Here's what the arm strikes look like:
Total Arm Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 22 of 70Bisping -- 30 of 85
Percentage of Arm Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 31 percentBisping -- 35 percent
Power Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 19Bisping -- 19
Non-Power Strikes Landed
Sonnen -- 3Bisping -- 11
Still close, but as you can see, Sonnen would probably not be best served to try to convince Bisping to play Buster Douglas to his Mike Tyson.
The leg strikes category is where the gap starts to widen:
Total Leg Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 10 of 15Bisping -- 9 of 17Percentage of Leg Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 67 percentBisping -- 53 percentPower Leg Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 7Bisping -- 6Non-Power Leg Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 3Bisping -- 3
Sonnen shows to be more accurate. Otherwise, it's not a huge deficit in the kicks and knees department, as a whole.
Wrestling is Sonnen's world. You'd assume he'd dominate in a big way here.
Let's take a peak:
Ground Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 93 of 144Bisping -- 23 of 37Percentage:
Sonnen -- 61 percentBisping -- 62 percentPower Ground Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 58Bisping -- 16
Non-Power Ground Strikes Landed:
Sonnen -- 35Bisping -- 7
Takedowns:
Sonnen -- 27 of 39 (69 percent)Bisping -- 21 of 35 (60 percent)Submission Attempts:
Sonnen -- 4Bisping -- 7Dominant Positions:
Sonnen -- 15Bisping -- 11
Not a big shocker as Sonnen takes it pretty much across the board. While it's true that Bisping has a higher percentage of strikes landed on the ground, that has more to do with volume than anything else.
Regardless of what he may be saying, the Brit almost certainly wants this fight to stay vertical.
Is this about what you anticipated, or are there any portions that jumped off the screen at you? Do the numbers affect your predictions?
For everything else you need to know about the clash between Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping, be sure to check out our complete fight archive right here.
Posted in: fight, bisping, strike, sonnen, number
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVideo: Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping trade shots face to face for the final time before UFC on FOX 2
Shortly after the UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" weigh-ins took place today (Fri., Jan. 27, 2012) in Chicago, Illinois, Ariel Helwani caught up with middleweight co-main event match-up participants Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping to give them one final chance to come face-to-face to trade shots before they get down to business inside the Octagon tomorrow night.
Sonnen goes back to his usual schtick:
"I don't walk around looking into cameras and telling people I'm the best fighter in the world to hear myself talk. I say it for the same reason they put warnings on packages of cigarettes. And fighting Chael Sonnen may be hazardous to one's health."
Bisping has grown tired of it and brings the heat just as heavy (if not more so):
"Yeah, that's probably why he walks around with a fake middleweight world title belt. I'm not interested in fake belts; I'm interested in the real belt. I'm in a fight with Chael Sonnen but unfortunately just lately he's starting to look like a court jester as opposed to a fighter and Saturday night I'm going to make him look like the fool that he's become."
Sonnen would go on to say that now that the disclaimer is out of the way, if "The Count" shows up tomorrow night, whatever happens is on his hands. The Brit gave his props for another good line but reiterated that he'll be putting Sonnen in his place at the United Center.
Tired of all this talking, Maniacs? Me too. It won't be long, though, before the cage door closes and none of this matters anymore.
Tick tock.
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSonnen Vs. Bisping Weigh-In Highlights (You can hear what Bisping says to Sonnen)
submitted by MBSquared [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: vs, bisping, sonnen, weighin, mbsquared
Read the full article at RedditUFC on FOX 2 Breakdown: The Main Card
If fans were dissatisfied with the UFC‘s decision to employ a one-fight card for its historic debut on FOX, they should be far more appeased the second time around, as the world’s MMA leader is staying true to its promise of delivering “PPV caliber” cards on network television, with a hat-trick of mouth-watering bouts. Both the headlining fight and the co-main event bear direct title implications, as Rashad Evans bids to cement his status as the number one contender for the light heavyweight championship for the umpteenth time, while Chael Sonnen defends his fake middleweight title against Michael Bisping for a shot at the division’s real kingpin. Meanwhile, a very tricky battle awaits Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace Demian Maia when he locks horns with one of the sport’s brightest prospects in Chris Weidman.
Preliminary Predictions:
* Chris Camozzi to defeat Dustin Jacoby by Decision
* Joey Beltran to defeat Lavar Johnson by Decision
* Shane Roller to defeat Michael Johnson by Decision
* Charles Oliveira to defeat Eric Wisely by Submission in Round 1
* George Roop to defeat Cub Swanson by Decision
* Mike Russow to defeat Jon-Olav Einemo by TKO in Round 2
* Evan Dunham to defeat Nik Lentz by Decision
Main Card Predictions:
Middleweight Fight: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
One of the most promising rising fighters in the sport, Weidman’s transition from wrestling to MMA has been as seamless as he could have hoped. Like other fellow wrestlers-turned-martial artists, Weidman has been able to pick up the grappling aspect of the game with remarkable ease. His last two bouts showed the kind of submission grappler he’s developed into, as Weidman displayed a very diverse top game. Constantly looking to improve position while simultaneously punishing his opponent with ground-and-pound, the former “All-American” is far from being single-minded in his approach from the top. His guard-passing is extremely fluid, and is rendered even easier with an onslaught of punches and elbows. Where Weidman shines the most however, is when he is able to secure front headlock control, where he possesses quite an arsenal of submissions.
Interestingly, this could all prove irrelevant against Maia, whose BJJ wizardry could well negate Weidman’s grappling — that is of course, if Weidman decides to shoot on his opponent to begin with. After all, Maia’s bottom game is about as good as it gets in the middleweight division. In fact, the Brazilian is one of the few fighters in the sport who can still afford to use an open guard, as his triangles and vast arsenal of sweeps are a handful for any opponent to handle. Even if Weidman is confident in his ability to survive inside Maia’s guard, he is unlikely to find much joy in doing anything noteworthy from the top.
For his part, Maia will undoubtedly look to close the distance, get the clinch and work for the takedown. For the most part, Maia’s takedowns from the clinch are extremely underrated, but putting Weidman on his back is a tall order. If he is able to do it, even for a brief moment, he could make inroads, as Maia is an expert at taking advantage of his opponent’s eagerness to regain his feet and use it to take the back, where he is incredibly difficult to shake off. When that fails however, Maia often likes to transition from single leg attempts to pulling guard in order to take the fight to his element; though just how much offense he can produce from the bottom remains to be seen.
Maia’s main flaw is his blatantly unpolished striking, highlighted by some extremely wild boxing. He will often rely on throwing a sloppy left cross and leaves himself vulnerable to getting countered in the process. Conversely, Weidman’s striking is a little raw as well, but he has shown some mild — but potentially crucial — improvements. His kicks have come along nicely, and he will be content to stay on the outside and chomp and Maia’s legs. When moving forward, he’s also capable of putting together combinations and dirty box from close-quarters.
It is a difficult test for the Matt Serra protege to take on such short notice, but this isn’t a match-up where he risks getting beat up. However, it is not a match-up where he is likely to look too good either, as his main strengths are negated by Maia’s. We could well be looking at a controversial decision in this one, as Weidman may enjoy some time on top, but his opponent will likely be doing most of the work. On the other hand, Maia’s takedowns from the clinch, sweeps, and scrambles could see him through.
Official Prediction: Demian Maia to defeat Chris Weidman by Decision
Middleweight Fight: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Fresh off his long awaited Octagon return where he made short work of Brian Stann, Sonnen squares off with Bisping for a shot at Anderson Silva‘s middleweight title. After initially being scheduled to take on a wrestling oriented fighter in Mark Munoz, Sonnen is actually facing an easier stylistic match-up against here.
Despite his rightful reliance on his wrestling, Sonnen is much improved as an overall MMA fighter. His striking has become quite solid, highlighted by a surprisingly quick left cross. Additionally, Sonnen has always possessed a very good chin and has never been stopped with strikes, which has always allowed him to aggressively move forward, eat some shots, but get the takedown anyway. This is made even easier by Sonnen’s speed, explosiveness, and ability to cover an usual amount of distance with his shot. Even when shooting for a power double from seemingly outside of the proper range, Sonnen’s quick first step allows him to catch opponents by surprise and get the takedown. Shooting for power doubles isn’t all the Oregon loudmouth can do, as if he decides to close the distance, Sonnen is an absolute terror in the clinch, where he can rough up his opponent with dirty boxing, get underhooks, and put him on his back.
For his part, Bisping will be the superior striker, despite some obvious flaws in his stand-up. He is constantly guilty of circling to his opponent’s power hand, and more worryingly as far as this bout is concerned, backpedaling right into the fence when pressed. Instead of circling out and resetting, Bisping digs himself a hole by allowing his opponent to have him pinned against the cage. Given that Sonnen will be looking to rush him at any given chance and put him on the back-foot, this could spell trouble for “The Count.” Bisping will look to get on the bicycle, land some jabs, throw plenty of body kicks, and mix them up with some combinations. He does well to set up the high kick, but he lacks the power to really use it to clobber an opponent. His right cross is his best punch, and to his credit, he rarely throws it as a single strike with little set-up.
The real issue for Bisping is that he doesn’t quite possess a puncher’s chance in this one, in the sense that he was never a one-punch knockout artist, and Sonnen’s chin has historically held up very well. When the Brit has managed to put his opponent away, he did it with a barrage of strikes for up close. Against Sonnen, this is a tough proposition, as he could easily change levels and shoot or clinch up every time Bisping is within that range.
The most underrated aspect of Bisping’s game is his ability to escape from the bottom. He possesses surprisingly dynamic hips, is good in the scrambles, and is especially savvy when it comes to getting back to his feet. This will be crucial, as he is almost certainly going to end up on his back in this fight, perhaps repeatedly. Sonnen however, has a suffocating top game that makes life very difficult for his foes. He is absolutely relentless, is constantly pounding to the head and body from inside the guard, and if his recent bout with Stann is any indication, is developing solid submission grappling to complement his punishing ground-and-pound. In that regard, Sonnen has definitely improved his guard-passing technique, which adds another dimension to an already authoritative top game.
Of course, Sonnen’s Achilles heel has long been his submission defense. He tends to leave his next exposed when shooting in and is prone to getting caught in a guillotine, and has been submitted from the bottom on numerous occasions; mainly with triangles. However, Bisping has never been a significant submission threat, and the short notice nature of the fight means he didn’t have the necessary time to focus on working submissions from the bottom.
Look for Sonnen to do what he does best (no, not trolling), and dominate Bisping on his way to a decision.
Official Prediction: Chael Sonnen to defeat Michael Bisping by Decision
Make sure to check back tomorrow for my breakdown of the main event between Evans and Phil Davis…
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: opponent, bisping, sonnen, maia, weidman
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainCM Punk: “(Brock Lesnar) left us high and dry.”
The worlds of WWE and the UFC intertwined this week during the MMA organization’s stop in Chicago for tomorrow night’s UFC on FOX 2 event. While some may point to co-headlining middleweight Chael Sonnen’s microphone mastery at a recent press conference as being akin to those possessed by some of professional wrestling’s greats, it’s actually the man who was scheduled to accompany Sonnen to the cage that has been the real focus where WWE is concerned.
CM Punk has been a longtime supporter of Mixed Martial Arts (and self-admitted BJJer), even incorporating certain techniques into his move-set that are pulled from some of the disciplines featured in the sport. However, while Chicago-product Punk had agreed to walk down with Sonnen, WWE CEO Vince McMahon quickly reneged on his original approval of the situation.
McMahon Shoots Down Punk on FOX
Punk recently spoke about the issue, among other things, in an interview with MMAFighting where he said he felt the stars had aligned properly given the event’s location and him originally having tomorrow off from house-show work.
“We were introduced by Gerald Briscoe, old school wrestler obviously and road agent for WWE now,” said Punk of his original introduction to Sonnen. “He scouts a lot of the amateur wrestling tournaments and stuff around the country so obviously that’s the link. He knows Chael. He put us on the phone one day, like spur of the moment…and I think we’re alike in a lot of ways.”
“I get a kick out of anybody that’s entertaining,” the WWE Champion continued on Sonnen, mentioning Nick Diaz and Nate Diaz as two other fighters who seem to have embraced the power of showmanship.
The popular Punk also weighed in on Brock Lesnar’s future where he said, “He split. He left us high and dry. Now, there’s a code in the locker room when you’re the champ you kinda toe the line and the money you make kinda gets distributed to everybody else. So I think maybe five years ago I would’ve been more up in arms about it…but, once again, I won’t fault anybody for making money.”
“I would welcome Brock back. I don’t think Brock wants to come back. But that’s just my opinion,” Punk continued. “He’s done his time here, he’s done his time in MMA. I think he was great at both. And there (are) a few guys that are out there that I don’t know that there’s really a place for them in modern day WWE and Brock might be one of them. Doesn’t like the road, doesn’t like people, and I just don’t know if they’d be willing to spend all the money, like the one big payday, for him to come in and work Wrestlemania.”
PHOTO CREDIT – WWE
Tweet
Posted in: ’t, punk, wwe, sonnen, brock
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC On Fox 2: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman Dissection
The UFC on Fox 2 show this Saturday night on Fox will light off with a middleweight scrap featuring two of the most esteemed grapplers at 185-pounds. Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman is a match up in which the description "world class" -- a term used far too loosely in MMA -- actually applies.
Maia (15-3) is rightfully assessed within the top one-percent of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu phenoms to cross over into full contact fighting. Almost one-half of his MMA wins are over other BJJ black belts, three of whom he submitted. The Sao Paulo native flaunts a nearly unparalleled list of sport grappling credentials and is one of the select few to transfer his stratosphere-skills to the cage, mainly because he's not a one-trick pony. Initially, his background in Judo was the conduit that enabled him to impose his irrepressible mat-work, but now Maia has whittled together a savvy kickboxing arsenal under the tutelage of the great Wanderlei Silva -- and done so in a frighteningly short span of time.
The emphasis on improving his striking was inspired by the crushing right-hand counter of Nate Marquardt, who dusted Maia in short order at UFC 102. The hours of toiling away on the focus mitts was evident in his follow up performance over Dan Miller; a decision victory that was contested almost entirely on the feet. Maia was then the final slice of alpha pound-for-pound nominee Anderson Silva's string of three decisively unpopular title defenses. As he did against Patrick Cote and Thales Leites, the middleweight champion pirouetted around the cage and flitted out of reach, squelching the challenger's output while offering little of his own.
Maia would grind out Mario Miranda and Kendall Grove with overbearing positional dominance before losing to surging wrestler Mark Munoz, in a bout that was much more competitive than your run-of-the-mill unanimous decision would reflect. The D1 All American wrestler was the first, however, to trudge fearlessly into Maia's grappling vortex and emerge unscathed. Maia, who is currently ranked fifth in the world at middleweight, reset with a convincing decision over former Sengoku champ Jorge Santiao in his latest.
Chris Weidman (7-0) came out of nowhere. Just two weeks out, he filled in for an injured Rafael Natal and scalloped a career-defining upset over Alessio Sakara in his UFC debut. But first things first: the New Yorker was a standout wrestler all through high school and then earned All American honors -- twice -- at both the JuCo and Division 1 level. Here's wrestling consultant Coach Mike on Weidman's collegiate career:
"Weidman only started 2 years and had solid (but not spectacular) regular seasons. If it were not for his two NCAA tournaments, he would have been remembered like Rashad Evans as a good but not great D1 wrestler. Fortunately for him, he went bananas both those years at Nationals, and got 6th then 3rd in some ridiculously tough weight classes which included the likes of Ryan Bader, Phil Davis, and Jake Rosholt. He placed ahead of Phil Davis the year he got third and beat future world team member JD Bergman in the consi-finals."
Winning a few smaller sport grappling tournaments and training under Matt Serra is huge for Weidman, making him a more complete threat on the mat rather than just exorbitantly skilled in wrestling alone. He's billed as a purple belt in BJJ, though belt color doesn't really translate like it used to.
Weidman cut his teeth in the well established Ring of Combat promotion, destroying three foes in the first round (2 TKOs, 1 sub) and then snaring the promotion's middleweight strap with a decision win. At this point in the timeline, he imprinted his name with the upset of Sakara and continued to vault forward with consecutive submission victories, fitting Jesse Bongfeldt with a nasty standing guillotine and Tom Lawlor with a beautiful Brabo choke.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Well, you should have known this gif was coming. The feat is even more salient in retrospective now that Chael has reminded us all how imposing his wrestling is.
Maia shrinks the distance to clinch up with Sonnen and, with double overhooks no less, hits a poetic lateral drop using his hips as a fulcrum. The subtle key to his success here is how he sweeps Sonnen's left foot on the way down to completely crumble his balance.
It was all downhill from here for Sonnen, who fell into one of Maia's clever traps and tapped to a triangle choke. Maia has consistently lured opponents into submissions with intelligence and by always being several steps ahead.
Out of everyone Maia has faced in MMA, Mark Munoz bears the most similarities to Weidman: elite wrestling, sufficient capabilities in submission grappling and comparable striking.
Since, of Maia's three career defeats, Munoz was the only adversary who didn't win by out-striking him, his accomplishments are even more salient. Weidman obviously has some semblance of awareness with BJJ tactics in addition to his wrestling prowess -- and exactly how much that is will be imperative against a technician of Maia's caliber.
These last few animations show how far Maia has progressed from the barely rudimentary striker he was early on.
His stance, punching form, footwork and use of angles is markedly improved, but what I appreciate most is how aggressively he attacks. Some ground specialists remain quite hesitant and unsure when they develop their striking, but Maia exudes confidence and presses with conviction, knowing he just has to protect his chin as being taken down is a counter he welcomes.
The version to the right is an apt example of most of the combinations Maia throws, perhaps too repetitively.
He tucks his chin, barges forward and unloads punches fiercely enough to convince his opponent to retreat backwards instead of staying in the pocket to counter. Holding ground would allow the defender to get wrapped up in his clinch and stayiyng completely free of Maia's tentacles is typically the cardinal priority. Maia also makes sure his head isn't a stationary target, though it's not the most artful technique.
The way Weidman reacts to a frenetic blitz of incoming strikes will totally dictate the flow of this match.
In past matches, it was encouraging to see him hold steadfast and protect himself with excellent defense. Assured by the Sherman Tank-like balance of his wrestling base enabled him to cover up and stay poised to counter-punch or rifle a takedown, which is an encouraging sign for a fairly green fighter with a grappling background. As noted, this might be a questionable outlook that could lead to tying up with Maia.
What I don't know: which, if either, will have the advantage on the feet (I'm considering them to be pretty evenly matched) and what Weidman's strategy will be. He could either rely solely on his crisp boxing technique and sprawl-and-brawl or enter the jungle and implement his wrestling, in any magnitude ranging from scarcely to often.
What I do know: Maia will push forward and throw his hands and feet with borderline recklessness in the hopes that Weidman's instincts take over and he reverts to his wrestling.
My point is merely that Maia will do what Maia does and Weidman has the freedom to exercise different options.
That doesn't necessarily constitute the benefits that are normally associated with that leisure either -- Weidman will have to out-gun Maia on the feet while moving backwards substantially enough to overcome how favorably the judges view aggression. I'm just not sure he can finish or widen the gap enough to compensate for Maia's forward-minded aggression. That leaves interspersing takedowns, which presents its own set of hazards.
These last two gifs against Bongfeldt again show Weidman's tendency to lock horns in the free movement phase. Above, we also see Bongfeldt, a southpaw, connect with a weapon that Maia throws liberally, which is the left high kick. Bongfeldt chases him down and attains the fence-clinch, which is where Maia will want to be.
The same applies to the left, though Weidman unveils another nice tool with the leaping knee -- a viable but risky tactic to consider against Maia -- and immediately transitions to constricting the choke.
The final entry is why this match up is probably the most compelling on the card.
Weidman hits almost the exact same lateral drop as Maia did against Sonnen, but does so from the body lock and doesn't quite transition to the top position as smoothly.
This is a pairing between two phenomenal grapplers with sturdy striking and an opposing 70:30 ratio in wrestling and takedowns vs. submission wit (Maia = 70% subs and 30% wrestling and takedowns; vice-versa for Weidman).
The shocker is that Weidman comes in as the favorite despite experiencing a mere fraction of overall and top-shelf opposition. Maia's superior experience, extraordinary BJJ credentials and striking tenacity sway me in his direction, though the match is undoubtedly a close one on paper. I'm fascinated to see the Weidman's strategy, and his savvy in submission grappling will be tested equally with Maia's in takedowns and wrestling.
My Prediction: Demian Maia by decision.
Maia vs. Sonnen gif via MMA-Core.com
All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Poll
Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
Maia
Weidman
11 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, decision, sonnen, maia, weidman
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC on FOX 2: Chael Sonnen becomes a parody of himself
It wasn't long ago that I was touting Chael Sonnen for his "pro wrestling genius." And at the time I wrote that piece, I had a good reason to feel that way. He was at the height of his game, having just delivered a promo that became an instant classic.
Now? Not so much.
It's not that he's all that different than he was before. Quite the opposite, in fact. He's just as wily and eager to please as ever. But it would seem that he's gotten a little too into his own character. In pro wrestling speak, since that's the parallel we're drawing here (because it's the one that applies best), he's become a bit of a mark for himself.
At the UFC on Fox 2 pre-fight press conference, as well as in interviews with various members of the mixed martial arts (MMA) media, Sonnen would go off on tangents, seemingly out of nowhere. It's not even that he was answering questions with quick-witted responses that made fans chuckle. He carefully scripted spots that he was going to deliver come hell or high water, even if that meant cutting people off to shout his message into the microphone.
As my esteemed colleague Jesse Holland noted here yesterday, Sonnen jumped the shark. He became a parody of himself in one press conference.
On top of his usual schtick (which badly needs to be updated with some new material, by the way), Chael literally turned into a rapper. This man sat at the podium and spit rhymes like they were hot fire in an attempt to ... well ... I'm not sure why he did it.
And that's the problem. I'm as big a fan of a good promo as any but if you don't have a good reason to say what you're saying, then you shouldn't open your mouth. Sonnen seems to have lost touch with that. Essentially, he stopped promoting the fight and made himself a spectacle.
Let's break down what a good promo should be and how Sonnen has gone away from that.
(I'm going to add a disclaimer here just because this subject matter seems to piss off a great deal of MMA fans. Here's the thing: When Sonnen is cutting pro wrestling style promos and he's admitting to doing as much -- and even trying to walk out to the cage with a famous pro wrestler -- I'm going to analyze him through that lens.)
Pro wrestling is built on the premise that two guys are going to have a match at a show and you should pay to watch it. Simple enough, right? That's no different than MMA, really. Chael Sonnen is going to fight Michael Bisping and you should pay to see it.
But why should you pay for it? What reason do you have?
That's where pro wrestling got creative and eventually developed into what most of you have seen at some time or another throughout your lives. Someone comes out to the ring, picks up a microphone and cuts a promo designed to get you to care about his match against so-and-so, who also gets his chance to cut a promo to accomplish the same goal.
When it works, everyone makes a lot of money and everybody wins.
So what constitutes a good promo?
The best will find a way to work in the four W's -- the who, what, when and the where, while also giving you, the fan, a reason to care about why the match is taking place. I'll give you a recent example in video form.
Here's Triple H cutting a great promo on CM Punk (there's some fluff before and after it but the part I'm referring to starts at 11:34 and ends at 12:13):
Here's the text from the vid that I'm referring to:
"This isn't business, it's personal. You made it personal. I tried to keep it business, you made it into a personal issue. That's why this Sunday, you are going to step into the ring -- no disqualification, anything goes -- with me. Not the business man, not the COO, not the multiple time world champion, not 'The Game;' quite frankly and quite simply, just a man. A man you insulted and a man that is going to kick your ass."
Those lines, delivered with the necessary passion and emphasis, really drove home why the ensuing match was something we should care about. Triple H tried to keep things business but CM Punk made it personal and insulted him. Because of this, Triple H is going to kick Punk's ass this Sunday.
The message was built to and delivered in a manner so as to make it nearly impossible not to have an emotional reaction and attachment to it. That's why it works. That's why it makes money.
Sonnen on the other hand, while making sure at times to let folks know when the fight is, would simply hijack the microphone and deliver some terribly cheesy lines that were scripted to sound a lot better than they did:
"You're looking at the reflection of perfection, the one that gets all your attention.You're looking at the man with the biggest arms, the man with the greatest charm,And the man who came to Chicago to do a lot of harm to the guy three doors down."
"Maybe I can ask a question, maybe I can ask three of Michael Bisping,First, what are going to do when you know who?How are you gonna deal with the man of steel?And how will you react to Sonnen's attack?"
He did this while screaming into the microphone like he was Hulk Hogan circa 1987. It wasn't a coherent promo designed to get us to care about the fight this Saturday night. It was Sonnen trying to figure out the best way to play to the crowd. And they reacted like marks, too, cheering on the ridiculous drivel that was spewing from his mouth.
To make matters worse, he did all this after bringing a replica UFC championship belt with him to the press conference and propped it up in front of him.
In pro wrestling, they can get away with all the theatrics and goofy storylines. Because you're already being asked to accept a match for it is -- an athletic exhibition between two guys who are putting on a show -- they can stretch the boundaries of what's acceptable. It's not rooted in reality.
With MMA, however, that's where it draws its larger adult audience from. The folks who grew out of the campy storylines pro wrestling offered and graduated to the visceral world of MMA, where you can watch two men climb inside a cage and spend 15 to 25 minutes doing their best to physically harm the other.
The fights themselves, though, are not enough to draw significant interest. Just like the wrestling matches aren't. Just like anything isn't, really. We, as human beings, have to always have a reason to feel invested in something, or it will never catch and keep our attention. The fights are great, sure, but we still need a reason to feel connected to a fight one way or the other. Watching two strangers fight is a lot different than watching your friend fight your enemy.
When I was touting Sonnen's pro wrestling style genius, I was doing so because he was manipulating the masses with a message they either did or did not approve of but one that was rooted in reality. He relentlessly called out Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva for being phony and harped on actual issues that many fans were already having, like the fact that Silva rarely does interviews in English, despite the fact that he can speak the language. To hear Sonnen riff on that is to connect with something real.
To watch him trot out to a press conference with a fake title belt calling himself the real champion and randomly busting out raps about how he has the biggest arms and the most charm is to watch him turn into a parody of himself. Somewhere down the line, it stopped being about Chael's quest to be both the middleweight champion and the "People's Champion." He first came to fame by trash-talking, yeah, but he did so with a clear message that had a purpose and was rooted in the truth.
Now he's talking just to talk. He's either trying to outdo himself or he likes the attention it brings him.
Are his antics ultimately promoting the fight? At this point, the answer has to be no. There are still quite a few folks who think he's brilliant and will hang on his every word like it's gospel. Hell, there are members of the MMA media who do that. But there is also a growing legion of folks who see and hear him do and say these things and simply shake their heads before finding something better to do with their time.
I liked it when Sonnen was calling out fighters for their faults. I liked when he was the no-nonsense guy who would say what no one else would because they didn't want to rock the boat.
I don't like the Sonnen who busts out silly raps and tries to be a modern day Hulk Hogan screaming into the microphone about how big his arms are and how charming he is. Why? Because it doesn't make me want to watch him fight, which is the point of all this in the first place.
If you want to cut pro wrestling style promos, at least do it right.
Posted in: fight, promo, sonnen, man, that
Read the full article at MMA ManiaTwitter Mailbag: Talking UFC on FOX 2, Hackers, Testosterone, and More
Filed under: UFCWe're just one day away from the UFC on FOX 2 event in Chicago, but that wasn't all that was on people's minds in this edition of the Twitter Mailbag. From hacking concerns to supplemental testosterone -- even some requests for me to make impossible predictions -- you fine people flooded my Twitter with all kinds of crazy questions. In other words, it's a lot of fun.
Now let's get right down to it. Who's first?
@AFragileSmile what kind of ratings do you expect to see [for UFC on FOX 2]? The first had so much buzz while this one just feels like another show to me.
It's true that the first UFC on FOX event had more of a novelty value. It also had the words "heavyweight championship of the world!" repeated in ads on every FOX NFL and MLB playoff game for weeks. This one has more fights, but the stakes are a little harder to explain in a brief promo ("the fights to see who gets to fight in the more important fights later on!" doesn't quite ring out the same way).
For all those reasons, I don't expect this event to have the same ratings jump right out of the gate as the first show. The good news is, it will offer way more fighting and way less talking, which should lead to a gradual build-up in the audience -- especially if the first two fights deliver the action and get people talking. The first UFC on FOX show peaked with 8.8 million viewers during the only minute of MMA action. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see this one break 10 million by the time Rashad Evans and Phil Davis hit the cage.
@CRUMxMMA what are your predictions for the bonuses of the night?
Fight of the Night: Chael Sonnen outpointing Michael Bisping in a bloody three-round affair.
Submission of the Night: Demian Maia triangle choking Chris Weidman.
Knockout of the Night: Joey Beltran starching Lavar Johnson with one big punch. Or the other way around.
@GaryLaPlante Why would Dana challenge hackers? Does he not realize that UFC.com holds CC information for the people who buy his product?
White's response to the hacking issue has been pretty tone deaf from the very beginning. He dismissed the legitimate concerns of actual UFC fans on Twitter when the site was initially hacked, and has now decided to double-down by daring the hackers to come after his site again, which, as you point out, might not play so well with the people who have entrusted the UFC with their confidential information.
It's a bigger issue than that, though. White says that there's no difference between illegally streaming a UFC pay-per-view and walking into a store and stealing a watch. But one difference is that, if I steal a watch, the person I stole it from doesn't have it anymore. They can't sell that watch to other people, can't recover the cost of the materials, nothing. The same isn't true with a pay-per-view broadcast. That's not to say it's a victimless crime -- ask the fighters who are getting a percentage of pay-per-view sales, for one thing -- but it is a different crime. If anything, it's probably more like sneaking into a movie without buying a ticket. That too is illegal, whether people think of it as a real crime or not. If you want to invoke the categorical imperative and get all Immanuel Kant on it, you'd have to admit that there would be no film industry (or at least no film industry with money for decent effects and costumes) if everyone did this. It's the same with the UFC...sort of.
One thing that hurts White's argument is the fact that pay-per-views aren't pay-per-views everywhere. Fans in some countries get them on cable TV, while others are asked to fork over $50 to see the same fight. That tells fans that pay-per-views don't necessarily have one single value, and that might be all the justification some people need to go ahead and stream that bad boy. Again, that's a problem. It's unfair to the UFC and its fighters, and something should be done about it. I just don't think that something is SOPA. I also don't think lawmakers are really considering reviving the most unpopular bill in recent memory all because the UFC's url was redirected for a few hours. And no, that's not terrorism. No one is terrified by not being able to access UFC.com, and claiming otherwise is a straight-up insult to the victims of actual terrorism.
This? It's an annoyance. It's a misguided response to a misguided response to a genuinely complex and vexing problem that our society is going to have deal with eventually, but hopefully not like this.
@MikeOlenski_MMA do you personally believe TRT/HRT should be 100% banned in mma?
Absolutely, and for two reasons. 1) The whole idea behind banning steroids is to force fighters to compete with the hormones they have, rather than the hormones they want. 2) Even if we could determine who has legitimately low levels of testosterone, we can't determine how they got that way.
Reason #1 is more of the broad theory behind banned substances, but reason #2 is a practical concern that's no less troublesome. Say a fighter comes to the commission with a doctor's note citing low testosterone levels. How do we know if that's just the natural state of his body, or if he lowered his own testosterone levels through years of steroid abuse prior to this moment? We can't. All we know is that we're helping a man artificially increase the levels of a powerful hormone right before he gets into a cage to fight another human being for money. That's dangerous territory, and it opens the door for too many cheaters who are looking for a legal loophole.
@Macitaloo79 Anderson vs Sonnen 2; will it ever happen? And if so, would it fill a football arena?
I'm more concerned about Sonnen being able to get in and out of that soccer stadium alive (especially if he wins) than I am about the rematch drawing a sufficient crowd in Brazil. As for whether it will happen, well, we should know by Sunday morning. Sonnen says that Silva won't fight him even if he beats Bisping, but that's just more schtick. Silva will fight who the UFC tells him to fight, and the UFC knows how big a Silva-Sonnen rematch would be. But first, Sonnen has to do his part and prove that he's earned it.
@BIN6H4M should Nate Diaz really have to fight once more to get a crack at title? Edgar should fight both him and miller.
Look at it this way: regardless of who wins the Diaz-Miler fight at the UFC on FOX 3 event, we won't have to ask whether that person deserves a title shot. And regardless of who loses, we won't have to ask whether they were ready for a crack at the champion. A top contender bout answers all those questions, plus it's just good TV. You can't tell me you don't want to see those two fight.
@MMAOutsider Could this card lower FOX's hopes for UFC? Evans-Davis, Maia-Weidman could be slow, and Sonnen prob won't finish Bisping
This reminds me of Dana White's response when those of us in the media kept peppering him with questions about what he'd do if something like the Frank Mir-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira arm break happened on a FOX fight. His response: Hey, this is what FOX signed up for. The same is true here, for better or worse.
Sometimes fights end right away, and sometimes they stretch on and on like a bad break-up. That unpredictability comes with the territory, and that's what FOX bought into. You can structure the match-ups any way you want, but you never know for sure what kind of show you're going to get. I have to think that FOX did its homework before making this deal and came to the conclusion that, sometimes, you don't get the fireworks you were expecting. Sometimes you get more. All you can do is put the guys in the cage and make the best out of what they give you. If FOX somehow doesn't know that yet, it'll learn soon enough.
@LuckyBestWash realistically, how does Bisping beat Chael?
I keep asking myself the same thing, and I'm not coming up with much. It seems extremely unlikely that Bisping could knock Sonnen out, and he's not known for submitting people off his back (or, you know, at all). So we have to ask ourselves: how does Bisping usually win fights? He does it by sticking and moving, by piling up the punches and staying out of the heavy exchanges, and by getting back to his feet on those occasions when he is taken down. Can he do all that against Sonnen, who's a much better wrestler than the likes of Chris Leben or "Mayhem" Miller? Doubtful, but not impossible.
@hurstje1 Question: Who is an up and coming, relatively unknown fighter that we should keep our eyes on? Who's the next star?
Finding the next "star," is more guesswork than analysis, but okay, I'll play along. There are a few guys worth watching right now. Nick Denis, the bantamweight who elbowed the follicles off of Joseph Sandoval in his UFC debut last week, is one. Stipe Miocic, the heavyweight who battered and outpointed Joey Beltran in his UFC debut, is another. I'd also keep a close eye on Khabib Nurmagomedov (who I will henceforth call "Nermal," after the Garfield character, thanks to a clever Twitter suggestion).
But you have to remember, it's one thing to have a ton of potential and raw ability, and another thing to actually pan out over the long run. If I've learned anything covering this sport, it's that long-term success is as much about character, work ethic, and even a little bit of luck as it is about pure ability.
@DanniaElizabeth Okay sir. In the very possible rematch of Sonnen and Silva, how do you see the fight going?
Honestly? I could see it going a lot like the first fight. As in, nearly identical. Sonnen will get in his face, get him to the mat, and generally turn it into the same messy affair that we saw the first time. And yes, I know that Silva had some injury troubles in that fight that may have kept him from being at his best, but I also know that he's a professional fighter in his late 30s. Injuries may be the new normal for him. The bigger question is, will Sonnen be able to avoid the same fatal mistake the second time around? On that one, I still have my doubts.
@Jtbrinkman if rashad wins, will Jon jones come in the cage to ruin his moment?
Yes, and hopefully he'll bring his meddlesome manager, Malki Kawa, who will throw salt in Evans' eyes, blinding him so that Jones and the rest of the Jackson's MMA crew can stomp him while Joe Rogan looks on in horror, muttering about what a sickening display this is. Just then, Dan Henderson's music will come blaring over the speakers as he sprints down to the Octagon just in time to have a bewildered Jones slip from his grasp and back into the depths of the locker room. Then it will be just Henderson and Evans, alone in the cage, staring at one another and sizing up this new unlikely alliance.
@MorganWaltz who do you see winning the Diaz/Condit fight and why??
I'm picking Diaz via sheer Diazness. He'll walk Condit down, absorb a ton of punishment in the process, and just keep coming and coming until Condit breaks in the later rounds. Afterwards, a bloody and nearly unrecognizable Diaz will give a meandering post-fight interview that leaves us all uncomfortable, confused, and a little sad for reasons we can't quite explain. Business as usual, in other words.
@Isaac_Frederico is it Phil Davis that looks like a being from another planet or is it just Rashad thats too earthly?
No, it's Davis. Just wait until this afternoon's weigh-ins. No one looks more like a 1940's comic book character on the scales than Davis. His physique simply doesn't seem like it should be physically possible, and yet there he is.
@GrauSteve Are there any relevant fights left for Fedor? Sadly, I heard a rumor about Lashley, hard to get excited for that.
Hard? Impossible is more like it. Sadly, this may be Fedor's reality now. He could have walked away with all the dignity of a former champ who found out the hard way that he just didn't have it anymore, but instead he chose to keep on keeping on against the Jeff Monsons and Satoshi Ishiis of the world. At least he's winning again, I suppose. Still, unless you're in the UFC, the options for big time heavyweight fights are very, very limited. Any opponent you can find is going to be one that the UFC has released or passed over, and usually there are good reasons for both.
@mthomf1 What's the most memorable reaction you've gotten from the subject of an interview/article after it was published?
Most of the time the fighters don't read the articles. Or at least they don't admit to it. Other times they seem to skim them in search of a mention of their sponsors or training partners or gyms, then seem baffled when I try to explain why those don't usually make the final cut.
As for memorable reactions, my 3,500-word piece on Daniel Cormier convinced him to finally follow me on Twitter, which I guess was something of an accomplishment. The story I did about driving around Vegas with Michael Bisping was one that I wasn't sure how he would take, since it outed him as an absolutely terrible driver and a bit of grump during his weight cut, but he seemed to think it was hilarious. After an article on Phil Davis where I described his friend and training partner, Jared Platt, as having "a bushy beard to offset the lack of hair on his head," a stone-faced Platt cornered me at the post-fight presser and rattled off that line verbatim before finally cracking a smile and admitting that it was sadly accurate. My story about an impromptu shopping expedition with Josh Barnett amused him so much it resulted in a sweaty post-fight hug that I pretty clearly said I didn't want, but got anyway.
Have there been some less gracious responses over the years? Sure, but those are definitely the exception rather than the rule. Fighters generally appreciate that a writer's job is to call it like he sees it. Even if they don't, most have better things to do than read about themselves on the internet. Their managers, however? Those guys are a different story. One for another time. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sonnen, dont
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLatest UFC/MMA news and notes from around the web for the week of January 22, 2012
Welcome, Maniacs, to the weekly series where we help you catch up on some of the original reporting done by other sites in the vast MMA landscape. Like Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland pictured above, we can all "get along."
Teaming up with MMA sites like MMA Fighting, Cage Potato, Fight Opinion and The Fight Nerd, we'll provide an opportunity for all MMA fans to read some fresh and original voices in the sport.
This week, Lowkick goes inside Team Golden Glory, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Snowden takes a good look inside Chael's training camp and The Fight Nerd speaks with Eddie Alvarez, confirming his upcoming bout with Shinya Aoki.
The full list of links is after the jump.
- Combat sports chronicles: Team Golden Glory (LowKick)
I had an opportunity to attend Team Golden Glory training in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The training took place at Duncan's Training Center, half of which is currently undergoing a series of improvements to become a fully-operational gym.
- All gun, ammo, knife and hunting sponsors are banned (Cage Potato)
FOX's ever impressive magical act is set to make all firearm, knife, ammo, and hunting companies disappear from all Zuffa promoted events.
- The unfair UFC career of Phil Davis (Five Ounces of Pain)
From the moment Phil Davis stepped into the Octagon, he was never given a fair chance. In the second round of his first UFC fight against Brian Stann, Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan compared his skills and physique to Georges St. Pierre. In the third round, with three minutes remaining in the bout, Rogan was already bringing up the possibility of Jon Jones vs. Davis
- Around the Octagon with Dana White (video) (MMA Fighting)
White discusses UFC on FOX 2, Sonnen's belt and "terrorists" online.
- UFC announces May 15th event in Virginia (5thRound)
- Hackers accept Dana White's challenge (MiddleEasy)
Well, when you challenge a group of individuals that hacked the FBI and the Department of Justice's website all within two weeks, of course they're going to respond. Here's what JoshTheGod stated just a few minutes ago regarding Dana White's digital invite.
- Eddie Alvarez confirms Shinya Aoki fight in April, talks loss to Chandler (video) (The Fight Nerd)
- Why sports media are turning their fire on UFC (Fight Opinion)
The issue of UFC and its fighters beating up on the media is an old & tired issue... which is why I found it extremely curious that CBS Sports columnist & flame thrower Gregg Doyel decided to bring up the issue yesterday in his column online. Doyel basically admits that he is a UFC fanboy but that he's all of a sudden had a change in heart to speak truth to power in only a way he possibly can. The timing of this attack raised my eyebrows.
- Pro-SOPA editorial may have led to hacking of UFC.com (MMA Payout)
The UFC's Executive Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Epstein wrote an op-ed in Sunday's Las Vegas Review Journal in defense of the UFC's position in favor of SOPA. On the same day, the UFC web site was hacked in what is believed to be a response to the UFC's position on the bill.
- Will the real Chael Sonnen please stand up? Inside Sonnen's training camp (BleacherReport.com/MMA)
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping won't be able to talk each other to death Saturday night on FOX. In the end, as is the case in all sporting events from tee ball to the Super Bowl, things will be settled on the field of play. And that's why people at Team Quest in Oregon were all smiles last week when Bisping replaced former NCAA champion Mark Munoz as Sonnen's opponent in a fight to determine the next top contender for Anderson Silva's UFC middleweight title.
- UFC on FOX 2 preview: The undercard (MMA Convert)
The UFC's "A" team may be taking to the field on the FOX network on Saturday night, but there's a sizeable "B" team that's duking it out on Fuel TV in the three hours before that big hoedown. (Did I just use the word "hoedown"? What the hell?)
- Anthony Johnson looks at UFC exile while Nate Marquardt eyes UFC return (Fightline)
It's no secret that UFC president Dana White can be quick tempered and is prone to making harsh decisions when heated, only to soften his stance once heads have cooled. Specifically speaking, White has, on occasion, dropped fighters from the UFC after a screw up or disagreement, before eventually welcoming them back into the fold once things are settled or wounds are healed.
Posted in: ufc, fight, mma, team, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on Fox 2: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Press Conference Highlights
Chael Sonnen was definitely Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping fired back about their fight coming up at UFC on Fox 2 this weekend.
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC CENTRAL: Get to know Chael Sonnen
Get to know the real Chael Sonnen as the UFC middleweight answers all the questions you don’t normally hear.
Posted in: ufc, question, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC on FOX 2: Chael Sonnen calls his fight with Michael Bisping the 'true main event'
Talk is cheap.
Perhaps, but it does sell tickets and slam butts in seats. Just ask Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping, who will share the spotlight together as the co-main event at Saturday night's (Jan. 28, 2012) event: UFC on FOX 2, which takes place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Earlier today (Jan. 26, 2012), the talkative twosome joined 102.5 FM's "The Game Nashville Sports Radio" to discuss their upcoming bout.
It didn't take Sonnen long to get into hype mode:
"They (the fans) can expect a fight. They can expect two guys that are coming out to fight. I had to grow up hearing that a fight was boxing. And I had to grow up hearing about this myth: Mike Tyson. Everybody said he was the best fighter in the world. He wasn't even the best fighter in America. Now we've got fighting. Fighting is on TV. Fighting is on FOX. And, you know, the two best fighters in the business just happen to be in the same weight class, and happen to be coming at you live. Eight (o'clock) in the east, five (o'clock) in the west."
For more gems from Sonnen and Bisping, follow me after the jump:
Not to be outdone, Bisping threw down a similar gauntlet for fans and potential fight viewers:
"Listen, I've been fighting since I was eight years old and I've been pretty good at it. I've had so many fights - I can't remember. Now, I'm fortunate enough to be paid to fight. My dream, my goal and my destiny is to be world champion. Saturday night, there's one more man in the way of that, and that's Chael Sonnen. You'll be able to watch it live on TV, on FOX TV. It's gonna be ‘Fight of the Night' if not ‘Fight of the Year.' I'm gonna use a quote that I've used before: ‘If you've got two b---s swinging between your legs, tune in and watch this fight, cuz you ain't gonna be disappointed.'"
Charming, no?
It's talk like that that has garnered "The Count" a bit of a surly reputation. He spoke about how he's been received, particulary in "The States:"
"For me, it started out pretty good, and went downhill pretty fast (laughs). I do get booed, pretty much unanimously, everywhere I go, but I couldn't care less. My last fight, however, I got booed on the way in and cheered on the way out. So, who knows? Maybe I'm start to turn them around. But, ultimately, I don't give a damn. People don't like it. I'm English, I come over and I kick ass and go home! That said, I live here in America now, so it's changed a little bit. I love America. I love spending time here. I love the people. I love the country. I love the food. That said, I've got one American standing in font of me and I wanna kick his ass!"
The wrestling match for air time continued as Sonnen went on to continue hyping Saturday's card, going so far as to proclaim that his fight against Bisping is the real main event:
"Yeah, we've taken over the airwaves. No doubt about it. Two thousand hours is what we've committed to the FOX network stations for the next year. This is a big match coming up this weekend. Not just ours, but it's a tripleheader. We're the true main event. We're the ones that sold the tickets. We're the ones that are bringing the people in. But the fact of the matter is that there's a lot of good talent on this card, and ‘Chael Sonnen Promotions' in conjunction with Zuffa will bring you UFC on FOX 2, LIVE on Saturday night from the United Center. Eight in the east, five in the west, in case you failed to hear me the first time."
Ultimately, both fighters believe this will be no walk in the park. They both predict a war and both believe they themselves will emerge the victor.
Here's what Bisping had to say about the difficulty of the opponent standing in front of him:
"I'm under no illusion that this is gonna be easy. I'm gonna overcome adversity. I'm gonna be put in bad positions. I'm gonna be elbowed in the face, punched in the face, repeatedly. But as he said, I'm doing the same thing to him. We match up very well. We're similar size. I'm assuming we're gonna have similar strengths, overall. Chael is always in great condition. His endurance is always off the chart. So is mine. I'm known for that as well. This is gonna be a fast paced, high intensity match. I plan on being the victor and so does he. That's what makes it exciting. You've got two guys, very confident, high skill sets, that know how to fight. I almost wanna be a spectator myself. Unfortunately, I'm in the damn thing."
Sonnen agreed. He even complimented Bisping on his toughness and grit:
"If I could pay him a compliment, I'd say that his toughness is his greatest attribute. I would say the fact that he goes hard and doesn't back down the whole time is his strongest point.
I'm prepared for war. Michael just made a statement that he's gonna kick my ass, Saturday night. I don't really disagree with that. Where I would step in is to say, I'm gonna kick his ass even worse! This is going to be a fight amongst men. I plan to get my ass kicked but I plan to hand one right back."
Sounds like a plan!
Are you Maniacs fired up for this fight? Do you think Sonnen will be able to use his wrestling to smother Bisping to death? Or will "The Count" use his striking to grab the upper hand?
Comments are welcomed.
Posted in: fight, fox, bisping, sonnen, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Talks UFC on FOX 2, Chael Sonnen’s Belt, UFC.com Hack, Tainted Supplements, Nate Marquardt, More
Dana White sat down with the media following today’s UFC on FOX 2 pre-fight press conference to talk about all the hot topics in MMA. We’ve got a rundown of news and notes coming out of that Q&A session along with Ariel Helwani’s interview with Dana and some other notes from the press conference below.
— As you would expect, Chael Sonnen garnered most of the attention at today’s press conference with his fake UFC championship belt. While it’s hard to fathom that he actually believes it’s the real belt, he certainly played it off like it was.
“This is the world championship title of which I took from Anderson Silva,” Sonnen explained of the belt in front of him. “In this country, possession is nine-tenths of the law. Finders keepers, losers weepers, and if he wants it back, he knows where to find me.”
“I believe that I am the true champion,” Sonnen said. “This is the true UFC belt. This was Anderson Silva’s belt. I took his belt like a gangster in the night … If he wants his belt back, he can come and get it. But as far as I’m concerned, he’s as irrelevant as Mike Tyson. The only thing he hasn’t done is announce his retirement. He sound paint his face, gain a hundred pounds, sit in the third row and hope somebody remembers who they are because neither of those guys matter anymore.”
Dana of course had to chime in and set the record straight for anyone who didn’t know any better.
“Chael’s nuts,” White said. “He says all kinds of crazy things. He’s [claims he's] champion … Listen to me. Okay? Listen to me. He’s not the champion. He will fight Anderson Silva if he wins. He will not fight for the heavyweight championship or Jon Bones Jones.”
Some other choice quotes from Sonnen:
“You’re looking at the reflection of perfection. You’re looking at the man who gets all your attention. You’re looking at the man with the biggest arm. At the man, with the greatest charm, the man in Chicago who will do harm to the guy three doors down.”
“Whatcha gonna do, when you know who? Howya gonna deal, with the man of steel? How ya gonna react to Sonnen’s attack? Tune in on the 28th! 8 p.m. Eastern Time! You’ll find out who the real champion is.”
Michael Bisping tried to spark a litlle back-and-forth between him and Chael with this, but Sonnen never bit.
“He can keep his fake belt and shove it up his ass,” Bisping said. “He ain’t fighting Anderson Silva.”
— Sonnen and Bisping may not have got into it too much, but Rashad Evans and Phil Davis definitely did. They went at it several times, but this was the highlight.
“If I wrestled you in college, I guarantee I would have beaten you,” Evans said. “If you wrestled right now, I guarantee I’d beat you right now.”
“That’s interesting. … How many years were you an All-American?” Davis pondered.
“You used trash to win,” Evans shot back. “You could not win a world competition, man. You could not win on an international stage because you have trash technique.”
“Really? You are believing your own hype, my friend,” said Davis. “Who tells you these stories?”
“I watch the way you move,” said Evans. “You have trash technique.”
“What have you been watching?” an incredulous Davis asked.
Evans later capped it off with perhaps the funniest statement of the day, saying “Phil lookin’ like Arsenio Hall and John Salley had a baby.” Davis even laughed at that one, probably because it’s kinda true.
— Dana White finally commented on the UFC.com hacking from last weekend beyond the “I don’t give a sh*t” that he put out on Twitter. Staying true to himself, Dana basically challenged hackers to try it again.
Is SOPA the perfect bill? No, it’s not.
The only thing that we’re focused on is piracy. Piracy is stealing. You walk into a store and you steal a (freaking) gold watch, it’s the same as stealing a pay-per-view.
I don’t care what your twisted, demented idea of stealing is. These kids that grew upon the Internet have never had to pay for anything, so they think you shouldn’t have to.
Keep hacking our site. Do it again. Do it tonight.
You know what’s happening is? These guys look like terrorists now, and a bill that was about to die is about to come back. …
I’m not afraid of the Internet. I love the Internet. It’s fun to get on there and cruise around and stuff. I’m not afraid of you.
You want to keep hacking our site, go for it. Watch what happens. You’re hurting yourself.
Call me crazy, but taunting a community of anonymous hackers is probably not the smartest idea when you have people’s credit card information stored for online pay-per-views and merchandise. Just saying.
— Dana White confirmed again that Anthony Johnson is no longer with the UFC, but he at least left the door open for him to return if he can start acting like a professional.
“He needs to go fight somewhere else, get some wins, come in on weight,” White said of Johnson. “He needs to prove to me that he can be a professional, show up on weight and do the things he needs to do. If he does, we can talk.”
Interestingly enough, Dana did ease up on his stance on Nate Marquardt, saying “I don’t dislike Nate. I like Nate very much. We’ll see what happens.” Marquardt has not fought since Dana booted him out for screwing up the UFC on Versus 4 main event last year. Perhaps his next fight will be in the UFC after all.
— It sounds like Dana White is as sick of the tainted supplement excuse as everyone else. In response to a question about King Mo claiming his positive test was the result of a bad supplement, Dana says he doesn’t buy it.
“If you get caught doing something, admit you did it,” White said. “The whole ‘Somebody put something in my system that I didn’t know about?’ I mean, who here lets someone put s–t inside them that you don’t know what it is? If you go to the doctor and he gives you a pill, ‘Doc, what am I taking this for?’”
“I don’t buy that s–t,” White said. “Own up to what you did. Listen, it’s out there, it happens, and sometimes everybody makes mistakes.”
“I don’t buy it,” White said. “Anybody that’s ever said that they didn’t know what’s being put in their body is full of s–t.”
— Photos of the face-offs from the press conference below via Dana’s Twitter.
Posted in: ufc, belt, dana, sonnen, man
Read the full article at MMA ConvertYo, UFC raps: Chael Sonnen busts a few rhymes at the UFC on Fox 2 press conference
It's official: Chael Sonnen has jumped the shark.
Once considered outspoken and witty, the former UFC middleweight number one contender has now become a parody of himself, regurgitating the same tired pro wrestling shtick he employed since returning to the Octagon back in 2011.
And now he's rapping.
Sonnen hijacked the microphone on multiple occasions at the UFC on Fox 2 pre-fight press conference earlier today (Jan. 26, 2012), in an attempt to hype his Saturday night fight against fellow 185-pound hopeful Michael Bisping.
The rhymin' and stealin' begins after the jump.
"You're looking at the reflection of perfection, the one that gets all your attention.You're looking at the man with the biggest arms, the man with the greatest charm,And the man who came to Chicago to do a lot of harm to the guy three doors down."
"Maybe I can ask a question, maybe I can ask three of Michael Bisping,First, what are going to do when you know who?How are you gonna deal with the man of steel?And how will you react to Sonnen's attack?"
Gong!
The good news is there's only two days left before Sonnen and Bisping hook 'em up at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. After that, things should return to normal, at least for a little while.
Anyone suddenly find themselves rooting for Michael Bisping just to keep Sonnen out of the limelight?
See the freestylin' middleweight do his thang right here.
Posted in: ufc, michael bisping, sonnen, man, bisping hook
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC On Fox 2 Video: Complete Pre-Fight Press Conference
For today's press conference, UFC president Dana White was joined by eight fighters from the UFC on Fox 2 card which happens this Saturday in Chicago's United Center. The fighters on the call were Rashad Evans, Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Demian Maia, Chris Weidman, Mike Russow and Jon Olav Einemo.
Full video of the press conference is above and excerpts from MMA Nation's notes from the UFC on Fox 2 press conference are in the full entry.SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Dana White:
The winner of Bisping vs. Chael fights Anderson Silva over the summer.
Believes Chael Sonnen will definitely be safe if he fights in Brazil.
Even if Bisping wins, the fight against Silva will be in Brazil.
Rashad Evans:
"I don't have a lot against Phil, but I have to fight him, so for now I have a lot against him."
Vehement that Davis' wrestling has "trash technique."
"You've seen Phil. He can't hit. He punches with his hands open and he has no technique at all. Phil can't bust a grape."
Phil Davis:
"It's crazy what the kids do nowadays. I encourage imagination and it's good that he has that but no. He'll never beat me in wrestling, not thumb wrestling, not anything of the sort."
No animosity towards Rashad on his end.
Chael Sonnen:
"For those of you that can't see, this [belt] is the world title I took from Anderson Silva... In this country possession is nine-tenths of the law."
"It's my belt, I slept with this thing last night. You're looking at the man with the biggest arms and will do the biggest harm to the guy three doors down."
Took Anderson's belt "like a gangster in the night." If he wants it back, "he should come get it."
Michael Bisping:
"Let's be honest, I outbox (Sonnen) all day, every day."
"Of course, he's the best boxer. He's the Muhammed Ali, and I'm a guy from England, what chance do I have? I'm a good striker and he's just a wrestler."
"He can keep his fake belt and shove it up his a**."
Demian Maia:
Needs to be prepared to fight Weidman everywhere, not just on the ground.
Chris Weidman:
Not going to be 100% for Maia in ten days, so is just focusing on all the work he's done throughout his entire life.
"I have a lot of respect for his jiu-jitsu, it's amazing. But I've competed at Abu Dhabi against some of the best grapplers in the world, and I've done pretty well. I train with some of the best grapplers in the world."
Posted in: ufc, fight, press, sonnen, phil
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMiddleweight Sonnen says he's the champ
Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen brought his own championship belt to a UFC news conference Thursday.
Posted in: middleweight, sonnen, chael, championship belt, middleweight sonnen
Read the full article at sportsnet.caChael Sonnen: “It’s not about a title shot – it’s about the title.”
The winner of Chael Sonnen’s co-headlining collision with Michael Bisping this Saturday night at UFC on FOX 2 will earn a coveted crack at the UFC middleweight championship. However, as far as Sonnen is concerned it’s the same as any other fight he’s ever been in.
“I’m not after a title shot, and this is the big thing that separates me from everyone else,” explained Sonnen in an interview with the UFC’s website. “I’ve never asked for a title shot and it’s not about a title shot – it’s about the title.”
Sonnen Plans to do “A Lot of Physical Harm” to Bisping in Chicago
The 34-year old’s interest in the gold is not unlike his peers’ but where his opinion differs from most relates to the difference between the worth of a “title shot” in comparison to that of a champion’s legacy.
“For so many guys, they want that title shot and they sit and they argue and they go to the media and they politick for these opportunities, and I’ll fight my way through,” Sonnen continued. “And if somebody can beat me, then I don’t deserve it; if somebody can beat me, then they should go have it. I don’t need politics or the media or anything else to propel me. If my skills and my ability won’t do it, then I don’t want it. It’s not about the shot and these fake opportunities because you politicked your way through the system. I will punch my way through the system, and if it fails me, then I shouldn’t be there in the first place.”
As far as what belt he’ll actually be fighting for, though UFC President Dana White has been adamant in saying Sonnen will fight Anderson Silva a second time if he emerges victorious, the 26-11-1 grappler has been equally firm in his opinion that “The Spider” won’t face him in a rematch after narrowly escaping their original encounter with his title in tow.
“He can go off and do what he wants,” said Sonnen of Silva. “But he will be remembered the same way Mike Tyson is – as a phony. I had to grow up hearing Mike Tyson was the best fighter in the world when he was never – not for one day of his life – the best fighter in America. He never won a national title as a kid, he never made an Olympic team as an amateur, he could never beat Evander Holyfield, he never was the best fighter in America, but for 10 years they told us he was the world champ. It’s the same with Anderson. He’ll be remembered the same way. His pocketbook and his bank account will look really good, and he’ll be remembered as the wimp that he is.”
Before anything Sonnen will have to get by Bisping at this weekend’s epic event on FOX. The show starts at 8:00 PM EST with preliminary action on FX/Facebook in the hours preceding the main card clashes.
Tweet
Posted in: title shot, title, ’t, shot, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comUltimate Submissions: Chael Sonnen and Demian Maia share the spotlight at UFC on FOX 2
UFC on Fox 2 is set to air this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) live from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
On the fight card are two of the world's top middleweights: Chael Sonnen and Demian Maia. While they aren't facing off against each other, now is as good a time as any to take a look back at their UFC 95 tilt in February of 2009.
Along with what's changed since then. We’ve all heard it, and some of us have even said it: "Chael Sonnen has no submission defense." While this is certainly an exaggeration, it cannot be disputed that the majority of Chael’s losses have come via submission and that his submission defense is not exactly the best on the planet.
So when he was matched up against one of the world's most talented Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) blackbelts in Demian Maia, the writing was on the wall. As soon as Chael made a mistake, it would be over quicker than Kalib Starnes could backpedal the 100 meter dash. But would Maia be able to get Sonnen to the mat? After all, Sonnen is one of the best wrestlers in the sport, and Maia has no wrestling credentials to speak of.
Follow me after the jump to see how it all played out.
As mentioned earlier, Maia doesn’t have world-class wrestling credentials and this is highlighted in the Sonnen fight. Early in the first round, Maia shoots in from much too far away, without setting up the takedown at all and the overall level of technique shown in the single leg that he shoots with is not spectacular. Sonnen sprawls easily and begins to defend the takedown. This does not deter Demian however, and that is part of what makes Maia so effective, even against wrestlers. Lots of fighters, once having their takedown successfully stuffed by their opponent, would either keep driving forward, trying to complete the takedown and end up on top, or abandon the takedown and try to set a different one. Maia on the other hand, confident that he can finish the fight anywhere on the ground, uses his failed takedown to pull guard. Not many fighters in the world would be happy pulling guard on such an active top fighter like Sonnen, but Maia is not your average fighter and he does not have an average BJJ attack. After pulling guard, Maia has the fight where he wants it -- on the mat. Although Sonnen was able to stand up, Maia sent the message that he wasn't afraid of being on his back with Chael on top of him.Later in the fight, our two competitors are back on their feet. Maia rushes Sonnen with a flurry of punches, and Sonnen makes a classic mistake -- he backs straight up, not cutting an angle and finds his back against the cage. From here, Chael and Demian clinch up. Each fighter has one overhook and one underhook. Demian has his overhook on Sonnen's right side, and his underhook on Sonnen’s left side. Usually in this position, the highly decorated Greco-Roman wrestler would have a huge advantage.
Not this time. Maybe it was arrogance on Chael’s part, thinking Maia couldn’t take him down from the clinch that allowed Maia to throw Sonnen like this. Maybe it was the element of surprise playing in Maia’s favor. Maybe Maia drilled this particular takedown over and over again in preparation for this fight. Whatever the case may be, Maia executes a beautiful Greco-throw. Using his right arm, which is the arm he has the underhook with, Maia pulls Chael off balance, making Chael take a step forward with his left foot. Maia is ready, immediately blocking Sonnen’s left leg with his right foot. Demian then throws Chael over his right shoulder, planting the Greco-Roman wrestler firmly on his back, and landing the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu wizard not only in mount, but in the beginnings of a mounted triangle choke.
Note that as the fighters land, Maia’s right leg is over the top of Chael's left arm. This is the first step in Maia beginning to isolate Chael’s right arm for the triangle choke. Maia then slides his left leg up high, pinning Sonnen’s right arm up close to his own neck. Pulling up on his opponents head allows Maia to limit Sonnen’s mobility and also prepares the triangle choke to be locked in.
This is where Sonnen makes the mistake that costs him the fight.
He rotates his legs, gaining momentum to try and buck-and-roll himself into top position and eventually (in his mind), safety. That's the opposite of what happens. Sonnen should have looked to try and get his left arm back, out from under Maia’s leg, thus preventing the triangle choke. Instead, Sonnen goes from a bad position, to a worse position. As he rolls Demian over onto his back, Sonnen does not posture up, does not pull his head or his left arm out from Demian’s legs. This makes it almost too easy for Maia to slide his left knee over his right foot, completely locking in the triangle and spelling disaster for Sonnen.
This is in no way a discredit to Maia’s Jiu-Jitsu skills. Notice how once they hit the ground, Demian is immediately working his triangle. Notice how very smoothly Maia locks up the choke when Chael rolls him. Demian certainly did not leave a lot of room for Sonnen to escape.
The combination of Sonnen's submission defense being rather lacking and Maia's submission offense being among the best in the world led to one of the most beautiful submissions ever executed in the UFC.
Sonnen went 4-1 in his next five fights, losing to Anderson Silva by submission at UFC 117. Maia went 5-2 and has failed to secure a submission win in any of those five victories.
Next on the agenda for Maia is Chris Weidman, another very decorated wrestler, but with more than competent submission skills. Will he find a way to submit Chris Weidman the way he did Chael Sonnen? And will Sonnen be able to avoid a similar fate against Michael Bisping?
Voice your opinions in the comments section below, Maniacs!
Posted in: submission, sonnen, chael, maia, demian
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Comments on Fighter Pay, PRIDE, Brock Lesnar's retirement and Anderson Silva
I sat in on a short Q&A chat Chael had this morning. Here is it if anyone's interested: 11:03 Comment From Allan Why do you say that Anderson Silva will never fight again? Is it only a hunch or do you have some hot info? 11:04 Chael Sonnen: I think he may fight plenty of people, but I don't think he won't fight me. Our business is done. I want to focus on guys who will sign contracts and get onto the topics of people who will fight me. So I am letting people know, we will not fight again. 11:04 Comment From Jeff Chael, what would be your first order of business if you were elected President of Brazil? 11:05 Chael Sonnen: I'm not an aficianado on that country or culture. But they have a guy down there who has a PHD in charisma. They have the number five economy in the world. We could probably take some lessons from their president. 11:05 Comment From Jeff What was Big Nog's reaction when the bus wouldn't eat the carrot? 11:05 Chael Sonnen: I think he was just confused. You never know. He may have thought it was a llama or a goat. It was a weird thing. 11:06 Comment From Tiberiu Rusu When walking out to the octagon at UFC 136, do you remember what you were saying to yourself? Your lips were moving. 11:06 Chael Sonnen: Yes, I do. But I'm not sharing it. 11:06 Comment From Tiberiu Rusu How did you choose 'Too Much Fun' as your entrance song? Any special meaning? 11:07 Chael Sonnen: It does. It dates back to college. I enjoyed the song and I always thought to myself, when I'm in the UFC someday, this is the song I'm going to walk out to. And I actually told my friend that when we were kids. He laughed because he thought I would never get in the UFC. 11:07 Comment From Niall how much do you walk around at before cutting weight? 217? of muscle steel and sex appeal? 11:07 Chael Sonnen: 217 pounds of muscle, steel and sex appeal. Yes. 11:07 Comment From Brett What advice would Chael give a young amateur fighter or a fighter at the start of his professional career? 11:07 Chael Sonnen: Get a coach that you trust and respect. Show up every single day. 11:07 Comment From David Rodriguez Have you seen Anderson Silva singing in the Burger King commercia? If yes what are you thoughts? 11:08 Chael Sonnen: Yes I have. I thought he did a pretty good job. 11:08 Comment From mike-nava chael , will we ever see you in the wwe? 11:08 Chael Sonnen: Every time they come to Portland, I try to check out the show. But the last time I went, the tickets they gave me were up in the nosebleeds. Draw your own conclusions. My ego was affected that they invited me and sat me way up there. Why would you invite me if I can't see the show? 11:09 Comment From domenic who do you think truly built this business ? and how do you feel about the Gracie family and their contribution to the sport? 11:09 Chael Sonnen: The Gracie Family truly built the business of MMA. Anyone who starts a discussion about that doesn't know the fact. It's off limits. They are MMA royalty. 11:09 Comment From Davy Chael, how do u come up with the name Danger waffles for ur dog? its classic 11:12 Chael Sonnen: The dog is very small. He was supposed to get to 12 pounds. It turned out to be a con woman who fibbed about his weight. When I got him he was 4.2 pounds. That's what a girl weighs. I was embarrassed to have it. His little legs couldn't even climb up the stairs to go to bed at night. So I instantly named him Danger. And the next morning he jumped up on the table because he didn't know that table food was not for him. And when I came back to the kitchen, my waffle was gone. So I gave him the last name Waffles. 11:12 Comment From mike-nava if i walked the mean street of west linn oregon with my sonnen shirt, am i safe? 11:12 Chael Sonnen: 100%. 11:12 Comment From Dirty Dan Hey Chael...Fellow Eagle Here...Lorenzo talked about fighter incentives during his ESPN interview...Being a guy who promotes fights better than anyone else, and since you've fought in other organizations what's your stance on how fighters are being paid in the UFC? 11:14 Chael Sonnen: It's sure been nice seeing the numbers rise as they have. My first fight was in 2005 and was headlined by a bum named Andrei Arlovski, who was the heavyweight champ. That's the biggest prize in the industry. And his pay that night was $9k to show and $9 to win. And they told us that night that they wanted to pay us more, and that as soon as they could, they would. They just couldn't at the time. But the very second they started to grow, they made good on their word, and everybody's numbers went up. I get that everyone wants more. I do too. But you have to have an appreciation for the honest they have and the generosity they have. If this sport was like amateur wrestling, where you have to pay, I would still pay my entry fee and fight Michael Bisping on Saturday night. 11:14 Comment From SprUtch Do you really believe PRIDE was fake, and if so: do you think every fight was? 11:15 Chael Sonnen: I know that it was fake, without question. But not all of it. That was the briliance of PRIDE. They slipped in the fake stuff with the real stuff. 11:15 Comment From Adam Any thoughts on the retirement of Brock Lesnar? 11:16 Chael Sonnen: I am disappointed, but I am happy for him. He brings a presence and an excitement that is very rare. All he had to do was be him, to show up. He just has a presence. I was bummed. He was good for the industry and the company. But at the same time, I get it. If you can't fight, you need to not be in the fight business. 11:16 Comment From Erik Franklin Do you think the Bug (Anderson) will show up Saturday in Chicago and if so do you plan to address him once again, upon winning your bout? 11:18 Chael Sonnen: No and no. I don't think he's going to be here. I would imagine that would have slipped out and they would have used it as a marketing tool for the 2 or 3 fans he may have. I am just trying to get that guys name out of my mouth. I saved his career when they were going to release him. He's never repaid it and he's never done anything for me. It's better for me to move on and to find some competitors who will actually compete against me. The quicker I can get his name out of my mouth, the better off I will be. submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: fight, business, show, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen: “I came to Chicago to do Michael Bisping a lot of physical harm.”
Whether due to genuine respect for one another or the lack of time involved, typically outspoken middleweights Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen opted to focus on refining their skills in the gym than practicing any jabs of the verbal variety. However, with only a few days remaining before Sonnen battles Bisping in co-headlining action at UFC on FOX 2 it appears their newfound free time has prompted them to start taking shots at one another.
Of course, ask Sonnen and he’s likely to deny any sort of wrongdoing in the matter as only he can. The 34-year old recently discussed his bout with Bisping in an interview with the UFC where, as expected, Sonnen’s silver-tongue was on display.
“I hate terms like ‘hype’ and ‘trash-talk’ because I don’t do that,” Sonnen dead-panned. “I never say anything I don’t mean and I’m not going to insult a guy I have no problem with. But, that said, Bisping is a jerk and I’m going to finish him faster than he can devour a Bovril and meatpie.”
“I am the best fighter in the world,” Sonnen continued. “He thinks he can beat me, I think I can beat him and we are going to see who is right in the only debating forum that matters – the UFC Octagon.”
Sonnen also made it clear his purpose this weekend has nothing to do with making Bisping look bad in the media or even earn a title-shot, saying, “I came to Chicago to do Michael Bisping a lot of physical harm. I don’t come here to ‘talk trash’ because that’s not something I do.”
What Sonnen does do, at least more often than not, is win. Tune in to see if he’s able to meet his own expectations when he and Bisping battle on FOX with the main card broadcast starting at 8:00 PM EST on Saturday.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, i ’m, bisping, michael bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen Brings Title Belt to UFC on FOX 2 Press Conference
Filed under: UFC, NewsAlthough the UFC (as well as the rest of the world) recognizes Anderson Silva as the world middleweight champion, that's not stopping contender Chael Sonnen from walking around with his own replica belt.
A day after wearing the belt over his shoulder for an ESPN2 interview, Sonnen brought the belt to Thursday's UFC on FOX 2 press conference for everyone to take a closer look at the W Chicago City Center in Chicago.
"This is the world championship title of which I took from Anderson Silva," Sonnen explained of the belt in front of him. "In this country, possession is nine-tenths of the law. Finders keepers, losers weepers, and if he wants it back, he knows where to find me."
More: UFC on FOX 2 Fight Card | UFC on FOX 2 Results
If Sonnen wants the real title, he'll have to beat Michael Bisping on Saturday to earn a title shot against Silva. To make matters confusing, Sonnen for the past month-and-a-half has insisted a rematch with Silva will not happen, claiming he's done chasing after a rematch with Silva. Instead, Sonnen said he would cash in his No. 1 contender voucher against a champion in another weight class.
On Thursday, White cleared up the situation, reiterating that the winner of Sonnen-Bisping will take on Silva for the belt in the summer.
"Chael's nuts," White said. "He says all kinds of crazy things. He's [claims he's] champion ... Listen to me. Okay? Listen to me. He's not the champion. He will fight Anderson Silva if he wins. He will not fight for the heavyweight championship or Jon Bones Jones."
Interestingly, Sonnen has strayed from trashing Bisping or previous opponent Mark Munoz leading up to UFC on FOX 2, instead sticking to cutting generic pro wrestling promos about emerging victorious on Saturday. It's clear as focused as Sonnen is on Bisping, there's still business to be settled between himself and Silva.
"I believe that I am the true champion," Sonnen said. "This is the true UFC belt. This was Anderson Silva's belt. I took his belt like a gangster in the night ... If he wants his belt back, he can come and get it. But as far as I'm concerned, he's as irrelevant as Mike Tyson. The only thing he hasn't done is announce his retirement. He sound paint his face, gain a hundred pounds, sit in the third row and hope somebody remembers who they are because neither of those guys matter anymore." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, belt, silva, champion, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBisping: Anderson Silva is the UFC Middleweight Champ, not Chael Sonnen
Twenty-four hours after Chael Sonnen confused the casual MMA audience by appearing for an interview with a UFC belt on his shoulder, his UFC on FOX 2 opponent, Michael "The Count" Bisping, cleared the air by declaring that Anderson Silva is still the UFC Middleweight champion. Still, Bisping refused to look past Chael Sonnen, once again declaring that he will leave everything inside the Octagon on Saturday night.
Further Reading: A War of Words: Sonnen vs. Bisping
Posted in: ufc, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, count bisping
Read the full article at Low KickAll shtick aside, UFC on FOX 2's Chael Sonnen honored by network-TV slot
CHICAGO - Give Chael Sonnen a mic - as reporters recently did at UFC on FOX 2 open workouts - and you get a dizzying and boastful monologue from one of MMA's biggest talkers.
There are outrageous claims, numerous insults and excessive self-congratulatory proclamations.
Listen long enough, though, and you get some honest and sincere thoughts - though even they sometimes are accompanied by shtick.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, selfcongratulatory proclamations, shtick
Read the full article at MMA JunkieUFC on FOX 2 Pre-Fight Interviews: Evans, Davis, Sonnen, Bisping, Maia, More
MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani caught up with Rashad Evans, Phil Davis, Chael Sonnen, Michael Bisping, Demian Maia, Mike Russow, Jon-Olav Einemo and Joey Beltran to talk about their upcoming fights this Saturday at UFC on FOX 2.
Posted in: fox, bisping, sonnen, maia, joey beltran
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen - Creature of Habit
In mixed martial arts, variety is often the spice of life. But not to Chael Sonnen, the middleweight contender who has never strayed from his native Oregon and the gifts that familiarity breeds, even after enduring the struggle to get them.“It’s one of the bigger challenges of this sport – the monotony,” he said. “The same drive, the same gym, the same smells, the same sounds, the same awful track playing in the CD player, the same voices, the same drills. It’s very monotonous, and it’s very difficult mentally, aside from the physical work. I’m always looking for some way to add a little excitement back to it, or to freshen things up, but I don’t have the answer for that. I’m stuck more in the rat race end of it.”Surviving that rat race has paid off though, if you consider that Sonnen has won four of his last five UFC bouts, came within 1:50 of winning the middleweight title, and in the process established himself as one of the mixed martial arts’ most compelling stars. So don’t expect him to be switching up from his familiar haunts at Team Quest anytime soon.“I don’t do well on the road, I don’t do well away from home,” he said. “I’m not ever gonna leave. I was born in West Linn, Oregon, I will die in West Linn, Oregon, and I don’t like to go far. I eat here, sleep here, train here, I don’t like to have to go anywhere, and that’s okay, I’m not complaining about it. There is something to be said for doing the same thing over and over each day with the same people in the same place, and you can’t get around it.”And while it’s Sonnen’s outlandish quotes that are the ones lighting up Twitter and message boards around the sporting world in the last couple years, when it comes to his craft, Sonnen is at his best, revealing the parts of the game few prizefighters will, simply because it would make them appear to be less than supermen. Sonnen has never subscribed to that notion, readily admitting that when all is said and done, a fist fight with another well-trained athlete isn’t the ideal night out many of his peers make it out to be. But the 34-year old has never shied away from that walk to the Octagon, even when the situation is less than ideal.“Those are mental skills that I’ve worked on and I’m not gonna share the secret to success because a lot of people do struggle with it, and those athletes can find their own journey,” he said. “But it’s just part of it. The event’s going to take place whether we want to do it or not, whether we feel good or not, whether we’re happy or sad – the event is going to happen. So the question is, how are you going to deal with it when it does?”Since his return to the UFC in 2009, Sonnen has dealt with his second lease on life in the Octagon with wins and brutal honesty, a deadly combination that is also a highly marketable one. But while it’s the soundbites that have made him a star, it’s his fights that have made him arguably the best 185-pound fighter in the world not named Anderson Silva. And should he defeat Michael Bisping this Saturday night in the UFC on FOX co-main event in Chicago, he will get another shot at the champion later this year. Yet Sonnen isn’t concerned with the shot, per se.“I’m not after a title shot, and this is the big thing that separates me from everyone else,” he explains. “I’ve never asked for a title shot and it’s not about a title shot – it’s about the title. And for so many guys, they want that title shot and they sit and they argue and they go to the media and they politick for these opportunities, and I’ll fight my way through. And if somebody can beat me, then I don’t deserve it; if somebody can beat me, then they should go have it. I don’t need politics or the media or anything else to propel me. If my skills and my ability won’t do it, then I don’t want it. It’s not about the shot and these fake opportunities because you politicked your way through the system. I will punch my way through the system, and if it fails me, then I shouldn’t be there in the first place.”So evening the score with Silva isn’t an issue?“That rematch is never gonna happen,” said Sonnen. “Don’t get caught up in that. Anderson and I will never cross paths again.”And Sonnen is okay with that?“Yeah, that’s the way it goes.”But even if he won the title, would never getting another shot at Silva eat at him?“I imagine it will, but such is life. You pack up and you move on.”You guessed it, the Gangster from West Linn is just getting warmed up.“The title’s the goal, not Anderson,” Sonnen continues. “He can go off and do what he wants. But he will be remembered the same way Mike Tyson is – as a phony. I had to grow up hearing Mike Tyson was the best fighter in the world when he was never – not for one day of his life – the best fighter in America. He never won a national title as a kid, he never made an Olympic team as an amateur, he could never beat Evander Holyfield, he never was the best fighter in America, but for 10 years they told us he was the world champ. It’s the same with Anderson. He’ll be remembered the same way. His pocketbook and his bank account will look really good, and he’ll be remembered as the wimp that he is.”Needless to say, Sonnen’s venom for “The Spider” is still strong, and maybe he’s just laying the promotional groundwork for a rematch that would likely shatter attendance and Pay-Per-View records. But first there’s the business of Bisping, the Brit who isn’t about to let his own opportunity for a shot at Silva fade away without a fight. And Sonnen knows this, so he’s taken his foot off the smack talk pedal a bit leading up to this one, instead showing a grudging respect for the skills of “The Count.”“These guys are all so tough,” said Sonnen. “They really are. I look at Bisping’s skills and I don’t know that it’s tickling me with a feather, but I look at Bisping’s record, and I go ‘damn, the one thing that guy knows how to do is win.’ And Bisping’s been in a lot of big fights, he’s headlined shows, sold out arenas, and he’s a winner. First and foremost, he wins matches, so it’s not like they dealt to me from the bottom of the deck here – this guy’s a good fighter, his name’s been in title contention, and I’m a supporter for the most part. A lot of people don’t think Bisping’s ready for title shots and big fights, and I’m sitting on my couch going, well, he’s beating everybody they’re putting in front of him. I don’t think we can badmouth him with a straight face for too much longer.”Whether Bisping is a tougher fight for Sonnen than the man he replaced - the injured Mark Munoz - remains to be seen, but the veteran from Oregon is well aware that whether they talk smack or play nice, when Saturday night comes, they have to fight. “He’s coming after me, I’m coming after him. That’s all the motivation you need.”It’s simple. It’s direct. It’s Chael Sonnen, creature of habit.
Posted in: fight, title, ’t, shot, sonnen
Read the full article at UFCBisping's Count-Down Begins
The moment Michael Bisping dispatched his coaching rival on season 14 of The Ultimate Fighter, Jason Miller, via third round TKO last December, it should have signaled the end of a long year that included two fights, two training camps, the taping and promotion of the show, and a move from his native Manchester, England to Southern California.In other words, Bisping earned himself a break for the holidays. Yet less than a week after his win over Miller, “The Count” was getting a call from UFC President Dana White, asking him if he was interested in opening up the company’s second FOX card in Chicago against Demian Maia on January 28th. Bisping jumped on the opportunity.“This is what I do,” he said. “I’m a fighter, this is how I make my money, and I like to be active. Doing The Ultimate Fighter was ten months off and that’s far too long for me. I don’t like to do that. I put a little weight on in between the Jorge Rivera fight (at UFC 127 in February of 2011) and the Miller fight because of The Ultimate Fighter, so I lost the weight, I was back in shape, I had a good performance (against Miller) and no injuries, and of course, when Dana White comes to you and asks you to fight on FOX, who am I to say no? That’s the man right there, and if that’s what he wants, that what he gets.”Bisping’s acceptance of the bout was just another example of the Brit’s fighting spirit, something that occasionally gets lost in the midst of his trash talking with prospective foes. And let’s face it, taking on a short notice fight immediately after a previous one is always a less than ideal situation. Doing it when you’re in Bisping’s position, which is within shouting distance of a world middleweight title shot against Anderson Silva is even riskier. But the 32-year old didn’t flinch.“Obviously there’s always a risk,” he said. “But if I’m gonna go out and be champion, I need to be able to beat these guys. If I can’t beat them, sitting on the sideline and twiddling my thumbs certainly isn’t gonna help me beat them. This is what I do, and let’s see what happens. If I beat him, great; if I don’t, then I don’t deserve the title shot, simple as that.”There would be more twists and turns to this story though, as January 17th saw fellow contender Mark Munoz forced out of his co-main event bout with Chael Sonnen on the same card in Chicago. Bisping then got another call from White. Did he want to step up again, this time to face Sonnen for a shot at the middleweight crown? Again, the answer was yes, and while some late-notice fighters have that shell-shocked sound to their voice in the moments after getting the news, Bisping sounded ecstatic last week, and he made sure to get in the first verbal jabs on the always quotable Sonnen.“There’s no doubt about it, he’s a tough opponent, has great wrestling, and he’s a grinder,” said Bisping of the former middleweight title challenger. “But he’s got no submission defense, and Chael Sonnen’s best weapon is his mouth, and that’s something that’s going to be absolutely useless in this fight. I see a very bright future for Chael Sonnen as a used car salesman very soon.”For fight fans and the media, the Bisping-Sonnen matchup is gold, not only in the Octagon, but outside it as well, and while the two have fired off some zingers at each other in the last few days, there is an obvious mutual respect between the two. You would think such a situation would favor Sonnen and not Bisping, since “The Count” has insisted in the past that he fights better when angry, but whether Sonnen unleashes a torrent of smack talk at him or not, Bisping is prepared for battle.“The fact that I’m winning, the fact that I’m a natural competitor, the fact that I’ll lose almost half of my fight purse if I lose, the fact that if I beat him it gets me a title shot, that’s all the motivation I need,” said Bisping, who brings a four fight winning streak into the fight. “The fact that he may or may not be calling me names doesn’t really come into it. I have my goals that I want to achieve. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always nice and it always spices it up a little bit when they talk a little s**t, but I don’t need it.”“And all trash talk aside, he’s going to be a very difficult match,” he continues. “The title shot is right there, and it’s there for the taking. All I’ve got to do is reach out and take it. But to do that, I’ve got to beat Chael Sonnen. I’ve had a week’s notice, it’s not perfect, but I am who I am, and I’m a fighter. Dana called me, offered me the opportunity, and I took it straight away. I may have only got a week’s notice, but there’s a lifetime’s worth of preparation coming into this.”That may be the key. After all the sacrifices, the fights, the training, the media tours, and the ups and the downs, this is what Bisping has been fighting for. Now he just has to get past one 15 minute hurdle on Saturday and he will be that much closer to his goal. It’s almost as fate has intervened, because he’s gone from what promised to be a peaceful Christmas with his family to a major fight on national television that could very well change his life. Sounds like all the dominoes have lined up at the perfect time.“Dana said I win this fight, I’m fighting for the title in a soccer stadium in the summer,” said Bisping. “It’s all there. The dominoes are lined up, and I’m gonna knock them down. Easier said than done, but if anyone can do it, I can.”
Posted in: fight, ’t, i ’m, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at UFCUFC on Fox 2: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Fight Video Preview
Outspoken middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will meet in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 this Saturday (Jan. 28) in Chicago with the next shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva on the line.
Watch the UFC on Fox 2 video preview for Sonnen vs. Bisping below and stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2.
Posted in: ufc, fox, michael bisping, sonnen, comain event
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC Quick Quote: Michael Bisping apologized to Demian Maia for taking Chael Sonnen fight
"I was disappointed to hear my fight with Bisping was off, but am happy to still be on the card on FOX. I’m ready to turn a negative into a positive, to control the part I can control, which is winning. A win over Bisping would have put me back in the world title picture, but Weidman is a dangerous young fighter and he knows a win over me put him in a great position. Bisping actually apologized to me for taking the Sonnen fight, but I completely understand. I appreciated him saying that, but this is what we do and the sport we are in. Now I can’t think about Bisping. I have to think about Chris Weidman. I don’t know if it is possible for Weidman to be 100% fit after taking the fight at such short notice. I’m not sure, but I have to go in thinking with the mindset that he is 100 percent. He is very dangerous, and I guess that I would rather fight him now than after he gets even better and more experienced. For sure, he will be very motivated. I am not going to lose at this stage though; I have worked too hard and expect a submission after a tough fight."
-- Demian Maia, the odd man out when Mark Munoz recently went down with an elbow injury, reveals that Michael Bisping actually apologized to him for accepting a fight with Chael Sonnen and the opportunity to perhaps compete for a middleweight world title with a win at UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis." Maia and Bisping were originally booked to battle inside the Octagon at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., this weekend (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012); however, when the "Filipino Wrecking Machine" had to withdraw at the last minute from his more meaningful co main event fight against Sonnen, the promotion plugged in "The Count" to fill the void. It's likely that Bisping didn't have much of a choice either way -- sure, switching opponents one week out from fight night is less than ideal (for everyone), but the potential positive outcome helps him achieve his career goal quicker, earning a fight against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Despite the fight card switch, Maia seems to be taking it all in stride, even indicating that he'd prefer to fight a rather inexperienced Chris Weidman now than a more complete mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter later on down the road. Is Maia's bad luck destined to continue or will he have what it takes to take out the "All American" in the "Windy City" this Saturday night?
Posted in: fight, bisping, michael bisping, sonnen, maia
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSonnen's showmanship is a big sell for the UFC (Yahoo! Sports)
Chael Sonnen is talking a big game ahead of UFC on Fox 2 – but there's a method to his madness.
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, chael, there, sonnens showmanship
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsShort Pants and a Mouthpiece: The Chael Sonnen UFC on Fox Open Workout Story
Chael Sonnen is positively, undeniably every bit of character that you think he is, but at the same time in person he makes eye contact, shakes your hand with a gentle sincerity you wouldn't expect out of a gangster from West Linn, Oregon and responds with sir and ma'am. In another universe Chael has a ring in his nose and he's led like a bull into political gatherings where he imposes his will onto those weaker than him, just like so many of his opponents inside a fighting cage. But in this timeline and outside of his fighting area of choice, he handles himself like shark in a nondescript suit...if that suit were a rashguard and short pants. There is something behind those eyes of Chael Sonnen that is working on a different level and we are lucky to witness it. Whatever it is.
Today I attended the UFC on Fox 2 open workouts. I was so inspired by Chael and his level 99 speech skill that I made this video out of his massive media scrum. This is Chael Sonnen's UFC on Fox 2 State of the Union and the story of his open workout.
Posted in: ufc, workout, today i, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen Does Interview With UFC Fake Belt, Calls Kenny Rice A Liar
Heading into his UFC on Fox 2 bout with Michael Bisping, Chael Sonnen is in his usual fine form. In a pair of video interviews he conducted to promote the show he went above and beyond with the antics.
First up, on his bizarre Highly Questionable appearance with host Dan LeBatard where he not only claimed to be the UFC middleweight champion but also appeared wearing a fake UFC belt he acquired somewhere. This isn't the first time Sonnen has claimed to be the UFC champ.
Then he follows that completely deranged performance with an interview with MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani in which he goes off on Mark Cuban, HDNet, Inside MMA and especially Inside MMA co-host Kenny Rice. Sonnen's complaint about Rice? Simple, Sonnen says he's a liar.
That's pretty rich coming from a man who had to give up his real estate license and plead guilty to a federal felony for his role in a kickback scheme, who claims to be the UFC champ and whose bald-faced lies before the California State Athletic Commission were so egregious that he can't even get a license to fight in Nevada.
Both interviews are after the jump, enjoy.
Posted in: ufc, interview, sonnen, ufc champ, liar thats
Read the full article at Bloody Elbow‘Undefeated, Undisputed’ Chael Sonnen Now Conducting Interviews With Fake Belt
Well this is worth a good laugh. Chael Sonnen appeared on Dan LeBatard’s ESPN show Highly Questionable today with none other than a fake UFC championship belt and called himself the “undefeated and undisputed UFC middleweight champion.” We’ve heard him say it a million times before but never with a UFC belt on his shoulder. Funny stuff.
HT: MMA Mania
Posted in: ufc, belt, sonnen, chael, ufc belt
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen claims he's undefeated, conducts recent interview with fake UFC championship belt
"Highly Questionable."
That's the name of the show hosted by Dan LeBatard. It's also a good way to describe Chael Sonnen's sanity, as he trots around town with a UFC championship belt he didn't earn. Still, that hasn't stopped him from keeping LeBatard in stitches during their recent video interview in advance of Sonnen's UFC on Fox 2 fight against Michael Bisping.
The winner is expected to face Anderson Silva for the real title later this year.
This isn't the first time that Sonnen has claimed he was the true division champion, but this may be the first time we've seen him produce some actual hardware.
See video of him baffling his interviewer, after the jump.
See Sonnen defend his "belt" at UFC on Fox 2 this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. More on that fight here.
Posted in: ufc, belt, division champion, sonnen, video interview
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen purchased a fake UFC belt and he's rocking it around town, seriously
Chael Sonnen just soccer-kicked your reality and left it on the ground bleeding helplessly. We now have verifiable proof that Chael Sonnen is indeed the UFC middleweight champion. The guy even has the belt to prove it. We can't argue with that. The strap is glistening in the sun like some golden shrine built to a deity that gets paid to smash lesser humans' heads in. We're not sure what Anderson Silva has sitting on his fireplace mantle -- but Sonnen's belt is obviously a tangible item. Hopefully we'll see a title unification bout if Chael Sonnen can get past Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX -- but in the meantime you should probably check out this Dan Lebatard interview in which he brings his UFC championship belt on set.
Posted in: ufc, belt, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasyOfficial Bisping vs. Sonnen preview
submitted by alphahouse44 [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: vs, bisping, sonnen, official, alphahouse
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen on DLHQ 1/25
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mattyblayze, chael, dlhq
Read the full article at RedditLefko on UFC's Sonnen: Put up or shut up
There will never be a better time for Chael Sonnen to move forward in his career and his life than now.
Posted in: life, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, ufcs sonnen
Read the full article at sportsnet.caDemian Maia Thinks You Only Need Two Brain Cells To Know Chael Sonnen Is Joking
Demian Maia is no stranger to Chael Sonnen, having submitted him in just over 2:30 when they met at UFC 95. Being Brazilian also makes Maia a target in Sonnen's trademark anti-Brazil rants.
So one might think that Maia would not be Sonnen's biggest fan. But in a recent article on SporTV, Maia was actually extremely complimentary when discussing Chael and their interactions (translation by Tom Mendes):
We have talked a few times. I think he's very intelligent, he knows what to say. I think he sometimes pushes the envelope, but he's good in attracting the media to himself. He's a very tough fighter, and deserves to fight for the title. I have nothing against him, and it's obvious that you don't need more than two brain cells to see that he's joking. I told him that he should become a comedian. There's a lot of passion in the sport, and there are people that don't like him. He has his style, he's more conservative, different than myself. But I think Sonnen is a very intelligent guy.
So I guess we can count Maia among the group that "gets it" when it comes to the Sonnen act.
Sonnen faces Michael Bisping at Saturday's UFC on Fox 2 card while Maia will compete on the same card against Chris Weidman.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: sonnen, maia, demian maia, he, brain cells
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping fight video preview for UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28 in Chicago
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) invades the United Center in Chicago, Ill., this Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, with its UFC on FOX 2: "Evans vs. Davis" event scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET start time.
That means sometime around roughly 8:45 p.m. or so we can expect to see the co-main event of the evening, which is a middleweight title eliminator featuring the always controversial Chael Sonnen taking on British bad boy Michael Bisping.
Seeing as we're talking about two veritable heels squaring off against each other, "The Count" knows there are quite a few folks hoping to see them both kissing canvas. He's ready to disappoint y'all.
"A lot of people are wishing for a double knockout in this one but that ain't going to happen. There's only going to be one person knocked out and that's Chael Sonnen."
Sonnen keeps it simple:
"I'm going to take these (fists), I'm going to walk across the ring, and I'm going to hit him with them repeatedly. If he hits me more times with his fists, he'll win, if I hit him more, I'll win."
We're just a few days away, Maniacs. Who ya' got advancing on to a fight against Anderson Silva for the 185-pound strap?
For all the latest news and notes on UFC on FOX 2 click here.
Posted in: ufc, fox, sonnen, chael, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaRashad Evans: Michael Bisping is a tricky scrapper, but Chael Sonnen will maul him
Take it from Rashad Evans, who knows a thing or two about The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 3 champion, having eeked out a split decision over the Brit at UFC 78 way back in 2007.
Fast-forward to 2012.
Evans will join the former light heavyweight on the upcoming UFC on Fox 2 card this Saturday night (Jan. 28) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, battling Phil Davis for a chance to face off against Jon Jones for the division strap later this year.
So, what's the scouting report for Michael Bisping vs. Chael Sonnen?
After the jump, "Suga" breaks it all down for Bleacher Report:
"Bisping is a scrapper, man, and that's one thing people don't really realize. You can't watch a Bisping tape and get a true appreciation for just how good he really is until you're in there. And by then, it's usually too late. He's very tricky and he's a lot better than what he looks. You underestimate him because he doesn't look strong but he's surprisingly pretty strong. For me, I think the pressure Chael Sonnen brings is hard to match with his offense, takedowns, ground and pound, hand in the face and dropping elbows and shots. It kind of wears down a fighter. And, if he does that to Bisping too much, I think he'll be able to maul him."
Bisping (22-3) is on a four-fight winning streak within the division, including a recent beatdown of fellow TUF 14 coach Jason Miller just last month.
"The Count" is widely-considered one of the top contenders at 185-pounds. Aside from his impressive record, he's one of the few middleweights left on the roster who hasn't already been disposed of by Silva.
That includes Sonnen (26-11-1), who was submitted by "The Spider" at UFC 117 back in August 2010.
Still, the ex-Realtor does have a legitimate claim to a rematch based on the four-and-a-half round ass-whooping he fed the Brazilian prior to getting stuck inside a triangle choke. Can he defeat the British banger and reclaim what he believes is rightfully his?
According to Evans, he can.
See what other people are saying about this fight by clicking here.
Posted in: light heavyweight, bisping, sonnen, evan, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 Fight Week Kicks Off in South Side Chicago Boxing Gym
Filed under: UFCCHICAGO -- The UFC arrived in town Wednesday, settling down in the south side of the city inside a hearty, no-frills boxing gym to kick off the UFC on FOX 2 fight week festivities leading up to Saturday's event at the United Center.
Gathering inside a muggy room with two boxing rings inside the Chicago Boxing Club gym, Rashad Evans, Phil Davis and the main attractions took turns working out for the media.
The main event on Saturday features two lively personalities in Evans and Davis and much has been made of their willingness to embrace in pre-fight verbal sparring sessions. However, three days removed from their light heavyweight tilt, the two appeared to be in a different mind frame. Perhaps they were saving their material for Thursday's official press conference or the two were simply eager to fight. But gone from the former champion Evans' demeanor on Wednesday was his energetic playfulness prominent at last month's press conference that landed him in hot water.
Instead, Evans completed his shadowboxing and padwork without a hint of a smile. Evans turned on a friendly attitude once he began speaking to the press but even then the Chicago resident was mostly soft-spoken.
Davis, a slight underdog heading into the fight, presented himself as a confident competitor and sounded as self-assured as ever. The unbeaten 27-year-old spoke about benefiting from his lengthy layoff by having greatly improved in his MMA fundamentals.
"He might have outstruck me a year ago," Davis said. "I don't know if that's going to happen on Saturday."
Evans acknowledged the likelihood of seeing an improved Davis, but insisted he already understands the basics of Davis' movement and cadence inside the cage.
Former middleweight title challenger Chael Sonnen chose to handle the media interviews prior to working out, welcoming a discussion with reporters on everything from his fight against Michael Bisping to his political stance to possibly voting for Brian Stann as a write-in candidate.
Sonnen shrugged off the challenges of having initially prepared for Mark Munoz, stating he doesn't believe in things such as a "gameplan" anyway. And contrary to what the UFC is saying, Sonnen also reiterated his belief that a rematch against champion Anderson Silva won't materialize even if Sonnen emerges victorious Saturday.
"The title shot is not going to happen, I'm all for the marketing, I'll get behind it as much as the UFC wants to, but that's not going to happen." Sonnen said. "I'd rather go to Brazil, maybe Vitor [Belfort] or somebody else .... But Silva is not getting in there with me."
The strength of British middleweight contender Bisping lies in his effective boxing and he spent his entire workout with his hands. Bisping worked basic punching combos mixed with slips while trainer Tiki Ghosn held mitts.
Judging from their workouts, the wrestling-centric Chris Weidman and jiu-jitsu specialist Demian Maia are anticipating a ground war. Weidman practiced a variety fundamental wrestling takedowns -- single-legs, double-legs, trips, ankle picks, etc. with training parter and Strikeforce fighter Gian Villante. The 2007 ADCC grapplng champion Maia was the rare fighter to incorporate jiu-jitsu into his workout for the press.
Embracing this grand opportunity, Weidman was in such positive spirits that you wouldn't have guessed he's in the process of a difficult weight cut. His camp admits the one-week notice has been challenging on their preparations but assures Weidman will be on target come Friday's weigh-in.
Following the workouts, former WEC champ Miguel Torres and UFC on FOX 2 competitor Mike Russow spoke with teens about the importance of staying focused and avoiding the temptations of drugs and alcohol. After the brief talk, Torres guided the teens through boxing drills. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, boxing, sonnen, evan, davi
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen walks around with a replica UFC belt, says Anderson Silva is a fraud
In just a few days Chael Sonnen will face Michael Bisping in the co-main event of Saturday’s UFC on FOX 2 fight card. As with most UFC cards, the days before the event are full of media responsibilities, today Sonnen appeared on Dan Le Batard’s show, “Dan Le Batard is…Highly Questionable.”
When Sonnen appeared on camera one thing became immediately clear, he had taken his claim that he is the UFC Middleweight Champion to another level, as he had a UFC belt hanging over his
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, ufc belt, ufc cards
Read the full article at Low KickUFC plays it safe with 'Evans vs Davis' event on FOX and it could produce disastrous results
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will make its second venture into the network television waters this coming Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, when it brings the UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis" event to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
It's a pay-per-view caliber fight card featuring two different match-ups that could determine the next challengers to the middleweight and light heavyweight championships. If that sounds like a good thing, that's because it is, but the match-ups themselves could result in three of the least aesthetically pleasing fights possible.
When the UFC dipped its toes in to test the waters with FOX last November, it did so with a heavyweight championship fight that all but guaranteed a knockout. Sure enough, 64 seconds into the bout, Junior dos Santos floored Cain Velasquez with a looping punch to win the title and send the fans home happy.
When the ratings came in, the fight was deemed a smashing success, having garnered a peak of 8.8 million viewers for the short but sweet contest. Obviously, that gives hope for something to build on.
However, UFC President Dana White was quick to tell folks that he was dealing with a lot of heat behind the scenes and we, both the media and fans, are not privy to the kind of pressure his organization is put under from various sources. Perhaps that played a big part in the "play it safe" mentality when it came to booking the next FOX card.
Let's take a brief look at the three match-ups on tap for Saturday that feature big names but are likely going to be duds inside the cage.
205 lbs.: Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
A solid match-up featuring two guys who have shown no aversion to trash talking each other to help hype the fight. But they've also both made no bones about the fact that wrestling is going to play a big part in the eventual outcome. Evans boasts knockout power in his hands that is to be respected, enough so that we could very well be looking at 25 minutes of Davis shooting for takedowns and because Rashad has serviceable takedown defense, they could end up stalling each other out up against the fence while the Chicago crowd showers them with boos. Not exactly a good look for live TV and not something that will maintain viewership. When you factor in Davis best route to victory is to get Evans to the floor, and Rashad isn't exactly a jiu-jitsu wizard, this one has potential snoozefest written all over it. If Evans wins he earns a title shot, sure, but if he does it in a fight everyone hates, will anyone want to see his championship chase? Will the casuals convert to pay-per-view buyers because of it?
185 lbs.: Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
This fight isn't much different than the main event. Bisping has hands that have best been described by his peers as "pillow fists." That's because he's not knocking anyone out with them and Sonnen isn't the kind of fighter who takes frequent trips to Queer Street anyway. Chael, meanwhile, has made his name by simply dragging opponents to the mat and outworking them from top position on his way to decision victories. Sure, he's got submissions in his arsenal, as he showed against Brian Stann, but those are few and far between. Bisping is better off his back and should cancel any threat of that type of attack. The blueprint here seems to be Sonnen taking the Brit down and "The Count" hunting for submissions. It's likely going to look that way for all three rounds, too. Or Sonnen gets a takedown and Bisping manages to get back up (which he's very good at doing) and they simply repeat that process. Unless Bisping finds a submission or Sonnen's ground and pound actually scores a knockout (as if), this should serve as the worst possible appetizer to the main event to come.
185 lbs.: Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
Despite these two having the least amount of name value, they have the biggest potential to deliver the most fireworks. Maia is a jiu-jitsu wizard who creates sweet poetry when he works his craft on the mat against what always seems to be helpless opponents. Weidman is the furthest thing from that, as he provides quite the foil for Maia's vaunted grappling. So what's the problem here? Well, even if they get into a glorified jiu-jitsu match and trade submission attempts on the mat, how likely is the casual crowd tuning in on FOX to be enamored with it? Sure, the educated portion of the fanbase will have a gay old time but folks tuning in hoping to see some free FIGHTS -- you know, where two guys stand and trade punches until someone gets knocked out -- will be terribly disappointed. And believe me, there are far more of those fans that exist than anyone cares to admit.
This is a fascinating card for many reasons, but the biggest of which is that UFC decided to play it so safe with the matchmaking, offering three separate fights between foes who could all cancel out the strengths of the other. It's entirely possible -- likely, even -- that all three bouts go to decision. One on the one hand, that means casual fans will be exposed to all aspects of MMA but on the other it means they may very well come to learn terms like "lay-n-pray."
No one wants that.
Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen could earn title shots against Jon Jones and Anderson Silva, respectively, by winning their fights this Saturday night. It's just unfortunate they may very well do so in the most mundane, spiritless way possible.
Now who wants to tell me why I'm full of crap?
Posted in: ufc, fight, fox, sonnen, evan
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Bisping Finally Turns Up The Heat On Chael Sonnen
If you’ve been disappointed with the complete lack of heat between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping, then fear not, because Bisping just hit Sonnen with a verbal low blow on Inside MMA last night.
Let’s start with the obvious. He’s not the middleweight champion. He’s been beaten many, many times. He’s been submitted more times than I care to mention. Not to mention, the last time he lost a fight by submission, there were some issues involving performance enhancing drugs. I don’t know what the deal is. Apparently, he has one testicle. One testicle! This is why he uses performance enhancing drugs. He’s gonna need more than one little ball to fight me next weekend!
Nice, Bisping, the true trash-talking professional that he is, just took a shot at Sonnen’s terrible submission defense, his history with PED’s and his hypergonadism all in one concise little paragraph. Let’s all hope Uncle Chael comes up with a good response, because all this “Bisping supporter” stuff he’s been spouting is boring me to tears.
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, i care
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC On Fox 2: Chael Sonnen's Coach 'Bisping Breaks Easily'
In another universe, at UFC on Fox 2, Chael Sonnen will still be fighting his original opponent, Mark Munoz. Fortunately, we live in the best universe where Chael Sonnen instead fights Michael Bisping. The UFC planned for the two controversial fighters to be the coaches for the fourteenth season of the Ultimate Fighter, but Chael's issues with the California commission and Keith Kizer's personal vendetta prevented that plan from coming to fruition.
Jonathan Snowden, the lead MMA writer on Bleacher Report, had the opportunity to speak with not only Sonnen but also his coaches to find out how the gangster from West Linn, Oregon is handling the change in opponent.
"We were actually kind of happy. We weren't really concerned at all. In a way, we thought this wasn't that much different than the Brian Stann fight," Sonnen's head coach Scott McQuary said. "Except Stann hits a hell of a lot harder...Bisping breaks easily. I think he's mentally weak. Watch how he fought Dan Henderson. I think he was totally intimidated. And I think he's going to be intimidated by Chael too...Chael is such a hard worker and he has such a fast past. Bisping is much more lackadaisical."
Emphasis mine. Judging from Scott McQuary's response, the Sonnen camp doesn't have much respect for Michael Bisping's skills. They know that Chael is a dominant wrestler who should be able to get takedown after takedown. They also know that while Bisping is a competent grappler, there is no real danger of being submitted by the Brit. Snowden did attempt to get an answer out of Sonnen but received little insight into his mindset with Sonnen playing dumb whenever asked about the fight.
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping square off this weekend for a shot at Anderson Silva's belt. That title fight is rumored to happen in Sao Paulo this summer at the Estadio do Morumbi, which will hold around 70,000 people. It should be added that Sonnen has said on record that he doesn't believe that Silva will accept the fight.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: fight, coach, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC On FOX 2: Main Card Breakdown
This weekend will return to the FOX channel for the second time, but with their first full show. And again they are coming with highly relevant and exciting bouts. The first show of the UFC's television contract with FOX features two Middlweight bouts and a Light Heavyweight fight with serious title implications. Honestly, if these are the kind of cards we can expect from future FOX cards, I am truly excited as an MMA fan right now.
Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
Rashad Evans has been the number contender for as long as can be seen as relevant. He earned his shot at Shogun's title back at UFC 114. An unfortunate series of events has kept him from finally gaining his second chance to fight for the championship. Once again, Rashad is in the position to fight for the title he lost to Lyoto Machida at UFC 98. However, this is no gimme fight for Rashad. Phil Davis will come with a significant height, reach, and lat advantage. On top of that, Davis is a highly credentialed wrestler, who could really negate the takedown advantage Evans brings in to many of his fights. On the other hand, Davis will likely be hindered by his limited striking game. If Rashad can use his elite level changes to outstrike Davis, it could end in either a quick finish or dominant victory. But, if Rashad tried to employ the strategy he used against Quinton Jackson and Thiago Silva, Davis's wrestling pedigree may be enough to earn himself the upset.
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
This match has had a disappointingly low amount of trash talk. Seriously, we're looking at the UFC's most historically abrasive fighter's showing absolutely nothing but mutual respect for each other. The biggest problem with this is that the actual is like to turn into a very one-sided affair. Bisping has proven to be a tough challenge for other MMA wrestlers like Rashad Evans and Matt Hamill, but Sonnen is a different kind of fighter from either. Chael pursues takedowns with a relentlessness that is simply unparalleled. His records shows that Sonnen is very vulnerable to the triangle choke. His propensity to remain in his opponents guard, regardless of their grappling talent, is the leading cause of this. Yet, I still can't find myself predicting anything but a decision victory for Chael Sonnen here.
Demian Maia vs. Chris Weidman
There is absolutely no way not to be excited about this match up. Granted it is a huge leap in competition for Chris Weidman, but we're talking about two highly accredited grapplers facing off in a fight that could showcase the challenger to follow the winner of Bisping/Sonnen. In many cases, grappler vs. grappler has turned into an ugly kickboxing fight. But in this case, I doubt that will happen. Throughout his UFC career Weidman has used his wrestling to impose his well on his opponents until he either finds a way to finish or earns a decision. And Demian Maia is not someone who minds being taken down, as one of top submission grapplers in MMA today. Yet, Maia should know an easy submission shouldn't be forthcoming since Weidman took even Marcel Galvao to a decision at the ADCC's.
Posted in: ufc, fight, rashad, sonnen, davi
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendMichael Bisping: Chael Sonnen used PEDs because he has one testicle
UFC Middleweight contender Michael "The Count" Bisping finally started the long-anticipated trash talking duel with Chael Sonnen, jokingly (or not) revealing that the self-proclaimed People's Champion has one testicle. According to Bisping, this is exactly why Sonnen had to use Performance-Enhancing Drugs, which cost him a year-long layoff after the memorable UFC 117 encounter with Anderson Silva.
Bisping continued to add that he will be looking to KO Chael Sonnen on January 28th. The winner of UFC on FOX
Posted in: ufc, bisping, sonnen, chael, count bisping
Read the full article at Low KickCheck out this footage of Michael Bisping training for Chael Sonnen
Let's not forget that Chael Sonnen is the one that coined the term 'Spitsbing' after Michael Bisping spit in the corner of Jorge Rivera at UFC 127. Apparently this was Sonnen's form of retaliation after Michael Bisping questioned his sexuality after he loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117. The beef between the two is far from fabricated. It's been marinating for years now, and this Saturday all previous smack-talking, gender questioning, ego thieving, moniker coining, tweet bombing, email intercepting, sock stealing and verbal daggering will come to an end at UFC on FOX in Chicago, Illinois. Check out this Fight Shop footage of Michael Bisping preparing for the first title contender bout of his entire career -- by working on his stand-up to face a very dominant wrestler. Hmph.
Posted in: michael, bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael Sonnen's trainer: Bisping breaks easily, he's mentally weak
UFC Middleweight competitors Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will face off at Chicago’s United Center on Saturday night when the promotion presents UFC on FOX 2. In a somewhat unexpected turn, Sonnen has mostly taken the high road in the days leading up to this event, not engaging in a great deal of the trash talk that has almost become expected of Sonnen.
While Sonnen has not engaged in a war of words with Bisping, members of his camp have picked up the gauntlet, namely Sonnen’s trainer Scott
Posted in: saturday night, bisping, michael bisping, sonnen, bisping members
Read the full article at Low KickThink Michael Bisping Isn't Ready for a Title Shot? He Begs to Differ
Filed under: UFCMichael Bisping hadn't yet gotten his heart rate down and his breathing back to normal following his TKO win over Jason "Mayhem" Miller and already UFC president Dana White was in his face, trying to talk him into another fight.
"[White] asked me immediately after the fight, 'Do you want to fight on the FOX card on January 28?'" said Bisping. "I thought, fighting on FOX right now is a bigger deal than anything else. You can't get any higher than that."
He also thought, up until last week, that he'd be fighting jiu-jitsu specialist Demian Maia, and that he might have at least one more fight after that before he'd have a realistic chance at a title shot. Now, thanks to an injury to Mark Munoz, all that has changed. The question is, has it changed for the better or the worse?
Judging by the stakes of the fight alone, you'd have to say that Bisping's lot has improved significantly. Before the switcheroo on the UFC on FOX 2 card, he was fully prepared to wait in line behind the winner of the Chael Sonnen-Munoz fight in order to get a crack at UFC gold. He was also prepared to take another fight in the meantime, he said, since more fights mean more paychecks.
"I want a title, but also I want to keep fighting because I want to earn money," he explained. "That's why I do this, first and foremost. I do this for money. [People say], 'I do this to challenge myself,' and all this other crap; that's bulls--t. I do this for money. I do this to give my family a certain lifestyle. And yes, I want to be champion, I want to be the best. That's the next thing. But ultimately I want to put money in the bank and provide for my children's future, and that's how I do it is fighting. I'm not going to do it sitting around waiting for a title shot."
As it turned out, all he had to do was wait around for a phone call. While eating lunch following a training session last week, he said, he got a call from White, who explained that Munoz was out and he could be in -- if he wanted to be.
"He said if I win I'm fighting Anderson Silva in a soccer stadium in Brazil in the summer. It's too big of an opportunity to turn down. I've trained my whole life for this moment, so of course, I didn't hesitate."
But if you believe oddsmakers, Bisping now finds himself in a much tougher fight. Most bookmakers favor Sonnen in the fight by a nearly 5-1 margin, making Bisping by far the heaviest underdog on the network TV portion of the card. The fight against Maia seemed difficult, though certainly winnable. The fight against Sonnen, at least according to most experts, is a real longshot for the British middleweight.
Part of that, it seems, is a problem of perception. To many fight fans -- and even to Sonnen, if you can ever take what he says at face value -- Bisping is a fighter who wins, but who has yet to prove himself against opponents who matter.
"He certainly hasn't beaten anybody that's any good, rankings-wise," Sonnen explained when I spoke to him last week.
In other words, he just doesn't seem like a legitimate title challenger to many outside observers, and so they have a hard time imagining him in the same cage with someone like Anderson Silva. But according to Bisping, that's where perception doesn't line up with reality.
"I've been in the UFC since 2006," he said. "That's six years, and I've been consistently facing the best opponents out there. If you look at my record, it's a who's who of mixed martial arts, to be honest, and I've done very well."
Take, for instance, his current four-fight win streak, which includes victories over Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and "Mayhem" Miller. Maybe it's not a path of fire through number one contenders, but it is a list of solid wins against guys who matter. Perhaps more importantly, look at his losses.
As Bisping is quick to point out: "I've only ever been stopped once in my career, and I've got two very, very debatable decision [losses]."
Detractors would point out that he also has at least one debatable decision win over Matt Hamill, but it's still a point worth considering. These days there's no shame in getting knocked out by the likes of Dan Henderson, and there's no reason for a middleweight contender to feel bad about a split decision against former UFC light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans, either.
It's enough to make you wonder, is Bisping better than he gets credit for from American fans? Just because some people can't imagine him beating a superior wrestler like Sonnen and coming face to face with Silva in a soccer stadium, does that actually mean anything?
"Chael Sonnen had his shot," said Bisping. "He blew it. Who else is there?"
If he can find away to prove the oddsmakers and the critics wrong and get his hand raised in Chicago on Saturday night, he'll have his answer. So will fight fans everywhere, whether they like it or not. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, bisping, sonnen, ive, that
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseThe Blueprint - Sonnen vs. Bisping
Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping are two of the best trash talkers in the sport. Sonnen is more of the comedic type. You know, the guy who has a gift with words and uses that gift to get inside another man’s head, even if there is no real animosity there. Or is there? That’s the beauty of his brand of smack talk – it keeps you guessing.Bisping is more of the venom-laden type, who talks from a place of anger. He comes across like he really believes what he is saying. Bisping is the kind of guy whose words pick a fight—a very real fight.It is an awful shame that this is a late-notice bout, because the fans missed out on weeks upon weeks of A-list banter in the media. It could have been an epic buildup, a verbal sparring session for the ages. It should still be a great fight. Not quite the same circus, but a great fight nonetheless.Let’s get right to the point. This matchup has Chael Sonnen written all over it. Bisping is a great fighter. I think he could pose tremendous matchup problems for Sonnen, if he fully prepared to fight a dominant wrestler. But Bisping spent 90% of his camp preparing to face Demian Maia, a guy with ethereal submissions but limited wrestling. Sonnen is a completely different beast.Sonnen is an apex wrestler. His skills were good enough to twice earn Division I All-American honors at the University of Oregon and a spot as an alternate on the U.S. Olympic team for the Sydney Games in 2000. This guy is completely comfortable in his wrestling skin, too. He doesn’t try to come out and prove anything on the feet. His sole purpose for standing strikes is to close the distance for takedowns, whether Greco or freestyle. And he is almost always successful in executing them.Bisping is a marginal wrestler, but he has excellent takedown defense, both in terms of a quick sprawl and great balance against the fence. Yet, that defense has to be a bit rusty because there is no way that he brought in top level wrestlers to prepare for Maia. The same thing holds true for his prior camp leading up to the Jason Miller fight. Thus, one must assume that Sonnen, who undoubtedly worked hard on sharpening his takedowns for his original opponent, Mark Munoz, will be successful getting this bout to the ground.Normally, that wouldn’t necessarily be the end of the analysis because Sonnen has always been questionable in the submission defense department when facing high-level BJJ practitioners. In fact, all four of his UFC losses came via submission. Bisping isn’t going to be confused for Maia or Paulo Filho on the ground any time soon, but he has a vastly underrated ground game.The problem, once again, is that I can guarantee that Bisping hasn’t been practicing his offensive BJJ game very much for this or his previous fight. It is pure insanity to think that “The Count” prepared for either Miller or Maia by sharpening his transition jiu-jitsu. He wanted to avoid the ground against those guys at all costs. Any material time spent on his back against either of them was a guaranteed submission loss.Is the picture starting to clarify?Sonnen-Bisping would likely be a very different fight if the Englishman had his normal two to three months to prepare. I’m not suggesting that this bout is a cake walk for Sonnen. Anyone who believes that hasn’t watched Bisping compete over the years. The advantage he enjoys on the feet is every bit as wide as the margin that Sonnen enjoys on the ground.Bisping defeats Sonnen in a kickboxing bout 100 out of 100 times. Sonnen’s marginal standup, as mentioned, is solely designed to close the distance for a takedown. He possesses neither the technique nor the power to give Bisping any concern whatsoever on the feet.Bisping is very skilled at fighting behind and active jab, with a stick-and-move mentality, while circling to his left. In my opinion, that is his single biggest key to victory. The good news is Bisping is the most effective when he is doing just that, despite the fact that it was his major mistake in his first knockout loss. In that fight, he was facing a guy with a dynamite-filled right hand, so circling to his left meant that he was walking right into the weapon he so desperately wanted to avoid. Sonnen isn’t Dan Henderson. He doesn’t have much in the way of a right hand, so Bisping shouldn’t worry about walking into a nuclear bomb while jabbing and circling to his left. Circling will make it difficult for Sonnen to square up to his foe and either shoot for a takedown or lockup a clinch.Keep in mind that sticking and moving doesn’t mean pitty-pat strikes. Bisping throws most of his shots, including his jab, with conviction. That is obvious by his 75% knockout ratio in his UFC wins. Nevertheless, he is not a come-forward-at-all-costs predator with a granite chin and bazookas for fists, ala a prime Chuck Liddell. He needs to set up his strikes with angles and chip away at his opponent until he is hurt enough that Bisping can throw caution to the wind and open up full throttle.I guess that is a long way of saying that if the fight remains on the feet, Bisping will be the one leaving with his hand raised in what everyone should view as an upset win. If Sonnen is successful scoring multiple takedowns, then he will leave with the expected victory. QUICK FACTSChael Sonnen• 34 years old• 6’1, 185 lbs• 74-inch reach• 27-11-1 overall • 4-1 in his last 5• 7-3 in his last 10• 80% of UFC wins by decision• 20% of UFC wins by submission• Has never scored a KO/TKO in the UFC• All 4 UFC losses have come by submission• Fight of the Night -- UD3 over Nate Marquardt at UFC 109, LSub5 to Anderson Silva at UFC 117• Current layoff is 112 days • Longest layoff of career is 427 daysMichael Bisping• 32 years old• 6’2, 185 lbs• 75.5-inch reach• 23-3 overall• 4-1 in last 5• 8-2 in last 10• 75% of UFC wins by KO/TKO • 25% of his wins by decision • Has never submitted someone in the UFC• Winner of Season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter (light heavyweight)• Fight of the Night – UD3 over Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 120; TKO2 over Denis Kang at UFC 105; TKO2 over Elvis Sinosic at UFC 70• Current layoff is 56 days• Longest layoff of career is 279 days
Posted in: ufc, bisping, sonnen, •nbspnbsp, nbspnbsp
Read the full article at UFCMichael Bisping: 'Chael Sonnen uses PED's because he only has one testicle'
It was only a matter of time before the trash talk got ugly.
Strongly opinionated middleweights Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping will square off on Sat., Jan. 28, 2012 at UFC on FOX 2 at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., to see who will earn the right to be the next to fight current 185-pound champion Anderson Silva for his world title.
Both Sonnen and Bisping are not exactly known for being mild-mannered, but surprisingly, the talk has been fairly tame in the build-up.
In fact, just days ago, Sonnen went on ESPN Radio and made the following comments about his upcoming opponent:
"You know, I think Bisping does a lot of stuff really well. The biggest problem he's got is that he just drew the ‘Ace of Spades.' I'm not just another fighter on the roster or a middleweight. I'm the middleweight champion; undefeated and undisputed. I can beat any man God ever made. Michael Bisping does not survive."
Tonight (Jan. 23, 2012), Bisping was a guest on HDNet's "Inside MMA." Here was his response to Sonnen's brash overtures:
"Okay. One. Let's start with the obvious. He's not the middleweight champion. He's been beaten many, many times. He's been submitted more times than I care to mention. Not to mention, the last time he lost a fight by submission, there were some issues involving performance enhancing drugs. I don't know what the deal is. Apparently, he has one testicle. One testicle! This is why he uses performance enhancing drugs. He's gonna need more than one little ball to fight me next weekend!"
Oh no, he didn't! For more on Sonnen and his suspension for using illegal Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs), for what he described was required for Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), click here.
After dealing Sonnen somewhat of a "low blow," Bisping went on to give a synopsis of how he feels their co main event fight will go down:
"He's gonna try and take me down, lay on top of me and smother me to death. Me, on the other hand, I will be arriving to fight this guy. I'm gonna look to knock him out. Of course. I call my fights. It's not gonna be easy. He's a tough opponent. I'm sure it's gonna be an amazing fight. All joking aside, it's gonna be a tough fight."
Stylistically, the match up changed a good deal when "The Count" filled in as a last second replacement for the injured Mark Munoz. The fight was originally slated to showcase a battle between two dominant wrestlers.
Bisping is aware of the wrestling skills that Sonnen possesses and that he is at a distinct disadvantage in that department. However, he's not concerned, because of what he believes is a great ability to get out of bad positions.
His reasoning:
"He's gonna try and take me down, lay on top of me and smother me to death. Me, on the other hand, I will be arriving to fight this guy. I'm gonna look to knock him out. Of course. I call my fights. It's not gonna be easy. He's a tough opponent. I'm sure it's gonna be an amazing fight. All joking aside, it's gonna be a tough fight."
In his closing comments, Bisping acknowledged the gravity of his fight against Sonnen and that he's grateful for the opportunity:
"It's gonna be a tough fight, but I'm ready. I've trained very, very hard. I'm looking forward to the challenge and it's a massive opportunity as well."
Was Bisping out of line with his comments or is it just part of the promotional apparatus? Which one of these big mouthed middleweights are you picking to win at UFC on FOX 2 on Saturday night?
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, bisping, sonnen, he, im
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen thinks claiming God has anything to do with an MMA performance is silly
Here's proof that God doesn't like lipstick. If women apply lipstick to attract the opposite sex and it's effective, wouldn't females evolve to naturally have multi-colored lips? Think about it, and come back tomorrow with a five-paragraph essay on the topic. I won't read it, but I will criticize your writing technique and make fun of you behind your behind. Basically, it'll be like reliving your high school advanced-placement reading class.
You won't hear Chael Sonnen profess his gratitude for God in his next post-fight speech. Ben Fowlkes from MMAFighting caught up with the pseudo-middleweight champion and discovered that he believes claiming God has influence over an MMA fight is just ridiculous.
"You know, these guys want to talk about God. 'Oh, I want to thank God. I want to thank God.' Listen, I'm a God-fearing man, go to church every Sunday and have since I was a boy. But if I ever found out that God cared one way or another about a borderline illegal fist-fight on Saturday night, I would be so greatly disappointed that it would make rethink my entire belief system."
Perhaps in our next MiddleEasy contest, we'll invite all of you to suggest a new belief system for Chael Sonnen. Bonus points will be awarded if you can provide a valid point as to why Chael Sonnen should be considered a shaman.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, god, belief system
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC on FOX 2 fight card: Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping preview
The number one contender position for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 185-pound title is within the grasp of two of the promotion's mouthiest middleweights this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) as former title challenger Chael Sonnen takes on Britain's last hope, Michael Bisping, in the co-main event of UFC on FOX 2 in Chicago, Illinois.
Sonnen called out UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva after thoroughly manhandling fellow top contender Brian Stann this past October, but it was to no avail as the champ has been sidelined with a shoulder injury. He's tried every trick in the book to get Silva to accept a fight, but "The Spider" will have no choice but to fight him if Sonnen can pound "The Count" on national television this Saturday night.
Bisping has perennially been at the top of the middleweight division although his competition level has left something to be desired. He's come up short before against Dan Henderson with a potential title shot on the line, but he's back after four straight wins in the division and no one can complain about strength of schedule if he can defeat Sonnen, the consensus number two ranked middleweight in the world.
Will Sonnen be able to power double Bisping into kingdom come? Can the upset-minded Brit pull off a miracle against the heavily favored American? How does each man secure a victory on Saturday night?
Let's find out:
Chael Sonnen
Record: 26-11-1 overall, 4-4 in the UFCKey Wins: Yushin Okami (UFC 104), Brian Stann (UFC 136), Marquardt (UFC 109)Key Losses: Anderson Silva (UFC 117), Demian Maia (UFC 95)
How he got here: Oh boy, Chael Sonnen has had a long and storied history in mixed martial arts. He was an All-American at Oregon, was a national champion in Greco Roman wrestling and was an Olympic alternate. He didn't take the easy road into MMA either as his first professional fight was against Jason Miller where he ground out a decision with his wrestling.
The story of Sonnen's entire career has been his ability to use his wrestling to defeat opponents while coming up short occasionally to tough submission fighters. Jeremy Horn famously beat him on three separate occasions, twice by submission and once from a cut. Sonnen also fell short to the likes of Forrest Griffin and Renato Sobral in his pre-UFC days.
After dropping a tough loss to Paulo Filho for the WEC middleweight title, Sonnen rebounded to hand Bryan Baker his first career loss and then beat Filho in a rematch, although the champion had failed to make weight (and also saw invisible people).
Sonnen lost his first fight in the UFC to Demian Maia via, you guessed it, submission in the first round but he bounced back strongly with solid victories over top contenders Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt to earn a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. In his title fight against "The Spider," Sonnen refused to back down and was minutes away from a dominant decision victory before Silva wrapped him up in a triangle choke and forced the tap.
The Oregonian tested positive for testosterone after the fight and dealt with suspension and other issues for a full year before finally getting a crack at Brian Stann at UFC 136. The mouthy ex-realtor stepped up and destroyed Stann, overpowering him with wrestling and actually scoring his first stoppage victory in the UFC with a second round arm triangle choke.
After an injury to Mark Munoz, Sonnen is slated to battle Bisping for a title shot.
How he gets it done: Chael Sonnen has a terrific ability of being aggressive with his striking because he knows his opponents are very concerned about the takedown. He's been able to outstrike just about everyone he's fought because of this. If his opponents get flustered and try to open up, he puts the fear into the back of their minds by diving in with his wrestling.
Sonnen has a terrific double leg, single leg and high crotch takedowns. He clearly possesses some of the best MMA wrestling on the planet and he throws a ton of strikes once he has his opponent on the ground. They may not be heavily damaging blows, but they accumulate and Sonnen never gets tired.
He will push the pace of this fight, pressing Michael Bisping in the striking, clinch and especially on the ground. If Bisping gets a little too antsy in the stand-up and starts tagging him, Sonnen always has that terrific shot in his back pocket. Being able to control where the fight takes place is incredibly vital.
While Bisping likely won't be "rocking" Sonnen with his punches, the American wants to get in deep, bury his head in "The Count's" chest and blast him into the canvas. That's the best way to neutralize someone's stand-up game and he knows it.
Michael Bisping
Record: 22-3 overall, 11-3 in the UFCKey Wins: Chris Leben (UFC 89), Yoshihiro Akiyama (UFC 120), Jason Miller (The Ultimate Fighter Finale 14)Key Losses: Dan Henderson (UFC 100), Wanderlei Silva (UFC 110), Rashad Evans (UFC 78)
How he got here: Michael Bisping entered season three of The Ultimate Fighter with a spotless 10-0 record and having been a Cage Warriors star in his native England. He dominated the competition and, despite being an undersized light heavyweight, won his first four fights in the UFC.
His momentum was finally halted when he dropped a decision to Rashad Evans, and he decided to make the cut to middleweight immediately afterwards. Bisping won his first three fights at 185 as well and was potentially in line for a title shot against Anderson Silva, but first he had to coach season nine of The Ultimate Fighter against Dan Henderson.
Bisping faced Henderson at UFC 100 and was infamously knocked out in one of the greatest knockouts in MMA history. "The Count" rallied against Dennis Kang at UFC 105 in his native England, but once again, he'd have his momentum halted by another Pride legend, this time Wanderlei Silva who was dropping down to 185 for the first time.
Since that loss, Bisping has won three straight, although his last performance against Jorge Rivera was full of controversy with a blatant illegal knee and the spitting incident afterwards. The Brit decided to coach another season of The Ultimate Fighter in his downtime and didn't do himself any favors with the fans by pretty much acting like a jerk for much of the season. When he finally got an opportunity to put his hands on "Mayhem," Bisping took full advantage, crushing his gassed opponent over the course of three rounds and eventually scoring a mercy stoppage after Miller refused to fight back from the relentless torrent of punches "The Count" was dropping on him.
Bisping was originally slated to take on Demian Maia at this event, but an injury to Mark Munoz granted him the opportunity to fight Chael Sonnen for number one contender. He eagerly accepted the bout.
How he gets it done: Bisping has developed a style which plays into his skill-set very well in the last couple years. He doesn't have a ton of power in his strikes, but he's very good at getting in, landing blows and getting out.
While Sonnen is more than a competent striker, judging by the fact he was able to hang with Anderson Silva, Bisping can't be intimidated. He needs to employ his "hit and run" attack early and often, scoring as many points with the judges that he can.
Footwork will be key for Bisping as well. He needs to dart in, do his damage and dart out before Sonnen can get his hands on him. "The Count" has some pretty solid takedown defense and his ground game is vastly superior to most of his countrymen, so as long as he doesn't do anything crazy and come in throwing haymakers, he should be able to defend against most of Sonnen's attacks.
If taken down, expect to see some of Bisping's underrated ground game. Chael Sonnen is one of the best wrestlers in all of MMA, but Bisping hasn't been held down and controlled for a long duration by anyone thus far in his career, not even when he was at light heavyweight. Expect to see Bisping working constantly to get back to his feet and while we haven't seen much of a submission game, if Sonnen leaves his neck exposed at any point, "The Count" will surely go for it.
Fight X-Factor: The biggest X-Factor for this fight is pretty obvious, it's Michael Bisping's takedown defense and ability to get back to his feet. Chael Sonnen has been ferocious ever since his loss to Demian Maia. He's been power doubling every opponent he's faced from Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt and Brian Stann to Anderson Silva of all people. He's been nearly unstoppable in that department. Is Bisping really going to be the guy to be the one to halt his wrestling attack?
Also, is Bisping actually a better striker than Sonnen? With his constant threat of the takedown, Sonnen has been able to outstrike every opponent he's faced at middleweight, even Anderson Silva. If he's got no fear of Bisping's power, he might just be willing to stand and trade with him, beating him up on the feet. Bisping is going to have to be at the absolute top of his game in all areas.
Lastly, the final factor is, how will the change in opponent affect both men? Chael Sonnen was preparing to fight a wrestler who was so good he won a national championship and actually beat him in college while Bisping was already preparing for a fighter who will likely be looking to take the fight to the ground. If anyone has a potential advantage from the late opponent change, I would say it's Bisping, as he's been working on keeping the fight standing already.
Bottom Line: This fight could be incredible or it could be three straight rounds of Sonnen grounding and pounding Bisping. Depending on how much you like Michael Bisping, this could be your second favorite fight of all time (next to his UFC 100 bout with Dan Henderson). The excitement level in terms of this being an evenly matched fight will entirely hinge on whether Bisping can a.) stop Sonnen's takedowns, b.) get back to his feet when taken down and c.) threaten with submissions while on the ground. If Bisping gets rag-dolled across the cage and has no answer for Sonnen's wrestling, this could be a very one-sided affair.
Who will come out on top at UFC on FOX 2? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Who will earn a shot at Anderson Silva's middleweight title with a victory on Saturday night?
Chael Sonnen
Michael Bisping
51 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, bisping, sonnen, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: “I don’t believe (Silva) is going to fight again.”
Despite continued promises from UFC President Dana White that the winner of Chael Sonnen’s scrap on Saturday night with Michael Bisping will be next in line for middleweight champion Anderson Silva it seems as though Sonnen remains convinced his next fight will involve a different opponent.
While it’s obviously hard to gauge the truth behind Sonnen’s words based on his love of toying with media, the outspoken 185er has recently come out reinforcing earlier statements he’d made pertaining to Georges St. Pierre and Jon Jones. Were that not enough, he’s now offered up an opinion saying he sees Silva’s retirement as being more likely than a defense of his title in 2012.
Sonnen Says GSP-Jones Should Be Concerned
“I can tell you that behind the scenes, they tried to put me and Anderson together four times, and four times he said no. I called him out publicly. You call out a Brazilian publicly, you’re going to be fighting that Brazilian. That’s in their culture,” said Sonnen in an interview with FX. “And he sat there and covered his mouth and hid behind Charles Barkley, which is a smart move. It saved him a trip to the hospital. But Anderson Silva is not going to fight me. I don’t believe he’s going to fight Bisping. I don’t believe he’s going to fight again. That’s my personal opinion.”
Silva has not indicated anything resembling an interest in retirement, even coming out in late 2011 to say he planned to fight until 40 if possible instead of hanging his gloves up in a year or so as had been originally believed. After this weekend’s bout between the two middleweight contenders on FOX the picture should be a bit clearer but until then it looks like Sonnen’s soured stance on Silva remains the same.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: fight, silva, sonnen, charles barkley, culture ”
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC On Fox 2: Middleweight Division State of the Union
With so many fights coming up spread across eight different weight classes, it's easy to lose track of what's happening in every division. Here, we take a look at where a particular division stands right now, and where it's headed.
On this Saturday's UFC on Fox 2 show, the Middleweight division will take center stage. Though it's Light Heavyweights Rashad Evans and Phil Davis who will be headlining, the show is rounded out by a pair of intriguing Middleweight fights that became even more notable after some recent shuffling. As we prepare to watch 4 of the division's best compete on network television, let's break down where things stand at 185.
Next in Line:
As a result of Mark Munoz bowing out of this weekend's show due to injury, we now have the #2 ranked Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping (#7) on Fox. Dana White has stated that the winner here will be next in line for a title shot, and while those statements from Dana don't always pan out, I imagine this one will. Clearly the big fight here is Sonnen vs. Silva 2, which has been mentioned as possibly going down in Brazil. I'm no Sonnen fan, but I will be strongly rooting for him against Bisping, simply to see that rematch.
Bisping will look to use his striking to be the spoiler here. I think he's in over his head (especially taking the fight on relatively short notice), but if he can somehow manage to avoid the takedowns and outpoint Sonnen on the feet, a Bisping vs. Silva fight in England makes a lot of sense as well. It won't have nearly the sizzle of a Sonnen rematch, but it's a fine title defense.
Key Match Ups:
The problem is what comes after Sonnen or Bisping. Silva has recently started his 6th (!) year as UFC champion, which means he has systematically demolished the division. Two fights from now, Silva will be looking at either a rematch against an opponent who he handily defeated already (Maia, Belfort, Okami) or facing a new challenger who may feel a bit rushed into a title fight (Munoz, Weidman, Stann).
It's hard to know exactly where the division will go in the coming months, and who might step up to the plate. But there are a few notable upcoming fights that may help sort things out.
#5 Demian Maia vs. #19 Chris Weidman (UFC on Fox 2) - With Munoz injured and Bisping bumped up, Chris Weidman gets the call up and the biggest chance of his young career. The 7-0 fighter has been in the UFC for less than a year, but has already impressed. This is a huge fight for him, with massive rewards. A win over Maia vaults him to the top 10, and very possibly a title eliminator fight next time out. Maia is 3-1 since his loss to Silva, and due largely to the notoriously weird title fight, he feels far removed from the title scene. A win over Weidman is unlikely to get him much closer.
#3 Yushin Okami vs. #25 Tim Boetsch (UFC 144) - Okami seems to be in almost the exact same spot as Maia - a very skilled fighter, but one whose loss to Silva and lack of selling points seems to put him way outside the title picture. He's best served as a gate-keeper, which is the role he'll play against Boetsch. The Barbarian is 2-0 at Middleweight, and has looked good each time. This is a major step up for him, but like Weidman, he could really make a move with a win.
#8 Brian Stann vs. #23 Alessio Sakara (UFC on Fuel 2) - Stann is a great story and highly marketable, which makes him a perfect potential challenger. Only trouble is he lost big to Sonnen last time out. This fight feels like a bit of a softball to get him back on track. It's not that Sakara is a bad fighter, but he'll be happy to stand and trade with Stann, providing good opportunity for Stann to add a highlight reel KO and get back on track.
#5 Vitor Belfort vs. #15 Wanderlei Silva (TUF Brazil) - Vitor and Wanderlei are set to coach against each other on the Brazilian version of The Ultimate Fighter, which will air on Fuel. This is not to be confused with the traditional American version with Urijah Faber and Dominick Cruz set to coach next. Vitor and Wand will face off in the finals, as is tradition. Details are not 100% yet, with no date known, but this is a much needed fight between two legends who have looked to rematch for over 10 years.
More in the complete entry.
More SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
In The Mix:
A handful of Middleweights also factor into the title scene, but do not have any fights currently scheduled:
#4 Mark Munoz - Munoz's injury may have cleared things up at the top for a bit, but it did so by pushing him out of the immediate title picture. Hopefully he can bounce back soon. If he does, expect a tough fight against another name close to the top. Perhaps the Sonnen vs. Bisping loser?
#13 Alan Belcher - I really can not fathom Belcher as a title challenger, but he's a very talented fighter who looked good in his return last year. Stranger things have happened.
#18 Rousimar Palhares - As long as the UFC keeps lining opponents up, Toquinho will be there to rip apart their legs. The question for him is, can he defeat the upper tier of fighters? So far, he's beaten every mid level opponent, but when moved up against the likes of Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt, he's lost. That seems like his destiny, but if he can break through that barrier, he'd make a fascinating new name at the top.
Others to Consider:
And finally, as always, those Middleweights who are outside the title picture, but should be mentioned:
Jason Miller - Last time I made this list, Mayhem was in the very closest title mix. Now, he's barely in the UFC. That's what a single truly bad performance can do to you. Where he goes from here is quite up in the air, but you can say this - his next fight out will be perhaps the most crucial fights of his career if he wants to stay in the UFC.
Constantinos Philippou - With two straight wins and the defeat of Hamman at UFC 140 standing out, Costa is starting to make nice name for himself at 185. Next up for him is Court McGee on the main card of UFC on FX 2, where Philippou could use his hands and turn some heads.
Clifford Starks - This undefeated wrestler has good potential, but is still quite new to the UFC. I only include him because his next fight happens to come on a PPV main card, as he faces Ed Herman at UFC 143. Like Jim Hettes vs. Nam Phan, this is a fight that can really launch Starks's career if he puts in a big performance for the PPV audience.
Poll
Who will be the next UFC Middleweight title challenger?
Chael Sonnen
Michael Bisping
Other
0 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, title, vs, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen Sees A Lot of Himself in Tim Tebow
Video: Sonnen Says
Can you think of two professional athletes more polar opposite than Chael Sonnen and Tim Tebow? I struggle to, but nevertheless here’s Chael saying he likes Tim and sees a lot of himself in him.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, tim, chael, tebow
Read the full article at MMA ConvertGod, complex: Who will Chael Sonnen thank if he beats Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2?
Testify!
It's not uncommon for today's professional athlete, in the aftermath of a big win, to give honor to God, Jesus Christ, or whatever other deity they've given their life to.
Not Chael Sonnen.
It isn't because the former UFC middleweight number one contender is an atheist. Quite the contrary. The "God-fearing man" just doesn't believe the almighty Lord has the time to take out of his job of controlling the universe to worry about whether or not Chael wins a cage fight.
Here Sonnen explain it to MMA Fighting:
"You know, these guys want to talk about God. 'Oh, I want to thank God. I want to thank God.' Listen, I'm a God-fearing man, go to church every Sunday and have since I was a boy. But if I ever found out that God cared one way or another about a borderline illegal fist-fight on Saturday night, I would be so greatly disappointed that it would make rethink my entire belief system."
We recently learned that WWE wrestler CM Punk won't be joining Sonnen for a trip to the Octagon this Saturday night (Jan. 28, 2012) when he takes on Michael Bisping at the UFC on FOX 2 event in Chicago, Illinois.
And according to Sonnen's belief system, neither will God.
So who will he thank on Saturday night if he's able to defeat Michael Bisping? Probably himself, if he's not too busy calling out Anderson Silva, Jon Jones or Georges St. Pierre.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, god, godfearing man
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Talks God And Michael Bisping
Chael Sonnen is a hard man to define, that's the basis of a brilliant piece by Ben Fowlkes at MMA Fighting. Fowlkes talks about Sonnen's more humble attitude in his earlier fighting days and the transition into the brash title contender always quick with a witty line and how difficult it is to pin down the "real Chael Sonnen."
In the piece, Chael is asked if it would upset him to be remembered for his interviews more than his in-cage accomplishments and gives an answer that warms my heart:
"That would be a compliment," he said. "I wouldn't feel bad about that. ..You know, these guys want to talk about God. 'Oh, I want to thank God. I want to thank God.' Listen, I'm a God-fearing man, go to church every Sunday and have since I was a boy. But if I ever found out that God cared one way or another about a borderline illegal fist-fight on Saturday night, I would be so greatly disappointed that it would make rethink my entire belief system."
He also talks about his opponent Saturday night at UFC on Fox 2, Michael Bisping:
"He certainly hasn't beaten anybody that's any good, rankings-wise," said Sonnen. "But Bisping, you can't take from him, because he wins. Regardless of the opponent, which he doesn't have a lot of say in, he gets his hand raised. That's undeniable. ...I'm not a naysayer on Bisping. I'm a supporter, and if he got a shot [at the title], I'd tune in to watch."
There are some people already upset that this sort of dream match-up of trash talkers isn't really delivering the expected level of vitriol. But, given how restrained Chael was for his last fight against Brian Stann, maybe this is the real Chael Sonnen. And maybe he really, truly does believe that Anderson Silva "sucks."
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, god
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen recalls being paid $100 for his UFC debut at UFC 55
Chael Sonnen has come a long way since making his UFC debut at UFC 55, a fight he lost to Renato Sobral via a second round triangle choke submission. That fight took place in front of 8,000 fans at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun Casino.
On Saturday, Sonnen will face Michael Bisping at Chicago’s United Center; a fight that the UFC has announced via press release is officially sold out. The press release did not state how many tickets were sold for the UFC on FOX 2 event, but capacity for the
Posted in: ufc, fight, ufc debut, press release, sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickJust Chael being Sonnen
submitted by BlueWg [link] [comment]
Posted in: sonnen, chael, bluewg, bluewg link
Read the full article at RedditThe Frustrating Search for the Real Chael Sonnen
Filed under: UFCI remember a moment from the IFL's short-lived glory days when a new hire was being introduced to all the fighters and coaches as they floated in and out of a hotel conference room for pre-fight interviews. This new employee wasn't much of an MMA fan (par for the course at the IFL, I'm afraid), so she needed to be told basic info, like that Pat Miletich was something of a living legend or that Chris Horodecki was, in fact, a pro fighter and not just some kid who'd wandered in off the street.
When Matt Lindland's Portland Wolfpack crew came through she shook all their hands and tried, with visible effort, to commit their names and stations to memory. Then she came to Chael Sonnen, who wasn't on the team but was still hanging around his Team Quest buddies in the most unofficial of capacities, occasionally excusing himself to the hallway to conduct what sounded like vague real estate transactions on his cell phone.
"And how about you?" she said to Sonnen at one point. "Are you somebody?"
You could tell what she's going for, but you could also tell how it must have sounded to Sonnen, who had recently been bounced out of the UFC after losing two out of three and was then fighting in BodogFight's even more short-lived series of off-shore events. How was he supposed to answer that question? How was anyone?
As I recall, he smiled sheepishly and deflected it as best he could. No, he was nobody, he told her. But maybe some day he would be. It was a good answer to an awkward question. And besides, if he'd told us all that he would eventually become the nemesis of UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, who was then just settling in to his own dominant reign, no one would have believed him.
That was a different Chael Sonnen. This was before he talked his way into the headlines, before he turned himself into a larger-than-life, pro wrestling-style character known for saying things he couldn't possibly believe. Now, that's what people expect from him. They practically demand it in every interview and public appearance. It makes you wonder if some part of Sonnen is sorry he ever put that hat on to begin with, since it would seem that he can't easily take it off these days.
"Not too much, no," Sonnen told me when I spoke to him on the phone last week, one day before Mark Munoz dropped out of their UFC on FX 2 bout and was replaced with Michael Bisping. "It's par for the course and it needs to be done. There's only one me. I see a lot of people try to come out and copy me, duplicate me, and give it the old college try, but at the end of the day, there's only one Chael Sonnen."
And maybe he's right, but that one Chael Sonnen has the power to be several different Chael Sonnens when it suits him. There's the muted, somewhat straight-talking Sonnen -- the one who, when I asked for his thoughts on the GOP primary, went on at length about how disappointed he was to see Herman Cain drop out of the race -- and then there's the brash, loud-mouthed one with a seemingly limitless supply of clever prepared material.
For example, take his answer to a question about whether he'd be disappointed if people remembered him for his interviews and WWE-style promos rather than his fights.
"That would be a compliment," he said. "I wouldn't feel bad about that. ..You know, these guys want to talk about God. 'Oh, I want to thank God. I want to thank God.' Listen, I'm a God-fearing man, go to church every Sunday and have since I was a boy. But if I ever found out that God cared one way or another about a borderline illegal fist-fight on Saturday night, I would be so greatly disappointed that it would make rethink my entire belief system."
See what I mean? It's funny, entertaining, and clearly a bit that he thought of independently of any specific question, and now applies it wherever he sees an opening. But it doesn't tell us much. It doesn't tell us how the real Sonnen might really feel about the way his career is shaping up, the way the character he created is threatening to overshadow the person that he is.
Not that we know much about that person, of course. That's either because Sonnen keeps him hidden, or because his public persona is so dependent on a kind of aggressive insincerity that it's almost impossible to tell when he's playing it straight.
In Bisping, Sonnen said, he sees a fighter who's "not very good," but who he respects nonetheless for his ability to win the fights the UFC gives him.
"He certainly hasn't beaten anybody that's any good, rankings-wise," said Sonnen. "But Bisping, you can't take from him, because he wins. Regardless of the opponent, which he doesn't have a lot of say in, he gets his hand raised. That's undeniable. ...I'm not a naysayer on Bisping. I'm a supporter, and if he got a shot [at the title], I'd tune in to watch."
Of course, if Sonnen beats him on Saturday night in Chicago, that title shot will be his. So the UFC says, anyway, although Sonnen claims not to believe it. No matter what UFC president Dana White says about the stakes for this fight, Sonnen insists that Silva won't take a rematch with him, that their paths "will never cross again, professionally."
"I've got nothing against competing with Anderson, but he does. He's been offered the fight four times and he's turned it down four times. So I'm not under any illusions that Anderson and I are going to fight again. He's not a guy I talk about anymore. He's a guy I've moved past."
Does he mean it? Probably not. Does he expect you to believe it? Unclear. Four days later on the media conference call he cranked it up for the larger audience.
"I called him out publicly," he said of Silva. "If you call a Brazilian out publicly, you're going to be fighting that Brazilian. That's in their culture. And he sat there and covered his mouth and hid behind Charles Barkley, which was a smart move on his part and saved him a trip to the hospital, but Anderson Silva's not going to fight me. I don't believe he's going to fight Bisping; I don't believe he's going to fight again. That's my personal opinion. What I know as a fact is he's turned me down four out of four times. He even said no to Lorenzo Fertitta's face. Face-to-face, not over the phone, Lorenzo brought him out, said, 'This is the fight we want,' and Anderson said no."
And why, in Sonnen's opinion, does Silva not want to fight him?
"Because he sucks," said Sonnen.
Again, is that a real opinion? Does he truly believe that the most dominant middleweight champ in UFC history just isn't any good? Probably not, but what does it matter as long as it makes for a good sound byte?
That's the trouble with making yourself into a character for public consumption, though. Everyone keeps trying to peek behind the mask, but they can never know if they've done it. They can never be sure if they're seeing the man himself or just another part of the disguise. These days, Sonnen is definitely somebody. What's less clear is who that somebody is. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, day, chael sonnen, sonnen, he
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White clears the air following UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller
As only he can, UFC President Dana White made things crystal-clear on a number of subjects following UFC on FX: Guillard vs. Miller Friday night.
Speaking with Ariel Hellwani for the UFC post-fight show on FUEL TV, White made it known that he is happy with how Melvin Guillard acts, that Chael Sonnen will face Anderson Silva if he defeats Michael Bisping despite Sonnen talking Jon Jones/Georges St. Pierre, and the UFC heading to Atlanta is not a done deal – yet.
On the Sonnen-Silva II front, Sonnen claimed in an interview Friday that if he defeated Bisping at next Saturday’s UFC on FOX 2 card, “The Spider” would not agree to fight him. Instead, Sonnen said he would go after the UFC light heavyweight or welterweight championship.
“I, 100 % right here, now, guarantee that if Chael Sonnen wins that fight, Anderson Silva will fight Chael Sonnen this summer,” said White, who added that it is possible the bout would go down in Brazil.
To hear more from White, check out the video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, anderson silva, chael sonnen, fuel tv, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen talks Michael Bisping, Tim Tebow, Muhammad Ali
Chael Sonnen will get a chance to back up his talk at next weekend's UFC on FOX 2, in the co-main event fight with the long-time rival Michael "The Count" Bisping. The winner of Sonnen vs. Bisping match-up will get the #1 contender status in the UFC Middleweight division, with sights on dethroning Anderson "The Spider" Silva. UFC on FOX 2 will take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on January
Posted in: sonnen, weekends ufc, chicago illinois, count bisping, dethroning anderson
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on Fox: Dana White Guarantees Chael Sonnen Will Face Anderson Silva With Win
With the UFC on Fox 2 card shuffling came word that the winner of the bout between Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping would get a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen, of course, already fought Silva once and came within moments of getting a decision win before being submitted.
Chael has been posturing for a rematch since that meeting and has yet to be granted the shot. That has him saying that, no matter what, Silva would never fight him again. Something that UFC president Dana White denies.
Via MMA Fighting:
"I can guarantee you, Anderson Silva and I will never cross paths again," he said.
But Friday night brought another guarantee, this one from UFC president Dana White, who tends to get the final word on such matters. When asked about Sonnen's comments in a UFC on FX 1 post-fight interview with FUEL TV's Ariel Helwani, White offered a very different opinion of what would happen if Sonnen emerges victorious in his bout with Michael Bisping.
"I, 100 percent, right here and now, guarantee you that if Chael Sonnen wins that fight, Anderson Silva will fight Chael Sonnen this summer," he said.
White also said that a rematch would probably happen in Brazil. Something that everyone thought would never happen due to some sort of security concern because of Sonnen's repeated mocking of Brazilian fighters.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White still puzzled by Melvin Guillard, 'guarantees' Anderson Silva will fight Chael Sonnen (Video)
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White shared his post-fight thoughts after the UFC on FX: "Guillard vs. Miller" event from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., on Jan. 20, 2012.
The big storyline coming out of the show -- the first-ever in the FX network -- was the performance of Melvin Guillard, who once again showed flashes of brilliance, but once again wound up on the wrong end of a submission courtesy of Jim Miller.
That's now 10 losses in his professional mixed martial arts (MMA) career, nine of which have come by way of tapout. Certainly a gaping hole that a 10-year veteran should have plugged by now, but one that he mysteriously hasn't.
White weighed in:
"I don't know what it is with Melvin -- I've been saying this since the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. Even yesterday at the weigh ins, joking around: I'm waiting for this kid to take things serious. I don't know. I don't know what to say."
He goes on to recap several fights in the video above, including the big wins of Josh Neer and Pat Barry, but it's his comments on Anderson Silva that are worth highlighting here.
That's because just yesterday during the UFC on Fox 2 conference call, Chael Sonnen boldly predicted that if he defeated Michael Bisping next Saturday (Jan. 28, 2012) on network television to earn the next middleweight number one contender position, "The Spider" would find another way to avoid the rematch.
Sonnen even went as far to say that the Brazilian champion "will never fight again."
White disagrees:
"I 100 percent, right here, right now, guarantee that if Chael Sonnen wins that fight [against Michael Bisping] Anderson Silva will fight Chael Sonnen this summer. And it will probably [take place in Brazil]."
For more on UFC on FX 1: "Guillard vs. Miller" be sure to check out our complete coverage of the event, as well as the lightweight shoowdown, right here, here and here.
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, i dont
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDespite Chael Sonnen's Claims, Dana White Says Sonnen-Silva II Can Still Happen
Filed under: UFC, NewsChael Sonnen says forget about it, that Anderson Silva can't or won't fight him in a rematch of their August 2010 bout. Not now, not ever. That's what Sonnen said on a Friday teleconference for next weekend's UFC on FOX 2 show.
"I can guarantee you, Anderson Silva and I will never cross paths again," he said.
But Friday night brought another guarantee, this one from UFC president Dana White, who tends to get the final word on such matters. When asked about Sonnen's comments in a UFC on FX 1 post-fight interview with FUEL TV's Ariel Helwani, White offered a very different opinion of what would happen if Sonnen emerges victorious in his bout with Michael Bisping.
"I, 100 percent, right here and now, guarantee you that if Chael Sonnen wins that fight, Anderson Silva will fight Chael Sonnen this summer," he said.
Silva is currently back home rehabbing injuries, and is expected to fight at the next show the UFC hosts in Brazil. But Sonnen said otherwise on Friday, suggesting that Silva is not interested in fighting him or anyone else on the UFC roster, and that the long-reigning, 36-year-old champ has competed for the last time.
"I can tell you that behind the scenes, they tried to put me and Anderson together four times, and four times he said no," he said. "I called him out publicly. You call out a Brazilian publicly, you're going to be fighting that Brazilian. That's in their culture, and he sat there and covered his mouth and hid behind Charles Barkley [at UFC 136 in Houston], which is a smart move. It saved him a trip to the hospital. But Anderson Silva is not going to fight me. I don't believe he's going to fight Bisping. I don't believe he's going to fight again. That's my personal opinion."
But White disagrees, going on to acknowledge that the fight would "probably" happen in Brazil, a prospect that seemed unlikely just a few months ago, when Sonnen was politely asked to leave the country instead of escorting his friend and training partner Yushin Okami to the cage in a title fight with Silva. After being queried about Sonnen's safety should the fight be exported to Silva's home turf, he went on to suggest that the man who has called out Silva every which way imaginable has more than a few fans should the fight go down there.
"I know a lot of people say that, but a lot of people don't realize that Chael Sonnen was actually down in Brazil helping Yushin Okami get ready for his fight down there," he said. "For as many people -- Brazilians -- that hate Chael Sonnen, there's a lot that like him, too."
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX 2 Conference Call Audio & Highlights: Evans & Davis Get Into It, Sonnen Says Silva Will Never Fight Again
Whenever you have Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen on a conference call there’s bound to be some fiery words thrown around and that’s exactly what happened on Friday’s UFC on FOX 2 conference call. Evans got into it with his opponent Phil Davis while Sonnen chose to focus all his attention on Anderson Silva, not Michael Bisping.
Oddly enough, it wasn’t Rashad who started the back-and-forth barbs though. It was Phil Davis and all it took was him mentioning fighting for the title after he wins next Saturday night to set Evans off. Transcription via MMA Fighting:
“After I beat Rashad on the 28th, they won’t really have anything else to do with me other than to have me fight [Jones],” Davis said. “Rashad is the true number one contender, and after he loses, who else do I fight? The champion.”
“You ain’t beating me, dog,” said the former 205-pound champ. “And you know what? It can’t get here fast enough, because I’m going to smash you, dude.”
…
Evans: “He ain’t ready. He knows he ain’t ready. I look in his eyes and see he ain’t ready. Just a boy.”
Davis: “It’s a shame. I was kind of thinking, you really shouldn’t be too concerned about that title shot. That’s just one of those things. It’s not going to be for a little while. You’ve got a little while until you’ve got to worry about a title shot.”
Evans: “We’re going to see what happens when those lights hit you, when you walk out and that crowd is roaring. We’re going to see. We’re going to see what kind of man you are. We’re going to see what kind of fighter you are, because I know you ain’t no fighter.”
It didn’t stop there, but yeah, I think you get the picture.
Meanwhile, Chael Sonnen continued to claim a rematch with Anderson Silva will never happen. He says Silva just flat out refuses to fight him or anybody for that matter. Trnascription via MMA Junkie:
“I can guarantee you – Anderson Silva and I will never cross paths again,” Sonnen said today.
“I don’t if he’s going to retire, or [the UFC is] going to retire him,” Sonnen said. “I think the plan was if I could get past Munoz and if Michael was successful against Demian, they were going to do an interim championship between Bisping and I.
“I know Anderson’s not going to fight. The folks at the UFC know he’s not going to fight. I’m all for promoting and marketing and all that good stuff. I don’t want to throw water on a perfectly hot flame, but Anderson Silva’s not going to fight anybody.”
“I can tell you that behind the scenes, they tried to put me and Anderson together four times, and four times he said no,” he said. “I called him out publicly. You call out a Brazilian publicly, you’re going to be fighting that Brazilian. That’s in their culture, and he sat there and covered his mouth and hid behind Charles Barkley, which is a smart move. It saved him a trip to the hospital. But Anderson Silva is not going to fight me. I don’t believe he’s going to fight Bisping. I don’t believe he’s going to fight again. That’s my personal opinion.
“He even said no to (UFC executive) Lorenzo Fertitta’s face. Face-to-face, not over the phone – Lorenzo brought him out, sat him down, and said, ‘This is the fight we want.’ And Anderson said no.”
Full conference call audio above via BJPenn.com.
Posted in: fight, silva, sonnen, anderson, evan
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC on FOX 2's Sonnen promises no title shot against Silva after 'fugazi' behavior
In putting together a last-minute co-main event fight between Chael
Sonnen and Michael Bisping,
UFC president Dana White said the winner gets a crack at middleweight
champion Anderson Silva.
That may be true, according to Sonnen. But the title shot is never going to happen.
"I can guarantee you - Anderson Silva and I will never cross paths again," Sonnen said today.
Posted in: title shot, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, fugazi behavior
Read the full article at MMA JunkieSonnen: I don't think Silva will fight again
Chael Sonnen believes an anticipated rematch vs. Anderson Silva will never happen. In fact, he doesn’t think Silva will ever fight again.
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, doesn ’t, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at sportsnet.caUFC on FOX 2: Mark Munoz injury a 'tough pill to swallow'
Imagine being just one win away from legitimately being considered for a title shot in your weight class and your fight to get to that goal is just two weeks away. And then you get hurt.
Would absolutely suck, right?
That's precisely what happened to middleweight masher Mark Munoz, who suffered an elbow injury while training for his UFC on Fox 2 fight against Chael Sonnen on Jan. 28, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois.
When examined, doctors found floating bone chips that would need to be removed surgically. The procedure, combined with rehab time, should keep him out anywhere from four to six weeks.
"The Filipino Wrecking Machine" tells MMAFighting.com that this injury is a particularly tough pill to swallow.
"It's definitely a hard pill to swallow. Everything happens for a reason. In my mind I can't see it right now. But I truly believe in my heart, soul and mind, I'll be stronger because of it. I don't want to be consumed with negative thoughts. With the guys around me, my kids, my family, I can't think that way. I'm a man of faith, and I truly believe everything will work out for the good. So now it's just being confronted with what's in front of me, going about it the best I can and seeing what the future holds for me."
Since he's such a positive guy, this could be a blessing in disguise, really. Sonnen was quickly matched up against Michael Bisping, pitting the two top division contenders against each other.
When Munoz comes back, that's one less guy he'll have to worry about.
In fact, it's not out of line to think that it's entirely possible for UFC to set it up to so that the winner of Sonnen vs. Bisping fights Anderson Silva roughly around the same time Munoz comes back to fight whomever for a shot at the winner and the 185-pound title.
Everybody wins. Or do you Maniacs have a better idea?
Posted in: fight, sonnen, rehab time, i dont, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Bisping Would Be ‘Delighted’ If Chael Sonnen Takes Him Down
There’s a pretty good chance that Chael Sonnen is going to put Michael Bisping on his back next weekend when they face off at UFC on FOX 2. While most would consider it to be one of the worst-case scenarios for Bisping, he actually welcomes it. As he told Fighters Only in a recent interview, he’d actually be “delighted” if Sonnen takes him down because he believes he can submit him from his back.
FO: Chael has been training to face a wrestler so he’s not tailored his camp to suit your style either, will that be an advantage to you?
“No because it simply means that his wrestling skills will be on point, I’m going to get the best Chael Sonnen possible I know that. But his jiu-jitsu wont be too slick. Chael Sonnen can take me down if he likes, because I know I can submit him off my back. I know I can. That’s his big weakness.
“I may not have a black belt, but I consider myself a black belt. I’ve been rolling with Jake Shields, Dean Lister and a wash of other world champions. Believe me, if Chael Sonnen takes me down he better be prepared to get submitted.”
FO: Is that the gameplan then, to submit Chael Sonnen?
“Working with these guys recently, these top level jiu-jitsu guys, has really brought on my game and I am so comfortable on my back right now. In the past I have stood fights up a lot but the way I am training right now, I will be delighted if Chael takes me down. If he does, then it will be a short night for him.”
There’s no question that Sonnen’s submission defense is his biggest weakness. A glance down his record shows that nearly every loss he’s had has come via submission. I don’t know if Bisping has the jiu-jitsu skills to submit Chael from bottom position, but he clearly has the confidence to do it which could make all the difference if that’s where the fight ends up.
What do you think? Can you see Michael Bisping winning via submission?
Image via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMichael Bisping is absolutely certain he can submit Chael Sonnen off his back
If we were in the business of rallying angry fans against Michael Bisping, we could have granted the title of 'Michael Bisping will submit Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2' to this article and incite an army of people that are bored at work and have absolutely nothing else to do. We try to inspire productivity in the work place, only if the definition of productivity means to direct your browser to this site and stay on the for the rest of the day.
Fighters Only caught up with Michael Bisping to get his take on his newly acquired title contender fight against Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX 2. If you think Bisping is stressing Sonnen's takedowns, you're wrong. In fact he will embrace them because he knows he can submit Sonnen off his back.
“No because it simply means that his wrestling skills will be on point, I’m going to get the best Chael Sonnen possible I know that. But his jiu-jitsu wont be too slick. Chael Sonnen can take me down if he likes, because I know I can submit him off my back. I know I can. That’s his big weakness.
“I may not have a black belt, but I consider myself a black belt. I’ve been rolling with Jake Shields, Dean Lister and a wash of other world champions. Believe me, if Chael Sonnen takes me down he better be prepared to get submitted.”
I don't have a black belt, but I also consider myself a black belt in not having a black belt. Don't forget, UFC on FOX 2 goes down January 28th on FOX -- and everyone in the MMA world will make fun of you if you miss this fight.
Posted in: belt, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasySo this is what Chael Sonnen's UFC on FOX 2 walkout shirt looks like...
[div class="notice" class2="icon"]The following is from an article on FighterXFashion.com, part of the MiddleEasy Network.[/div]
As Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping get ready to scrap during the UFC on FOX 2 triple header, here’s a look at Sonnen’s “American Gangster” walkout shirt by TapouT. Fueled by some of the finest smack-talking around, Sonnen vs. Bisping is shaping up to be one hell of a fight, with the winner getting a crack at Anderson Silva’s UFC middleweight title. As gangster as it gets, Chael’s new walkout tee features a bandana rocking skull, surrounded by TapouT’s “Simply Believe” motto across the top, and Sonnen’s classic “Make That Walk” catchphrase along the bottom.
Check out Chael Sonnen's UFC on FOX 2 Walkout Shirt
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, walkout, chael, bottom check
Read the full article at Middle EasyBrydon on Sonnen vs. Bisping: Believe the hype
The new Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping matchup is the fight that really should have happened in the first place for the co-main event on FOX.
Posted in: vs, bisping, sonnen, chael, comain event
Read the full article at sportsnet.caMichael Bisping: "Chael Sonnen cannot knock me out. He can’t submit me, either."
Middleweight Michael Bisping has never been one of the UFC’s most beloved fighters, at least outside of the United Kingdom, but “The Count” likely won some fans over this week by stepping up ten days notice to accept a bout against Chael Sonnen rather than allow the organization’s January 28 card on FOX to suffer by passing on the pairing. Sonnen is widely considered to be the division’s second-ranked competitor and excels in areas Bisping is still attempting to master.
However, to hear Bisping explain it, he would have taken the fight regardless of the amount of time he had to prepare, labeling the match-up as “a huge fight, huge opportunity for me and my family” in a recent blog entry for FoxSports.
A Look at What Brought Bisping to his Current Set of Circumstances
The 32-year old Brit also went on to reveal his mindset in terms of accepting the bout, writing, “Dana hadn’t even finished saying Munoz was out before I was planning how to beat Sonnen in my head. I’ve accepted fights on short notice for the UFC throughout my career, but this one is a massive, massive chance for me, and I am very grateful to Dana (White), (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva and the UFC. I was already hugely grateful to be asked to fight on FOX, but to fight Chael on FOX … well, there are hundreds of fighters who would kill for this opportunity, and I would have had to be a fool to turn it down.”
“Next week, I’m ready to go all guns blazing. A fight is a fight, and at this level anything can happen, but all things being equal, Chael Sonnen cannot knock me out. He can’t submit me, either,” Bisping added before frankly stating, “The worst that is going to happen is that he will outpoint me and, if I don’t beat him, I didn’t deserve a title shot against Anderson Silva anyway.
Watch how things unfold in the co-headlining clash at UFC on FOX 2 when things fire up at 8:00 PM EST on 1/28. Not only will a top middleweight contender be crowned on the card but Rashad Evans-Phil Davis will meet in the main event with a likely crack at 205-pound champion Jon Jones on the line.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comMichael Bisping: If Chael Sonnen takes me down, he'll get submitted
Michael Bisping may have caught one of the biggest breaks of his mixed martial arts (MMA) career when Mark Munoz was forced to bow out of his match-up against Chael Sonnen, which was slated to be the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28, 2012.
With the opportunity to get a chance to fight 185-pound champion Anderson Silva on the line, the British brawler gladly accepted the offer to step in as replacement to face Sonnen in what will be an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender's match.
The match-up between two of the best trash talkers in the sport today, would be a promoter's dream come true, however, with only 10 days until fight night, there probably won't be too many verbal jabs aimed at one another, at least, not from Sonnen's side, who surprisingly says he is a fan of "The Count."
But that didn't stop Bisping from giving his predictions ahead of their anticipated showdown.
As he tells Fighters Only, Bisping welcomes the expected takedowns of the former NCAA All-American wrestler, because if he does get him to the ground, it will be a short night for Sonnen.
Check it out:
"I'm going to get the best Chael Sonnen possible I know that. But his jiu-jitsu won't be too slick. Chael Sonnen can take me down if he likes, because I know I can submit him off my back. I know I can. That's his big weakness. I may not have a black belt, but I consider myself a black belt. I've been rolling with Jake Shields, Dean Lister and a wash of other world champions. Believe me, if Chael Sonnen takes me down, he better be prepared to get submitted. Working with these guys recently, these top level jiu-jitsu guys, has really brought on my game and I am so comfortable on my back right now. In the past I have stood fights up a lot but the way I am training right now, I will be delighted if Chael takes me down. If he does, then it will be a short night for him."
Sonnen's last five defeats have come by submission. Furthermore, the fact that eight of his 11 losses have come via the tap may give Bisping the confidence to feel he has the advantage on the ground.
On the other hand, "The Count" has not had a submission win in over six years, but rolling with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) aces like Jake Shields and Dean Lister can only mean good things for Bisping's improving submission game.
Sonnen, meanwhile, proved that he does have a "slick" BJJ ground game by submitting Brian Stann at UFC 136 this past October via arm-triangle choke in the second round.
With the fight surely to go to the ground due to Sonnen's relentless takedown attempts, can Bisping back up his words and submit one of the strongest 185-pound fighters in the division? Or will Chael's ground control be too much for the brash Brit to handle?
Thoughts?
Posted in: ground, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Is A Self-Proclaimed ‘Bisping Supporter’, Michael Bisping Just ‘Grateful’ For The Opportunity
When it was announced yesterday that Michael Bisping would fill in for an injured Mark Munoz in a number one contender’s bout against Chael Sonnen next weekend at UFC on FOX 2, many thought we would be treated to some verbal fireworks — something that has been seriously lacking in the lead-up to Sonnen vs. Munoz — before the pair entered the cage next weekend. After all, Sonnen and Bisping are two of the most abrasive trash talkers in the UFC.
Well, that doesn’t look to be the case, at least not yet. Speaking to USA Today, Sonnen surprisingly had nothing but good things to say about Bisping.
I’m a Bisping supporter. I think he has. I think he’s fought a lot of important matches.
I don’t know how tough the guys he fought were, how many ranked guys he had — I’m not terribly familiar with his record. But at the end of the day, you can say what you want about his opponents, he doesn’t pick his opponents. They pick his opponents and he goes in and he wins over and over again.
I think it’s really relevant, especially for the Bisping naysayers, to realize he’s fighting main-event fights. He’s carrying cards. He’s selling out arenas. In this industry, that’s huge. He’s done his part.
So I’m not on the anti-Bisping bandwagon. I never have been.
Meanwhile, Michael Bisping is just grateful to get the opportunity to fight for a title shot.
Then “DANA WHITE” popped up on my caller ID. I picked it up and Dana said: “I got some good news for you … Mark Munoz is hurt, how’d you like to take his place and fight Chael for the No. 1 contender spot?”
Dana hadn’t even finished saying Munoz was out before I was planning how to beat Sonnen in my head. I’ve accepted fights on short notice for the UFC throughout my career, but this one is a massive, massive chance for me, and I am very grateful to Dana, (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva and the UFC. I was already hugely grateful to be asked to fight on FOX, but to fight Chael on FOX … well, there are hundreds of fighters who would kill for this opportunity, and I would have had to be a fool to turn it down.
Next week, I’m ready to go all guns blazing. A fight is a fight, and at this level anything can happen, but all things being equal, Chael Sonnen cannot knock me out. He can’t submit me, either. The worst that is going to happen is that he will outpoint me and, if I don’t beat him, I didn’t deserve a title shot against Anderson Silva anyway.
I suspect these two will turn up the heat as we draw closer to fight time, but there doesn’t seem to be any personal animosity to fuel the kind of entertaining back-and-forth exchanges some of us were hoping for.
As for the fight itself, oddsmakers are definitely leaning towards Sonnen emerging victorious next weekend. The first lines opened up at Sonnen (-450) Bisping (+325), making Sonnen a huge favorite. Considering how they match-up stylistically, I can’t say that’s very far off.
Images via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: ufc, fight, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMMAWeekly Radio Wednesday: 30 Minutes with Chael Sonnen
MMAWeekly Radio on Wednesday presents a special 30-minute interview with UFC on Fox 2 fighter Chael Sonnen.
Posted in: wednesday, radio, mmaweekly, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChael Sonnen is a "Bisping-Supporter," says he likes an "arrogant, cocky guy"
Looks like there may not be a week-long war of words waged between Sonnen and Bisping after all. Though many anticipated as much when news came down that the Brit would be stepping in to replace an injured Mark Munoz opposite Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2, it appears the sharp-tongued former title contender has opted to see the best in Bisping instead - his arrogance.
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, title contender, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 2 odds: Chael Sonnen (-450) and Chris Weidman (-200) open as favorites
The UFC on FOX 2 odds and betting lines have been readjusted for the recent fight card switcherooni, one that saw Michael Bisping move up to fight Chael Sonnen and Chris Weidman jump in to battle Demian Maia.
Those changes were brought about following the injury to Mark Munoz, who is no longer competing on the FOX televised event, scheduled for Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Sonnen jumped out to a whopping -450 favorite according to Bodog, which may be attributed to his high level wrestling-based attack, coupled with Bisping's perceived lack of finishing power. Or maybe the bookies just don't like "The Count," who limps in as a +325 underdog.
While that line may curve toward the high side, it's not the head-scratcher that Weidman vs. Maia appears to be.
Despite just seven professional fights, Weidman is a -200 favorite over Maia (+160), which is surprising, considering that Weidman's best attribute is his wrestling. And is anyone giving him an advantage if he secures the takedown?
Weidman is a NCAA Division 1 All-American out of Hofstra University, but Maia, whose striking has improved by leaps and bounds, is a five-time world jiu-jitsu champion with four UFC "Submission of the Night" bonuses.
He also has twice the experience, fighting guys like Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz. Weidman's top (and only) three UFC opponents are Alessio Sakara, Jesse Bongfeldt and Tom Lawlor. And he has just two (T)KO victories in seven wins.
But he's still the favorite.
Alright Maniacs, you've heard my take on these numbers. Who is ready to make an argument to support them? Let's hear your best case in the comments section below.
More on the UFC on FOX 2 shake-up here.
Posted in: ufc, fox, sonnen, maia, weidman
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: 'I'm not on the anti-Bisping bandwagon, I never have been'
Maybe he just doesn't like Brazilians.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, known for his quick wit and merciless trash talk, may be heading into his second straight fight with nothing bad to say about his opponent.
Go figure.
Sonnen was paired off with American war hero Brian Stann at UFC 136, choosing to pay his respects to the chiseled super-soldier before and after wiping the floor with him inside the cage.
It was a far cry from the pro-wrestling style verbal attack fans had grown accustomed to in his rage against the 185-pound machine, calling division kingpin Anderson Silva every name in the book following a fifth round submission loss to "The Spider" at UFC 117 back in August 2010.
Fans began licking their chops when it was announced that Michael Bisping, who is about as popular with Americans as Sonnen is with Brazilians, would be stepping in to replace an injured Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Battle of the big mouths? Not quite. Sonnen explains to the chaps at USA Today why he's a defender of not only Bisping, but his in-cage accomplishments.
Check it out:
"I'm not on the anti-Bisping bandwagon. I never have been. I think he's good. I hear a lot of negative things said about him, but I think most of it comes from frustration of maybe his personality or something like that. I think if you're real objective and you look at his skill set and his in-ring ability, you'll know that he's a talented guy. He's definitely cocky and arrogant, which is two qualities that I like in a person. I like a cocky guy and I like an arrogant guy, so he earns points with me in those regards, but I think it turns a lot of people off ... I've never even seen Bisping in trouble. I've never seen him come out of there cut and scraped and bruised. He seems to go in, take care of business and go home."
Bisping was originally booked to face off against Demian Maia; however, the Munoz injury catapulted him into a title-eliminator bout, as UFC President Dana White went on record to declare the winner of Sonnen vs. Bisping the division number one contender and next in line to fight Silva.
Maybe then we can get some of that good old-fashioned trash talk out of Sonnen.
That's assuming he wins, of course, which early betting lines (Sonnen is -450) indicate is a very strong possibility. But who among you is ready to name Bisping as the winner on fight night?
Anyone?
Posted in: ufc, guy, bisping, sonnen, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMichael Bisping: “I would have had to be a fool to turn it down.”
If you’re one of the many MMA fans wondering why Michael Bisping would risk his four-fight winning streak and spot on the contendership ladder by taking on an opponent with Chael Sonnen’s skill-set “The Count” has an answer for you – he had no other choice. No, his hand was not forced by his bosses at the UFC but rather by a sense of self-belief and appreciation for the opportunity he was given.
Bisping addressed the situation in a blog for FoxSports on Tuesday evening where he acknowledged the significant challenge in front of him with less than two weeks’ notice to prepare but also explained it’s a test he’s more than willing to take given the stakes.
“Dana (White) hadn’t even finished saying Munoz was out before I was planning how to beat Sonnen in my head,” wrote the 32-year old Brit. “I’ve accepted fights on short notice for the UFC throughout my career, but this one is a massive, massive chance for me, and I am very grateful to Dana, (matchmaker) Joe Silva, and the UFC. I was already hugely grateful to be asked to fight on FOX, but to fight Chael on FOX … well, there are hundreds of fighters who would kill for this opportunity, and I would have had to be a fool to turn it down.”
The 22-3 Bisping made it clear he has no illusions about Sonnen’s talent in terms of takedowns and top control but has little concern for the 26-11-1 grappler’s abilities beyond those aspects of his game.
“Next week, I’m ready to go all guns blazing. A fight is a fight, and at this level anything can happen, but all things being equal, Chael Sonnen cannot knock me out. He can’t submit me, either,” Bisping began before bottom-lining the situation by adding, “The worst that is going to happen is that he will outpoint me and, if I don’t beat him, I didn’t deserve a title-shot against Anderson Silva anyway.”
Fans can catch Bisping-Sonnen scrap next weekend at UFC on FOX 2 at an event headlined by Rashad Evans meeting Phil Davis with a future date against 205-pound champion Jon Jones up for grabs. Bisping’s original opponent, Demian Maia, will now face unbeaten All-American wrestler Chris Weidman in his place.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBisping: If Sonnen takes me down, I will submit him
“No because it simply means that his wrestling skills will be on point, I’m going to get the best Chael Sonnen possible I know that. But his jiu-jitsu wont be too slick. Chael Sonnen can take me down if he likes, because I know I can submit him off my back. I know I can. That’s his big weakness. I may not have a black belt, but I consider myself a black belt. I’ve been rolling with Jake Shields, Dean Lister and a wash of other world champions. Believe me, if Chael Sonnen takes me
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, world champions, chael, weakness i
Read the full article at Low KickMichael Bisping replaces injured Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2
With less than two weeks to go the UFC on FOX 2 lineup has undergone a significant change after Mark Munoz suffered an undisclosed injury while training this afternoon for the January 28 event. As a result Michael Bisping, who was scheduled to face Demian Maia on the card, will fill the vacancy created by Munoz’s withdrawal and face Chael Sonnen for top contendership in the middleweight division.
News of the change was confirmed by UFC President Dana White via Twitter where he stated the winner of Bisping-Sonnen would be next in line for 185-pound champion Anderson Silva.
Bisping Blasts Notion of Sonnen as #1 Contender
Sonnen (26-11-1) and Bisping (22-3) are both coming off impressive performances in their previous bouts with the Brit pummeling Jason Miller at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale and Sonnen tapping out Brian Stann at UFC 136. Bisping has won four straight scraps while Sonnen has victories in four of five, the only exception of course being his memorable mistake against Silva at UFC 117 where a one-sided decision win quickly turned into a submission loss with only minutes remaining in the five-round fight.
UFC on FOX 2 is headlined by Rashad Evans taking on Phil Davis with a future title-shot likely on the line as well. Other match-ups on the card include Nik Lentz vs. Evan Dunham, Shane Roller vs. Michael Johnson, and George Roop vs. Cub Swanson.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, michael, bisping, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at Fighters.comMark Munoz Injured, Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping Booked At UFC on FOX 2; Montreal PPV Postponed
Some major UFC news broke late this afternoon.
First up, there’s been a big shake-up in the UFC on FOX 2 line-up. Dana White announced via Twitter today that Mark Munoz has withdrawn from UFC on FOX 2 with an injury and now Michael Bisping will meet Chael Sonnen in a middleweight number one contender’s match.
Munoz is injured and out of the FOX fight! Now it’s Chael Sonnen vs Mike Bisping jan 28th and the winner will fight Anderson for the title.
Bisping was set to face Demian Maia before the shuffle occurred. It’s unclear if Maia will fight someone else or be pulled from the card entirely.
It seems the trash talk between Sonnen and Bisping has already begun. Sonnen and Bisping issued the following comments via the UFC’s twitter account.
Chael: “I am going to knock the teeth out of this snot nosed Brit who calls himself royalty, who calls himself a Count. I am MMA royalty and America will tune into the Chael Sonnen show next Saturday on FOX.”
Bisping: “He’s been kicked out of politics, kicked out of real estate, and I am going to kick him out of the middleweight division.”
In other big UFC news, The Canadian Press is reporting that the UFC has scrapped plans to return to Montreal in late March for what was going to be UFC 145.
The UFC has postponed its March show in Montreal.
UFC 145 was scheduled for March 24 at the Bell Centre. But the UFC has shelved it for the time being, citing complications in scheduling and a desire to deliver a “championship card.”
The card was close to filling up but lacked a main event. It sounds like they wanted to book a championship fight — probably at light heavyweight since that’s the only division it would have been remotely feasible in — but it apparently didn’t come together in time.
Most of the fights that were booked will move over to the Atlanta pay-per-view on April 21, according to the report.
Images via Dave Mandel for Sherdog
Posted in: ufc, fox, bisping, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertMunoz out, Bisping vs. Sonnen on UFC on FOX 2 for a TITLE SHOT
Chael Sonnen just went from fighting a dude with a wrestling aptitude on par with his own, to competing against a guy that hails from a country that is virtually devoid of wrestling. The conventional belief is that when two non-heavyweight fighters are equally matched in stand-up, the determining factor of the hypothetical bout will come down to the attribute of wrestling. Extracting a conclusion based on the previous set of data, one would be inclined to believe there's an elevated probability that Sonnen vs. Silva II will go down at some point this summer for the UFC middleweight title. In no way have I implied that Michael Bisping will lose in exactly the same fashion as Brian Stann -- not in anyway. I'm simply taking your beliefs and filtering them through this vast medium known as the 'Internet.' Believe what you want.
Dana White broke the news today via Twitter that Mark Munoz is out of UFC on FOX 2 and has been replaced by Michael Bisping.White also stated the winner of Sonnen vs. Bisping will get a title shot against Anderson Silva. Correction, if Sonnen defeats Bisping, Anderson Silva will get a shot at Chael Sonnen's title.
Posted in: title, news today, bisping, sonnen, nonheavyweight fighters
Read the full article at Middle EasyMunoz Injured; Bisping to Face Sonnen on Fox for UFC Title Shot
Mark Munoz has suffered an elbow injury and will be unable to face Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2, UFC President Dana White announced Tuesday via Twitter.
Posted in: ufc, fox, sonnen, elbow injury, face sonnen
Read the full article at SherdogMark Munoz Injured; Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping New UFC on Fox 2 Co-Main Event
Less than two weeks removed from the event, the UFC on Fox 2 fight card has undergone a major change. Chael Sonnen will now face Michael Bisping in the co-main event.
Posted in: event, michael bisping, sonnen, mark munoz, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMunoz injured, Bisping to face Sonnen
Mark Munoz is injured and is out of his fight against Chael Sonnen and will be replaced by Michael Bisping on the UFC on FOX show Jan. 28.
Posted in: bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at sportsnet.caMark Munoz Withdraws from UFC on FOX 2, Chael Sonnen Now Faces Michael Bisping
UFC President Dana White just announced on twitter that Mark Munoz has pulled out from the scheduled co-main event against Chael Sonnen due to an arm injury. White did not specify the extent of the injury, but he did announce that Sonnen will now be taking on Michael Bisping, who was scheduled to take on Demian Maia at the event.
Sonnen and Bisping will now be a number one contender’s bout, with the winner taking on middleweight champion Anderson Silva. That championship fight is expected to take place some time this summer,
The two outspoken middleweights actually have a brief history together, as the pair was rumored to coach against each other on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, Sonnen was unable to coach, and the position went to Jason “Mayhem” Miller, who went on to lose to Bisping at the season finale in December.
A replacement opponent for Maia was not named, nor was it determined whether the main card will hold just two fights instead of the scheduled three.
For complete UFC on FOX 2 coverage, stay tuned to mmafrenzy.com
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz, arm injury
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen Meets Michael Bisping At UFC On Fox 2 With Mark Munoz Injured
Huge news coming out of the Twitter of UFC president Dana White. Mark Munoz was set to face Chael Sonnen on the upcoming UFC on Fox 2 card while Michael Bisping was to meet Demian Maia, but an injury to Munoz has Sonnen moved into a fight with Bisping. Dana also said that the winner will get a title shot against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
Here's the tweet:
@danawhiteDana White Munoz is injured and out of the FOX fight! Now it's Chael Sonnen vs Mike Bisping jan 28th and the winner will fight Anderson for the title.Jan 17 via Twitter for iPhoneFavoriteRetweetReply
Obviously Sonnen has the wrestling edge but Bisping is notoriously hard to control on the ground and do damage to from ground and pound. While Chael will deservedly be the betting favorite but I think Bisping is much more of a live dog here than many will be willing to accept.
Regardless, Bisping vs. Sonnen is a much "bigger" fight in terms of casual interest than anything involving Demian Maia or Mark Munoz. This is actually a bit of a "win" for the promotion in my eyes.
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, bisping, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen to Face Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2
Chael Sonnen will now take on Michael Bisping in a No. 1 contender bout at UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28 in Chicago, UFC president Dana White announced Tuesday.
Mark Munoz, Sonnen's previously scheduled opponent, had to withdraw due to injury, according to White. The UFC decided then to move Bisping out of his fight against Demian Maia to face Sonnen instead on the same card.
White didn't mention Maia's status on the card.
While matchup changes two weeks before a show is never ideal, Sonnen-Bisping was a matchup the UFC previously targeted. The two middleweights were in talks to coach against each other on The Ultimate Figher 14, but Jason "Mayhem" Miller was tapped to face Bisping due to the timing of Sonnen's legal issues.
Bisping (22-3), who is on a four-fight winning streak, defeated Miller by TKO last December at the TUF 14 Finale. Coming off the fight will little damage, Bisping soon after agreed to face Maia on the FOX card.
Sonnen (26-11-1) returned to action last October and submitted Brian Stann with an arm-triangle choke.
White has also made it clear the winner of Sonnen-Bisping will face champion Anderson Silva for the belt. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, face, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen resents Mark Munoz fight because "Anderson Silva got his way"
While making an appearance on Fuel TV, top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, alongside UFC on Fox 2 opponent, Mark Munoz, discusses his January 28th bout, as well as division Champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen explains that, though he and Munoz are friends, their match-up is just "competition," and insists the fight was only booked because "Silva got his way."
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, fuel tv, sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 2: Chael Sonnen is fighting Mark Munoz because Anderson Silva got his way
After Chael Sonnen submitted Brian Stann at UFC 136 last October, UFC President Dana White said he would be "pretty (expletive) stupid" not to make a 185-pound rematch between Sonnen and Anderson Silva.
"The Spider" was able to successfully defend his middleweight championship with a fifth round submission win over Sonnen back at UFC 117 in August 2010; however, he endured four and a half rounds of lopsided abuse before pulling a last-minute rabbit out of his hat.
Simply put: Sonnen came closer than any previous opponent to dethroning the pound-for-pound king.
So why aren't they fighting? Well, for starters, Silva has been sidelined with multiple injuries in the wake of his UFC 134 title defense over Yushin Okami and is expected to be on the shelf until at least June of this year.
Secondly, Ed Soares, manager of the Brazilian bomber, "worked diligently" behind the scenes to help eliminate his client's two biggest threats. One of them was Sonnen and the other was fellow middleweight contender Mark Munoz.
Sonnen breaks it all down during his recent appearance on UFC Tonight:
"It's real simple. I want the title. I want to be champion. I don't want it just because I want a belt, I want to be the best. I want to look in the mirror and know I'm the best in the world. If I can't beat Mark Munoz, then I'm not. Munoz and I aren't fighting because this is the match that made sense. We're fighting because Anderson doesn't want to fight me. Anderson trained with Munoz, he got destroyed by Munoz, he doesn't want to fight Mark. Ed Soares, Anderson's manager, worked diligently behind the scenes to make Mark and I fight each other. So I don't have a big problem fighting Mark. my resentment is that Anderson got his way."
See video of Sonnen and Munoz talking UFC on FOX 2 (and a whole lot more) after the jump.
For more on Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2, which goes down on Jan. 28, 2012, from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, click here.
Posted in: ufc, mark, sonnen, anderson, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz – Friends Or Foes?
Friends outside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz have no choice but to be foes at UFC on Fox 2 when they fight for a shot at the UFC middleweight title.
Posted in: sonnen, mark munoz, chael, foes friends, foe
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyWWE Pulls Plug On CM Punk Walking Out With Chael Sonnen At UFC On Fox 2
WWE Champion CM Punk will no longer walk out with Chael Sonnen for his fight with Mark Munoz at UFC On Fox 2.
In early-January, news broke that longtime MMA fan Punk (Phil Brooks) would walk out with the former pro wrestling prospect and top middleweight contender Sonnen in Punk's hometown of Chicago, IL. Punk had previously received permission from WWE to skip a house show on Saturday, January 28 to be at the UFC event.
From Ariel Helwani's piece on MMA Fighting:
Punk confirmed with MMAFighting.com that WWE chairman Vince McMahon decided against allowing him to walk out to the cage with Sonnen later this month. MMA reporter FrontRowBrian first reported the news Friday afternoon.
The original story garnered nearly 300 comments here and set off the usual firestorm of pro wrestling vs. MMA debates including this video done by BE co-founders/editors Luke Thomas and Kid Nate. McMahon's decision to put the kibosh on the arrangement (which Brian accurately opined could have been influenced by his son-in-law Paul "Triple H" Levesque) shows a short sighted view of the crossover appeal and a bad business move by WWE to not grab the attention from a major event on Fox.
Posted in: mma, punk, wwe, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowCM Punk Won’t Escort Chael Sonnen to Octagon at UFC on Fox 2
WWE champion CM Punk won’t escort Chael Sonnen to the the Octagon at UFC on Fox 2 in Punk’s hometown of Chicago after WWE chairman Vince McMahon nixed the arrangement just one week after it was first reported, Punk told MMAFighting on Friday.
Sonnen faces Mark Munoz in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 with the next shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva likely on the line.
UFC on Fox 2 is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis and also features middleweights Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia.
For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com
Pictured: Chael Sonnen
Posted in: ufc, fox, punk, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC on FOX 2: WWE's Vince McMahon objects to CM Punk walking Chael Sonnen down the aisle
The short-lived pairing of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Champion CM Punk and UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen is over before it really started.
That's because WWE head honcho Vince McMahon has called a halt to the idea of Punk walking Sonnen to the Octagon for his UFC on Fox 2 fight against Mark Munoz on Jan. 28 in Chicago.
MMAFighting.com has it:
WWE champion CM Punk will not escort Chael Sonnen to the Octagon prior to Sonnen's fight against Mark Munoz on Jan. 28, after all.
Punk confirmed with MMAFighting.com that WWE chairman Vince McMahon decided against allowing him to walk out to the cage with Sonnen later this month.
Seems like a waste for the WWE, what with the publicity such a thing may or may not have brought the company but we're talking about Vince McMahon here. For those unaware of his style, let's just say he's crazier than Sonnen could ever hope to act during his "promos."
And so ends one of the biggest non-story stories of the past month. A pro wrestler won't be walking an MMA fighter to the cage for his real fight and, presumably, everyone can stop complaining about how that does or does not affect perception of MMA as a sport.
Yippee.
Posted in: punk, wwe, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVince McMahon nixes idea of CM Punk working with Chael Sonnen at UFC on FOX event
A few weeks ago it came to light fan-favorite WWE Champion CM Punk would walk popular UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen down to the Octagon at UFC on FOX 2, an event set to emanate from Punk’s hometown of Chicago. At the time the idea was well-received by all, including WWE head Vince McMahon who had given his blessing, and fans appeared genuinely excited about the prospect of the pairing.
However, McMahon has since changed his mind, not only prohibiting Punk from teaming up with Sonnen during the 185er’s entrance but attending the event at all. While no specific reason was provided it is believed to be related to Brock Lesnar’s contractual status with the UFC.
CM Punk Taking his Talents to the Octagon..Sort Of
News of the change was first reported by freelance MMA journalist FrontRowBrian and has since been confirmed with Punk by MMAFighting.
Beyond his talent inside the Octagon, Sonnen is known for his wit and ability to entertain on the microphone with replies/comments that would make the top promo-cutter in the WWE proud (and apparently did in the form of Punk). He will face Mark Munoz on January 28 at the FOX event where the winner is expected to receive a date with middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
PHOTO CREDIT – WWE
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, event, punk, wwe, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comCM Punk Won't Escort Chael Sonnen to Octagon at UFC on FOX
Filed under: UFC, NewsWWE champion CM Punk will not escort Chael Sonnen to the Octagon prior to Sonnen's fight against Mark Munoz on Jan. 28, after all.
Punk confirmed with MMAFighting.com that WWE chairman Vince McMahon decided against letting him walk out to the cage with Sonnen later this month. MMA reporter FrontRowBrian broke the news Friday afternoon.
The Punk/Sonnen pairing created a major buzz in both the MMA and professional wrestling world when it was first reported, but most assumed it was UFC president Dana White who would be against the idea of a pro wrestler walking out to the cage with a top fighter on FOX, not McMahon.
UFC on FOX, headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis, returns on Jan. 28 from the United Center in Chicago. Sonnen vs. Munoz will serve as the co-main event. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fox, punk, sonnen, mcmahon ufc
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVideo: Chael Sonnen Gives Passionate Speech About Intensity
Chael Sonnen is a man of many faces. To some, he's the trash talking gangster from the mean streets of West Linn, Oregon. To others, he's the man who has created a real life story line with the entire country of Brazil. However, to a lucky few, Sonnen is seen as much more than just a persona. To them, Sonnen is viewed as a genuine individual who is willing to share his experiences to ensure that the younger generation will dedicate themselves to a sport that he loves dearly.
In some recently uncovered footage from the MMA Fan Fest, a clinic held the night before the Journeymen Duals, Flo Wrestling caught Chael Sonnen speaking to the wrestlers about intensity. In an incredibly passionate 90 seconds, Chael is able to convey a principal that is a cornerstone for all competition.
And if you're in a match and the guy gets intense, you get him back right then. As hard or harder right now. He'll stop doing it. One up him. If he slaps, you punch him. If he punches, you kick him. If he kicks, you stab. If he stabs, you shoot. If he shoots, you go kill his family, okay? You guys get the point there? One up him and you do it right then. Don't let him push you around. It's a mindset. Of course I'm not talking about hurting the guy. But what I'm talking about is you got a match and we gotta do it right now. You can't go 'oh this guy slapped me on Tuesday so on Friday I'm gonna get even with him'. He clubs you, you club right back
There will be some that will take his speech out of context to further an agenda or make a point about violence in MMA breeding more violence. To those people: raspberries. Chael Sonnen is a bright spot of personality in an otherwise dry sport. Whether it's the over-the-top promos targeting the Nogueiras and Anderson Silva or it's a speech with a group of young athletes, Sonnen can captivate an audience.
Video and full transcript after the jump...
SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Guys! One thing on intensity and I hope that we're all old enough that I can tell this without people taking it for something that it's not. But when we're being intense -- when we're out there competing -- wrestling, fighting, MMA. Whatever it is, I need to match my partner's intensity. I can't come in and let him bully me. I can't come in and let him pick on me. For some of you younger guys, eventually you'll be be getting into high school as freshmen and these older guys are gonna push you around a little bit. Then you'll go back and do it to the next group. Just the way it works. You get to college and it's intimidating because their intensity is a little different. You gotta match them. They go first, you match them instantly. If a guy clubs you, you club him as hard or harder and you do it right then. You don't wait a minute and come back with him. He clubs you, you club him right then. He will stop doing it. He'll stop doing it. And if you're in a match and the guy gets intense, you get him back right then. As hard or harder right now. He'll stop doing it. One up him. If he slaps, you punch him. If he punches, you kick him. If he kicks, you stab. If he stabs, you shoot. If he shoots, you go kill his family, okay? You guys get the point there? One up him and you do it right then. Don't let him push you around. It's a mindset. Of course I'm not talking about hurting the guy. But what I'm talking about is you got a match and we gotta do it right now. You can't go 'oh this guy slapped me on Tuesday so on Friday I'm gonna get even with him'. He clubs you, you club right back. And that will keep everything level and up everyone's intensity.
Watch more video of MMA Fan Fest on flowrestling.org
Posted in: guy, right, club, sonnen, intensity
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMove over Chael Sonnen, Anthony Johnson is the new top threat at 185-pounds
Chael Sonnen, who took middleweight champion Anderson Silva to the limit at UFC 117 back in August 2010, is widely-recognized as the division contender with the best chance of squishing "The Spider" in a 2012 title fight.
But first he has to get past Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2 later this month.
Even if he's successful, middleweight debutante Anthony Johnson doesn't believe that makes him the top threat in the division. No, "Rumble" contends that it is he who will give the Brazilian deity the fits, if and when they ever hook 'em up.
And destroying Vitor Belfort would sure do a lot to convince fans he's not just talking the talk.
He'll get that chance on Saturday night (Jan. 14, 2012), when he meets "The Phenom" in the co-main event of UFC 142: "Aldo vs. Mendes" at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.
A fight Johnson says he'll "dominate."
"Moving up to face Vitor was a new chapter in my life, a new challenge. I’m going to stay here and I’m going to take over this weight class. I will dominate Vitor Belfort. Chael Sonnen is seen as the top threat to Anderson Silva’s title. Well, I am at 185-pounds and everyone at middleweight has to worry about me now. I’m in this division to go to the top. You will see a whole different animal now that I am at this weight class."
A win over the Brazilian would certainly catapult him into the list of top contenders; however, he may still need to take a back seat to the winner of Sonnen vs. Munoz, as well as the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia, also booked for the UFC on FOX 2 event on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
But he would most definitely be "in the mix."
So how about it then, Maniacs, if you're UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, who does "Rumble" fight with a win over "The Phenom?" How about a loss?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, vs, middleweight, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: If someone shoots you, kill his family
UFC Middleweight champion (or not) Chael Sonnen provided another memorable quote, this time talking about the mental mindset of a true warrior. According to Sonnen, you always have to match your opponent's aggresion, therefore if someone shoots you - go kill his family.
Chael Sonnen will try to match Mark Munoz' intensity at UFC on FOX 2, with sights on securing his second shot at the UFC Middleweight title.
Here's the full quote (via the UG):
"If a guy clubs you, you club him as hard, or harder, and you
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, opponents aggresion, guy clubs
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen: My MMA career will be a colossal failure without that 12-pounds of gold
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who will square off with Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2, discusses his introduction to mixed martial arts, as well as his goals as a fighter. Sonnen explains that, despite all other achievements, his professional MMA career will be a "colossal failure" if he is unable to obtain the UFC Championship belt.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz, mma career, fighter sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickWhite: Silva vs. Sonnen II would likely take place in Brazilian soccer stadium
If Chael Sonnen gets by Mark Munoz later this month at UFC on FOX 2, his next bout could be a huge one.
UFC president Dana White recently joined "UFC Tonight" on FUEL TV to discuss potential plans for a long-awaited rematch.
In the segment, which ultimately didn't make it to air, White said that if Sonnen gets his rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, it'll likely take place in Silva's home country of Brazil - in a soccer stadium.
Posted in: ufc, fuel tv, sonnen, mark munoz, longawaited rematch
Read the full article at MMA JunkieChael Sonnen's MMA legacy will be a 'colossal failure' without championship gold (Video)
"One night. One moment. Twelve pounds of gold. This will all be a colossal failure if I don't have that one night. I haven't had too many dark moments, but I'll tell you, in the beginning, trying to break in [to the sport] was so hard. You train the best that you can [this was 10 years ago] and you don't really know what that means -- there's not a lot of MMA gyms and there's almost no MMA coaches. Then I get a call and it's to fight a guy named Jeremy Horn. Now, Jeremy Horn is like the greatest fighter ever at this point -- he's ranked number one in the world, Anderson [Silva] is like six or seven. He's beaten every body. And they say that you have to fight him tomorrow, and if you beat him, we'll put you right in the UFC. I was like okay, send me a plane ticket, and before I know it, I'm flying to Iowa with no cornerman, going to fight in a Monte Cox show, which you might as well turn the lights off and run your head into the wall. So things like that happened to me. I don't know if those are dark moments, but those are some of the things that I remember. I look at today's athletes and sometimes I see them being prima donnas, or not wanting to do certain things, being ungrateful or complaining about their pay as they pull up in a new Ferrari and I think you guys don't know what it's like. This was a very risky business venture that a couple of crazy guys, who risked everything to make, and you're not owed this industry. You should be a little more grateful."
Former number one contender Chael Sonnen often talks about not needing a major mixed martial arts (MMA) world title to validate his existence as one of the best fighters to ever step inside the Octagon. He's the self-proclaimed "Peoples Champion," remember? However, it wasn't too long ago that Sonnen faced Paulo Filho in a championship rematch under the World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) banner, which was eventually made into a three-round, non-title fight when the Brazilian space cadet tipped the scales seven pounds too heavy. Sonnen would go on to win that contest via unanimous decision in one of the oddest fights ever, but failed to honor a promise made to his late father that he would one day be a world champion. Sure, Filho promised to mail Sonnen the belt "out of respect," but that's not really the same as wearing the belt out of the cage and hanging it over the fireplace. Sonnen again missed out on honoring that promise when he tapped to an Anderson Silva submission (triangle choke) with less than two minutes to spare in a fight he was clearly winning on the judges scorecards. It's rather clear that Sonnen pines to be recognized as a legitimate MMA world champion, despite his outrageous claims to the contrary. Can he do it?
Posted in: fight, world, mma, sonnen, i dont
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen’s Career Will Be ‘Colossal Failure’ Without ‘One Night, One Moment, 12 lbs. of Gold’
Chael Sonnen sits down with MMA:30′s Dave Farra to talk about his career and how hard it was to make it this business. Sonnen says it will all be a “colossal failure” though if his legacy doesn’t include “one night, one moment, 12 lbs. of gold.”
HT: @robnashville
Posted in: sonnen, gold, chael, failure ’, business sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ConvertWWE Champ CM Punk to Escort Chael Sonnen to Octagon at UFC on Fox 2
WWE champion CM Punk will escort UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen to the Octagon when he takes on Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 on January 28 in Punk’s hometown of Chicago.
A title shot against middleweight champion Anderson Silva will be on the line between Munoz and the outspoken Sonnen, who dominated Silva before being submitted in the final round of their first meeting in 2010.
UFC on Fox 2 is headlined by light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis and also features top middleweights Michael Bisping and Demian Maia.
For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2 stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, fox, phil davis, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyOctober 2011 MMA Recap: GSP Hurts Knee, Nick Diaz Beats Up B.J. Penn, Chael Sonnen Returns
As 2011 began to rumble toward its wintry end, one of the best fighters in the world and an all-time great was faced with a serious injury, a former champion was battered in what could be his last fight and the final part of a trilogy was as good as advertised.
October 2011: Of Knee-Jerk Reactions
After winning 30 straight rounds and eight straight going into his April 2011 title defense against Jake Shields, it turned out that Georges St. Pierre's toughest opponent was his body as he was pulled from his scheduled UFC 137 title defense against Carlos Condit with two weeks notice due to a knee injury.
Nick Diaz took full advantage of his main event opportunity, ripping apart B.J. Penn with strikes at UFC 137 and cutting an infamous post-fight speech that riled up GSP so much that he leapfrogged Condit to take back his title shot.
Diaz said St. Pierre wasn't hurt but was scared to face him and according to Dana White, GSP demanded he fight Diaz next. White said Condit was fine with it. Uh huh. Penn said he was retiring, but later explained he was going to take some time off instead.
****
UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard weren't mainstream sports sensations going into 2011, but did gain some praise among casual MMA fans for their January 1st Fight Of The Year candidate that ended in a draw. Injuries to both men delayed the third fight in their trilogy, but the UFC 136 main event was worth the wait. Edgar submitted Maynard in the fourth round in a battle that played out much like their second one did.Chael Sonnen returned to action for the first time in more than a year and ran through Brian Stann to seemingly earn an anticipated rematch with Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. He also cut a great post-fight promo (ala Diaz) where he challenged Silva to a bout where if Silva lost, he would leave the 185-pound division and if Sonnen lost, he'd "leave the UFC forever". Outlandish? Yes. Awesome? Double yes. Silva's people said that Sonnen didn't deserve another shot.
While a relatively small amount of people purchased the pay-per-view, it also featured a successful title defense by 145-pound champion Jose Aldo over Kenny Florian and a surprise submission victory by Joe Lauzon over top lightweight contender Melvin Guillard.
****
The quest of Rashad Evans to earn another 205-pound title shot suffered a setback as White booked UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida for December's UFC 140 despite rumors that Evans had got the nod. Jones said Evans was ducking him, but an Evans hand injury wouldn't be healed in time for a Toronto show that White desperately wanted a name-value main event for.
For the rest of the month that was October, join us after the jump.
Other Stuff That Happened
UFC Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz defeated Demetrious Johnson in a fun, under-appreciated unanimous decision, the first free TV UFC title match in years...Dana White said that Gilbert Melendez was heading to the UFC (and so did Cesar Gracie) but he had to defend his title against Masvidal first. Melendez was excited to head over. Poor guy...Jon Anik did join the UFC, brought over from ESPN to head up the play-by-play on FX events.
Viacom purchased the majority stake in Bellator and announced plans to move the promotion to Spike TV in 2013. Eddie Alvarez said he was interesting in buying the promotion at one point...UFC PPVs moved back to 10 PM EST...Kimbo Slice had another quick boxing KO...The UFC decided not to use their return to Japan as a lead-in for a U.S. PPV...Mirko Cro Cop announced his retirement.
Fans had to prepare for the end of the UFC Gladiator Guy...Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort were rumored as coaches for the launch of TUF Brazil...Dana White said he would welcome a gay fighter in the UFC...Brett Rogers was arrested again...Kenny Florian said he was going to return to lightweight...Shane Carwin had back surgery and was out until mid-2012...Eddie Alvarez vs. Michael Chandler was rebooked for November.
Kurt Angle was justthisclose to being in the TUF 10 house but failed a physical...Brock Lesnar signed a deal to appear in a WWE video game...Tim Kennedy was rumored as heading to the UFC...Showtime Sports lead Ken Hershman left for HBO Sports, an important move toward Zuffa/Strikeforce negotiations...Antonio McKee said Dana White should be voted out of the UFC.
Full archive of October stories on Bloody Elbow
Past Monthly Recaps:
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
Posted in: ufc, diaz, title, champion, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowPunk seconds Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2
MMA Fighting reportsWWE wrestler CM Punk will accompany Chael Sonnen to the Octagon at UFC on Fox 2. Punk, a Chicago native and MMA fan, appeared on an episode of the MMA Hour last year talking about his admiration of mixed martial arts.
Payout Perspective:
Is the Punk appearance good for the UFC? Does Punk’s appearance muddy the lines between the UFC and WWE? Is it a sign of things to come with the new UFC-Fox relationship?
In the end, the Punk walkout may not be a big deal unless Fox picks up on it pre-fight. From a practical standpoint, the pairing of Punk and Sonnen will be an attraction for Chicago. It also makes sense because Punk’s character is anti-hero and Sonnen (in a way) mirrors that persona. But for the casual viewer tuning in for the first time, will they associate MMA with professional wrestling? From the WWE’s standpoint, its good, free publicity for its sport. Punk is becoming one of the top two or three wrestlers in the company and the appearance on network television can only help. Definitely, those anti-pro wrestling people cannot like the fact that the UFC is crossing over (again) into the world of pro-wrestling.
Posted in: ufc, mma, fox, punk, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA PayoutWWE Champion CM Punk linked to appearance at UFC on FOX 2
With his loss at UFC 141 Brock Lesnar’s stint in the MMA world appears to be over, yet as it turns out another WWE Superstar’s is beginning. However, this time around the wrestler in question is none other than current WWE Champion CM Punk and rather than actual step into the Octagon as a competitor he will team up with Chael Sonnen for the outspoken middleweight’s bout against Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2.
Punk who hails from Chicago where the event is being held, will walk Sonnen down to the cage. He has been a long time proponent of Mixed Martial Arts and incorporates techniques from the sport in his own moveset.
News of the pairing was first rumored on The Underground and has since been confirmed with sources close to Sonnen via a report on MMAFighting.
A win for Sonnen will earn him a shot this summer at UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, his hated rival and the man he nearly defeated for the belt before being tapped out in the final minutes of a 2010 fight. No word has surfaced on whether or not Munoz plans to bring in John Laurinaitis to counter the “Cult of Personality” teaming up.
PHOTO CREDIT – WWE
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, punk, wwe, sonnen, time proponent
Read the full article at Fighters.comChael Sonnen: “If I was GSP or Jon Jones, I’d be swallowing real deep right now.”
Chael Sonnen seems to have had enough of Anderson Silva and the UFC middleweight title.
Sonnen, who will battle Mark Munoz to become the #1 contender to Silva on January 28 at UFC on FOX 2, has his sights set on facing off with another champion, or so he says during the first installment of Chael’s Corner for UFC Tonight on FUEL TV.
Sonnen is part of the weekly MMA show that will help highlight the UFC, including news, results and fight information courtesy of hosts Todd Harris and Kenny Florian. During his segment, Sonnen called out injured UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones, saying, “If I was GSP or Jones, I’d be swallowing real deep right now.”
UFC on FOX 2 takes place from Chicago, Illinois. Sonnen-Munoz will be the co-main event, while Rashad Evans and Phil Davis occupy the main event slot for the night.
Check out the video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, jone, sonnen, mark munoz, night check
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC on FOX 2: CM Punk walks Chael Sonnen down the aisle
If you're one of many mixed martial arts (MMA) fans who cringes every time we mention World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), now's probably a good time to click here and get the heck outta Dodge.
Those of you sticking around may (or may not) get a kick out of today's report that WWE Champion and longtime pro wrestler CM Punk will be escorting Chael Sonnen to the Octagon prior to his middleweight fight against Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois.
MMA Fighting has the details:
World Wrestling Entertainment champion CM Punk will escort Chael Sonnen to the cage prior to Sonnen's fight against Mark Munoz live on FOX, according to sources close to Sonnen's camp. When reached for a comment, both Sonnen and Punk, a proud native of Chicago, as well as a long-time MMA fan, would not confirm the story, which was first reported by MMA.tv poster FrontRowBrian Tuesday night.
According to the same sources, Punk will not corner Sonnen during the fight. He will simply walk Sonnen to the cage, much like former WWE champion Batista did with Manny Pacquaio prior to "Pac Man's" May 2009 bout against Ricky Hatton.
Sonnen has long been heralded as a pro wrestling-style performer, living in a kayfabe world and cutting very animated promos that talk himself up and run his competition down.
But is this taking it one step too far?
Give us your reaction to this unusual pairing for the upcoming fight card in the "Windy City," for which you can learn more about right here.
Posted in: fight, punk, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen pokes fun at peers on debut of Chael's Corner
With the New Year the UFC’s deal with FOX has kicked into full gear including a regular news magazine program on Fuel TV called UFC Tonight where hosts Todd Harris and Kenny Florian discuss the MMA landscape. However, in between all the information, one of the show’s segments offers up a lighthearted look at things from colorful middleweight Chael Sonnen titled Chael’s Corner.
On Tuesday night’s episode Sonnen decided to provide some holiday cheer by looking back at what a few of his peers in the MMA world got for Christmas as well as offer up his resolutions for 2012.
Also, though little weight can be put in the statement, Sonnen also reassured fans he has plans for a UFC champion outside of his regular division if/when he beats Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2.
Sonnen Says He’s Done with “The Spider”
Watch below as Sonnen talks about his plans for 2012 and takes Lyoto Machida, Wanderlei Silva, and Anderson Silva to task:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, fuel tv, sonnen, mark munoz, chaels corner
Read the full article at Fighters.comWWE Champion CM Punk To Walk Out With Chael Sonnen At UFC On Fox 2
A good segment of the MMA universe hates professional wrestling to no end. Any links between the two (see Brock Lesnar) are dismissed and disregarded by this segment quickly and with vitriol. One of the founders of this very site has gone on record with how much he dislikes the use of wrestling terms when discussing MMA.
Those people will then hate the news that came out Wednesday that WWE Champion and MMA enthusiast CM Punk will walk out with Chael Sonnen in his UFC On Fox 2 middleweight contender's match against Mark Munoz on Saturday, January 28.
Sonnen confirmed the news Tuesday, according to MMA/pro wrestling expert Dave Meltzer. MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani confirmed that Punk will not corner Sonnen during the fight.
The news again puts the spotlight on the informal partnership of sorts between the WWE and the UFC that has existed for years. Steve Austin, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, The Undertaker (Mark Calloway) and Dave Batista have all regularly attended UFC events with a famous post-fight staredown between Calloway and Lesnar during an Helwani interview making headlines in both industries.
Lesnar himself successfully made the jump to MMA after leaving WWE in 2004, while Batista was in talks with pre-Zuffa Strikeforce until last year. Former WWE standout Bobby Lashley has competed in Strikeforce and on the regional circuit for several years with varying success. In 2011, Dana White famously visited WWE chairman Vince McMahon in Stamford, CT, but didn't go into details about what and why.
Punk (Phil Brooks) appeared on the 100th edition of The MMA Hour with Helwani and is from Chicago. Meltzer said that Punk was taken off a WWE house show event that night, meaning they had to grant him permission to appear at the UFC event. Sonnen is known for his "wrestling style" promos and did a tryout at World Championship Wrestling's Power Plant training facility after graduating college.
Posted in: ufc, mma, punk, wwe, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White wants to do Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II in Brazil
Shortly after Chael Sonnen beat Brian Stann this past October, UFC President Dana White referred to the outspoken middleweight’s expected rematch against Anderson Silva as the type of match-up the company would use in hopes of filling a venue like Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. However, with Silva sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Sonnen was booked to face Mark Munoz later this month at UFC on FOX 2 instead.
Of course that doesn’t mean White’s reverence for the match-up’s marketability has changed any as he made clear on a recent episode of UFC Tonight.
“If we can get Chael Sonnen versus Anderson Silva that will probably be held in Brazil in a stadium,” said White. “Everyone in the world will want to watch that.”
A transcription of the UFC executive’s quotes was provided by MMAFighting.
While the venues may have changed it appears the organization’s intentions of filling a stadium with Sonnen-Silva as bait to surpass the 55,000+ in attendance at UFC 129. White has made mention of wanting to put upwards of 100,000 fans in the seats in Brazil, mentioning the overwhelming popularity of the UFC in Brazil relating to their return to Rio this past August.
Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos has also mentioned his interest in defending his title against Alistair Overeem in Brazil as well, a perfect compliment to Silva-Sonnen II when it comes to potentially selling out a soccer stadium in the South American hub.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, anderson silva, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva rematch would take place in Soccer Stadium in Brazil
This according to UFC President Dana White, who confirmed to Fuel TV during a recent appearance on the UFC Tonight show that if he can book Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva part duex, he would do so in Brazil:
"If we can get Chael Sonnen versus Anderson Silva, that will probably be held in Brazil in a stadium. Everyone in the world will want to watch that."
Indeed, there's no doubt that bout would be one of the biggest selling fights of the year but it's entirely possible there's no chance of it ever taking place.
That's because Sonnen is currently booked to take on Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28, 2012, in Chicago, Illinois. "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" is no pushover and shouldn't be counted out, even if it kind of sort of sounds a little bit like that's what White is doing.
Or he just can't help but see the dollar signs when thinking of the kind of business he could do by sending Sonnen into the belly of the beast in Brazil to try to take the middleweight title from one of the country's most powerful representatives, Silva.
There's little doubt that we all want to see it but there's definitely question marks regarding Munoz's ability to play spoiler and ruin the whole thing. Anyone think White is overlooking Munoz here? Or is Sonnen going to run right through him and keep on going until he gets to Brazil?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: silva, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen, there
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen will be joined by WWE Champion CM Punk at UFC on Fox
Two “champions” will walk to the Octagon for the UFC on Fox 2 co-main event, as WWE Champion CM Punk will join “Chael P. Sonnen, the true champion” for Sonnen’s bout against Mark Munoz.
CM Punk, who hails from Chicago, has admitted that he is a fan of MMA and if you have witnessed a Chael Sonnen interview as of late, you know that he has watched some video on how to hype a fight and build an image via interviews.
FrontRowBrian first tweeted the news on Tuesday stating:
FRB
Posted in: punk, champion, chael sonnen, sonnen, interviews frontrowbrian
Read the full article at Low KickWWE Champion CM Punk to Escort Chael Sonnen to Octagon Prior to FOX Fight
The "best in the world" will team up with the "undefeated and undisputed UFC middleweight champion" on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago.
World Wrestling Entertainment champion CM Punk will escort Chael Sonnen to the cage prior to Sonnen's fight against Mark Munoz live on FOX, according to sources close to Sonnen's camp. When reached for a comment, both Sonnen and Punk, a proud native of Chicago, as well as a long-time MMA fan, would not confirm the story, which was first reported by MMA.tv poster FrontRowBrian Tuesday night.
The pairing makes sense considering Punk's strong ties to the Chicago-area and love of MMA, plus Sonnen's interest in the world of professional wrestling. Still no word on whether Sonnen will come out to Punk's theme song, "Cult of Personality," by Living Colour.
According to the same sources, Punk will not corner Sonnen during the fight. He will simply walk Sonnen to the cage, much like former WWE champion Batista did with Manny Pacquaio prior to "Pac Man's" May 2009 bout against Ricky Hatton.
Punk was recently a guest on The MMA Hour, talking about the relationship between MMA and pro wrestling. You can watch his appearance here. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, mma, punk, champion, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseHow's Taste My Tweet Tweet? MMA on Twitter - Chael Sonnen Says Brock Lesnar Was Robbed, Schiavello Calls Fedor a Diva
A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA Twitterverse
CHAEL SONNEN'S THOUGHTS ON UFC 141: LESNAR VS. OVEREEM
"WOW Brock just retired. He was a great champion and a true asset to the sport of MMA. Thank you @DCBrockLesnar" -Shane Carwin
"Brock was robbed!!!" -Chael Sonnen
"Brock was getting ready to leap all over that big bum. He was loading himself on the floor, like a coiled spring, and they stopped it..." -Chael Sonnen
"I've grown skeptical of a sport that tolerates the type of injustice that Brock faced tonight. So, I am retiring." -Chael Sonnen
"Not immediately" -Chael Sonnen, these two tweets about "retirement" has since been deleted. Probably cause a lot of people took it seriously.
LYOTO MACHIDA CALLS OUT CHAEL SONNEN
"Chael Sonnen, acabei de sair da cirurgia, mas posso lhe dar seu presente dentro do octogono com um so braco e so vc aceitar a luta." -Lyoto Machida, here's the translated version of the tweet - "Chael Sonnen, I just had surgery but I can still give you your present in the octagon with just one arm. All you have to do is accept"
"I don't have time for "pee pee" mouth. All the time I can spare him is enough to cold cock him and walk away." -Chael Sonnen
There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena
Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth
MICHAEL SCHIAVELLO SAYS FEDOR IS "A DIVA"
"Lots of Fedor love after Ishii win. Back to back for Fedor but I’d like to see a true test of his current mettle against a better name" -Michael Schiavello
"BTW Fedor is SUCH a DIVA! Other fighters & us sat on bus for about 90 min after show because Fedor apparently needs a bus all to himself! Even Bibi Fernandes and his team were booted off the second bus because "that is Fedor’s bus," mind you these are like 70 seat tour buses! ...Seriously, it was just plain RUDE. Fighters want to get to their hotel we ALL HAD TO WAIT & Bibi had to clear off the Fedor bus. If greats like Hoost, JLB, Sefo, Schilt, Hunt, Hug, Aerts etc can all bus share, Fedor can too." -Michael Schiavello
"Fancy booting Bibi Fernandes & his team off ONE BUS and onto the other more crowded one. Dude just won the B/W GP! Not to mention sitting there for 90 mins on a bus at 1230am waiting, waiting, waiting… I get the "special treatment" thing but hey, hire a small private van or a limousine, I’ve seen that done before. Don’t keep others waiting." -Michael Schiavello
"Andy Hug was a far bigger star in Japan than Fedor and I never once knew Andy to order his own bus & clear out others. Fact. No hate, I love Fedor’s style of fighting, huge fan, just saying the diva bus demand was harsh on other fighters waiting to go." -Michael Schiavello
"I don’t think it’s fedor I think it’s his people. He is not like that at all." -Tim Sylvia
"Thanks Tim, I think so too. Trouble is that management reflects on their clients, hence this reflects on Fedor." -Tim Sylvia
"My apologies to Fedor if that's the case, all I know we were TOLD "that is fedor's bus only"" -Michael Schiavello
TWIDEOS
" Luke Rockhold is a @Strikeforce champion who defends on Jan 7. But what made him who he is today? WATCH:" -Showtime Sports
" @VitorBelfort 'Road to @UFC 142' video diary for @RumbleJohnson fight (Episode two)" -MMA Mania
"Reflections from @UrijahFaber on #UFC 141, Lesnar's retirement, and the new season of TUF" -UFC
TITO ORTIZ "GOES NUTS" & LOSES HIS JACKET, OVEREEM SAVES THE DAY
"Going nuts n Vegas." -Tito Ortiz
"@titoortiz my friends told me that you left your jacket in the club. They took it with them so DM so we can make sure you get it back" -Alistair Overeem
UFC 141 REACTIONS
"Back to work on monday thanks for the support 0 injuries 0 anything Volkmann just held me down n didnt do nothing. I want to dance no hug!!!" -Efrain Escudero, didn't we see you do the same to other dudes before?
"My Whole right arm hurts so bad that I can't even sleep I hate this feeling my arm hurts but my heart hurts the most :(" -Manny Gamburyan
"I'm sorry i let everyone down, but my hats off to @jimhettes he had an awesome performance." -Nam Phan
"Sorry to all of my fans. I have let you all down." -Jon Fitch
TWICTURES
"@joeB135 i got you a x mas present i think u w like." -Clay Guida
"Gettin ready to head out for the trails.. snackin on a Honey Stinger Waffle and Emergenc-C to wash it down.. natural energy & vitamins Mmm ;) " -Natasha Wicks
"My beautiful big sis & I at #ufc141 last night.. popped her&her hubbies UFC LIVE cherries! They were pleased ;)" -Natasha Wicks
"Happy Hump Day!! #housecleaningedition ;)" -Natasha Wicks
"Love my @jaideclothing dress! Perfect for nye!!" -Arianny Celeste
" Gangsta and sweet... She's up I no good @chandellapowell" -Arianny Celeste
RANDOM TWIDBITS
"@ufc just emailed me sayn speedo shorts are prohibited! Haha thanks Dennis Hallman" -Duane Ludwig
"I guess I'm on twitter solely to find out what it feels like to be a victim of cyberbullying. It suck. Damn people mean" -Forrest Griffin
"My new years resolution is to be less of a dick. A lot of you need to so this as well... Im real f$$king person it's suck that every time I on here some throws my greatest failure in my face. I can take a joke but how m..." -Forrest Griffin
"Considering all the horrible things @PhilMrWonderful likes to make up about me I was a lil scared to meet his mom, but she was very nice :)" -Joey Beltran
"I wear my wife's @ShayMcCall 's victoria secret sweats to get bagels for the family ... So what if they say pink on the ass" -Ian McCall
"Lady drawing my blood just now asks if I do that tapout stuff? Umm no, not really." -Duane Ludwig
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, fedor, chael, bus
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowPotential Silva-Sonnen Rematch Will 'Probably' Be Held in Brazil Soccer Stadium
Filed under: UFC, NewsA Chael Sonnen win over Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX later this month might just be a gift and a curse for "the gangster from West Linn, OR."
That's because UFC president Dana White confirmed to FUEL TV that he is looking to book the much-anticipated Silva vs. Sonnen rematch in Brazil, the target of many of Sonnen's recent verbal attacks.
"If we can get Chael Sonnen versus Anderson Silva," White said at a taping of UFC Tonight, "that will probably be held in Brazil in a stadium. Everyone in the world will want to watch that."
Rumors of a stadium show in Sao Paulo have been swirling for months, with the open-air Morumbi Stadium being a leading candidate to host the event. Depending on how it's configured, that particular soccer stadium could hold close to 80,000 people for a UFC card. The organization has never put on an outdoor show before, and its current attendance record is 55,724 fans for UFC 129 in April 2011.
Sonnen was supposed to attend UFC 134 in Brazil to corner Yushin Okami, until he was asked by one of Okami's sponsors to stay at home after receiving several death threats due to his anti-Brazil comments.
"It got a little bit out of hand," Sonnen said on The MMA Hour. "The level of death threats got a little bit high. I reached 10 death threats, and I think No. 7 was actually serious. By the looks of his eyes, it looked like he'd stabbed somebody before."
Considering their heated rivalry, a Silva-Sonnen rematch would obviously be a of great interest to the Brazilian fans, plus the show could also feature the finals of TUF: Brazil, which would include a battle between coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort.
Sonnen vs. Munoz, which is being billed as No. 1 middleweight contender's fight, takes place Jan. 28, live on FOX. The UFC will return to Brazil two weeks earlier for UFC 142 on Jan. 14 from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, brazil, sonnen, stadium, death threats
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseLyoto Machida Calls Out Chael Sonnen After Elbow Surgery, Says He’d Beat Him With One Arm
It seems Lyoto Machida has had enough of Chael Sonnen’s big mouth.
Following successful elbow surgery today (yes, that’s news to me too), Machida laid down a challenge to Sonnen on Twitter. Translation via MMA Fighting:
“Chael Sonnen, I just had surgery but I can still give you your present in the octagon with just one arm. All you have to do is accept,” he wrote.
Apparently, Machida wasn’t thrilled with that “Chael’s Corner” preview clip where Sonnen said he hoped Machida got a big bottle of Listerene for Christmas to chase his morning cup of urine with. Not a bad idea actually. Nevertheless, it seems Machida has had enough of Sonnen’s constant insults and decided to take a stand.
It’s doubtful a Sonnen vs. Machida match-up would materialize anytime in the foreseeable future though. Sonnen continued to hint at the end of that clip that he’s gunning for Jon Jones or Georges St. Pierre, however a rematch with Anderson Silva remains the most likely scenario if he beats Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2.
By the way, Machida’s surgery “went well,” but it’s unclear how long it will keep him out of action.
Posted in: sonnen, lyoto machida, machida, chael, surgery
Read the full article at MMA Convert"Chael's Corner"
Chael Sonnen will be taking a step down from his 100,000+ follower twitter soapbox tonight to appear on the much smaller FUEL channel show UFC Tonight. It's your standard Chael smacktalk schtick everyone knows and loves, but I have to wonder what guys like Wanderlei Silva are going to think about their promotion pimping material that calls them washed up and over the hill. It's one thing to claim Chael's gonna say what he's going to say and another to actually produce, package and present his disses as part of a UFC television show. They are pretty entertaining, though. Here's a zinger Chael pulled off last night:
Machida used his Twitter account to call out Sonnen. In Portugese, he wrote a message that translated to, "Chael Sonnen, just got out of surgery, but can give you your gift inside the octagon with one arm and only you accept the fight."Sonnen responded that he "doesn't have time for pee-pee mouth," referring to Machida's practice of drinking his own urine.
You can catch UFC Tonight at 10PM EST on FUEL (if you're lucky enough to get it). It should answer the classic philosophical question: If Chael flaps his gums about someone on a TV show but no one is watching, does it still make a sound?
Posted in: ufc, show, sonnen, chael, night machida
Read the full article at FightlinkerChael Sonnen doesn't have time for "one-armed, pee-pee mouth" Lyoto Machida
It looks like Jon Jones isn't the only Light Heavyweight willing to welcome Chael Sonnen to the 205-pound division.Set to face fellow 185'er, Mark Munoz, in a number-one contender match at UFC on Fox 2, Sonnen recently suggested that, if victorious, he would use his status as top contender, not to challenge his long time rival and Middleweight champ, Anderson Silva, but rather one of two other UFC title holders."I will be announcing who I'll be fighting very soon," said Sonnen. "But I promise you this: If
Posted in: light heavyweight, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz, i promise
Read the full article at Low KickMachida invites Sonnen to fight him over Twitter. Sonnen declines.
Chael Sonnen has been trying to pick a fight with Anderson Silva like it is his job. Now Silva's Blackhouse teammate Lyoto Machida has in turn challenged Sonnen, via twitter. Machida posted in Brazilian Portuguese. Translation is below. "Chael Sonnen, just got out of surgery, but can give you your gift inside the octagon with one arm and only you accept the fight." Sonnen replied decorously, also via twitter. "I don't have time for "pee pee" mouth. All the time I can spare him is enough to cold cock him and walk away." The 'pee pee' reference is to a Machida family tradition of drinking urine. The practice, though unusual, has some notable adherents, including Mahatma Ghandi, J.D. Salinger, and that guy who cut his arm off after getting stuck on a desert hike. When he is not driving Brazilian's crazy, Chael Sonnen is training for a fight with Mark Munoz on Jan. 28 at UFC on FOX 2. Underground News submitted by red1392 [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: fight, sonnen, twitter, machida, time i
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen doesn't fight people with one arm and a mouth full of pee-pee
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida is just one fighter on a long list of Brazilian combatants who have a problem with ex-UFC middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen.
In fact, he's even willing to fight him with one arm.
He might not have a choice, considering he recently tweeted that injuries forced him into the shop for repairs. Unfortunately for "The Dragon," Sonnen doesn't fight people who drink their own urine. He does, however, have time to "cold cock" him and walk away.
I don't have time for "pee pee" mouth. All the time I can spare him is enough to cold cock him and walk away.
I'm not sure how much damage he can do with a cold cock, but the mere thought of it is enough to keep me out of harm's way.
Sonnen, in addition to getting more mic time as the host of "Chael's Corner" on UFC Tonight, will try to get back into a middleweight title fight against Anderson Silva by taking on Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28, 2012, from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Machida, meanwhile, is still licking his wounds from a UFC 140 beatdown at the hands of Jon Jones last December.
While Sonnen has teased a fight at 205-pounds in the past, it will likely take a loss at middleweight -- one that eliminates him from title contention -- to make that kind of move possible.
Oh, hello, "Filipino Wrecking Machine."
Posted in: ufc, fight, time, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLyoto Machida Undergoes Successful Surgery, Calls Out Chael Sonnen
Filed under: UFC, NewsLyoto Machida recently had successful left elbow surgery, and moments after the procedure, he took to Twitter to lay down a challenge to the loquacious Chael Sonnen.
"Chael Sonnen, I just had surgery but I can still give you your present in the octagon with just one arm. All you have to do is accept," he wrote.
Machida perhaps saw or heard about Sonnen's recent remarks on a FUEL TV promo clip, part of the "UFC Tonight" show that airs Tuesday night at 10 p.m. ET, suggesting some mouthwash for the former light heavyweight champion, who drinks his first urine of the day. If not, he may have heard one of the other countless shots Sonnen has taken about him or his country mates over the past couple of years.
Machida's response is notable because, in the past, Sonnen's Brazilian targets, most notably Anderson Silva, have chosen to ignore his remarks or simply take the high road when asked about them.
As far as the elbow surgery, Machida's second, he wrote that it "went very well."
Sonnen returns to action on Jan. 28 against Mark Munoz. A win would earn him a rematch against the middleweight champion Silva. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: sonnen, lyoto machida, machida, chael, surgery
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen has his own show airing tomorrow on Fuel TV and you didn't even know...
How much would we truly know about the physics of smack-talk if Chael Sonnen didn't exist? He's the truest purveyor in the art of slinging adjectives while simultaneously crushing egos. Sonnen has bullied an entire country by bending everyone's reality to favor his own career progression -- and it's remarkable. Chael Sonnen is also a firm believer that Brock Lesnar was robbed in his UFC 141 fight with Alistair Overeem. By Chael's logic, your universe doesn't exist. Everything you can experience in your life is a product of Chael's inspiration -- so we should all be thankful. Fortunately for us, Fuel TV has granted Chael Sonnen his own television show called 'Chael's Corner' airing tomorrow (January 3rd 2012) and here's the preview for it.
Posted in: chael sonnen, fuel tv, sonnen, chael, egos sonnen
Read the full article at Middle EasyVideo: Chael Sonnen Debuts 'Chael's Corner' On Fuel's UFC Tonight
With UFC Tonight set to debut Tuesday on Fuel, one of the most outspoken fighters in the sport -- Chael Sonnen -- will debut a segment on the show called 'Chael's Corner'.
The video clip below features Sonnen giving his famous opinions on several fighters including Wanderlei Silva, Lyoto Machida and Welterweight Champion Anderson Silva, reiterating his recent claims that his next title shot will not be against Silva.
Sonnen will fight Mark Munoz in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 on Saturday, January 28, with the winner expected to earn a shot at Silva's 185-pound title. The 34-year-old was dominant in an October submission win over Brian Stann, his first since famously tapping to Silva in August 2010.
UFC Tonight is Fuel's new weekly news-style show, done in a similar vein to ESPN MMA Live. It features WEC play-by-play announcer Todd Harris and Kenny Florian as co-anchors with Jay Glazer and Ariel Helwani contributing as well. The show will air at 10 PM EST.
See the video after the jump.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, chael, chaels corner
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen will be a part of Fuel TV's UFC Tonight show
If you’re a fan of UFC Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, then Fuel TV has good news for you. If you’re not a fan of the man that possesses the “largest arm in West Linn, Oregon,” well, then you may want to avoid “UFC Tonight” which will air every Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT on Fuel.
That’s right, Sonnen will have his own segment on “UFC Tonight,” a preview of which can be found below.
“Chael’s Corner” will be part of the
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, fuel tv, sonnen, “ ufc
Read the full article at Low KickUFCs Chael Sonnen ranked among top 10 sports villains for 2011
Outspoken and outrageous Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight, Chael Sonnen, finds himself right smack in the middle of a not-so prestigious list that includes sports figures such as pro-tennis star Serena Williams and NBA Commissioner David Stern.
According to Yahoo! Sports, Sonnen is number five on its top 10 list of sports villains for 2011. Here is the description:
5. Chael Sonnen -- A one-man MMA goon squad who has ripped on Octagon girls, stormed out of interviews and makes WWE declarations to beaten opponents. The highly-ranked American middleweight had off-octagon problems as well. In January, he pleaded guilty to mortgage fraud and received two years' probation.
With his knack for getting a rise out of anybody on the promotion's roster with his verbal attacks and quick wit, the former NCAA All-American wrestler has never been one to shy away to speaking his mind.
So much so, in fact, that UFC President Dana White says he hasn't seen (or in this case heard) anyone have a way with words since the great Muhammad Ali. UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, as well as most fighters who hail from Brazil, have been the primary target of Sonnen's one-man good squad.
However, no one is seemingly safe from his sharp tongue, including other sports figures such as seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong and even UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste, among others.
To see the rest of Yahoo's "Top 10 Sports Villains for 2011" click here.
Posted in: ufc, sport, sonnen, chael, sports figures
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Asks For Support From Anderson Silva’s Rival Soccer Club
Chael Sonnen definitely has a future in pro wrestling if this whole MMA thing doesn’t work out.
HT: Fightlinker
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, fightlinker, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertThis Week in Trolling: Sonnen hates Corinthians
Yeah, fuck those Corinthians and their fancy-ass imported leather!
If you're wondering WTF is going on here, it's Chael Sonnen's latest pot-shot in his ongoing campaign of trollery against Anderson Silva. You see, Palmeiras and Corinthians Paulista are rival Brazilian fútbol clubs, and Corinthians is both Anderson's favorite team and sponsor, so of course Sonnen has now declared himself to be a Palmeiras fan. Only a fool would believe that he actually watches regional foreign soccer played by a piglet tribe of savages, but that didn't stop Palmeiras from capitalizing on a chance to jab at their own nemesis, so they sent him the jersey he wears in the vid.
I guess if talking shit about a man's wife doesn't piss him off enough, try his favorite team... then say he's ugly and his mother dresses him funny. Oh, and his sister's a slut.
Props to Graciemag.
Posted in: sonnen, palmeira, corinthian, wife doesnt, trolling sonnen
Read the full article at FightlinkerJon Jones: Someone tell Chael Sonnen he knows where I'll be waiting
Reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones responded to Chael Sonnen's "call-out" during TSN's Off The Record show with Michael Landsberg, tweeting "Someone tell Chael Sonnen he knows where I'll be waiting". Self-proclaimed UFC Middleweight Champion went as far as two steps above his current weight class, issuing a warning to Jon Jones and the newly-crowned UFC Heavyweight Champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos that he's coming for their titles.
Chael Sonnen declared he would use the "voucher"
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, cigano dos, record show
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen vs. Michael Lansberg: The Rematch
Here’s the full video of Michael Lansberg’s second interview with Chael Sonnen on TSN’s Off The Record.
Posted in: michael, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, lansberg
Read the full article at MMA ConvertFull video of Chael Sonnen's return to 'Off the Record' with Michael Landsberg
Chael Sonnen returns to the scene of his epic television trolling crime, where just last month on the set of "Off The Record" in Canada he conducted one of the most bizarre, "flabbergasting" interviews in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA).
"The Peoples" champion -- "undefeated and undisputed" -- was back at it again yesterday (Fri., Dec. 23, 2011), but this time it was his show (isn't it always?) with special guest, the ghost of David Hasselhoff (a.k.a. Michael Lansberg). Sonnen spit some hot fire in regard to reigning UFC Middleweight Champion and longtime arch nemesis, Anderson Silva, as well as set his sights on Junior dos Santos, Jon Jones and/or Georges St. Pierre.
Sonnen, you see, is done chasing the "Spider" and would rather fight every other champion besides the Brazilian, who is currently recovering from an elbow injury and has not expressed an equally-burning desire to coordinate a rematch.
However, Sonnen will have to first get passed Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2: "Evans vs. Davis," which takes place at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 28, 2012. It's supposed to be a number one division contender eliminator match, but after this latest rant from Sonnen, it's anyones guess what will happen next if he comes away with the victory.
It's his voucher, after all.
Posted in: sonnen, mark munoz, elbow injury, peoples champion, flabbergasting interviews
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen vs. Michael Lansberg II Fallout: Sonnen Is ‘Done’ with Anderson Silva
Remember that interview with TSN’s Michael Lansberg that Chael Sonnen walked out on last month? Well, the rematch went down today and suffice it to say, things went a lot smoother this time. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t entertaining though.
Chael P. Sonnen (P standing for “perfection”) brought plenty of one-liners and a new proclamation that he is “DONE” with Anderson Silva, despite being one win away from a rematch with him. Instead, Sonnen now wants a title fight with either Jon Jones, Junior dos Santos or Georges St. Pierre.
“The bottom line is, I’m done with the guy,” the 34-year-old Sonnen said in an excerpt released prior to the show by TSN. “He and I have no business. . . . He’s so far over the hill and past his prime it’s not worth talking about.
“I’m going to become the No. 1 contender on January 28th, but despite what you may think, I am not going to use that voucher to fight Anderson Silva. I’ll be looking at Dos Santos, Jones and possibly St-Pierre.
“I will take that voucher to (UFC president) Dana White and I will pick one of those guys. My time with Anderson is done.”
Funny guy that Chael Sonnen. Of course, we all know he’s full of it when he says things like this, but I suppose the new approach is refreshing when he’s pretty much exhausted every other possible angle of attack in the past two years.
I’ll post video of the interview later on if it becomes available, but for now you can catch the interview over at TSN.
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC Quick Quote: Chael Sonnen is done with Anderson Silva, wants Dos Santos, Jones or St. Pierre
"I'm done with the guy. He and I have no business. This guy is cold product, man, he's like jerry curls and Pepsi clear. He's yesterday's news. I destroyed this guy back when he was tough. That was years ago. He's so far over the hill and past his prime, it's not worth talking about. I'm going to become the number one contender on Jan. 28. But despite what you may think, I'm not going to use that voucher to fight Anderson Silva. I'll be looking at (Junior) dos Santos, (Jon) Jones, and possibly (Georges) St. Pierre. But that, I will take that voucher to Dana White and I will pick one of those three guys. My time with Anderson is done."
-- Chael Sonnen took his traveling act back to the Off The Record Show with Michael Landsberg and in a preview released today, spit some hot fire in regards to reigning Middleweight Champion and longtime arch nemesis Anderson Silva. Old Uncle Chael says he's done with "The Spider" because the Brazilian is old and washed up. He's already had his way with the champ, after all, and in Sonnen's mind, Silva isn't actually a champion. Whether or not he actually believes that is up to you to decide. But if Sonnen can defeat Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28 in Chicago, Illinois, the win will earn him a title shot. Instead of going after Silva, though, Chael says he's got his eyes on Junior dos Santos, Jon Jones or Georges St. Pierre, the heavyweight, light heavyweight and welterweight champions, respectively. Two of those are actually rather intriguing bouts but what are the chances he's just popping off at the mouth and none of this is real talk? Anyone want to see Sonnen move up to challenge Jones for the 205-pound strap? Or maybe move down (if he could make it) to 170-pounds to battle St. Pierre?
Posted in: guy, jon jones, silva, sonnen, he
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen 'Done With Anderson Silva', Wants GSP, Jon Jones, dos Santos Next
On Friday, Chael Sonnen returns to the program he walked off last month, claiming he is done with Anderson Silva and after his fight on January 28th with Mark Munoz, he wants either Georges St. Pierre, Jon Jones or Junior dos Santos in a title match next.
Sonnen will appear on TSN's Off The Record with Michael Landsberg at 5 PM EST and a preview clip released today has the top middleweight claiming his pursuit of the current UFC Middleweight Champion is over.
"I'm done with the guy. He and I have no business. He's cold product. He's like jheri curls and Pepsi Clear. He's yesterday's news. I destroyed this guy back when he was tough. That was years ago. He's so far over the hill and so far past his prime that it's not worth talking about.
I'm going to become the No. 1 contender on January 28th and despite what you may think, I'm not going to use that voucher to fight Anderson Silva. I'll be looking at (Jon) Jones, (Junior) dos Santos and possibly (Georges) St. Pierre. I will take that voucher to Dana White and pick one of those three guys. My time with Anderson is done."
Sonnen walked off a satellite interview with Landsberg in mid-November after not liking a line of questioning. While some believe it was a staged walk-off, Landsberg told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani that wasn't the case. Sonnen will face Munoz in a No. 1 contender's match for Silva's title at UFC on Fox 2.
For those without access to TSN, the entire interview will be available on their website after the show airs.
Posted in: anderson silva, sonnen, anderson, he, preview clip
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSonnen wants title shot in different weight class
Chael Sonnen says he is finished with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and wants a title shot in a different weight class.
Posted in: title shot, title, shot, weight, sonnen
Read the full article at sportsnet.caChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva is like Jheri curls and Pepsi Clear, he's yesterday's news
For the past year it seemed as if every time UFC Middleweight Chael Sonnen opened his mouth, out would come the name Anderson Silva. If a microphone or camera was anywhere near Sonnen he would use it as an opportunity to disparage the Middleweight Champion and many of his training partners. The goal, according to Sonnen, was to pick a fight with Silva.
Having failed to get that fight it seems as if Sonnen has turned his attention elsewhere, "I'm done with the guy. He and I have no business. This guy is
Posted in: silva, training partners, sonnen, middleweight champion, jheri curls
Read the full article at Low KickUFC Quick Quote: Chael Sonnen is the best talker since Muhammad Ali
"(I've never seen) even anywhere near him. Seriously -- and everybody's going to go crazy over this -- but I've never seen anyone who can talk like this guy can since Muhammad Ali. Seriously. Since Muhammad Ali - the stuff that just comes right off the top of his head, and is hilarious. And you don't know what's real and what's not real."
-- UFC President Dana White dishes some heavy praise (via Heavy.com) to middleweight motormouth Chael Sonnen, comparing the former title challenger to the great Muhammad Ali. Not in terms of skill or winning the big one, of course, but rather his ability to spit hot fire on whoever has his attention at any given moment. Usually, it's 185-pound champion Anderson Silva, the Brazilian banger Sonnen has had in his sights for the better part of the past two years. He's an equal opportunity trash talker, though, so folks like Wanderlei Silva and Mirko Filipovic have also felt his considerable wrath. He's tamed the smack a bit recently, mostly because his upcoming opponent at UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28 in Chicago, Mark Munoz, is an old friend, but his tongue is still as quick as ever. Look no further than the recent press conference when his lip was on full display. But, as good as he is -- and he may be the best ever in MMA -- does Sonnen compare to Ali? Or is White just a clearly biased observer who is trying to pump up his employee? Opinions, please.
Posted in: ufc, ali, sonnen, muhammad ali, muhammad
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Says Chael Sonnen is the Best Talker Since Muhammad Ali
Every time Chael Sonnen gets on one of his rolls, trash talking Anderson Silva or whatever unfortunate soul his focus lands on, it splits the MMA audience. Some fans feel that Sonnen's talk is brilliant marketing while another segment of the fanbase thinks it cheapens the sport and lowers it a little too close to pro-wrestling.
You can put UFC president Dana White firmly in the camp that thinks it is brilliant (via Heavy):
"(I've never seen) even anywhere near him," White told HeavyMMA. "Seriously - and everybody's going to go crazy over this - but I've never seen anyone who can talk like this guy can since Muhammad Ali. Seriously. Since Muhammad Ali - the stuff that just comes right off the top of his head, and is hilarious. And you don't know what's real and what's not real."
Sonnen is similar to Ali in that both men take their cues from pro wrestling (Ali with Gorgeous George, Sonnen with Roddy Pipper) and both use a lot of clearly pre-scripted lines.
It's just hard to directly compare anyone to Ali given the cultural gravity of most everything he did.
Sonnen faces Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2.
Posted in: ali, sonnen, muhammad ali, george sonnen, focus lands
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowIs Chael Sonnen MMA’s Muhammad Ali? On the Microphone, Dana White Says Yes
The card is "UFC on Fox: Evans vs. Davis." But last week in Chicago, it was Chael Sonnen's show. After a press conference with many vintage "bad guy" moments, Dana White told HeavyMMA that Sonnen is...
Posted in: press conference, dana, sonnen, chael, microphone dana
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC on FOX 2: Mark Munoz will save Chael Sonnen from Brazilian bounties by beating him up in Chicago
I believe this is referred to as "picking your poison."
Chael Sonnen doesn't need to fly to South America to get his ass handed to him by a Brazilian mob when he can simply show up for his UFC on FOX 2 co-main event on Jan. 28 in Chicago and get his butt kicked by Mark Munoz.
That's according to the "Filipino Wrecking Machine," who told Heavy MMA that he's confident heading into their "Windy City" match-up and that he'll demonstrate his power at the expense of Sonnen's title aspirations.
"I feel Chael and I are a great match-up. I feel his strengths are my strengths, and we are going to go out there and find out who is the true number one contender for the title. If he beats me then God bless him, but I can tell you that I have confidence that I’m going to go out there and beat him up. I have power in my hands. Chael gets on top of people but doesn’t finish them. I finish guys. It’s what I do. I go out there and the guns are blazing. On the feet or on the ground it doesn’t matter. I’m going to demonstrate that power every chance I get. There are bounties for Chael down in Brazil. But he doesn’t have to worry about it, because he’s not going to have to go down there."
Munoz is coming off the biggest win of his career in the main event of UFC 138 last month across the pond, a second round technical knockout victory over Chris Leben, his fourth in a row and seventh in his last eight fights.
Sonnen recently ran through Brian Stann at UFC 136 back on Oct. 8 in Houston, which prompted UFC President Dana White to declare he would be "stupid" not to make "Silva vs. Sonnen II," but a pesky shoulder injury is keeping "The Spider" on the shelf until June, when the world's largest fight promotion heads back to Brazil (again).
If Sonnen can get by Munoz and make a good impression on network TV, he'll be joining his arch nemesis in his home country.
Assuming he can get past those mobs.
UFC on FOX 2, which will mark the promotion's second appearance on network television, will be headlined by a light heavyweight number one contender bout, as Rashad Evans and Phil Davis return from injuries to battle for the right to fight division champion Jon Jones.
For the latest "Evans vs. Davis" news and notes check out our comprehensive event archive right here.
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, chael, munoz, brazilian bounties
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMunoz: Sonnen Shouldn’t Worry About Danger In Brazil, Because He Won’t Be Going
Mark Munoz says Chael Sonnen needn't worry about his safety in Brazil, because he's going to beat him at UFC on FOX in Chicago anyway.
Posted in: ’t, brazil, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz
Read the full article at Heavy MMAUFC's Return To The Windy City Worth The Wait
On January 28th, 2012, it will be 39 months since the Octagon last setup shop in Chicago, Illinois. But the card the UFC has put together for that evening, seriously, will have been worth the wait. To officially kickoff the organization’s deal with FOX, the UFC, for the first time in company history, will take over the home of the Chicago Bulls at the United Center with a trio of scraps that all have title implications and all will be broadcast live on network TV. Definitely, “worth the wait.” For the UFC’s second FOX appearance, there will be one major change to this event as opposed to November’s UFC heavyweight championship bout between Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez: more fights. Instead of one major bout with a belt on the line, the second event will feature three fights over the course of two hours and all for free. And the three fights in question are big ones: Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia, Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz, and, in the main event, Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis. Each one of these matchups is interesting on its own and a must see for any fight fan, but UFC President Dana White has packaged them together and raised the stakes: title eliminators. The winner of Sonnen vs. Munoz will undoubtedly challenge the UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva; meanwhile the victor of Evans vs. Davis will likely face Jon Jones sometime in 2012. For Bisping and Maia, they should be in line for the first crack at the UFC middleweight strap after Sonnen/Munoz vs. Silva. Definitely, “worth the wait”.At a press conference held last week to announce the card, these six soon-to-be-household-names answered questions and enjoyed some good natured ribbing of each other. Maybe it was the excitement of being in The Windy City, maybe it was Christmas cheer, maybe it was Evans’ young son, Rashad Jr., in a suit sitting on his dad’s lap, but the fighters were all respectful and any trash talk was said with a wink and a smile. The opening clash is also the most recent addition to this FOX card: Bisping vs. Maia. On December 3rd, “The Count” flawlessly bested his rival coach, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale and immediately signed up to fight Maia. The Brazilian submission magician, Maia, is on track for another title shot after going 3-1 since his first stab at Silva in April 2010. Seemingly, this is a classic “striker vs. grappler” matchup, but both fighters have grown in the opposite strength by leaps and bounds since first debuting in the Octagon. For “The Count”, it was a quick and easy decision to say yes to his second fight in two months. “I'm proud to be part of this event,” says Bisping, who beat Jorge Rivera in February and delegated the rest of this year filming TUF, so getting back to fighting was a no-brainer. Plus, the opportunity to fight on network television doesn’t hurt. “Why wouldn't I take this fight? I'm in shape, I'm on weight, I'm in my prime, I’m 32 years old, I'm not getting any younger and Demian Maia is a great opponent.”It has been almost two years since Maia submitted an opponent in the cage, which has not been lost on the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. His last four wins are by decision and in each one of them Maia has shown improved standup and better wrestling. Maia is a greater overall fighter nowadays and is not nervous about mixing it up on the feet like he did in his win over Jorge Santiago at UFC 136. Nevertheless, Maia has been sharpening his ground skills to get back to winning “Submission of the Night” awards (4x). “When I started in the UFC I submitted five in a row,” remembers Maia. “When I go into fights and there is no submission, people don't like it. I have been fighting tougher opponents. I have been learning more Thai boxing and more wrestling. I cannot just train jiu-jitsu anymore. I have to be an MMA fighter. I think on FOX, me and Mike are going to put on a war. I’m trying to come back to my roots, come back to my jiu-jitsu. The fans expect that from me when I go to the floor, and I finish the fights by submission.”The second match, sincerely, bet on this being a dogfight: Sonnen vs. Munoz. They wrestled each other in college and, now, they’re going to earn themselves a shot at gold through each other. Sonnen, famously, ground and pounded the champ Silva for four rounds before being submitted in the fifth at UFC 117. The “gangster” from West Linn, Oregon bounced back with a renewed vigor with his second round arm-triangle choke on Brian Stann in October. Munoz is on a four fight win streak, which was capped off with a second round drubbing of Chris Leben at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England. One thing is for certain, the Sonnen quote-machine is ready for primetime network television. “Come January 28th, I assure you it will be one more in the win column, one more above the mantel, and one more for the bad guy,” delivers Sonnen with that crisp, controlled confidence UFC fans have come to know and love. Also, Sonnen took the time to expel some high praise for Munoz too. “Everyone has a list of guys they don't want to fight and Mark is on the top of that list. I've competed against him before and I've never beat him. We will fight, we will shake hands and we will live with the result.”A win over Sonnen on FOX and a title shot would definitely help “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” establish himself as the Manny Pacquaio of MMA. “He's fought for a long time and he's a great fighter and it will be an honor to fight him,” asserts Munoz, who considers Sonnen a friend, and if Munoz beats him then he will get the opportunity to fight another friend and former training partner, Silva. “I have trained with Anderson and he has the belt. In order to get to the belt I have to fight Chael. It's a competition, it's not personal, it's business and I want to become a world champ.”Not to be outdone, the press conference ended with some lively verbal sparring between the light heavyweight main event of Evans and Davis. Originally, this pair of NCAA Division I wrestlers turned cagefighters were supposed to square off at UFC 133 in Philadelphia before Davis had to pull out due to injury. The former champ, “Suga”, is riding a three fight win streak with the most recent being the second round TKO “Fight of the Night” over Tito Ortiz in August. As for “Mr. Wonderful”, Davis is still undefeated after his unanimous decision over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira back in March. This main event for “Suga” means his first time fighting in his current hometown and a win would mean the long awaited grudge showdown with Jones. “To fight Jon Jones, I want to put my hands on him bad,” salivated Evans, who marked 2011 with a change in camp, from Jackson’s to the Blackzilians, and, arguably, his most impressive performance to date inside the Octagon. “It was hard to switch camps and re-establish relationships with people. After making the switch, I could see what I was missing from my old situation. It was about being a team, pushing each other to the limit, getting the most work in and it is good to be with a team with those foundations again.”On the other hand, “Mr. Wonderful” will look to play spoiler and add a sixth UFC win to his young, but already distinguished, career. “Where I lack experience, I make up for being a champion at heart,” states Davis, who has spent the majority of this year on the shelf and stuck at the gym, Alliance MMA, training for his comeback with Dominick Cruz, Brandon Vera and Joey Beltran. “I’m not concerned about ring rust. Not at all. I was off and I was training as much as I can on a bum knee.”It may have taken over three years, but the Octagon is coming back to Chicago with a vengeance. All the lights, media attention, and the whole circus that comes with the already fantastic pairing of the UFC and FOX Sports will hit the Second City’s streets the week of January 28th. A stacked fight card featuring a bevy of title holder hopefuls - Bisping, Maia, Sonnen, Munoz, Evans and Davis - will be prepped and ready to attack each other on broadcast television. Three fights, two hours, one network and it all means another excellent Saturday night of action inside the Octagon.Plus, give or take, a thousand priceless quips from Sonnen like this one, “FOX, you're welcome. You've been telling people for years you have the ‘American Idol’ and now you do.”Definitely, “worth the wait”.
Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, sonnen, maia
Read the full article at UFCMark Muoz: 99 percent of Chael's Talk is Selling the Fight, one percent is him
Mark Munoz will face Chael Sonnen in January, when the UFC presents their second event on FOX. The Middleweight bout will be included on a card that will be headlined by a Light Heavyweight fight between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis.
The bout between Munoz and Sonnen will mark the second straight fight for Sonnen where he has professed to have a friendship with his opponent. In fact, Sonnen and Munoz are under the same management team, MMA Incorporated.
When the topic of Sonnen and his well-known
Posted in: fight, rashad evans, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz
Read the full article at Low KickArianny Celeste on Chael Sonnen: Say Something to Me, I'll Say Something Back
Filed under: UFCIt's not exactly breaking news that Chael Sonnen has the biggest mouth in the UFC and won't hesitate to talk trash to anyone. But it was a little surprising when he made Arianny Celeste the topic of one recent salvo.
Sonnen said in an interview with Las Vegas Weekly that Celeste, one of the UFC's Octagon Girls, should be called "the IQ card girl" because, as Sonnen sees it, Celeste is holding up her IQ when she walks around the cage holding up the round number during fights.
"Arianny kind of walks around and holds up her latest test score," Sonnen said. "One time when there was a title fight, she got all the way up to five and we were very proud of her."
The UFC Octagon Girls aren't accustomed to getting into spats with UFC fighters, but Celeste found herself in the midst of such a spat when she heard about Sonnen's comments. And so Celeste shot back at Sonnen on Twitter.
"Hey what's ur name.. after @spideranderson kicks your ass..u won't even be able to count to 5!!" Celeste wrote. "Get ready to kiss brazils ass! Talking crap about me In interviews is like when a boy picks on a girl he likes in 1st grade...GROW UP! Doesn't work anymore sir! "
That was a surprising exchange, but during an appearance on The MMA Hour, Celeste said the way she hit back at him on Twitter prompted Sonnen to say he was sorry.
"I actually got an apology afterwards," she said. "The beef has been squashed, until he talks again."
And Celeste does expect Sonnen to talk again.
"I'm sure he'll say something again, I don't doubt it, but I'm the kind of girl who will always fight back," Celeste said. "I'm not a little prissy girl. If someone says something about me I'm going to say something back. I don't care who you are." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, something, girl, celeste
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen digs into the psyche of “The American Psycho”
You can add comedic-actor to UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen‘s lengthy resume, as the outspoken 185er and Ultimate Fighter icon Stephan Bonnar worked together on a skit for the World MMA Awards which Sonnen was served as co-host for.
In the skit, Sonnen plays a doctor who is helping his patient, Bonnar, get back to his “American Psycho” self after years of torment from his childhood.
Sonnen is set to face Mark Munoz in January at UFC on FOX 2 in the co-main event with headlining action between Phil Davis and Rashad Evans. If victorious, the “gangster from the mean streets of West Lynn” will receive a title shot against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva later in 2012.
Check out the actual clip below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, rashad evans, chael sonnen, sonnen, patient bonnar
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen as a therapist is just as ridiculous as you think it is
I could already hear my old psychology college professors screaming 'Oh snap son! Sonnen comes correct with that psychiatric science!'. Yeah, that's right. The Psychology Department at the University of Arizona was a thugged out, rag-tag crew of scientists and professors. Sort of like all those guys in that Armageddon movie. I think we can all agree that everything there is to know about the scientific universe can be found on the Wu-Tang Forever double album. The rest of life is pretty much down hill from there. If Chael Sonnen is going to elevate his smack talk to cognitive science, then he deserves some form of accolade. This is the best I can do and I hope that when we finally cross paths, he will appreciate it. If not, I'll just remind him of how horrible the Oregon Ducks football program is.
Check out this clip from tomorrow's airing of the 2011 MMA Awards of Chael Sonnen playing psychiatrist to Stephan Bonnar.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, professors sort, ragtag crew
Read the full article at Middle EasyVideo: Psychotherapist Chael Sonnen helps Stephan Bonnar become the 'American Psycho' again
The rundown: Stephan Bonnar needs therapy so he reaches out to Dr. Chael Sonnen, Psychotherapist. Bonnar's teary-eyed complaint is that he's supposed to be "The American Psycho" but no one takes him seriously anymore.
In fact, it takes him back to his childhood when all the kids called him "Stephanie Boner."
Dr. Sonnen gives him a tissue and simply tells Bonnar that if he wants to be his old self again, he needs to become an actual psycho. A master of psycho, even. That includes calling himself champion of the light heavyweight division, despite the fact that Jon Jones, he who lugs the 205-pound title around, beat him already.
Since when has that mattered to Dr. Sonnen, though?
By the time Bonnar leaves the office, he's transformed from "The American Idiot" to "The American Psycho" once again.
The end.
Posted in: sonnen, bonnar, american, american psycho, psycho
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Therapist
submitted by adam00f [link] [4 comments]
Posted in: sonnen, chael, therapist, adam
Read the full article at RedditDana White says Silva is not faking an injury, Sonnen and Henderson both know it
submitted by Like_Wild_Potato [link] [2 comments]
Posted in: silva, injury, sonnen, likewildpotato, injury sonnen
Read the full article at RedditSonnen Says Anderson Ducking Him, Not Injured
Chael Sonnen has been working overtime to goad UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva into a rematch, but says he believes Silva is uninjured and ducking him.
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChael Sonnen 'The Most Interesting Man In the World' video compilation
In case you haven't had your fill of UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, someone had both the time and the inclination to sit down and assemble an hour's worth of footage from the 185-pound lighting rod that may or may not prove he's "The Most Interesting Man in the World."
Of course, this entire dog-and-pony show doesn't mean diddly if he can't get past Mark Munoz at the UFC on FOX 2 event, which goes down on Jan. 28 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Any fans out there ready to hit the mute button? Or can you never get enough of the Chael Sonnen show?
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz, chael, chicago illinois
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSonnen: "[Silva] says he's hurt and then he's caught on tape working with [Wanderlei and Machida]..." Anyone have a link to this video?
I figure Sonnen's just trolling again but I'd like to see the video if it exists. Machida said recently that he and Silva aren't training together. EDIT: Found the Sonnen quote HERE submitted by gnomesane [link] [comment]
Posted in: silva, sonnen, machida anyone, gnomesane link, sonnen silva
Read the full article at RedditThe Chael Sonnen Show
One hour of face melting TRUTH with Chael Sonnen. And that's edited down to just the gold.
Posted in: hour, chael sonnen, sonnen, gold, chael
Read the full article at FightlinkerUFC Already Examining Security for Sonnen vs. Silva 2 in Brazil
Filed under: UFC, NewsCHICAGO -- UFC President Dana White reiterated on Wednesday that the winner of the upcoming Chael Sonnen-Mark Munoz fight on Fox will take on middleweight champion Anderson Silva some time this summer. And White said that he could see putting together a blockbuster Sonnen-Silva rematch in Brazil, possibly in front of tens of thousands of people in a soccer stadium.
That raises an interesting question: Is White concerned about an ugly scene breaking out if Sonnen continues saying the ugly things he has said about Brazlians in general and Silva in particular?
"We've already started worrying about that," White said. "We will have presidential-type security down there for him. The biggest fear would be should Chael win that night. We'd have to f--king dig a tunnel underneath the Octagon."
But White said he likes the idea of Silva fighting his most hated rival in front of his Brazilian fans. And he said the proper security procedures could ensure a safe environment for Sonnen and everyone else in attendance.
White pointed to a 1993 boxing match between Greg Haugen and Julio Caesar Chavez before 132,247 fans at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City as a precedent for an American fighter going into extremely hostile territory against a beloved champion.
"Greg Haugen said the most horrible things you can ever say about Mexicans," White said. "They walked him in, people were throwing beers at him as he went in, it was crazy. But the fight went off and it was one of the biggest fights in boxing history."
White would like to make Sonnen-Silva 2 one of the biggest fights in MMA history, and he said both Silva and Sonnen will be ready to go, should Sonnen beat Munoz. Sonnen is getting his trash talking started early by accusing Silva of ducking him by faking a shoulder injury, but White said that's just trash talk from Sonnen.
"He knows this: There's no such thing as faking an injury in the UFC," White said. "If I'm trying to make that fight and you tell me you're injured, you come see our doctors, we check them out and verify they're injured. There's no faking injuries in the UFC." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, security
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC on FOX 2: Three UFC title contenders will rise on Jan. 28 when dust settles
Who says the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) doesn't like tournament format? On Jan. 28, 2012, at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., questions will be answered and championship contenders will rise.
UFC on Fox 2 will feature a pivotal light heavyweight clash when former UFC light heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans, takes on undefeated wrestling powerhouse, Phil Davis, for the right to face the winner of Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida, which is set to go down this weekend (Dec. 10, 2011) at UFC 140.
UFC President Dana White also laid out the middleweight division landscape for reporters at the UFC on FOX 2 press conference that took place earlier today in "Chi-Town." According to White, the event, which actually kicks off the UFC and Fox deal, will have not one, but two, middleweight title contenders rise once the dust settles in what will mark the promotion's second venture on network television.
Serving as the evening's co-main event, Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz will determine who gets next shot at current title holder against pound-for-pound kingpin, Anderson Silva, who is currently on the sidelined until the mid- 2012 because of a shoulder injury.
In the opener of the evening's triple main event card, submission specialist Demian Maia will take on Michael Bisping, who is coming off of a third round technical knockout victory of Jason Miller at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale this past weekend (Dec. 3, 2011.)
The winner of that fight will take on the winner of Anderson Silva vs. Mark Munoz or Chael Sonnen.
But, don't take my word for it, check out what UFC head honcho Dana White had to say:
"The way that Munoz and Chael Sonnen works out, the winner of that fight fights Anderson Silva and then Demian Maia and Bisping, the winner of that fight would then fight the winner of the fight between either Munoz or Sonnen against Silva. And then obviously, Rashad Evans and Davis, the winner of this fight would fight the winner of Machida and "Bones" Jones."
No division logjams here.
Maia and Sonnen have already had their respective title shots against "The Spider," both coming up short in their attempts to dethrone Silva. Maia went the distance with the champion, but lost a unanimous decision in Abu Dhabi at UFC 112 back on April 10, 2010, in what was a bizarre performances from Silva, as he spent the majority of the fight taunting the fellow Brazilian.
Four months later (Aug. 7, 2010,) at UFC 117, Sonnen was two minutes way from becoming the new UFC middleweight champion. Sonnen had his way with Silva through 23 minutes of action before "The Spider" trapped him in a triangle choke that forced the tap in the final frame.
Since then, Sonnen has been putting his political experience to use as he has been campaigning for a rematch against his arch-nemesis Silva any chance he gets. Standing in his way is another man who has been patiently waiting for his chance at UFC gold; Mark Munoz."The Count,""The Filipino Wrecking Machine" and "Mr. Wonderful" have yet to compete for a UFC title; however, if they find a way to prevail in Chicago, each will earn their long desired title shots.
Barring any injuries, the UFC's middleweight and light heavyweights division's future heading into 2012 is pretty crystal clear.
Take your picks, Maniacs. Who comes out on top in "The Windy City" and who will be the UFC middleweight and light heavyweight champions by the end of 2012?
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, winner, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC on FOX 2 Press Conference Notes & Quotes: Rashad Evans Makes Controversial Jerry Sandusky Reference
Today’s UFC on FOX 2 press conference was much more entertaining than your typical UFC presser thanks to trash-talking standouts Chael Sonnen, Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping. All three brought their A-game to presser today, although one arguably went a little too far with a reference to the Jerry Sandusky scandal at Penn State. Before I get to all the quotes though, here’s a few notes from the press conference.
Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz will determine who fights Anderson Silva next. Anderson will be ready to go in the summer. (He’s already rumored to be headlining a June card in San Paulo.)
Michael Bisping vs. Demian Maia will determine who fights the Anderson Silva vs. Sonnen-Munoz winner. (I have a feeling this won’t play out this way given the amount of time Bisping or Maia would have to sit out, but that’s how Dana White explained it)
The Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis winner is the next in line for a light heavyweight title shot. (Seems they have the MW and LHW title picture pretty well mapped out, but where does Dan Henderson fit into all this? Seems like he’s getting snubbed.)
Dana White says don’t worry if you don’t have FUEL TV. Availability is already up 11% since the UFC-FOX deal was announced and it will continue to climb as UFC fans call their cable companies and complain about not getting FUEL TV.
Dana plans to make a big announcement regarding the flyweight division very soon.
And now the quotes via Cagewriter, MMA Junkie, MMA Fighting and MMA Mania.
Chael Sonnen’s latest feelings on Anderson Silva:
“I got no problem with Anderson Silva, but I’m not going to change my schedule just to kick his ass. If I’m not the best guy and Mark is, then he can go have the shot. But Anderson’s not going to fight me in Brazil, in America, in Antarctica, in his kitchen when I’m trying to get a Brazilian steak. He’s not going to fight me.”
“I don’t believe Anderson’s hurt. He says he’s hurt and then he’s caught on tape working with Wanderlei Silva and working with Lyoto Machida ,that got caught on tape. I really don’t care about Anderson Silva. How hard is it going to be to become world champion when you’re beating up math teachers? I think he’s ducking me. I think he’s ducking Dan Henderson. I don’t think he’s hurt.”
Chael Sonnen on taking a cheap shot at Mark Munoz in a college wrestling match:
“I can assure you it was a calculated and premeditated event, and I offer no apology. I assure you on Jan. 28, I will be ready. It will be one more in the win column, one more above the mantle, and one more for the bad guy.”
Chael Sonnen on fighting his friend Mark Munoz:
“Everybody’s got guys they don’t want to fight, and Mark is definitely on the top of my list, and not just because I like him but because he’s a hard match. I’ve competed with him before, and I’ve never beat him. But look, we have to do this, and Mark and I agreed to fight to set an example for the rest of the guys. This is just competition. Basketball players don’t not play each other because they’re friends or they practice together or any other excuse that guys have for saying no. The answer is yes, and we will compete, and we will shake hands and live with the result.”
Chael Sonnen on FOX finally finding their “American Idol”:
“I think everybody up here is grateful to be on FOX. They’d probably say, ‘FOX, thanks.’ Everybody but me. I would say, ‘FOX, you’re welcome. You’ve been telling everybody for years you’ve got the American Idol, and now you finally do.’”
Chael Sonnen on his political career:
“I held public office, and I left the only way a politician should: in handcuffs.”
Michael Bisping on who’s best wrestler at the press conference:
“I don’t know about wrestling but I’m pretty sure I’d kick all their asses. I owe Rashad a rematch. Chael will get it. Mark will have it as well. And by the way, Demian Maia’s gonna get it.”
Michael Bisping on the thought of Dan Henderson getting a rematch with Anderson Silva:
“Well, he’s just another person that had his shot. I seem to remember him getting tapped out just like Chael did. Both of these guys have a problem with submission defense. If he’s bitter about it, don’t talk shit about me about it just because you blew your shot.”
And last but not least, an exchange between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis that ended with an uncomfortable reference to Jerry Sandusky:
Evans: “Phil, he’s getting knocked out.”
Davis: “I’m glad you mentioned that because one of your buddies, Jon Jones, said you don’t have much of a chin.”
Evans: “I guarantee you’ll be the first one to take a shot. Guarantee. Because I’m going to put my hands on you worse than that dude did them other kids at Penn State.”
Sigh…
The full press conference can be seen here. We’ll post highlights if they come available.
Posted in: mark, silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertIt was 'The Chael Sonnen Show' at the UFC on FOX 2 press conference in Chicago
Everyone knows that if you put Chael Sonnen and a microphone in a room together, it's only a matter of time before he starts spitting out golden nuggets.
That was certainly the case today (Dec. 7, 2011) at the UFC on FOX 2 press conference in Chicago, Illinois. Sonnen, who's slated to fight Mark Munoz in a number one contender eliminator bout in the co-featured fight of the night at the United Center, had plenty to say about his arch nemesis, UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
On second thought, no one was immune from his sharp tongue.
Sonnen commented on everything from friends fighting each other, Silva's injury, how his and Munoz's wrestling stacks up against each other and much more.
You've got to read it to believe it:
To get things started, Sonnen was asked about his thoughts on his and Munoz's collegiate wrestling match where Munoz has claimed that the former UFC middleweight title challenger attempted a kneebar (which is illegal) during their battle.
Munoz tried to put out the flames by saying he felt that it wasn't Sonnen's fault and that's the reason a referee is there, but the Oregonian took full responsibility for what happened.
"Mark's explanation of heat of the moment, I appreciate that but I assure you it was a calculated and premeditated event and I offer no apology. Secondly, I don't even remember college. I'm driving around in a car with no insurance, a pocket with no money and the biggest thing on my mind was which kid to sit next to on exam day so as far as a wrestling match, that was the fourth thing on my mind. I assure you on January 28th, I will be ready. It will be one more in the win column, one more above the mantel and one more for the bad guy."
Sonnen also addressed the fact that "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" is not exactly a guy he's happy about fighting, but reiterated that he's doing it anyways. He wants to set an example for other friends or teammates that refuse to fight each other.
"Everybody's got guys they don't want to fight and Mark is definitely on the top of my list and not just because I like him but because he's a hard match. I've competed with him before and I've never beat him. But look, we have to do this and on top of that, Mark and I agreed to fight to set example for the rest of the guys. This is just competition. Basketball players don't not play each other just because they're friends or they practice together or any other excuse that guys have for saying, "No." The answer is, "Yes." We will compete and we will shake hands and we will live with the result."
Dan Henderson had previously commented about Anderson Silva's injuries, saying they'd "heal up real quick if Michael Bisping were offered as a title challenger," as a way to say "The Spider" is milking them to avoid both Chael Sonnen and himself.
Sonnen had his own theory on the matter, and he used video evidence to back it up.
"I don't believe Anderson's hurt. I know he says he's hurt and then he was in training camp with Wanderlei that got caught on tape. He just got done working with Machida that got caught on tape. I really don't care about Anderson Silva. I truly don't. How hard is it gonna be to become world champion beating up math teachers? I don't understand it. Give Anderson Silva my schedule and see how well he does. Yeah, I think he's ducking me. I think he's ducking Dan Henderson. I don't know if he'd be eager to fight Bisping, you'll have to Dan about that comment but no, I don't think he's hurt."
Lastly, Sonnen really hammed it up when asked if Munoz was the most gifted wrestler he's ever faced. He took the question, turned it around and then took it to a level where he switched to talking about how amazing he is, as the mouthy ex-Realtor has been prone to doing.
"I would imagine that he's the best [wrestler]. He's certainly the most decorated, you know? I haven't given it a lot of thought. I'm not a wrestler either. I'm a fighter from the mean streets of Westland, Oregon. This is the way it goes. I think everybody up here is grateful to be on FOX. They say, "FOX, thanks," everybody but me. I would say, "FOX, you're welcome. You've been telling people for years you've got the American Idol and now you finally do."
As we head into 2012 and the UFC's second major event held on the FOX flagship station, one of the key questions still remains: is Chael Sonnen ready for primetime TV? Or even more, is America ready for Chael Sonnen?
What do you think, Maniacs?
For more quotes and video from today's UFC on Fox 2 press conference click here and here.
Posted in: fox, sonnen, he, munoz, dont
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Admits He Was 'The Bad Guy' Against Mark Munoz in College
Filed under: UFC, NewsCHICAGO -- Chael Sonnen was his usual brash-talking self when promoting his upcoming fight with Mark Munoz on Wednesday, even acknowledging that when he wrestled against Munoz in college, he took a cheap shot -- and he's not sorry about it.
Munoz, who was an NCAA champion wrestler at Oklahoma State, has said in the past that when he took on Sonnen during an Oklahoma State-Oregon wrestling meet in college, Sonnen illegally attempted a jiu jitsu-style knee bar in an attempt to hurt him.
"When we wrestled, Chael -- in the heat of the battle -- he got a knee bar and cranked on it a little bit," Munoz said. "It happens. You get things tweaked on and everything and that's what happens sometimes. The ref is there to stop it. It's water underneath the bridge now. Chael has fought for a long time. He's a great fighter and it's going to be an honor to fight him. He's got awesome MMA wrestling, I've got great wrestling. You're going to see a lot of wrestling going on."
It was magnanimous of Munoz to say that Sonnen's actions came in the heat of the moment, but Sonnen said that actually wasn't the case.
"Mark's explanation, the heat of the moment, I appreciate it," Sonnen said. "But it was a calculated and premeditated event."
Sonnen said he's perfectly willing to play the role of the bad guy who tried to hurt his opponent in a college wrestling match, although he's long since stopped thinking about his college wrestling career. What Sonnen is focused on is having a shot at Munoz in the Octagon.
"I assure you," Sonnen said. "On January 28, I will be ready. It will be one more in the win column, one more on the mantel and one more for the bad guy." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: sonnen, mark munoz, he, munoz, college
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen Continues to Stir the Pot
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mattyblayze, chael, pot
Read the full article at Reddit(Pic) Chael Sonnen in Palmeiras jersey. Who said the former UFC middleweight number one contender...
(Pic) Chael Sonnen in Palmeiras jersey. Who said the former UFC middleweight number one contender was anti-Brazil? Sonnen, who declares he's a "fan all the way" of the Brazilian football club, has even promised to let goalkeeper "Marcos" wear the 185-pound strap next season to help the Palmeiras win the national championship. That means Sonnen has already convinced himself that he's going to defeat Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2. Anyone out there disagree?
Props: SporTV
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, palmeiras jersey, palmeira, goalkeeper marcos
Read the full article at MMA ManiaIs Michael Bisping a Future UFC Middleweight Title Challenger?
With his third round TKO victory over Jason Miller at the UFC Ultimate Fighter Season 14 Finale this weekend, Michael Bisping re-established himself as a name at the top of the Middleweight division. And now, fans may not like to hear it, but it has to be said:
Michael Bisping is in line for a shot at the title.
This is sure to annoy many, but it is the reality of the Middleweight division and its current lack of depth. We now know that Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz will meet early next year, likely to determine the next challenger for Anderson Silva. If Sonnen wins there, that should lead to the big Silva vs. Sonnen rematch, which is a great title fight. But after that, you have to consider Bisping as next in line.
Bisping has a few things going for him on a path to the belt. First off, he has a strong regional fanbase. He's no Georges St. Pierre, but fans in the UK have responded positively to Bisping's rise, and a Silva vs. Bisping headliner on a UK card would be heated.
Second, he's hated. Next to Sonnen, he may be the most despised person by many fans - and given Chael's cult appeal, there's a good chance Bisping moves past him in this area. It's possible he is so hated that fans won't tune in, but there has always been a big appeal in combat sports to seeing the loud-mouth get shut, the "bad guy" finally get his. Pro wrestling built their entire world on that formula, and it's also the reason many people tuned in to Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito this weekend. There's a significant portion of fans that will revel in Silva viciously demolishing The Count, especially after the inevitable lead-up trash talking and disrespect from Bisping.
But more than anything, he benefits from being around for awhile in a shallow division. Silva has defeated Maia, he's defeated Belfort, he's defeated Okami, he's defeated Sonnen (and may do so for a 2nd time). Bisping is a fresh contender in a division woefully short on fresh contenders. Because honestly, who else is there? Mark Munoz is possible, and he'll get there before Bisping is he beats Sonnen. Brian Stann seemed like he had a shot, but was derailed by Sonnen. Mayhem doesn't look to be getting near the top anytime soon. So we are left with Bisping.
Which is unfortunate. Because the way Mayhem was landing those looping, sloppy punches on Bisping in round 1 should tell you all you need to know about a possible Silva vs. Bisping fight. There's simply nothing Bisping has to offer The Spider other than a warm body for Silva to perform his art against. Of course, that's nothing new for Silva, who has been facing less than worthy competition throughout his UFC run - it's one of the drawbacks of being the best in the world.
If we do get an Anderson Silva vs. Michael Bisping UFC Middleweight title fight, we can at least cross our fingers that Bisping will go down in spectacular James Irvin style fashion, which will provide a moment of satisfaction to so many fans. But there's a real danger it will go the other way. So I'll be praying Bisping doesn't limp his way to another Thales Leites snoozer, and keeping an eye on who might provide that next challenge.
SBN coverage of The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale
Posted in: vs, silva, fan, bisping, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowManagement Team Sticks by Both Sonnen & Munoz
Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz both share the same desire to face Anderson Silva next, but they also share one more thing in common. The same managers.
Posted in: sonnen, mark munoz, chael, share, munoz
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyMark Munoz fighting Chael Sonnen for title-shot at UFC on FOX 2
Sorry Michael Bisping fans but it appears last night’s dominating win over Jason Miller was not enough to secure the Brit a shot at Anderson Silva’s championship or, as it turns out, even a crack at top contendership.
Apparently, two of the middleweight division’s brightest grapplers will instead lock up on January 28 for the right to face Silva, as a long-rumored bout between Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz has been confirmed by the UFC for the Octagon’s return to network television at UFC on FOX 2.
Munoz, whose striking continues to improve with every performance, is coming off a beatdown of Chris Leben at UFC 138 and has won a quartet of consecutive clashes. At 12-2, “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” holds past victories over Kendall Grove, Aaron Simpson, and Demian Maia.
Comparably, Sonnen is 4-1 in his last five fights with the only stumble coming against Silva in their memorable match-up a little over a year ago. Among the wins are instances of success against Dan Miller, Yushin Okami, Nate Marquardt, and most recently Brian Stann.
Silva Thinks Sonnen Needs Another Win Before Getting Rematch
UFC on FOX 2 will feature a headlining bout between light heavyweights Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, a fight in which the winner will also move on to compete for divisional gold. Lightweights Evan Dunham and Paul Sass are also expected to square off at the show.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC confirms Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz for UFC on FOX 2
It looks like Chael Sonnen was up to his old tricks last week when he said that he had no fight scheduled with Mark Munoz. In a press release sent out by the UFC, the company confirmed that Sonnen vs. Munoz is indeed on and it will be the co-main event of UFC on FOX 2 in January.
Originally hoping for another crack at Anderson Silva and the middleweight title following his victory over Brian Stann at UFC 136, Sonnen will need to win at least one more bout before he has the chance to go five rounds with the champ again. After being away from the action for over a year due to a drug suspension following his first fight with Silva, the Oregon native reminded the MMA world that he can back up his mouth with his skills as he dominated Stann with his wrestling in the first round and then submitted the former Marine with an arm triangle choke in the second round. Never one to shy away from the microphone, Sonnen challenged Silva in his post-fight interview, wanting to fight him on Super Bowl weekend in a “loser leaves town” bout.
With “The Spider” being sidelined due to an injury, Sonnen will have to go through one of the champ’s former sparring partners and another man who called out the middleweight king in his last bout. Winner of four straight bouts, Munoz turned in his most impressive performance to date at UFC 138 when he stopped Chris Leben at the end of the second round with an onslaught of ground and pound. Along with Leben, Munoz has defeated Demain Maia, C.B. Dollaway, and Aaron Simpson during his win streak.
The winner of the bout will most likely challenge Silva for the middleweight strap in mid-2012.
UFC on FOX 2 is scheduled for January 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The night will be headlined by another #1 contender’s bout as former champion Rashad Evans takes on the undefeated Phil Davis in a light heavyweight showdown.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, bout, round, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz confirmed for UFC on Fox 2
A number-one contender bout between top Middleweights Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz will serve as co-main event for the UFC on Fox 2 card in January.UFC officials have now confirmed the match-up.Sonnen (26-11-1) has pushed for a another shot at division Champion Anderson Silva since failing to dethrone the Brazilian back at UFC 117. Due to the close nature of the bout, which saw the Team Quest fighter dominate the champ for much of their encounter only to be submitted in the final round, an immediate rematch
Posted in: ufc, sonnen, mark munoz, comain event, januaryufc officials
Read the full article at Low KickUFC on FOX 2 Tickets On Sale Next Week, Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis & Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz Official
UFC on FOX 2 is official.
UFC on FOX 2 is scheduled to take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, January 28, and will air live on FOX at 8pm ET/5pm PT.
The card will be co-headlined by a light heavyweight bout between Rashad Evans and Phil Davis and a middleweight number one contender’s bout between Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz. Sonnen denied that he was fighting Munoz just three days ago, but clearly plans either changed or Sonnen wasn’t being truthful.
A public press conference is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 7, at the United Center at 1pm CT.
Ticket info below.
UFC Fight Club Presale: Wednesday, Dec. 7, 10am CT
UFC Newsletter Presale: Thursday, Dec. 8, 10am CT
Public On-Sale Date: Friday, Dec. 9, 10am CT
Tickets will be priced at $250, $150, $100, $75, $50, and $40. They can be purchased at the United Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster locations, online at Ticketmaster.com and charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.
The latest UFC on FOX 2 fight card and event info can be found in our fight cards section.
Posted in: ufc, fox, dec, sonnen, ct
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz Set for UFC on Fox 2
Middleweight contenders Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz will meet in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 to determine who will get the shot at champion Anderson Silva, the UFC officially announced on Saturday before The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale.
Sonnen (26-11-1) nearly dethroned Silva in August 2010, but was submitted in the final round and was then sidelined for more than a year after a failed drug test. Sonnen returned to the Octagon in October with a second-round submission of Brian Stann that earned him a rematch, but he’ll face Munoz first with Silva out until June.
Munoz (12-2) has won four-straight since a narrow loss to Yushin Okami last August, including a unanimous decision over former title challenger Demian Maia in June and second-round TKO of Chris Leben at UFC 138 last month.
UFC on FOX 2 takes place on January 28 in Chicago and is headlined by a showdown between light heavyweight contenders Rashad Evans and Phil Davis.
For complete coverage of UFC on Fox 2, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Chael Sonnen
Posted in: ufc, fox, sonnen, munoz, secondround tko
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz Confirmed For UFC on Fox 2
So much for Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II up next.
The UFC announced Saturday that Sonnen will face Mark Munoz in the co-main event of UFC on Fox 2 in Chicago, IL, on Saturday, January 28th. It will be a no. 1 contender's bout with the winner getting the next shot at Silva.
The announcement also confirmed that Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis will be the main event and that a public press conference is set for this Wednesday at 1 pm EST featuring all four men and UFC President Dana White. Tickets go on sale next Friday for the event, which begins at 8 pm EST on Fox. The broadcast will run for two hours.
Other fights that have reportedly been signed but not yet confirmed include Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass, Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland, Cody McKenzie vs. Michael Johnson and Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow.Sonnen (26-11-1) returned to action in October after a year-plug long layoff, submitting Brian Stann in the second round at UFC 136. He fought Silva in August 2010 and had the upper hand for the majority of the fight before getting caught in a triangle choke halfway in the fifth round which he tapped to.
A rematch between the two was believed to be set after Sonnen's recent win, but Silva is still recovering from a shoulder injury and is believed to be held aside for a major outdoor show in Brazil next summer.
Munoz (12-2) got into top contention on his recent four-win streak with recent victories over contenders Demian Maia and Chris Leben. The hard-hitting Munoz is 7-2 in his UFC career and has been petitioning for a shot at Silva since his November win over Leben.
Posted in: ufc, vs, silva, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz Set for UFC on Fox 2
Filed under: UFC, NewsChael Sonnen will have to win another fight before he can get his long-awaited rematch with Anderson Silva, because the UFC has announced that Sonnen's next fight will take place on January 28 in Chicago, when Sonnen will fight Mark Munoz in the co-main event at the second UFC on Fox event.
Sonnen had been expected to face Silva -- whom he called out after beating Brian Stann in October -- but Silva is nursing a shoulder injury and apparently won't be ready for a few months. So Sonnen vs. Munoz will determine the next No. 1 contender in the middleweight division.
The Sonnen-Munoz fight matches up two of the best wrestlers in the middleweight division; Sonnen used his wrestling to control Silva for four rounds before getting submitted in the fifth, while Munoz is a former NCAA wrestling champion who is currently riding a four-fight winning streak.
A Sonnen-Silva rematch has long been viewed as the biggest fight the UFC could book in its middleweight division, but if Munoz beats Sonnen, a Munoz-Silva fight would also be big. Munoz is 7-1 since moving down to middleweight, with the only loss coming by split decision to former top contender Yushin Okami, so Munoz would certainly be worthy of a title shot if he gets past Sonnen.
The UFC on Fox 2 card will be headlined by Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis. Other fights expected for the card include Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland, Evan Dunham vs. Paul Sass, Jon Olav Einemo vs. Mike Russow and Cody McKenzie vs. Michael Johnson. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, vs, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Middleweight Division State of the Union
With so many fights coming up spread across seven different weight classes, it's easy to lose track of what's happening in every division. Here, we take a look at where a particular division stands right now, and where it's headed.
This Saturday at the Ultimate Fighter Finale, coaches Michael Bisping and Jason Miller will meet in a Middleweight fight. Earlier this week, Chael Sonnen stated that he would likely face the winner of this fight, especially since champion Anderson Silva is out until next summer. With this big fight on the horizon, now seemed like a good time to take a look at the UFC Middleweight division, and see who might be up for The Spider's astonishing 10th Middleweight title defense.
Next in Line:
After beating Brian Stann at UFC 136, former #1 contender Chael Sonnen (currently ranked #2) called out Anderson Silva. There's no doubt that a rematch of their UFC 117 classic would generate great interest, but it was not to be. Silva is out until June with injury, and Sonnen is on the sidelines. There was talk of him facing Mark Munoz early next year, but Chael shot that down, then stated that we should watch this weekend's show to find out what's next. The assumption is that it will be Sonnen vs. the winner of Bisping (#7) vs. Mayhem (Unranked).
What's interesting about this scenario is that it is a win-win-win for the UFC with their 3 contenders. No matter who emerges as the challenger, there is a strong marketing angle. You'll either have the much-anticipated rematch, British star Bisping finally getting his shot, or Mayhem and his mainstream appeal. Personally, I'd like Sonnen to get there, but all of those fights hold some intrigue.
Key Match Ups:
We've had some big recent fights at Middleweight, and now it seems like a lot of folks are in a holding pattern, waiting to see what comes next. But still, two big upcoming fights to consider.
#5 Vitor Belfort vs. Anthony Johnson (UFC 142) - Belfort is coming off one of his famous "old Vitor" KO's, as he stopped Yoshihiro Akiyama this summer. He is only one fight removed from a big loss to Silva, so it's hard to see him getting an immediate shot, but he will always remain close to the top. For Johnson, this is a Middleweight debut, and he has been vague if this is a permanent move or not, likely waiting to see how this fight goes. If he can KO Belfort, he'll be fast tracked up the division ranks.
#3 Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch (UFC 144) - Another recent Spider victim here, as Okami looks to return from his UFC 134 loss. Honestly, it took him years to get that shot, and he'll have to have a miraculous run to get another one. But he's a great gate-keeper who will provide a huge challenge for Boetsch. The Barbarian is 2-0 at 185 and has looked solid in both wins. He has his work cut out for him here, but like Johnson, he could make a big move with a win.
In The Mix:
A number of other Middleweights sit near the top, though without any fights currently scheduled:
#4 Mark Munoz - Outside of the Sonnen/Bisping/Miller triumvirate, Munoz is the clear cut next in line for a title shot. He's coming off big wins over Chris Leben and Demian Maia. He'll have to prove himself again before getting that shot though, probably against one of the losers of that triangle.
#5 Demian Maia - Maia has lost a ton of momentum since challenging Silva back at UFC 112. At this point, he seems pretty far removed, though the division is such that he still is barely inside the top 5.
#8 Brian Stann - Stann had a pretty bad setback in his dominating loss to Sonnen. That fight showed that there is a big gap between Stann and the upper levels of the division. A Stann vs. Maia fight makes sense to me.
#18 Rousimar Palhares - He's the furthest outside the picture, but the Tree Stump is 6-2 in the division, with his only loses against Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson - no shame in those defeats. He faces Mike Massenzio at UFC 142, which won't really do anything for Palhares. I'd like to see him move up in competition again.
Others to Consider:
And finally, a few Middleweight names that may not find themselves in the title picture any time soon, but should be mentioned:
#13 Alan Belcher - It's hard to envision him as anything other than a gatekeeper, but he's the kind of veteran who provides a great challenge for anyone.
#16 Wanderlei Silva - I don't care how much he has lost lately, he's The Axe Murderer, and will always be a name worth mentioning. And hey, he's on a 1-0 streak!
#20 - Chris Weidman - Folks are high on this 7-0 prospect, who has already defeated some very respectable UFC names. I'm very excited to see where the future takes Weidman, and hope he is back in action soon.
#9 Luke Rockhold, #11 Ronaldo Souza, #14 Tim Kennedy - Also known as the good parts of the Strikeforce Middleweight division. For now, these three seem like they are staying in Strikeforce, with champion Rockhold set to defend against Keith Jardine in January, but there's always the chance they will be brought over to the UFC, where all 3 would immediately be interesting contenders.
Poll
Who will be the next Middleweight title challenger?
Chael Sonnen
Michael Bisping
Jason "Mayhem" Miller
Other
19 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, division, middleweight, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSonnen quoting Eminem on the red carpet of MMA Awards 2011
submitted by Luskeent [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: mma, sonnen, award, luskeent, eminem
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen: What sets me apart from these liars is that I'm honest and respectful
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who served as co-host for the 2011 World MMA Awards, discusses his proclaimed "gift of gab," as well as what he feels "sets him apart" from other fighters. Sonnen insists it is his respect and honesty that makes him different for the "liars" he's surrounded by, and says that when someone asks him a question, he'll always look them in the eye and tell the truth.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, fighters sonnen, question hell, liars hes
Read the full article at Low KickNot Anderson, So Who is Next for Chael Sonnen?
UFC champion Anderson Silva is on the sidelines, so who is next for top contender Chael Sonnen? His stablemate, Mark Munoz or the winner of Saturday's TUF 14 Finale?
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, chael, stablemate
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChael Sonnen Denies He’s Fighting Mark Munoz, Hints At Michael Bisping vs. Mayhem Miller
Ok, so maybe Chael Sonnen isn’t fighting Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2. In this video interview with FightHubTV, Chael Sonnen flat out denies that he’s fighting Munoz next as reports suggested. He doesn’t outright say who his next opponent will be, but he strongly hints that it will be the winner of this weekend’s TUF 14 Finale main event between Michael Bisping and Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
Posted in: sonnen, mark munoz, video interview, chael, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen nominates his own ring card girl of 2011
Chael Sonnen brushes his teeth with a mixture of iron shavings, industrial paint remover, and wood-grain alcohol. If Chael Sonnen were a calendar, every month would be named Chaeltober, and every day he would kick your ass while simultaneously crushing your self-esteem. It's a requisite for Chael Sonnen to make everyone's eyes explode out of sheer amazement and on the last day of December, he comes through once again. Last night at the MMA Awards, LayzieTheSavage managed to get a few words in with Chael Sonnen regarding the nomination for MMA ring card girl of the year.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, everyones eyes, woodgrain alcohol
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael Sonnen Likely to Face Winner of Michael Bisping vs. Jason 'Mayhem' Miller?
Just as Bloody Elbow exclusively reported last week, there is still no plan in place for Chael Sonnen to face Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2. In fact, Sonnen believes that he might be facing the winner of the Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller fight that takes place this Saturday at The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. Chael spoke with Fight Hub about it and while he couldn't come out and directly put it on the table, even a blind man can read between these lines:
"I have no fight with Mark Munoz. My next fight will be based on, uh...I don't know how much I can say, but I'll be watching the TV Saturday night, put it that way."
Sonnen is coming off a dominant submission win over Brian Stann at UFC 136 and famously threw down a challenge to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva after the fight. But Silva's out until June, so Sonnen will get another fight before a rematch with the champ. This seems like a more logical choice, since Sonnen was originally supposed to be one of the TUF 14 coaches anyway. A bout with Bisping on Fox would be a much bigger draw than a bout with Munoz. If Mayhem wins though, things could go sideways. We'll have to wait and see.
You can catch the whole video after the jump.
Posted in: fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, munoz, way sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen denies fight with Mark Munoz, promises to watch 'Bisping vs Miller' with vested interest
While it's not exactly clear who Chael Sonnen will be fighting next, we can all probably agree that it won't be against middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who's riding Brazilian pine until June 2012 to rehab a bum shoulder.
There is, of course, the potential match-up against fellow 185-pound contender Mark Munoz, which according to sources is still being looked at for UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
That scuttlebutt has continued to intensify as recently as Nov. 30, as the incomparable "Showdown Joe" Ferraro tweeted that "numerous sources" are pointing to a Sonnen vs. Munoz co-main event for the "Windy City."
It could be that his fight against "The Philippino Wrecking Machine" never made it past the bargaining table.
Or, perhaps, the trash-talking middleweight is trying to throw the bloodhounds off the scent. Either way, he told Fight Hub TV he has no fight against Munoz, but will be watching the main event between Michael Bisping and Jason Miller, as part of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 Finale on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas, very closely.
"I have no fight with Mark Munoz. My next fight will be based on, I don't know how much I can say, but I'll be watching the TV Saturday night, put it that way."
He's also claims to have never heard of GQ Magazine.
Hear that and more from Sonnen, including his reaction to "The Spider" being named "Man of the Year" for 2011, after the jump.
Check out the current UFC on FOX 2 fight card and rumors right here.
Posted in: fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen says he's not fighting Mark Munoz, hints at Bisping-Miller winner
The fight between Sonnen and Munoz was confirmed by multiple sources as a co-headliner of the upcoming UFC on FOX 2 fight card, currently scheduled to take place at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, on January 28th. But despite the reports, Sonnen declared he has no fight with Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2.
According to Sonnen, who avoided to reveal too much information, his next fight inside the Octagon will be against the winner of this weekend's TUF 14 Finale scrap between Jason "Mayhem" Miller and
Posted in: fight, sonnen, munoz, chicago illinois, reports sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickHow's Taste My Tweet Tweet? Mixed Martial Arts on Twitter for the Last Week of November
A few updates on what's been going on in the MMA Twitterverse
RANDOM TWIDBITS
"Bob arum please please stop lying to the public. Sit down with my CEO Richard and make the big fight happen. Before manny asks questions." -Oscar De La Hoya, Mayweather isn't technically promoted by Golden Boy though, so no, he doesn't need to sit down with you guys to make it happen. Seems like Oscar is getting upset cause Arum is trying to cut out Golden Boy from this fight.
"Fighting is 33% half mental @MikeCies" -Ben Rothwell
"Pretty sure I just convinced my fiance to make "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley our wedding song. She better not be joking" -Danny Downes
There's a ton of tweets after the jump, but first, don't forget to follow me on twitter: @antontabuena
Oh, and these guys are probably worth following as well: The Official BloodyElbow Twitter Account, Luke Thomas, Kid Nate, Brent Brookhouse, Leland Roling, Richard Wade, Jonathan Snowden, Chris Barton, Damon O, Scott Broussard, Tim Burke, Matt Bishop, Fraser Coffeen, Dallas Winston, KJ Gould, Matt Roth
CHAEL SONNEN VS. ARIANNY CELESTE
"Seems easy to wear a bikini and seems easy to walk in a circle, but try walking in a circle while wearing a bikini. Talented girl!" -Chael Sonnen, not sure if this was about Arianny... or Anderson's ring entrance.
"Hey what's ur name.. after @spideranderson kicks your ass..u won't even be able to count to 5!! Get ready to kiss brazils ass!" -Arianny Celeste
"Talking crap about me In interviews is like when a boy picks on a girl he likes in 1st grade...GROW UP! Doesn't work anymore sir! ...Ok..enough of the hoopla...time to focus..headed to Korean class..and according to my IQ I need to concentrate!! ;) #boooyaaah" -Arianny Celeste
"Thnx 2 what's his face 4 putting me on the front page of yahoo!(again) So Clever! Ps. Referring to myself as clever, don't flatter urself ;)" -Arianny Celeste
WATCH GSP DOING MORE OF HIS GYMNASTICS STUFF
"@GeorgesStPierre Nice work at gymnastics today! http://yfrog.com/na1b5z" -Firas Zahabi
CHAEL SONNEN ON BURROWS VS. ASKREN
"Sonnen On Burroughs vs Askren | Journeymen Northeast Duals 2011" -Aaron Simpson
TWICTURES
"Rampage has a new look." -Lorenzo Fertitta
"@Rampage4real yeah u were pretty funny on the show but not as funny as this Wolfs Lair team captians pic" -Rashad Evans
"Think I found myself an early Christmas present!" -Georges St. Pierre
"A little @GammaLabs turkey day photo! Muah! Xoxo #BOOM #Vegas #thankful" -Brittney Palmer
Posted in: sonnen, arianny, celeste, ceo richard, rick astley
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowIf you're a fan of Chael Sonnen's pro wrestling-inspired promos gimme a 'hell yeah.' Former WWE...
If you're a fan of Chael Sonnen's pro wrestling-inspired promos gimme a 'hell yeah.' Former WWE superstar 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin (via The Underground) tips his hat to the trash-talking middleweight, who has a history of ruffling Brazilian feathers prior to each fight. Sonnen 3:16 says 'Anderson Silva sucks.' Any fight fans out there disagree with "The Rattlesnake?" Or is Sonnen's verbal bashing no different that what Tito Ortiz was doing earlier in his career?
Posted in: fan, sonnen, fight fans, chael sonnens, trashtalking middleweight
Read the full article at MMA ManiaArianny Celeste Lands In Chael Sonnen’s Crosshairs
It appears no one is safe from Chael Sonnen’s verbal wrath, not even UFC Octagon girl Arianny Celeste.
Sonnen has mainly set his sights on fellow fighters, but in a recent interview with the Las Vegas Weekly Review, Arianny somehow landed in Sonnen’s crosshairs when he was asked who his pick is for Ring Girl of the Year in the 2011 World MMA Awards.
“We only had one and that was Chandella [Powell]. The other was the IQ card girl. Arianny [Celeste] kind of walks around and holds up her latest test score. One time when there was a title fight, she got all the way up to five and we were very proud of her,” he said.
Celeste, of course, wasn’t too happy when she caught wind of the comments and took to Twitter to tell Sonnen what she thought of him. The tweet appears to have been deleted, but according to Fighter’s Only, Celeste initially responded with this:
“Hey what’s ur name.. after @spideranderson kicks your ass..u won’t even be able to count to 5!! Get ready to kiss brazils ass!”
She later toned it down with the following tweet.
Talking crap about me In interviews is like when a boy picks on a girl he likes in 1st grade…GROW UP! Doesn’t work anymore sir!
Like always though, Sonnen got the last word in.
Seems easy to wear a bikini and seems easy to walk in a circle, but try walking in a circle while wearing a bikini. Talented girl!
I have no idea what Arianny ever did to Chael to prompt this (probably nothing), but the two may end up meeting face-to-face on Wednesday at the World MMA Awards show which Sonnen is hosting. That should be an interesting encounter.
Posted in: sonnen, chael, girl, arianny, celeste
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen vs Arianny Celeste: 'IQ Card Girl' fires back at 'What's his name'
Chael Sonnen is an equal-opportunity basher.
In addition to Brazilian champions, Croatian kickboxers and Canadian media personalities, the fiery middleweight contender is also adept at deconstructing the UFC Octagon Girls and their contributions to the fight game.
Specifically Arianny Celeste, who Sonnen suggested (via Las Vegas Weekly) is not that bright:
We only had one and that was Chandella [Powell]. The other was the IQ card girl. Arianny [Celeste] kind of walks around and holds up her latest test score. One time when there was a title fight, she got all the way up to five and we were very proud of her.
Harsh criticism, but don't expect Celeste (via Twitter) to take that lying down.
Hey what's ur name.. after @spideranderson kicks your ass..u won't even be able to count to 5!! Get ready to kiss brazils ass! Talking crap about me In interviews is like when a boy picks on a girl he likes in 1st grade...GROW UP! Doesn't work anymore sir!
Sonnen is hosting the "World MMA Awards," which despite its smoke and mirrors, is basically a popularity contest. A bunch of categories are assembled and fans vote on the names/brands/faces they find most appealing.
Celeste, not surprisingly, is up for "Ring Card Girl of the Year," so expect these two to cross paths on Nov. 30 when the ceremonies go down in Las Vegas.
Should be interesting.
Posted in: card, las vegas, sonnen, girl, celeste
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva is as phony as Mike Tyson, Arianny has low IQ
Speaking via Las Vegas Weekly, Chael Sonnen once again targeted Anderson "The Spider" Silva, this time claiming that the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion is "as phony as Mike Tyson" for declining his challenge for a rematch. Sonnen also stated that he was shocked after Anderson Silva disrespected the Brazilian heritage by acting as a coward while sitting cageside at UFC 137."Anderson says he wants to get rid of me, and this is his chance. I knew Anderson Silva was a coward. I’m privy to what goes
Posted in: silva, las vegas, sonnen, anderson, chance i
Read the full article at Low KickSonnen and Arianny go to war, may meet Wednesday
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: wednesday, war, sonnen, mattyblayze, arianny
Read the full article at Reddit
Sonnen and Arianny go to war, may meet Wednesday
Chael Sonnen may have picked a fight he cannot win.Having laid waste to Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Ed Soares, the Nogueira brothers and the whole of...
Posted in: silva, nogueira brothers, sonnen, brother, chael
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyThe first time Munoz and Sonnen met
While a potential Mark Munoz vs Chael Sonnen title eliminator fight is still up in the air, Mark has some stories about the last time he and Chael met up in a competitive atmosphere:
"(Chael Sonnen and I) competed in college together. He wrestled at Oregon; I wrestled at Oklahoma State. We end up dueling, which is just a one-team duel, a one-team competition between two schools. I end up matching up with him at 184 pounds. We end up going at it and I end up beating him pretty handily...but in that fight he tried to submit me in a knee bar and then changed it into a heel hook. Not a legal move in wrestling. He tried doing that to me and I felt my ankle pop and was like 'aaaahhh' and I knew that he did it so that he could try to come back. I was actually beating him pretty handily and got upset during that match and was just ruthless in that fight afterwards. But after -- years later -- we end up having dinner together with my wife seated with us at the table. She was pretty upset saying 'What's Chael Sonnen doing here? I hate that guy; he tried to hurt my husband.' All of the sudden, out of the blue, she said 'So, can you tell me why you did that?' He pretty much explained himself. "He's a good guy, man. He said 'Can you blame me? I was getting beat!' So I guess...I guess...if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."
Sounds like the Chael Sonnen from college wasn't all that different from the Chael Sonnen we know now.
Posted in: end, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, knee bar
Read the full article at FightlinkerMark Munoz 'handled' Chael Sonnen in college wrestling despite attempts to cheat
Round two.Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz are penciled in to headline the upcoming UFC on Fox 2 event, which is sheduled to take place at the United Center in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 28, 2012. The winner of the middleweight showdown will likely have the inside track to get the opportunity to dethrone UFC middleweight champion and the consensus pound-for-pound best fighter in the world, Anderson Silva.
However, when the two wrestling powerhouses collide in the "Windy City," it won't be the first time the two have locked horns. In fact, the two decorated grapplers first squared off on the mat when Sonnen's University of Oregon squad took on Munoz's Oklahoma State University in a wrestling meet.
And according to the "The Filipino Wrecking Machine," he "handled" Sonnen, who was getting beat so bad he resorted to cheating.
Speaking to CSNWashington.com, Munoz recounts the duel and how Sonnen reached into his bag of Brazilian jiu-jitsu tricks to unsuccessful rip a victory from the clutches of defeat:
"(Chael Sonnen and I) competed in college together. He wrestled at Oregon; I wrestled at Oklahoma State. We end up dueling, which is just a one-team duel, a one-team competition between two schools. I end up matching up with him at 184 pounds. We end up going at it and I end up beating him pretty handily...but in that fight he tried to submit me in a knee bar and then changed it into a heel hook. Not a legal move in wrestling. He tried doing that to me and I felt my ankle pop and was like 'aaaahhh' and I knew that he did it so that he could try to come back. I was actually beating him pretty handily and got upset during that match and was just ruthless in that fight afterwards. But after -- years later -- we end up having dinner together with my wife seated with us at the table. She was pretty upset saying 'What's Chael Sonnen doing here? I hate that guy; he tried to hurt my husband.' All of the sudden, out of the blue, she said 'So, can you tell me why you did that?' He pretty much explained himself. "He's a good guy, man. He said 'Can you blame me? I was getting beat!' So I guess...I guess...if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."
Sounds like Munoz took it all in stride and actually has good feelings toward his upcoming opponent.
Things have certainly changed since their initial encounter. So, too, have the rules of the game. While Munoz got the better of him during their wrestling days, those knee bars and heel hooks that Sonnen attempted back then are now going to be very legal when the two meet in "Chi-Town."
In addition, this time the stakes will be much higher as both try to earn a chance to be the first to hand "The Spider" his first loss inside the Octagon and walk away with the 185-pound world title.
Munoz recently called out his former training partner, Silva, after he defeated Chris Leben at UFC 138 in London, England, stating that he feels it's his time to step up and challenge "The Spider." Sonnen, meanwhile, has been calling out Silva (along with just about ever other Brazilian MMA fighter) since he fell short against him at UFC 117 back on Aug. 7, 2010.
Both men clearly want the same thing. And the only way to get it is to go through each other.
Now that their college days are behind them and the two UFC middleweights are likely to meet inside the world famous Octagon, who do you think has the most complete MMA game to out-duel the other on FOX?
Posted in: ufc, end, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMark Munoz says Chael Sonnen cheated to win in college, but ultimately lost to him
Last year we interviewed Mark Munoz and he was still bitter about not making our list of The Top Ten Fades in MMA. It was a last-minute call to ditch Munoz's fade in favor of Takaya's. Prior to the list, we consulted with King Mo to see who should be on the list. The first person he said was Munoz. Perhaps next time when we compile a ridiculous list on hair fades, Munoz will make the list -- along with Dan Lauzon.
Now that Mark Munoz vs. Chael Sonnen is officially signed and slated for UFC on Fox 2 (along with Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland), it's time to open the long, winding road of smack talk -- fortunately Mark Munoz took the first step and now claims in this interview conducted by Dustin Green of CSN Washington that Chael Sonnen cheated in his collegiate wrestling career, but Sonnen ultimately lost to him in a match.
Posted in: chael sonnen, list, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz Not Signed For UFC on Fox 2
There have been a lot of rumors about a big middleweight matchup between Mark Munoz and Chael Sonnen being set for UFC on Fox 2. With Dana White confirming that UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is out until next June, it seems obvious that both of these guys will need to take another fight before either gets a shot at the title. But Bloody Elbow has confirmed that a bout between the two has not been signed off on yet.
While some sites are reporting it as a done deal according to their sources, BE spoke to Mr. Sonnen himself and he says the bout has not been confirmed or signed. A matchup with Munoz remains a possibility, but nothing has been set in stone as of late last night.
Sonnen last competed at UFC 136, where he thoroughly dominated Brian Stann and submitted him in the second round. Munoz is coming off a corner-stoppage win over Chris Leben at UFC 138 and is on a four-fight winning streak.
The event in question, which takes place on January 28th in the United Center in Chicago, will have four fights on the main card. No other bouts have been announced yet.
More SBN coverage of UFC on Fox 2
Posted in: ufc, bout, fox, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowReport: Chael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz In The Works For UFC on FOX 2
So Chael Sonnen may not be fighting Anderson Silva next after all.
Instead, it’s been heavily rumored this week that Sonnen will face off against Mark Munoz at UFC on FOX 2 on Jan. 28. MMAInterviews.tv were the first ones to go on the record claiming that the fight was in the works and MMA Mania has since confirmed it with “sources close to the contest.”
While I’m hesitant to jump to the conclusion that this bout is set in stone, there does seem to be a lot of smoke surrounding this particular rumor. Furthermore, Dana White stated this past weekend that Sonnen’s participation on the UFC on FOX 2 was “possible” when asked about the rumors, so it definitely sounds plausible.
If it’s true, Chael Sonnen doesn’t seem to have a problem with it, despite his recent “acceptance” of Anderson Silva’s challenge to fight in Brazil. Sonnen told ESPN1100/98.9 FM a couple weeks ago that he was fine with taking another fight before getting his rematch with Silva.
“I’m not going to sit around and wait for him. [...] I don’t just need the title, I need to be the best fighter in the world. If there’s someone who can knock me off and beat me then I don’t deserve to be there. So god bless them and let that guy have his shot,” said Sonnen.
You certainly won’t hear any complaints from Mark Munoz either. After his victory over Chris Leben at UFC 138, Munoz declared that he deserves a title shot way more than Chael Sonnen does. Munoz won’t leapfrog Sonnen, but he’ll at least get the opportunity to prove he’s more deserving if the fight pans out.
Munoz seems pretty confident that he’ll knock Sonnen out of the top contenders spot too. In a recent interview with CSN’s Fight Fix, Munoz recounted how he was beating Sonnen “pretty handily” in an amateur wrestling match when they were in college until Sonnen attempted an illegal heel hook that “popped” Munoz’s ankle.
“We competed in college together. He wrestled at Oregon University, I wrestled at Oklahoma State. We end up going at it and I end up beating him pretty handily. But in that, he tried to submit me in a kneebar and then changed it into an ankle lock. No, sorry, a heel hook. Not a legal move in wrestling. He tried doing that to me and I felt my ankle pop and was like ‘aah’ and I knew that he did it so that he could try to come back. I was actually beating him pretty handily. I got upset during that match and was just ruthless in that fight afterwards.
Years later we end up having dinner together and my wife is sitting at the table and she gets pretty upset, saying ‘What’s Chael Sonnen doing here? I hate that guy; he tried to hurt my husband.’ Out of the blue, she said ‘So, can you tell me why you did that?’ He pretty much explained himself and… he’s a good guy, man. He was like ‘Can you blame me? I was getting beat!’ So I guess…if you ain’t cheating, you ain’t trying.”
Man, it would be a heck of a gamble if this the direction the UFC is going in. They could just sit Sonnen out until June and put him in the title fight with Silva in Brazil and do huge business at the gate. With great risk comes great reward though. If Sonnen were to win on FOX and whip another epic post-fight challenge to Silva with millions of people watching, Silva vs. Sonnen 2 could very well become one of the biggest, if not the biggest fight in UFC history. Of course, if Sonnen loses, they risk losing it all, so yeah, quite the gamble.
We’ll let you know if it pans out or not.
Image via Tracy Lee for Yahoo! Sports
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC on FOX 2: Chael Sonnen vs Mark Munoz set for Jan. 28 in Chicago
Anderson Silva's next fight may be against Chael Sonnen but Chael Sonnen's next fight won't be against Anderson Silva.
That's because the number one contender to the middleweight championship will put that distinction on the line when he battles Mark Munoz at UFC on Fox 2 on Jan. 28 at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.
MMAmania.com was able to confirm the pending bout with sources close to the contest.
Sonnen recently ran through Brian Stann in what may or may not have been a title eliminator fight back at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston. If it wasn't, he made it one by boldly calling out Silva and challenging him to a rematch of their epic Aug. 7, 2010 encounter in Oakland.
UFC President Dana White said he would be "stupid" not to make the fight but a pesky shoulder injury is reportedly going to keep "The Spider" on the shelf until June, when the world's largest fight promotion heads back to Brazil.
If Sonnen can get by Munoz and make a good impression on network TV, he'll be joining his arch nemesis in his home country.
Standing in the way of this dream scenario is streaking middleweight masher Mark Munoz, who is coming off the biggest win of his career in the main event of UFC 138 across the pond, a second round stoppage victory over Chris Leben.
That win marked his fourth in a row and seventh in his last eight fights. If that's not good enough to earn a number one contender bout, I don't know what is.
But is "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" good enough to best the consensus number two 185-pound fighter in the world?
We shall see.
UFC on FOX 2 is all set to pop off from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, and marks the promotion's second foray into the world of nextwork television. This event will be different from the first in that four fights are expected for the main card, with the broadcast running for two hours.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for word on the other three fights that will make the air.
Posted in: ufc, fight, mark, sonnen, munoz
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMark Munoz Discusses Wrestling Match With Chael Sonnen
Mark Munoz was a guest on the Fight Fix with Dustin Green this week, and covered a few topics. His UFC 139 bout with Chris Leben was discussed, as was a possible opponent in the near future - Chael Sonnen. Rumors are spreading that Munoz will be meeting Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 in January, but nothing has been confirmed yet. It turns out that Munoz and Chael already have some history though. Here's the amusing quote, followed by the full video:
"We competed in college together. He wrestled at Oregon University, I wrestled at Oklahoma State. We end up going at it and I end up beating him pretty handily. But in that, he tried to submit me in a kneebar and then changed it into an ankle lock. No, sorry, a heel hook. Not a legal move in wrestling. He tried doing that to me and I felt my ankle pop and was like ‘aah’ and I knew that he did it so that he could try to come back. I was actually beating him pretty handily. I got upset during that match and was just ruthless in that fight afterwards.
Years later we end up having dinner together and my wife is sitting at the table and she gets pretty upset, saying 'What's Chael Sonnen doing here? I hate that guy; he tried to hurt my husband.' Out of the blue, she said 'So, can you tell me why you did that?' He pretty much explained himself and… he's a good guy, man. He was like 'Can you blame me? I was getting beat!' So I guess...if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying."
Posted in: end, chris leben, sonnen, chael, munoz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowBrazil it is
Anderson Silva has been doing a whole lot of not agreeing to fight Chael Sonnen lately. Until a few days ago when he finally said them magic fightin' words:
"I don't like this guy," Silva said. "This guy (wants to) fight me? Go to Brazil. No problem. Chael talks too much. I'm ready to fight Chael. But you have the chance - go to Brazil to fight me."
Chael wasted no time in responding:
“I accept Anderson. Brazil it is. Now then, about that meal,” wrote Sonnen through the social networking site.Sonnen’s meal reference was to comments he made concerning Silva’s wife in a past interview where he mentioned going into the Silva house and having her cook him a steak. The comments upset Silva quite a bit, obviously Sonnen’s plan all along.
As you can see from the above picture taken at UFC 139, Sonnen isn't exactly backing off from his controversial demands for a well cooked steak. Unfortunately, he may have to wait a while for that Brazil fight. Anderson Silva's shoulder injury will apparently take until June to heal ... right around the same time as a big card in Sao Paulo. What a nice coincidence! And because that's so far away, there's a very good chance Chael is gonna have to fight again before he locks up his revenge match with Silva. Possibly on the next Fox card, possibly against Mark Munoz.
Posted in: fight, silva, brazil, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at FightlinkerMark Munoz says Chael Sonnen cheated and still lost to him in college wrestling
Top Middleweight contender Mark Munoz recounts a "wrestling duel" against Chael Sonnen during his years at Oklahoma State University. According to Munoz, Sonnen attempted to turn the match in his favor by utilizing illegal holds, but nevertheless was defeated "pretty handily" by "The Filipino Wrecking Machine"
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mark munoz, munoz, munoz sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickMunoz recalls dirty tricks college wrestling match with Sonnen
Mark Munoz shared an interesting anecdote about Chael Sonnen during a recent interview.The Filipino Wrecking Machine, as he styles himself, has probably...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, munoz, tricks college, interviewthe filipino
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyChael Sonnen vs. Mark Munoz possible for UFC on Fox 2 Main Event
A number-one contender bout between top Middleweights Chael Sonnen and Mark Munoz is reportedly in the works for the January 28th UFC on Fox 2 card.MMAInterviews first reported the match-up, citing sources close to the fighters.Sonnen (26-11-1) has pushed for a another shot at division Champion Anderson Silva since failing to dethrone the Brazilian back at UFC 117. Though the close nature of the bout, which saw the Team Quest fighter dominate the champ for much of their encounter only to be submitted
Posted in: ufc, fox, sonnen, mark munoz, chael
Read the full article at Low KickMichael Landsberg Explains Own Confusion With Strange Chael Sonnen Interview
Filed under: UFCMichael Landsberg, host of TSN's Off the Record, blames his own confusion for an awkward interview conducted last week that abruptly ended when UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen walked off the show (video).
And this was after the interview had already been once restarted at Sonnen's suggestion.
"I was really confused. I didn't know if he was mad or I didn't know if he was joking," Landsberg said Monday on The MMA Hour. "I didn't know if he was getting the whole thing."
Landsberg is known for asking tough and arguably, aggressive questions and the longtime Canadian sports journalist didn't start off on the right foot when he opened the satellite interview by asking Sonnen if he "backed down" from his initial offer of putting his UFC career on the line against champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen responded by asking Landsberg to check his tone and facts.
Landsberg said Monday he figured the opening question would be a good way to push Sonnen's buttons in a gentle way to bring out the best of Sonnen's outspoken personality.
"I knew going in that he liked to be challenged -- or at least I thought he did," Landsberg told host Ariel Helwani. "I knew he's the greatest promoter ever. I know that he's at his best when he's got a little edge to him."
Landsberg said he had never spoken with Sonnen before that day, describing Sonnen as a "total stranger." However, Landsberg felt he hit it off with Sonnen when he introduced himself before the recorded interview.
But the tone quickly changed when the cameras started rolling and Landsberg pressed Sonnen with the question of "backing down."
"I thought this would go to a fun tongue-in-cheek place," Landsberg said. "Like he clearly had his tongue in his cheek in the Octagon when he challenged Silva. There was no way Silva was going to accept those terms."
Landsberg, who pointed out the shortcomings of interviewing someone via satellite, admits he had difficulty reading Sonnen.
"I was pissed off but I'm also trying to match his anger to do good television," he said. "I wish from my standpoint I would have done it better. It was tough to undestand what was going on."
According to Landsberg, Sonnen was the first person in 3,000 shows to walk out of an interview with him.
"I have no animousity towards him at all. This is my confusion more than anything," Landsberg said. "He's a great interview. He's the kind of guy where a show like 'Off the Record' lives for." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: interview, sonnen, he, didnt, landsberg
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen accepts Anderson Silva’s challenge to fight in Brazil
Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has agreed to face divisional champion Anderson Silva in his own backyard, going on Twitter Sunday night to accept a recent challenge laid down by “The Spider”.
Sonnen, who lost via submission to Silva last year, called out the pound-for-pound king following his most recent win over Brian Stann. However, Silva shrugged off Sonnen’s request, stating he didn’t feel the outspoken 185er deserved another shot after only picking up a single win since his defeat but might be willing to reconsider if the bout took place in Brazil.
As chance would have it, stories have surfaced saying the UFC is planning a card in Sao Paulo, Brazil at mid-year in 2012 by which time Silva should be fully recovered from a shoulder injury.
“I accept Anderson. Brazil it is. Now then, about that meal,” wrote Sonnen through the social networking site.
Sonnen’s meal reference was to comments he made concerning Silva’s wife in a past interview where he mentioned going into the Silva house and having her cook him a steak. The comments upset Silva quite a bit, obviously Sonnen’s plan all along.
For now, Silva is on the shelf due to bursitis in his shoulder.
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced stating Sonnen could face Mark Munoz at the next UFC on FOX in January with the match-up serving to determine the top contender to Silva’s belt.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: silva, brazil, sonnen, mark munoz, meal ”
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAnderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen rematch in Brazil? Sonnen says 'I accept'
When UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva got all huffy over this photo between his manager Ed Soares and his nemesis Chael Sonnen, he offered the latter the rematch he's been asking for -- on one condition.
Come to Brazil.
After disposing of Brian Stann at UFC 136, the mouthy middleweight mudslinger has been seeking revenge on the reigning 185-pound kingpin, who survived four-and-a-half rounds of abuse before submitting Sonnen with a triangle choke at UFC 117 back in August 2010.
And if he has to go to South America to do it, then so be it. "I accept Anderson," Sonnen tweeted. "Brazil it is. Now then, about that meal..."
The meal in question is probably the medium-rare steak Sonnen is expecting to have served by Silva's wife in this controversial interview from October, where he also offered to pat her on the fanny.
"The Spider" is expected to remain sidelined until June 2012 while recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered during preparations for his UFC 134 title defense against Yushin Okami.
Prior to his suspension and other legal troubles, Sonnen was penciled in for an immediate rematch against Silva earlier this year. Vitor Belfort was plugged in as a replacement and was finished in less than four minutes.
"Thunder" fared just as poorly.
That leaves little wiggle room as far as possible contenders, despite the best efforts of Michael Bisping and "The Phenom," who also want a crack at the middleweight crown.
But part of me wants to see Sonnen head to Brazil just to hear the crowd's reaction when he's announced.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: ufc, silva, brazil, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Accepts Anderson Silva’s Challenge To Fight Him In Brazil
I accept Anderson. Brazil it is. Now then, about that meal...about 14 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
Anderson Silva didn’t accept Chael Sonnen’s challenge, but Chael Sonnen has accepted his.
Last week, Anderson Silva told MMA Nation that he would give Chael Sonnen his rematch if he went down to Brazil to get it. Well, as you can see from his tweet above, Sonnen has agreed.
Of course, this is all talk until the bout agreements are signed, but all signs are pointing to Silva vs. Sonnen 2 going down in Brazil. Or more specifically San Paulo. When asked about unconfirmed reports claiming Silva will fight in San Paulo in June at the UFC 139 post-fight press conference, Dana White all but confirmed that that’s the plan.
“How’s this stuff get out?” he said, before changing gears and trying to play it coy, yet gleefully unsubtle. “I don’t know if we’re going to Sao Paulo in June, and if Anderson Silva’s headlining the card. No clue. That would be awesome, though.”
Yes it would. Silva vs. Sonnen 2 in Brazil would definitely be awesome.
Posted in: silva, brazil, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen Accepts Anderson Silva's Challenge to Fight in Brazil
Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva is a rivalry that clearly isn't going to calm down any until the two men have their rematch. Sonnen gave Silva everything he could handle for the majority of their first fight before getting caught in a triangle choke and submitted late in the fifth round.
Since that point we've had fans and Sonnen clamor for a rematch while Silva's camp has seemingly done everything they can to say that Sonnen should be at the back of the line. Anderson though has said that he will fight whoever the UFC tells him to fight and UFC president Dana White has said that the two will need to rematch.
Recently Silva said that if Chael wants the rematch they can do the fight in Brazil and now Sonnen took to Twitter to say he'll travel for the fight if needed:
@sonnenchchael sonnen I accept Anderson. Brazil it is. Now then, about that meal...Nov 21 via webFavoriteRetweetReply
The talk of the rematch has only heated up since Sonnen dominated Brian Stann and made a challenge for Silva where if Chael won, Anderson would have to leave the light heavyweight division. In return for accepting those terms, Chael said he would retire if he lost the fight.
Sonnen says the timeframe to accept those terms has expired but that he still demands the rematch. Chael has also taken to publicly calling himself "the champion" at every opportunity.
It remains to be seen if the UFC would actually put on Sonnen vs. Silva in Brazil given the myriad of insults Chael has lobbed at the entire nation and its fighters.
Posted in: fight, rematch, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAnderson Silva Likely out til June, Sonnen Likely to take Early-2012 Fight
UFC president Dana White confirmed after UFC 139 that shoulder trouble will likely keep UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva out of action until June of 2012. His future opponent, Chael Sonnen, has expressed interest in taking another fight before the June rematch. MMAWeekly reports that Sonnen is a likely candidate to end up on UFC on Fox 2 in January.
Silva has been suffering from shoulder bursitis since before his UFC 134 victory over Yushin Okami. Silva has delayed treatment on the shoulder in order to help friends Wanderlei Silva and Lyoto Machida prepare for their respective bouts against Cung Le and UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida. The Silva vs. Sonnen rematch is expected to headline the UFC’s June 2012 return to Sao Paulo, Brazil after a nearly 14-year hiatus.
In the mean time, no possible opponents were named for Sonnen but it does appear likely he will fight between now and his probably June 2012 rematch with Silva.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, june, shoulder bursitis
Read the full article at MMA FrenzySonnen accuses Dos Santos of faking knee injury
Chael Sonnen turned his sights on Junior Dos Santos this week, accusing the new heavyweight champion of faking his knee injury as a marketing angle.After...
Posted in: do, heavyweight champion, sonnen, knee, knee injury
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyChael Sonnen loses cool during interview when asked about Anderson Silva
It seems like someone found a crack in that seemingly thick skin Chael Sonnen sports.
While appearing on TSN’s Off The Record Wednesday, Michael Landsberg asked Sonnen why he backed off his terms of a “Loser Leaves Town” match with UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. By his reaction, it was clear Sonnen did not enjoy the tone that Landsberg used and went on the offensive with the host.
“You might want to take the bass out of your tone,” Sonnen replied when accused of reneging on his terms. “I’m not sure you know who you’re talking to here, but I’ve never backed down from anything, so check your facts.”
Sonnen and Landsberg went back-and-forth before the former #1 contender eventually stormed off the stage. Sonnen is attempting to work his way back into a rematch with Silva, having called out the Brazilian title-holder following his win over Brian Stann earlier this year at UFC 136.
Though the UFC is pushing for the rematch no official word has surfaced as to when/if Silva vs. Sonnen II will take place.
Check out the full interview in the video below:
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, official word, brazilian titleholder
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainIn light of all the Chael Sonnen news here's-Chael Sonnen vs. Paulo Filho 1
submitted by applebuttaz [link] [comment]
Posted in: light, sonnen, chael, applebuttaz link, hereschael
Read the full article at RedditSonnen storms off Canadian sports TV interview
Chael Sonnen and extraordinary behaviour are no strangers to each other, but he outdid himself in an appearance on Canadian sports television this week.Sonnen...
Posted in: sport, canadian, sonnen, chael, sonnen storms
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyHead's up Canada: It's impossible to outwit Chael Sonnen, just stop trying...
On the operation of your cerebral cortex, your brain operates on a 'checkers level' while Chael Sonnen's grey matter is constantly on that of a chess grandmaster. Not everyone can be as witty as Chael Sonnen. Don't beat yourself up for it. I'm sure you have many other redeeming qualities and talents that are attractive to the opposite sex. However, if you get in a verbal sparring match with Chael Sonnen -- you will lose. That outcome is just as certain as the changing of the seasons or the equinox. It's a constant in our universe, however Canadians fail to accept this existential fact. Check out this Chael Sonnen appearance on Canada's 'Off the record' that just aired on the TSN network which also includes a impromptu walk-out by the self-proclaimed 'UFC middleweight champion.' [Source]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, chess grandmaster, fact check
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael Sonnen Interview Goes Awry, Walks Off Set
Clear your schedule for the next 10 minutes people. This is one Chael Sonnen interview you don’t want to miss. TSN’s notorious pot-stirring interviewer Michael Landsberg really brought it to Chael Sonnen in an interview they did yesterday. From the get go, Landsberg hammered Sonnen about the “loser leaves town” challenge Sonnen issued to Anderson Silva at UFC 136 and Sonnen didn’t like it, not one bit. At Sonnen’s request, they eventually restarted the interview, but Sonnen was so irritated with Landsberg at that point, he eventually just stood up, took off his mic and walked off the set.
TSN has some choice quotes from the interview, but the written version really doesn’t do the interview justice. You need to watch it, either in the video player above or in higher quality over at TSN. Funny stuff.
HT: Cage Potato
Posted in: interview, video player, chael sonnen, sonnen, choice quotes
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen grills Michael Landsberg on 'Off The Record,' storms off the set 'flabbergasted' (Video)
Chael Sonnen almoset went Jim Everett on Michael Landsberg earlier this afternoon.
The self-proclaimed "Peoples Champion" was on Wednesday's edition of "Off The Record" in Canada, which turned into an absolutely must-see, bizarre interview in which the former number one middleweight contender admitted he was "flabbergasted."
Join the crowd.
Sonnen sips coffee, pretends to snore, takes jabs at the Canadian government, as well as its most successful mixed martial artist, Georges St. Pierre, who he refers to as "grease." Landsberg seemingly got off on the rough foot when he fumbled through the Anderson Silva back story, which Sonnen used to rake him over the coals.
After that, it was basically all down hill. Deep down. Sonnen eventually walks off and leaves the show with Landsberg in mid-sentence.
Landsberg has requested another interview, as long as Sonnen is willing to talk about "The Spider." No telling if the offer will eventually expire because, well, Landsberg is from Canada and may not know about such things (Sonnen's words, not mine).
Enjoy the show after the jump (be sure to get some popcorn):
Crazy or pure genius ... or both?
Posted in: sonnen, middleweight contender, landsberg, midsentence landsberg, recordnbspin canada
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva Says He’ll Fight Chael Sonnen In Brazil, Still Upset With Ed Soares
Remember that face-to-face meeting that Chael Sonnen said he was having with Anderson Silva last week? We assumed they were meeting to put together their rematch and not sitting down to have a beer to shoot the sh*t, but apparently we thought wrong.
Speaking to SB Nation’s Jeff Gluck at the NASCAR race Silva attended this past weekend, Silva explained that no date or location has been set for the rematch, but if Sonnen wants the fight, he’ll have to go to Brazil to get it.
“There’s no date, there’s nothing set up,” Soares said. “That’s what (Sonnen) is saying he wants. But when Dana White decides and when the UFC decides…right now, there’s nothing set.”
“I don’t like this guy,” he said. “This guy (wants to) fight me? Go to Brazil. No problem. … Chael talks too much. I’m ready to fight Chael. But you have the chance – go to Brazil to fight me.”
For the record, there hasn’t been any confirmation yet that the meeting actually took place or if there was ever a meeting set in the first place. This is Chael Sonnen we’re talking about after all. I think we’ve all learned we can’t take everything he says at face value.
More interestingly, when Silva was questioned about his frazzled relationship with his manager Ed Soares, Silva said that it remains a “big problem.” Funny thing was Silva said this with Soares standing right next to him!
“It’s a problem,” Silva told MMA Nation on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway, where he was an honorary official for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. “It’s a big problem. I don’t like the picture, I don’t like the position my manager (was in). Big problem. I don’t like it.”
It’s worth noting, however, that Silva said this with Soares standing right next to him. When it was pointed out that Soares was there, Silva offered a hint of a smile but stuck to his original statement.
“It’s a problem,” he said. “Bad position.”
It may be a big problem, but Soares is clearly still his manager if he’s attending special appearances with him so he at least has that going for him.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the whole picture incident though is that Soares has yet to publicly address the situation. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s guilty of fraternizing with the enemy, but you would think he would have said something by now or at least repaired his relationship with Silva if there was a reasonable explanation for the photo.
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: silva, sonnen, chael, soare, problem
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen has enough of "stupid" questions walks off interview set
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from the self-proclaimed “gangster from America,” Chael Sonnen. In case you missed the presence of the man with “the largest arm in West Linn,” he recently made a television appearance on TSN’s “OTR,” and, well, it had its moments.
Things start off pretty rocky when interviewer Michael Lansberg accused Sonnen of backing down from the loser leave town offer he extended to Anderson Silva following UFC 136.
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, television appearance, moments things
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen: Velasquez is the Best of All Time
UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen believes that Cain Velasquez is the best heavyweight in the history of combat sports.
Posted in: velasquez, contender, sonnen, chael, combat
Read the full article at Heavy MMADana White confirms that Chael Sonnen is next for Anderson Silva
It looks like Chael Sonnen‘s mouth and the fan response to it has earned him another fight against the man on the receiving end of his many verbal jabs – Anderson Silva.
Appearing on the Jim Rome Show, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Sonnen would get his rematch, saying, “It’s the fight that everybody wants to see. People want to see Chael vs. Anderson. Anderson is in this position where he feels like the guy is so disrespectful he doesn’t want to give him a shot. But Anderson will end up fighting Chael. The answer is yes.”
After a submission victory at UFC 136, the man with the gift of gab cut a pro-wrestling style promo on the champ, essentially challenging him to a “Loser Leaves Town” fight on Super Bowl weekend. While Sonnen has backed off the stipulations and the fight may not take place the day before the biggest football game of the year, the bout will happen, which is all Sonnen really wanted in the first place.
Following his post-fight victory speech, Silva and his manager Ed Soares were unhappy with Sonnen’s promo and comments about Silva in general. Silva felt disrespected and Soares felt that Chael already had his chance at the title, and should wait back in line.
Sonnen was two minutes away from capturing the UFC middleweight title from Silva at UFC 117, but was caught in a triangle choke in the final round of a fight that he dominated for 23 minutes. Sonnen failed a drug test following the bout and sat on the sidelines for over a year before returning this past October to defeat Brian Stann. Silva has posted two more (T)KO victories since submitting Sonnen to run his winning streak inside the Octagon to fourteen fights.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen: Cain Velasquez Is Most Intimidating Heavyweight Force Ever
Filed under: UFC, NewsAs the monumental UFC on FOX broadcast nears, public sentiment seems to favor heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez to retain his belt. That's a shift from a few months ago, when challenger Junior dos Santos opened as a slight favorite against him.
On Friday afternoon, top heavyweight contenders Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem both rode the wave, predicting that Velasquez would emerge victorious. And No. 1 middleweight contender Chael Sonnen one-upped everyone, pronouncing Velasquez as not just the best heavyweight in MMA history, but in all of combat sports history.
"Cain Velasquez for my money is the most intimidating force ever in heavyweight combat," Sonnen said on Friday's edition of MMA Live. "That includes guys like [Mike] Tyson, [Evander] Holyfield, [George] Foreman, whoever you want to name. Velasquez is the most feared of them all."
That's an awfully bold statement, and it can certainly be argued that Velasquez is not nearly well known enough to be considered the most feared heavyweight history has seen. He's fought just nine times, though he is a perfect 9-0 with seven knockouts.
A designation like the one Sonnen bestowed upon Velasquez is usually earned over time, and with only four years in the fight game, the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder doesn't have the lengthy track record that other combat sports stars of the past can boast.
Saturday night's fight is expected to draw one of the largest television audiences in U.S. MMA history, and Velasquez can take a big step in writing that type of legacy with a win over dos Santos in a bout that many believe to be the best UFC heavyweight title matchup ever.
Sonnen, at least, thinks that will happen, expecting Velasquez to wear down his challenger with his stamina.
"Junior's got to win this fight, he's got to win early," he said. "If he doesn't win it in the first round, and realistically if he doesn't win it in the first minutes of the first round, it's going to go from bad to worse." Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: heavyweight, history, velasquez, mma history, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSonnen: I wont wait for Anderson
Chael Sonnen has indicated that he will probably take another fight while he waits for Anderson Silva to recover from his shoulder injury.“The fight's...
Posted in: fight, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson, sonnen i
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyDana White: Chael Sonnen is Next for Anderson Silva
Arguably the most anticipated rematch in the UFC is finally happening. UFC President Dana White announced on Wednesday that Chael Sonnen will be the next opponent for middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
White made the announcement on “The Jim Rome Show”, declaring to the national radio audience that this is “the fight that everyone wants to see”.
Sonnen and Silva first met at UFC 117 in August 2010. Sonnen came the closest of any of Silva’s challengers to defeating the Brazilian legend. Prior to facing Sonnen, Silva easily dismantled fighters such as Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt , and Rich Franklin during his title reign. He also moved up to light heavyweight and defeated both Forrest Griffin and James Irvin within the first four minutes.
Then came Chael Sonnen, the brash and arrogant character, who shoved aside all of Silva’s accomplishments. While he was laughed at prior to UFC 117, Sonnen was quieting all of his doubters for the first four rounds, as he was dominating the fight on the ground with his top-level wrestling. In the fifth round, the now infamous image of Anderson Silva choking out Sonnen off his back with a triangle armbar took place.
Following the loss, Sonnen was not heard from for quite a while, as he faced criminal charges for money laundering, along with being suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for having an elevated testosterone level during his fight with Silva.
He made his return to the UFC this past month at UFC 136, easily defeating Brian Stann in the second round with an arm triangle choke. Following the victory, Sonnen immediately went after Anderson Silva, bypassing answering any of Joe Rogan’s questions, and shouting “Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck!” Silva could be seen in the crowd reacting sheepishly to Sonnen’s announcement.
Sonnen went on to add “Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I’m calling you out Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, and I will leave the UFC forever.”
While those stakes will certainly not be a part of the end result, the hype behind this matchup will grow even more with those comments.
The fight will not take place until Silva recovers from shoulder bursitis. That more than likely removes any chance of the fight taking place at Sonnen’s request of Super Bowl weekend, not to mention Georges St. Pierre is expected to face Nick Diaz at the event.
Regardless of when the fight does end up taking place, it will be one of the most publicized matchups in UFC history.
For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, anderson silva, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen Gets Wish, Dana White Confirms Rematch With Anderson Silva
According to the UFC President Dana White, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will defend his title against his nemesis Chael Sonnen, whether he likes it or not. White confirmed the news during an interview with ESPN's Jim Rome on Wednesday:
"It's the fight that everybody wants to see. People want to see Chael vs. Anderson," White said. "Anderson is in this position where he feels like the guy is so disrespectful he doesn't want to give him a shot.
"But Anderson will end up fighting Chael. The answer is yes."
White did not say when or where the fight would take place. Silva is currently recovering from a shoulder injury.
Silva defeated Sonnen at UFC 117 last August by a triangle armbar submission in the fifth round. Most fans and analysts had Silva on the verge of losing his title to Sonnen, but the champion proved why he's the most decorated fighter in the sport by pulling off the incredible.
Since the title defense, Silva defended twice more, defeating Vitor Belfort in spectacular fashion at UFC 126 in February and bombing Yushin Okami at uFC 137 in August.
If you truly believed the rumors that this fight might never happen due to Silva's reluctance to accept a fight against such a disrespectful opponent, reality has finally won. With the proper promotion, both Sonnen and Silva could benefit greatly from this bout, especially if the event is promoted extensively across Fox's network of channels. I can't imagine what three to four months of Sonnen's barbs could do to inflate the buyrate, but it could very well help Sonnen establish a presence as a pay-per-view draw.
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAs expected, Chael Sonnen up next for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva (MMAJunkie.com)
As expected, Chael Sonnen will be the next fighter to challenge for UFC middleweight champion Anderson...
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsAs expected, Chael Sonnen up next for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva
As expected, Chael Sonnen will be the next fighter to challenge for UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the plans on Wednesday's edition of "The Jim Rome Show."
However, no date has been selected for the long-awaited rematch because Silva currently is recovering from a shoulder injury.
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, wednesdays edition, longawaited rematch
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDana White: Chael Sonnen Will Face Anderson Silva
Filed under: UFC, NewsChael Sonnen's campaign for a rematch against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has worked.
UFC president Dana White talked Wednesday on The Jim Rome Show about the inevitability of Sonnen vs. Silva 2.
"It's the fight that everyone wants to see," said White. "People want to see Chael vs. Anderson. Anderson is in this position where he feels like this guy is so disrespectful he doesn't want to give him a shot and everything else. But Anderson will end up fighting Chael Sonnen."
Sonnen last month returned to action with a submission win over Brian Stann at UFC 136. After the fight, Sonnen ignored Joe Rogan's first question to immediately go on the attack against Silva.
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck," Sonnen told Rogan. "Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business."
Sonnen also offered to put his UFC career on the line but has since called off the bet.
There's no target date yet for the fight as Silva is currently out with a shoulder injury. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, anderson, fight sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseAnderson Silva and Chael Sonnen scheduled for face to face meeting today in Anaheim
It appears UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and top contender Chael Sonnen will be coming face to face today for a meeting in Anaheim.At least, that's according to Sonnen's Twitter account."The bug got to Anaheim today, I get in tomorrow. We are having a meeting, and I AIN'T BRINGING FLOWERS..." Sonnen tweeted. "As Champion, I need nothing except my list of demands. Fighting on the date I'VE selected is my right for being better than you, Yes YOU.""Andy won't stand up to me, but he'll have to sit
Posted in: face, today, sonnen, meeting, i aint
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen Isn’t Bringing Flowers To Meeting With Anderson Silva Tomorrow
The bug got to Anaheim today, I get in tomorrow. We are having a meeting, and I AIN'T BRINGING FLOWERS....about 12 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
According to Chael Sonnen’s latest round of tweets, he and Anderson Silva will be meeting face-to-face this week in Anaheim presumably to iron out the details for their inevitable rematch. This is the first we’ve heard of it though, so it’s unclear if that’s definitely the plan and if a public announcement will be in order this weekend, perhaps during the one-hour UFC on FOX commercial broadcast.
Sonnen has given us more questions than answers, but chances are we’ll find out soon enough. We’ll keep you posted.
As Champion, I need nothing except my list of demands. Fighting on the date I'VE selected is my right for being better than you, Yes YOU.about 10 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
Andy won't stand up to me, but he'll have to sit before me tomorrow. Perhaps bowing and kissing my boot is in order. MEDIUM RARE!about 10 hours ago via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
Posted in: sonnen, meeting, webreplyretweetfavoritesonnenchchael, date ive, onehour ufc
Read the full article at MMA ConvertIntroducing Chael Sonnen: One UFC fan's story about the fighter you never knew
Hey, ever hear of that guy named Chael Sonnen?
The former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight number one contender, aside from being one of the top mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters in the world, is a polarizing figure, one who can spark a debate with just the mere mention of his name.
Or Anderson Silva's.
Most of the UFC fan base are familiar with his on-screen personality, as Sonnen and his sharp tongue slice and dice their way through pre-fight interviews and media appearances. In fact, outside of Brian Stann at UFC 136, you'd be hard-pressed to find the former NCAA Division I All-American wrestler having anything nice to say.
Or so we thought.
Underneath the hard shell, the barrier that separates Sonnen the personality from Sonnen the human being, lies a "gentleman" who -- with the cameras off and crowd out of sight -- gave one lucky fan, 11-year-old Ty Costlow, an experience he'll never forget.
"I took my 11 year old son, Ty, to UFC 136. He is a huge UFC fan and we traveled from NJ to go to the Fan Expo and attend the fight. After Chael's victory, my son approached the security gate to get his autograph. Chael lifted my son over the gate and took him behind the scenes where the other fighters were either recovering from their fight or preparing for an upcoming battle. A security guard brought me back as well, and what followed is a father/son moment that we will both never forget."
See the rest of Ty's story, after the jump.
Chael took off his wraps and signed them for my son. There are professional photo sessions taken immediately after the fight, Chael included my son with him in the photos. He then took us to each locker room, introduced us to the fighters and had them sign Ty's shirt, hat, and program. We then were allowed into Frankie Edgar's locker room where he was warming up for his title fight. Frankie stopped his warm-up and spent time talking to my son and signing various items. We returned to our seats to watch the final two fights. Chael had the security people take us to a section where UFC fighters sat who were not fighting that evening. Each of them signed my son's program.
Chael was a gentleman and gave my son an experience that he will never forget. The entire UFC family could not have been more accessible and friendly. I'm sure that there is not another group of professional athletes that would be as inviting to an 11 year old boy during an event. I will always be a Chael Sonnen fan after seeing his heart warming interaction with my son.
This is one of many UFC fan experiences that largely go unnoticed, but should be recognized.
I stumbled across a comment left by Ty's dad on one of the UFC forums and contacted him to not only give Sonnen the credit he deserves, but to illustrate what so many detractors of MMA will never understand.
Fighters are not bloodthirsty barbarians who thrive on violent encounters.
They're real athletes, real sportsmen and above all, real human beings. Ty's story, borne from a desire to do nothing but reward a fan of the product, is proof of that. And that proof can be seen at the 5:28 mark of Dana White's UFC video blog right here.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Chael Sonnen. The fighter you never knew.
Posted in: ufc, fan, sonnen, chael, son
Read the full article at MMA ManiaIs Anderson Silva Taking the Easy Road?
Anderson Silva doesn't want tough fights. Almost every time a potential contenders name starts to be thrown around as next in line, Silva always seems to have a reason why they shouldn't fight. It's perfectly okay for Silva to have an opinion on future opponents, but I can't remember a time when he's been open to what many expect to be a real challenge.
What got me thinking about this were Silva's recent comments to SporTV in which the champion seemed surprised that Mark Munoz, a former training partner, had called him out. According to Silva, he thought they were friends, but it's hard to justify his position here. Munoz had only trained with Silva on a few occasions from what I can tell, and had even said in interviews while training with the champion that he'd still like to fight for the belt. So it's a bit strange that Silva would assume Munoz had no intentions of winning the middleweight championship.
He's also recently said that Chael Sonnen, the only man in the UFC to ever come close to defeating the champion, doesn't deserve another title shot. This is a bit more understanding when you consider Sonnen was caught using PED's in the post fight drug test, but it's still aggravating. Sonnen is possibly the only real challenge left for Silva at middleweight, and it doesn't help his credibility when it appears he's dodging the fight.
Of course we can't forget his new found friendship with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. When asked if he'd fight Jones, Silva said, "No chance. He's in a different weight class, we are friends and we won't fight each other." An interesting response from someone who has gone up in weight twice now, and has never had a problem with it. The only reason Silva had avoided fighting for the light heavyweight belt in the past was due to Lyoto Machida, but if Jones is the champion I don't see what the problem is.
The only fight Silva or his management actually seem interested in, is Michael Bisping. As much as I'd like to see Bisping brutally knocked out again, this match-up is comical at best. He has nothing to offer on the feet against someone like Silva, and though his MMA wrestling has become moderately effective, it's incredibly unlikely he'd have any success holding Silva down for 5 rounds.
I want to make it clear; I don't think Silva is afraid to fight anyone. He is the best fighter in the world for a reason, but it's not unreasonable to assume he or his management might be trying to protect his record. Silva is nearing the tail end of his career, and has more to lose than ever before. I doubt his or his managements opinion has much sway over the UFC brass, but comments like these could certainly change public opinion on a particular match-up. What do you think?
Posted in: fight, silva, champion, sonnen, he
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendChael Sonnen will "Shine like a Pagan Sun God" until he gets a title shot
Since Sonnen's "call-out heard 'round the world" following his UFC 136 victory over Brian Stann, there has been little word on who will get the next crack at Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. The winner of the upcoming Michael Bisping-"Mayhem" Miller showdown has been mentioned as a possibility, even the recently triumphant Mark Munoz threw his name in the hat with his own post-fight call-out of sorts. But, whoever it is, Sonnen's not planning on slowing his roll. In fact, he says as long as he keeps...
Posted in: title shot, sonnen, mark munoz, postfight callout, sonnens callout
Read the full article at Low KickSonnen: I would ban the triangle choke
Chael Sonnen was on form in his latest interview.The middleweight contender answered a Q&A from MMA Mania and dropped several comedy gems, of which...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, sonnen i, mma mania, comedy gems
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyDivine Inspiration: MMAmania.com interview exclusive with UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen is truly one of the most entertaining fighters in the sport today.
Not only is he one of the best middleweights on the planet, with impressive wins over Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami and most recently Brian Stann, he was a minute and 50 seconds away from dethroning reigning division champion Anderson Silva back at UFC 117.
He is also equally entertaining outside of the Octagon.
With his knack for hyping and selling a fight; whether you're a fan or not, when he talks, you're likely to listen. Coming off of his second round submission victory over the "All American" at UFC 136, Chael wasted no time in calling out his Brazilian nemesis by delivering one of the best post-fight speeches in promotion history.
Chael challenged Silva to a high stakes fight and the stipulations were simple: Should Anderson lose, he leaves the middleweight division. But if Sonnen loses, he would hand in his resignation papers and leave the UFC forever.
Unfortunately, Silva did not respond to the challenge and the offer eventually expired.
From the Twitter boards to nationally syndicated radio shows, the self-proclaimed "America Gangster" from Oregon has done his part to get a rematch with "The Spider," and though his target refuses to cooperate in a back-and-forth, Chael has no plans on letting up anytime soon.
Sonnen took time out of his busy schedule to speak to MMAmania.com about his UFC 136 post-fight speech, fighting his friends, beating Jon Jones, go-go dancers and of course, Anderson Silva's funeral.
Take a look.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): First off, congratulations on your big win against Brian Stann at UFC 136. How was it having to face a man that you consider a friend and respect so much?
Chael Sonnen: It was a challenge. It was business. Football players don't get to opt out of a game when they play against a buddy, and this sport shouldn't be any different. I faced Brian Stann like an opponent as a statement to Blackhouse and all of the fighters that make nonviolence pacts over their best friend's collages. It's nauseating.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): What's your take on so many fighters today refusing to fight "friends" or people they have trained with in the past?
Chael Sonnen: They should go get a job at a sorority, or move to California and register at Macy's. They make a mockery out of athletes everywhere. If they want to pretend that this isn't a bloodsport, that's their problem. They shouldn't make the rest of us real competitors look bad. I'd fight any one of my friends any day at any time, because I respect them.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Many people say your "Achilles heel" is Jiu-Jitsu. What do you say about that, do you feel that is an accurate assessment?
Chael Sonnen: Sure, whatever you say. I'd say that I have better things to do than beat the guy across the cage from me with an inefficient and unsophisticated modern fad that help effeminate men feel tough. Jiu-Jitsu, Tae Bo, no difference. I prefer the ancient sports, like wrestling. If it wouldn't show up in a Ridley Scott movie, I won't do it.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): You're no stranger to hyping up a fight or "trash talk." In fact, some say you're the best at it. Do you consider it trash talking, promoting or just speaking the truth?
Chael Sonnen: I would call it divine inspiration. I am moved to rage poetry by the idiocy, hipocracy, and flat-out laughable people and situations that I see in MMA these days. I can't NOT call them for what they are: idiots doing idiot things because they're idiots.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): I assume you're not one to take it personal when someone returns the favor, have you heard or read any of Mirko "Cro Cop's" comments about you in a video interview he had? If not, here a few excerpts. He said, and I quote:
"You can tell by his face that the man is slow. That he is stupid and that that he has the IQ of a child's shoe size. That man holds a PhD in idiocy"
"I'm only sorry that he is missing like 30 pounds because I would beat his ass so bad, he would multiply 3 times. In anger I would beat him up so bad that I would split him apart. I would clone him in 3 specimens. I hope to one day see him summering in Croatia so I can Iron his ass, so that steam will shoot out his pompous ass."
How do you respond to comments like that from a man many consider a legend in the sport?
Chael Sonnen: Remember a few years back when the only thing the guy could say in English was, "I like to kick?" Man, he must have hired an entire bus of writers to help him with that one. And I'm not so okay with his constant comments about my ass. Is that an Eastern European thing?
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Would you be open to a fight with Mirko?
Chael Sonnen: Not now that he's retired. I don't kick three-legged puppies. Actually, now that I think about it, I couldn't fight him on those grounds even if he WASN'T retired. I would probably just back-hand slap him. It wouldn't hurt him too badly, but it would put him in his place.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Okay, let's turn our attention to one of your favorite subjects, Anderson Silva. You had one of the most memorable post- fight speeches after your victory at UFC 136 aimed at Anderson, was that off the cuff or did you have it pre planned?
Chael Sonnen: I have never stopped thinking about how much he absolutely sucks. I spent years just getting him into the cage with me, and he's going to avoid me this time as well. I had to throw down the gauntlet, just to see if he was man enough to take the offer. His silence tells you everything that you need to know.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): You said you made that speech as "bait" for Anderson and that the offer expired as you recently stated on the Jim Rome show. Do you have another offer up your sleeve to try and lure Silva into finally accepting the fight with you?
Chael Sonnen: I could offer him the entire state of Oregon and he would dodge me. But yes, I do have plenty of bait to try on him. Believe me; you'll know it when you see it.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): You are arguably the most deserving to take on Anderson Silva, given the fact that you were minutes away from winning the belt at UFC 117 and you just beat a man who was considered in line to be number one contender in Brian Stann. How upset would you be if the UFC decides to go another route as far as a challenger for Anderson?
Chael Sonnen: They have to come back to me eventually. No one has come as close as I have to dethroning him, and no one will. Eventually the fights will get so much MORE boring than they already are, and they will have to give me my rightful fight.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Ed Soares recently stated that you needed to get to the back of the line in order to challenge Anderson because you had your chance and blew it. He also said you should be in jail and not fighting. Care to comment on those statements?
Chael Sonnen: I didn't blow anything, thank you very much. I just took a hiatus to make the rest of my life less important than fighting. My fight against Stann didn't highlight me as a better fighter than anything the world has ever seen, and if Ed can't see that then he will eventually have to deal with Uncle Dana and the American public beating down his door with torches and pitchforks.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Dana White recently said "I'd be stupid to not make that fight" referring to your rematch with Silva. Have you had any discussions with the UFC matchmakers regarding a possible date and if you indeed are next for Anderson Silva?
Chael Sonnen: We're thinking about my birthday next year in Portland. There will be fireworks, go-go dancers, exploding cars, and a Brazilian sacrifice. I will parade Anderson's unconscious corpse around the Rose Garden to celebrate.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): You left the fight with Stann rather unscathed. If the match-up against Silva does not happen right away due to his shoulder injury, would you take another fight in the interim possibly at super bowl weekend, maybe against Vitor Belfort or Wanderlei Silva; or would you wait on Silva as long as it takes?
Chael Sonnen: Let me ask you something: when you have a big project or plans for a big goal, do you let yourself get derailed by a whiny coworker that always finds an excuse to shovel work on someone else? NO! You do your work, you beat your obligations senseless, you shine like a pagan sun god, you make that whiny prat look foolish, you take their job, you laugh as they leave with a box of their effects, and you comfort their obviously unsatisfied wife by taking her out to dinner. I'm not cooling my heels just because Anderson's are kicked up on the sofa.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Would you be open to the possibility of coaching opposite Silva in The Ultimate Fighter?
Chael Sonnen: No, not ever, not even on my birthday. I take coaching seriously, and a run on "The Ultimate Fighter" is as much about forging a new group of coworkers and competitors as it is about me turning the opposing coach into floor pizza. Coaching against Anderson would be a disservice to my team, because they would spend the entire time fighting against a team that would be as poorly trained and poorly prepared as their coach. My team would get out into the real UFC, see what they're up against, and blame me because I didn't prepare them enough, and I would feel guilty because I wouldn't have had the authority to bring in a real coach to train real competition and truly prepare them for a real fight.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): What's your relationship like with Keith Kizer and NSAC?
Chael Sonnen: You do remember that when I promised to do this interview, you agreed to mention www.athletebay.com and to wish Kala Haley a happy anniversary, right? Well when are you going to do it? When are you going to say "www.athletebay.com" and, "happy anniversary Kala Haley?" Ahh forget it, we can do www.athletebay.com and Kala Haley's anniversary another time.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): You laid out the blueprint on how to compete with Anderson Silva when it seemed that no one could even touch him. Right now, no one seems to have a good plan on how to get close to current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. How would you go about trying to defeat his style?
Chael Sonnen: Substance always beats style. Enough said.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): After you complete your goals at 185, will we ever see you possibly move up in weight to challenge the light heavyweights?
Chael Sonnen: I'm an athlete. Fat kids fighting over a Milky Way isn't athletic. That's baseball.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): What is one thing in mixed martial arts today that you would change?
Chael Sonnen: I would ban the triangle choke, the refuge of cowards everywhere.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): Who is the one fighter that you have looked up to and absolutely respect?
Chael Sonnen: The same one you do, Chael P. Sonnen.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): When it's all said and done and your fighting career has come to an end, what do you want people to remember you most for? What will define Chael Sonnen?
Chael Sonnen: Genius, arrogance, dominance, flawlessness, and Anderson Silva's brief but uneventful funeral.
Adam Guillen Jr. (MMAmania.com): One last thing, why is MMAmania.com your favorite website?
Chael Sonnen: I am a huge supporter of MMA, as well as mania. They incorporate two of my favorite things.
Sonnen is currently waiting patiently for an opponent, preferably Anderson Silva.
In the meantime, make sure to catch Chael co-host the 2011 World MMA awards by Fighters Only Magazine alongside Molly Querim on November 30, 2011 live from Las Vegas at the Pearl Theater inside The Palms Casino Resort.
The event is set to air via delay on FOX sports regional networks and Fuel TV.
Posted in: sonnen, chael, jr, mmamaniacom, guillen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: “I knew (Anderson Silva) was a coward.”
Chael Sonnen continues to try and push the buttons of UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. Sonnen, who lost to Silva via submission in 2010, called out “The Spider” following his most recent win over Brian Stann inside the Octagon.
Silva, who is rehabbing a shoulder injury, has made it known that he doesn’t believe Sonnen deserves a rematch. However, with his most recent comments, Sonnen may just get the match he so desperately wants.
UFC President Dana White has said he wants to make Silva-Sonnen II, possibly on Super Bowl Weekend, but nothing has been confirmed by either White or the UFC.
Sonnen, while being interviewed by FightHype recently, talked about Silva’s lack of acceptance to his loser-leaves-town stipulation he tossed in. Sonnen said if he defeated Silva, Silva would have to leave the 185-pound division. If Silva were victorious, Sonnen said he would leave the UFC.
“Shocked. He comes from a fighting culture,” Sonnen said of Silva’s refusal to take the bout. “I was blown away that he would insult his entire heritage like that. Behind the scenes, I knew he was a coward, but in a million years, I never thought he would show it publicly.”
Carrying on as only he can, Sonnen also called himself the biggest draw in MMA, saying, “I sell more tickets, more pay-per-views, and more merchandise than any fighter in history. Comparing (Georges St. Pierre) to me is like comparing Kimbo (Slice) to (Muhammed) Ali.”
News of Silva’s future will likely come in the next few weeks after Dan Henderson, also a potential contender, fights Mauricio Rua at UFC 139. Additionally, Mark Munoz called Silva out albeit respectfully after his win last Saturday night over Chris Leben.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, silvasonnen ii, octagon silva
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen accuses Anderson Silva of disrespecting Brazilian heritage
UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen is an authority on numerous topics including high-level grappling, being an Oregonian gangster, and the finer points of how to insult a Brazilian. His expertise on the latter recently came into play when asked for a response relating to rival Anderson Silva’s recent statements regarding Sonnen’s status as an undeserving top contender.
However, rather than take aim at Silva’s background as the cause for his hesitation to step up to the challenge, Sonnen did quite the opposite and called into question the middleweight champion’s behavior as being an affront to certain principles rooted in Silva’s countrymen.
Sonnen Believes he is MMA’s Most Respectful Competitor
“Shocked,” Sonnen replied in an interview with FightHype when asked how he reacted to “The Spider” apparently opting to pass on a rematch in early 2012. “He comes from a fighting culture. I was blown away that he would insult his entire heritage like that. Behind the scenes I knew he was a coward, but in a million years I never thought he would show it publicly.”
Silva has cited the fact he finished Sonnen at UFC 117, coupled with the outspoken 185er only having fought/won a single time since, as the reason behind his decision to focus on other potential opponents.
An unexpected result of the beef between Sonnen and Silva has been a mild dose of fallout between the 36-year old title-holder and longtime manager Ed Soares. Sonnen spoke about the situation, siding with Soares, explaining, “I like Ed and he is very good at his job. He has protected a phony, got him paid and pushed more than anybody, and created a false legacy for a bum. Ed should be praised and copied, not fired. I have great management and I’m lucky to be with them, but if I wasn’t I would hire Ed…and I’m not kidding.”
As far why Soares would want to manage Sonnen, the answer appears clear so long as you ask the trash-talking tyrant who made it clear a second go with Silva would be much more significant headliner for a Super Bowl Weekend event than Georges St. Pierre defending his welterweight belt against Nick Diaz.
“I’m the biggest draw in the industry today,” Sonnen stated. “I sell more tickets, more PPVs, and more merchandise than any fighter in history. Comparing GSP to me is like comparing Kimbo (Slice) to (Muhammad) Ali.”
Though Sonnen can clearly “talk the talk,” whether or not he walks the walk, as he has in bouts against Brian Stann, Nate Marquardt, Dan Miller, Yushin Okami, and Silva for the majority of their match-up before getting caught in a last minute submission, remains to be seen.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: silva, ed, “ i, sonnen, scenes i
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 117
UFC 117: Silva vs. Sonnen
Date: August 07, 2010
Venue: Oracle Arena
Location: Oakland, California
gate:
attendance:
Fighter Awards & Bonuses ($60,000 each)
- Knockout of the Night: Stefan Struve
- Submission of the Night: Anderson Silva and Matt Hughes
- Fight of The Night: Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen
Play-By-Play
Main Bouts (On Pay-Per-View):
-Anderson Silva def. Chael Sonnen by Submission (Triangle Choke), R5
-Jon Fitch def. [...]
Posted in: night, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChael Sonnen rage
submitted by Like_Wild_Potato [link] [7 comments]
Posted in: sonnen, chael, rage, likewildpotato
Read the full article at RedditUFC Quick Quote: Chris Leben would only fight Chael Sonnen if it was for the title
"If Chael gets the title, I'll fight Chael for the title. I'd beat Chael, I know that. I know how to train for him, I've trained with him for years. But I wouldn't fight him. The only reason I would fight him is if he had the title."
-- Thorn, meet Dana White's side ... again. Chris Leben, who takes on Mark Munoz tomorrow (Sat., Nov. 4, 2011) at UFC 138 in Birmingham, England, is already looking ahead to the future. A victory would give him five wins in his last six fights and, he thinks, make him a legitimate title contender. "The Crippler" would love to get revenge on reigning division deity Anderson Silva but its' entirely possible he will no longer be champion after Chael Sonnen gets through with him. That would mean Leben would have to face the prospect of fighting a training partner. He would do it, of course, but only if the 185-pound strap was at stake. He's got the secret to beating Sonnen, too, thanks to his extensive time on the mats with the Oregon native. Anyone think Sonnen beats Silva before Leben beats Sonnen and we've got a "Crippler" for a middleweight champion in 2012? Anyone?
Posted in: title, chris leben, sonnen, chael, leben
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Comparing Georges St. Pierre to Chael Sonnen is like comparing Kimbo Slice to Muhammed Ali
"I'm the biggest draw in the industry today. I sell more tickets, more pay-per-views, and more merchandise than any fighter in history. Comparing GSP to me is like comparing Kimbo to Ali."
Chael Sonnen, who is convinced he is the reigning middleweight champion despite getting submitted by Anderson Silva at UFC 117, also declares himself (via Fight Hype) to be the top pay-per-view draw in mixed martial arts history. And whatever you do, don't compare him to current UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, who is a mere Kimbo Slice to Sonnen's Muhammed Ali. Sonnen is expected to defend his imaginary title against "The Spider" in early 2012 following a dominant performance over Brian Stann at UFC 136 just last month. Anyone think "Silva vs. Sonnen II" will prove that he is indeed the biggest draw in the industry today? Or will he fail to put asses in the seats the second time around?
Posted in: ufc, kimbo slice, sonnen, arts history, industry today
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva says 'there's no place for Chael Sonnen in MMA' in this Brazilian interview
There's not a single thing in MMA more interesting and dramatic than what has transpired between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen over the past year. Seriously, you can't name a single thing more intriguing even if you tried. When Chael Sonnen says he wants to ‘pat Anderson Silva’s wife on the ass and tell her to make him a steak,’ things undeniably reached that uncomfortable level that we all aspired for back in high school just before a fight broke however. However, in this scenario no fight has been announced. Sure Sonnen vs. Silva II could sell out the equivalent of an entire third-world country in terms of ticket sales, but in this recent Brazilian interview, Anderson doesn't even believe there's a place for Chael Sonnen in MMA. [Source]
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasyChael Sonnen explains why he is the true champion and Anderson Silva is an imposter
Ever since Chael Sonnen choked out Brian Stann at UFC 136 last month to re-establish his place among the 185-pound elite, fans have been wondering when and if the trash-talking wrestler would get another crack at the middleweight crown.
Turns out he may not even need one.
That's because in Sonnen's eyes, he is the division champion, not Anderson Silva, despite losing to "The Spider" by submission at UFC 117 back in 2010.
So how can the ex-Realtor justify himself as king of the middleweights?
"I fight 'em all. I am the middleweight champion and I take on all comers. He's an imposter. The clear distinction between the true champion and that bum is that. I'll fight 'em all, I don't care what their name is, what their record is, big fight, little fight, this fight, that fight, I will fight. Period. Vitor Belfort calls me out? That's no problem Vitor. You mean nothing to me. Let's fight. You challenge me, I accept your challenge stupid. Now what are you gonna do? Nothing. You just said it because you knew my plate was full. Wrong. I will stomp you. I don't need to take Dana's time, he doesn't need to schedule a lunch with me. Send me a text message, that's it."
Hear more from Sonnen, courtesy of Pro MMA Now, after the jump.
How about it fight fans, is it time for Silva to accept a rematch? Or does he have other business to attend to first in the UFC middleweight division?
Thoughts?
Posted in: fight, anderson silva, middleweight, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: Silva is a bum and I will stomp Belfort
As we all know Chael Sonnen is not the shy, retiring type. If you put a microphone and camera in front of him, odds are pretty good that he is going to give you at least one or two sound bites that will illicit some type of response. If you happen to ask him a question about one of his favorite topics, say, oh, Anderson Silva, well then you are sure to get a response that is worth sharing with the world. And if for good measure you want to kick it up a notch get him to throw some comments
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, sound bites, stomp belfort
Read the full article at Low KickAnderson Silva Plans To Fight Into His Forties, Chael Sonnen Rematch Rumored For January UFC Rio Event
A lot of random Anderson Silva news hit the internet in the past couple days. Here’s a rundown…
— We’ll start with a report from Brazilian website Extra Globo. It claims that Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort will coach TUF Brazil, which Dana White confirmed over the weekend. It would be pretty shocking news if true considering Chael Sonnen is knocking on Anderson’s door and Vitor Belfort has done even less than Sonnen to deserve a rematch with Silva. But it’s not. UFC officials have already shot the report down, according to MMA Junkie. One unnamed official even said they haven’t had a single conversation about the coaches yet.
— Anderson Silva has teased retirement at least once a year for the past few years. Most recently, his manager Ed Soares said Silva only had four fights left in his career. Well, surprise, surprise, Silva has changed his mind once again. Silva now says he wants to fight well into his forties.
“I’ll fight for another six or seven years and then I’ll stop. I stopped to think about it and I’ll postpone my retirement for a little longer. Then I’ll think about TV. I guess it’s interesting”, said Anderson, who recently had a documentary launched and stared on a soap opera.
He may have changed his mind about retirement, but he hasn’t changed his tune on Chael Sonnen.
“He doesn’t deserve to fight me. The most important thing he didn’t do: defeating me. He was caught on the drug test, which was the worse,” Anderson said, making hard critics towards the American.
“I believe he shouldn’t be on the sport, because he has no emotional control. While trying to provoke me, he makes the sport looks bad. He made bad comments, offended me and my wife”, he said.
— Speaking of Silva, Sonnen, and their expected rematch, word is the UFC is trying to book it for their return to Rio de Janeiro on January 14.
“In a recent interview on Brazilian TV show anchored by journalist Marilia Gabriela, Silva said he has no reason to offer Chael a rematch. However, ever since Brazilian TV network Globo – the biggest in the country – won its bid to broadcast the UFC and another installment of the event was confirmed for January 14 in Rio, a lot has been going on behind the scenes and pressure for the rematch to take place has been great.”
Taking Sonnen to Brazil might get him killed, but hey, at least they wouldn’t have any licensing issues to worry about!
All kidding aside, it was already going to be a stretch to get Silva to fight at Super Bowl weekend with his shoulder injury, so booking him weeks before that seems like a long shot, but we’ll see. They wouldn’t have any problems selling tickets, that’s for sure.
— And in the oddest piece of news, Anderson Silva is going to drive the official pace car for NASCAR’s Kobalt Tools 500 race on Sunday, Nov. 13.
Image via CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: fight, silva, rematch, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen has new terms for "Fancy Boy" Anderson Silva
Top Middleweight contender and self-proclaimed "People's Champ," Chael Sonnen, discusses his potential rematch with division Champion Anderson Silva, as well as his "terms" for "The Spider." Sonnen insists that Silva is being "protected" and says that the Brazilian can either surrender the title or he's going to come take it.
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, middleweight contender, spider sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickAnderson Silva Says Chael Sonnen Is ‘Denigrating The Image Of The Sport’
Anderson Silva has finally broken his silence on Chael Sonnen.
Ever since Sonnen called Silva out at UFC 136 a few weeks ago, we’ve only heard from Silva’s manager Ed Soares, however after seeing a peculiar photo of Soares and Sonnen, Silva declared that he’s the only person that can speak for him. Well, he’s talking now, but the message isn’t much different from his manager’s. Speaking to Globo.com, Silva claims that Sonnen is “denigrating the image of the sport.” Translation via BE:
I didn’t get to where I’m at by being arrogant or provoking someone. By doing these antics he ends up denigrating the image of the sport. There’s no room for that in this sport. The most important thing he did not do, which was to beat me. He even failed in a drug test, which is worse.
The truth is Sonnen draws a lot of interest in the sport, which is anything but bad. Silva may truly mean what he says, but he has to know this is a fight that people want to see and whether he likes it or not, he’s eventually going to have to take it because that’s what the UFC wants.
Or he could go with option B as Chael Sonnen explains in this interview with MMA Heat’s Karyn Bryant. Uncle Chael doesn’t want to fight anybody who doesn’t want to fight him, but the problem is Sonnen still wants his belt, so if Silva doesn’t want to fight, he can just hand the belt over and they can just settle it “diplomatically.”
Image via Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
Posted in: sport, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, image
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva are wimps (Video)
Former number one middleweight contender, Chael Sonnen, goes off in this recent video interview. Nothing is seemingly off limits, with the exception of what he's doing when he's not calling out Brazilians.
Enjoy another masterpiece from the "Peoples Champion." Say his name!
Posted in: video, wanderlei silva, sonnen, chael, peoples champion
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva Fires Back at Chael Sonnen, Comments on Antics
In an interview with Brazilian journalist and interviewer Marilia Gabriela, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva responded to the antics of Chael Sonnen, stating that Sonnen "does not deserve to fight me". He went on to talk about his feelings on Sonnen's over-the-top comments and behavior:
I didn't get to where I'm at by being arrogant or provoking someone. By doing these antics he ends up denigrating the image of the sport. There's no room for that in this sport. The most important thing he did not do, which was to beat me. He even failed in a drug test, which is worse. (Translation by Tom Mendes)
I'm sure this doesn't calm the crowd that believes Silva needs to face Sonnen, but the decision ultimately comes down to what the UFC wants. Business drives the UFC's revenues, and Sonnen vs. Silva II could be a huge money-making opportunity with the right lead-up and marketing. It's going to happen whether Silva and his manager Ed Soares like it or not.
Silva also talks about his admiration for Vitor Belfort, possibly getting into television after he retires, and how the ladies have always been attracted to him.
Posted in: silva, antic, sonnen, right leadup, business drives
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAnderson Silva Speaks: Sonnen ‘Does Not Deserve to Fight Me’
UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva on Friday broke his silence in regards to archrival Chael Sonnen and his call for a rematch, as he appeared on “De Frente Com Gabi,” one of the most important talk shows in Brazil.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, sonnen ‘
Read the full article at SherdogSilva vs. Sonnen II Possible for Super Bowl Weekend
Chael Sonnen has pushed, pulled, and prodded, trying to get a rematch with Anderson Silva. The fight could very well take place on Super Bowl weekend.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, weekend, sonnen, bowl
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyB.J. Penn vs Nick Diaz fight prediction for UFC 137 with Chael Sonnen (Video)
Chael Sonnen, former number one middleweight contender and self-proclaimed "Peoples Champion," breaks down the UFC 137 main event between B.J. Penn vs. Nick Diaz, which will take place this Saturday night (Oct. 29, 2011) at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sonnen likes the 170-pound showdown a lot, even though he thinks it won't be "overly exciting." In the end, he predicts Penn to earn the victory, saying that his ground game, combined with Diaz's lack of recent top-level competition, will be the key difference makers.
Affliction's Tom Atencio, meanwhile, sides with Diaz. Whose side are you on?
Posted in: diaz, penn, sonnen, middleweight contender, ground game
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC Quick Quote: Chael Sonnen has been submitted by three Brazilians -- now it's Vitor Belfort's turn
"It would be interesting. Their games don’t match, and Vitor has more ways to win. Sonnen does not have the game to beat either Vitor or Anderson. He’s been submitted by three Brazilians: Paulo Filho caught him in an armbar, Demian Maia with a triangle choke and Anderson was the latest. Now, it’s Vitor’s time to knock out or submit Sonnen. It’s absurd to say Anderson is running away, especially after he submitted Sonnen with a broken rib. If this fight ends up happening, he will hurt Sonnen so badly. It’s up to [UFC President] Dana White to decide the date. If he announces it, Anderson will be there to fight."
Famed boxing coach Josuel Distak tells Sherdog.com there's nothing extraordinary about Anderson Silva's submission victory over Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. In fact, Distak points out that Silva is one of three Brazilians (four if you count "Babalu" at UFC 55) to do it and Vitor Belfort could be the next in line, should the promotion decide these two are better suited for each other than "The Spider." While he insists the middleweight champion is not avoiding a Sonnen rematch, Silva's manager, Ed Soares, has gone out of his way to play matchmaker and even cited a future fight against MIchael Bisping as a "good opportunity." How about it Maniacs, does the idea of a Belfort vs. Sonnen fight sway your opinion? Or do you want to see him rematch Silva first?
Posted in: fight, vitor, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaLame cluck champion? Chael Sonnen pegs Anderson Silva as a 'chicken' for Halloween
"Apparently the Ed Soares excuse factory is open for business. A champion doesn't call somebody out. If you're the champion, you get called out. I think it's a little odd and unprecedented that Anderson Silva is now trying to pick a fight. He's doing the same thing I am, he's calling out Michael Bisping because it's an easy fight. Well, I want an easy fight too, which is why I'm calling him out, so I get it. A or B: Will Anderson Silva go as a duck for Halloween or will he dress as a chicken? I'm gonna go B, I think he goes as chicken, he already has the costume."
Cluck-U! UFC middleweight troublemaker Chael Sonnen stops by ESPN's MMA Live to talk ducks, chickens and Halloween costumes. The former (and perhaps current) division number one contender wants to know, will 185-pound champion Anderson Silva dress up on Oct. 31 as a duck, for ducking him, or as a chicken, for chickening out of a potential rematch? Any readers out there have a Halloween costume in mind for Sonnen? Let's hear your thoughts on "Silva vs. Sonnen II." Is it time to make this thing happen? Or do we have any Michael Bisping fans in the house ready to side with Ed Soares? Opinions, please.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, halloween, chicken
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva Doesn’t Like Peculiar Ed Soares-Chael Sonnen Photo
This rather peculiar picture has been making the rounds across the internet the past few days. I’m not really sure what the context of the photo is, but Ed Soares appears to either be giving Chael Sonnen a piece of his mind or joking around with him. Since Sonnen appears to be giggling like a school girl though, many are questioning if it’s the latter.
Fans aren’t the only ones wondering what the heck is going. Anderson Silva is too. He took to Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with the photo while simultaneously demeaning Soares’ role as his official mouthpiece in the media. Fighters Only has the translation.
“I didn’t like this photograph either. I take this opportunity to say that only I myself can speak about my fights, my plans and career,” he wrote.
“I’m currently in therapy [to recover from shoulder injury] and as soon as I am definite with UFC my next bout, I will let everybody know.”
I don’t think too much should be made out of this until Soares and Sonnen explain the context, but it is noteworthy nonetheless.
Posted in: sonnen, photo, soare, career ”, ” i
Read the full article at MMA ConvertSonnen: Overeem 'not very good' -- No One is Safe From Sonnen Bashing
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [comment]
Posted in: overeem, sonnen, mattyblayze, mattyblayze link, sonnen overeem
Read the full article at RedditSonnen: Anderson Silva will dress up as a chicken for Halloween
In another episode of "what Chael Sonnen said about Anderson Silva", the Oregonian shared his prediction for The Spider's Halloween costume, claiming that the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion will dress up as a chicken. Sonnen was part of this weekend's MMA Live panel, joined by Kenny Florian and the host Jon Anik. Chael Sonnen also spoke about Michael Bisping and his role as a potential challenger, of course if "The Count" is victoriouos against Jason Miller in December.
Further Reading: Six fight cards
Posted in: sonnen, jason miller, chael sonnen, michael bisping, anderson silva
Read the full article at Low KickESPN MMA Live: Chael Sonnen, Matt Mitrione
Chael Sonnen returns to MMA Live this week to help Jon Anik and crew cover all the latest news in mixed martial arts. Matt Mitrione also stops by to talk about his upcoming fight against Cheick Kongo at UFC 137.
Cage Potato has some of Chael Sonnen’s wonderful quotes if you don’t have time to watch the full show. My favorite:
“Let me ask a question, instead of fact or fiction, let me make it A or B. A) Will Anderson Silva go as a duck for Halloween this year or B) will he dress as a chicken? I’m going to go B. I think he goes as chicken because he already has the costume.”
ESPN MMA Live Archive
If you have trouble playing the video, you can also watch it on ESPN.com.
Posted in: mma, anderson silva, sonnen, jon anik, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen: The winner of Nick Diaz vs BJ Penn will get the next title shot against Georges St. Pierre
Step aside, Carlos Condit, your services are no longer necessary.
After Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre suffered a knee injury that was bad enough to knock him out until early February, "The Natural Born Killer" had the chance to take another fight at UFC 137 on Oct. 29 in Las Vegas or sit and wait for his shot.
Speaking on MMA Live, Chael Sonnen proclaimed it was a mistake to choose the latter because a bigger and better fight will be available for St. Pierre by then.
"I don't think this fight's going to come back for quite some time. Listen: if you're the champion, you remain champion until you lose the title. If you're the number one contender, you absolutely are not ingrained in any type of stone. As a matter of fact, not only do I believe he has lost this opportunity, I believe the winner of Nick Diaz vs. B.J. Penn will get the next opportunity against GSP."
Far be it from me to speculate but the UFC has pulled the old switch-a-roo in the past. If it means bigger business then cold decisions have to be made, right?
Then again, this is all almost surely contingent on Diaz defeating Penn. That's because "The Prodigy" isn't likely to ever square off against St. Pierre again after losing to him twice, the second time decisively.
But the Stockton slugger has generated enough buzz since coming over from Strikeforce that if he wins, there will be a hard decision to make for the powers that be.
Would it be fair? Of course not, but this is a business and cash is king.
Hear more from Sonnen, along with the rest of the MMA Live crew, on the upcoming slate of action at UFC 137 after the jump.
MMA Live:
Posted in: pierre, st, chael sonnen, sonnen, st pierre
Read the full article at MMA ManiaHeavyMMA Podcast Episode 60: Diaz Craziness, Silva vs. Sonnen, UFC on Fox
We send you home on Friday with discussion of Nick Diaz, Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva, the awesomeness of Matt Mitrione and much more.
Posted in: diaz, vs, silva, matt mitrione, sonnen
Read the full article at Heavy MMASonnen to Co-Host 2011 World MMA Awards on Fox Sports Net
Former UFC middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen will co-host the 2011 World MMA Awards on Nov. 30, alongside sports television personality Molly Qerim
Posted in: world, sport, fox sports, sonnen, award
Read the full article at SherdogMark Munoz talks his upcoming bout with Chris Leben at UFC 138 and describes wrestling Chael Sonnen...
Mark Munoz talks his upcoming bout with Chris Leben at UFC 138 and describes wrestling Chael Sonnen in college. See it at MMA Nation.
Posted in: chris leben, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, munoz
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSoares: Anderson Silva "doesn't feel" Chael Sonnen deserves a rematch
Anderson Silva's manager, Ed Soares, added more fuel to the Silva vs. Sonnen II fire, revaling that his client "doesn't feel like" the People's Champ Chael P. Sonnen deserves a second shot at the UFC Middleweight title.Previously in the series, Chael Sonnen epically called out Anderson Silva for a rematch at the Superbowl Weekend, adding that he woud leave the Ultimate Fighting Championship forever if "The Spider" is victorious. Sonnen later on claimed he knows Anderson Silva would never accept his
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson, superbowl weekend
Read the full article at Low KickEd Soares: Anderson Silva is not ducking Chael Sonnen, he just doesn't deserve a rematch
If you've heard Ed Soares say it once, you've heard him say it 100 times -- Chael Sonnen does not deserve a rematch against Anderson Silva.
After pasting Brian Stann at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas, that's what the Republian ex-Realtor called for in his post-fight interview. He wants it over the Super Bowl weekend in 2012 and based on the way the first fight played out, he deserves it.
Or does he?
Soares argument is simple: if at first you don't succeed, brush yourself off and take your behind to the back of the line, jack. At least, that's what he thinks Sonnen needs to do.
Here's more from "The Spider's" manager (via Sherdog):
If you've heard Ed Soares say it once, you've heard him say it 100 times -- Chael Sonnen does not deserve a rematch against Anderson Silva.
After pasting Brian Stann at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas, that's what the Republian ex-Realtor called for in his post-fight interview. He wants it over the Super Bowl weekend in 2012 and based on the way the first fight played out, he deserves it.
Or does he?
Soares argument is simple: if at first you don't succeed, brush yourself off and take your behind to the back of the line, jack. At least, that's what he thinks Sonnen needs to do.
Here's more from "The Spider's" manager (via Sherdog):
"At the end of the day, Dana and the fans decide who they want to see. I think eventually, our opinion is that we don't think Chael should get a shot yet. There's other guys out there. ... I've been hearing a bunch of different people. Let someone try that hasn't fought for the belt yet. Why do we have to keep repeating these fighters? We fought Rich Franklin twice. We'll probably end up having to fight Chael twice. We're going to end up fighting probably Dan Henderson twice. It's just like, it would be nice to see some new faces in there getting a crack at it."
New guys getting a shot sounds all well and good but with the recent lull in pay-per-view buyrates, combined with major injuries to main event level players, there's far too much money to be made by booking a rematch.
And money talks.
Soares knows that as well as anyone and even said as much about his fighter. However, it's not the only thing for Silva to consider. He's made it clear that only four fights remain in his career.
Does he really want to use one on a guy he's already submitted?
UFC President Dana White would be "stupid" on to make the fight, according to the bossman himself, but he could run into some turbulence with his sometimes defiant middleweight champion.
Even if it does happen, it might not be over the Super Bowl weekend, as Sonnen initially proclaimed. From Soares:
"That's really hard to say. I think we're still -- I don't think it's going to happen. It could happen, but we'll just have to cross that bridge when it comes. It could happen, though. We haven't really talked about it yet."
The reality of the situation, whether Soares and Silva like it or not, is that there are very few legitimate challengers left in the 185-pound division that haven't already taken a crack at the pound-for-pound king.
One of them is Michael Bisping but he's booked to battle Jason Miller on Dec. 3. Even if he wins, would that be enough to leapfrog Sonnen to the front of the line?
Something tells me no.
The fans play a big part in who fights who, even if it's Joe Silva and Dana White who ultimately end up pulling the trigger. So let your voice be heard.
Who should Silva fight next? Should it be Sonnen? Or someone else?
Posted in: fight, silva, sonnen, soare, bowl weekend
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva feels Chael Sonnen hasn't earned another title-shot yet
Six days after the 5th anniversary of Anderson Silva defeating Rich Franklin in magnificent fashion to win the UFC middleweight belt, Silva’s manager, interpreter and all around friend, Ed Soares discussed the current status of Chael Sonnen’s comments at UFC 136 when, during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Sonnen called out Silva who was at the venue. Sonnen then proceeded to request a rematch with Silva on Super Bowl Weekend, adding that if he lost he would leave the UFC forever, but if Silva lost the Brazilian champion would have to leave the middleweight division forever.
Soares recently discussed Sonnen’s slim chances of getting his rematch right away, saying in an interview with Sherdog, “Anderson just feels that he doesn’t deserve it yet. He doesn’t deserve it yet. … A lot of people are interested in the fight. It’s a big fight. Anderson’s not ducking him. Anderson, right now, is focused on recouping his shoulder, and basically he’s going through physical therapy on that just to get that back 100 percent.”
Soares then discussed his hesitance at wanting to fight Sonnen again, “I think eventually, our opinion is that we don’t think Chael should get a shot yet. There are other guys out there. … I’ve been hearing a bunch of different people. Let someone try that hasn’t fought for the belt yet. Why do we have to keep repeating these fighters? We fought Rich Franklin twice. We’ll probably end up having to fight Chael twice. We’re going to end up fighting probably Dan Henderson twice. It’s just like, it would be nice to see some new faces in there getting a crack at it.” But concerning this form my point of view, there is no-one that fits that bill right now. The only one would have been Brian Stann, but Sonnen has just beaten him and thrown him back a few steps. The only fighters that even come close would be the winner of Michael Bisping and Jason Miller, but they don’t fight each other until at least December and would need at least 2-3 months to prepare for a title shot.
Bisping Wants Silva, Also Feels Sonnen Blew It
Soares also discussed whether, if it’s made, would the fight take place in February as Sonnen had requested. The popular manager responded, “That’s really hard to say. I think we’re still — I don’t think it’s going to happen. It could happen, but we’ll just have to cross that bridge when it comes. It could happen, though. We haven’t really talked about it yet.”
When asked about how much longer we can expect his dynamic client to be fighting for, Soares was non-committal, replying, “I think we’re going to take it one day at a time. It’s really hard to say, but as of right now, he has four fights on his contract and right now he doesn’t have any interest to renew. He just wants to take one fight at a time, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it ended up being only four fights.”
It sounds like Sonnen better hope he’s one of the four bouts Silva has left on his deal rather than feel guaranteed another opportunity at winning UFC gold.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, silva, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comEd Soares: ‘We’ll Probably End Up Having To Fight Chael Sonnen Twice’
Another interview, another opportunity for Ed Soares to declare Chael Sonnen doesn’t deserve a rematch with Anderson Silva…
From Sherdog:
“Anderson just feels that he doesn’t deserve it yet. He doesn’t deserve it yet. … A lot of people are interested in the fight. It’s a big fight. Anderson’s not ducking him. Anderson, right now, is focused on recouping his shoulder, and basically he’s going through physical therapy on that just to get that back 100 percent.
But you know what? Whoever Dana [White] puts in front of us, for the most part, we’re always going to take the fight. [Anderson has] never dodged any fights. It’s really not up to us to determine. … I’m not saying that’s who we want or who we don’t want. People ask my opinion, and I see what Anderson’s saying. He’s fought him once. He had his opportunity, but hey, if Dana wants to put the fight on again, we’ll cross that bridge when it comes.”
Unlike past interviews though, Soares actually came around and admitted that Silva vs. Sonnen 2 is a huge fight even though Silva doesn’t think Sonnen is worthy of a rematch.
“There’s a lot of great opportunities, and I do think the Chael fight could potentially sell. It could be a big seller. I think it could be a huge pay-per-view. So I see all angles of it, but I’m just expressing what Anderson has talked to me about. That’s how he feels.”
Soares also conceded that yeah, the fight is probably going to happen regardless of their feelings on it.
“I think eventually, our opinion is that we don’t think Chael should get a shot yet. There’s other guys out there. … I’ve been hearing a bunch of different people. Let someone try that hasn’t fought for the belt yet. Why do we have to keep repeating these fighters? We fought Rich Franklin twice. We’ll probably end up having to fight Chael twice. We’re going to end up fighting probably Dan Henderson twice. It’s just like, it would be nice to see some new faces in there getting a crack at it.”
I know the Silva camp has their pride and all that, but at the end of the day, it’s not like there a ton of other options floating around out there besides rematches against Sonnen, Vitor Belfort and Dan Henderson. Soares mentioned GSP, but now he’s tied up with injuries, a pending fight with Carlos Condit and a possible fight with Nick Diaz that could fill up his 2012 schedule. Soares says Michael Bisping might also be an option, but said he never really thought of him before the interviewer brought him up. There’s Mark Munoz but he and Silva have trained together quite a bit so you have to figure they’ll shoot that one down.
Beyond that, what are all these “great opportunities” Soares speaks of?
Posted in: fight, sonnen, anderson, chael, soare
Read the full article at MMA ConvertAnderson Silva's Camp Still Says Chael Sonnen Shouldn't Get Rematch
One of the criticisms I had of the build up for UFC 136 was that there simply wasn't enough focus put on Chael Sonnen. Love him or hate him, the guy has the ability to generate buzz by spouting off sometimes outlandish comments. After dispatching of Brian Stann with shocking ease, Sonnen called out Anderson Silva for some sort of pro-wrestling style loser leaves town match.
Sonnen has now said that the deadline expired for the stipulation where he would leave the UFC if he lost and Silva would leave the middleweight division if he couldn't get the win, so we're now robbed of getting to see if we had an eventual MMA version of the saga of Stagger Lee on our hands.
Still, there is significant buzz around the potential rematch, a combination of Chael's ability to talk the bout up and his success for much of the bout before getting caught and submitted the first time around.
Ed Soares, manager of Silva, has made it clear that he thinks Sonnen should be at the back of the line for a title shot and he said it once again on Sherdog radio. From the interview:
Anderson just feels that he doesn't deserve it yet. He doesn't deserve it yet. ... A lot of people are interested in the fight. It's a big fight. Anderson's not ducking him. Anderson, right now, is focused on recouping his shoulder, and basically he's going through physical therapy on that just to get that back 100 percent. ...if Dana wants to put the fight on again, we'll cross that bridge when it comes.
...
...our opinion is that we don't think Chael should get a shot yet. There's other guys out there. ... I've been hearing a bunch of different people. Let someone try that hasn't fought for the belt yet. Why do we have to keep repeating these fighters? We fought Rich Franklin twice. We'll probably end up having to fight Chael twice. We're going to end up fighting probably Dan Henderson twice. It's just like, it would be nice to see some new faces in there getting a crack at it.
...
I don't think [a Super Bowl weekend rematch is] going to happen. It could happen, but we'll just have to cross that bridge when it comes.
As for new faces getting a crack at the middleweight title? The only top ten fighters that haven't already gotten a shot are Mark Munoz and Michael Bisping. Munoz vs. Silva is a near pointless fight as far as I can tell and Soares even threw out that they tend not to think about Bisping.
The superfight with Georges St. Pierre is highly unlikely given that GSP is rehabbing his knee, will come back to fight Carlos Condit and then possibly the winner of B.J. Penn and Nick Diaz. A superfight with Jon Jones is out given that Jones has a bout with Lyoto Machida at the end of the year, then a bout with Rashad Evans and one with the Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Rua winner all lined up.
So if not Sonnen, who?
Posted in: fight, bout, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAnderson Silva doesn't want to fight Chael Sonnen
Eugh, it's only Thursday? Why the hell can't the weekend be here yet??? Fortunately there's alcohol to numb the pain and I've got an excellent drinking game guaranteed to get you absolutely shmammered. Just read some MMA news sites and drink a shot every time Anderson Silva's manager implies Chael Sonnen shouldn't fight the Spider next. Note: I am not responsible for cases of alcohol poisoning.Feeling wasted / better yet? Now watch Silva's manager dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge what they'd do if the UFC officially asks for that fight:
But you know what? Whoever Dana [White] puts in front of us, for the most part, we’re always going to take the fight. [Anderson has] never dodged any fights. It’s really not up to us to determine. … I’m not saying that’s who we want or who we don’t want. People ask my opinion, and I see what Anderson’s saying. He’s fought him once. He had his opportunity, but hey, if Dana wants to put the fight on again, we’ll cross that bridge when it comes.
Whoever Dana puts in front of us! For the most part. If Dana wants that fight ... uh, let's just cross that bridge when it comes. Jeez, man. That totally doesn't sound like a yes. Where this hesitation comes from, I'll never know. This is one of the few professions where you can legally beat the shit out of someone you don't like, and Sonnen has given Anderson several dozen very good incentives to maul him. Maul him like a mad monkey with Hepatitis B.
Posted in: fight, dana, sonnen, anderson, doesnt sound
Read the full article at FightlinkerSoares: Sonnen possible, Bisping or GSP interesting
Anderson Silva doesn’t believe that Chael Sonnen deserves a rematch with him for the middleweight title yet.However he will certainly face him again...
Posted in: bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, soares sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyChael Sonnen continues verbal barrage on rival Anderson Silva
There aren’t many words Chael Sonnen believes are off limits when it comes to talking about a fight or trying to push someone into one, and the UFC middleweight contender continued to showcase that this week.
Sonnen, who defeated Brian Stann at UFC 136, tried to get an answer out of 185-pound champion Anderson Silva following his victory by calling “The Spider” out inside the Octagon. Sonnen issued a challenge for Super Bowl weekend in February, even adding the stipulation that if Silva lost, he had to leave the division, while a defeat by Sonnen would mean his exit from the UFC completely.
To date, Silva has not said anything, making Sonnen even more furious. Silva defeated Sonnen via fifth round submission last year in a championship bout.
“As far as the line, I don’t care. People tell me it shouldn’t be personal, well Jim it is personal. Okay? I’m picking a fight. If he has a problem with it, come do something about it,” said Sonnen, while a guest on the Jim Rome Show yesterday. “What doe he do? He called Dana White and tattled on me. Can you believe that? He told Uncle Dana that I said that and I went too far. Well, maybe I did. Guess what? Let’s get in the Octagon – the people’s forum – and settle this.”
Sonnen made comments concerning Silva’s wife in the lead-up to his bout with Stann. Those statements seem to have struck a nerve with Silva, as Sonnen said he would make her cook him a steak and slap her on the butt.
As for the stipulations Sonnen added, he says those had a time limit and have all-but expired.
“That offer was good when I made it, but it’s like any offer, you know, they’ve got to expire,” Sonnen said. “Apparently, they didn’t work. I’m doing anything I can to lure him out, and yes, I would have absolutely done that.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, octagon sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen Says His Offer to Anderson Silva Has Been Rescinded
Love him or hate him, Chael Sonnen gets people going. UFC 136 was one of the best cards of the year, but the main talking point coming out of the event was Sonnen's post-fight speech after crushing Brian Stann where he called out UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. He basically offered him something known in pro wrestling circles as a "loser leaves town" match, and since Anderson has apparently not stepped up to accept, Chael is rescinding the offer. He was a guest on the Jim Rome Show yesterday, and let everyone know what the deal is. First he explains why he did it in the first place (transcription by MMA Nation):
That was a spur of the moment type of thing. I'm trying to pick a fight with this guy. This is the most confusing thing I've ever been part of in this sport. You've got an alleged champion letting me talk to him that way while he sits fifteen feet away ... with his head down. You've got a guy like me sticking his finger in his chest day after day, hour after hour, and he can't say a word. The one time he finally speaks up is to say 'I don't want the rematch. I don't want to fight you.' I don't understand how we can can this guy champion.
Then he pulls the plug on the deal, but leaves the barn doors wide open for a new one:
That offer was good when I made it, but it's like any offer, you know, they've got to expire. Apparently, that didn't work. I'm doing anything I can to lure him out, and yes, I would have absolutely done that. I'd have done a winner-takes-all, I'd have done any stipulation he wanted. All he needed to do was stand up and give me a thumbs up. He wanted to accept that offer, all he needed to do was nod to me, or have one of his handlers come into the back and says 'Anderson accepts.' He did the exact opposite. He went to the media and said 'I do not want to fight that guy.' So what can I do? Now I have to come up with a new offer.
The whole interview is full of typical Sonnen bluster, and in my opinion it's pretty funny. You can catch the audio below the jump if you want, or check out some more transcribed gems over at MMA Nation.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, offer, i dont
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowSonnen: "I will slap Anderson when I see him"
Chael Sonnen says he has now withdrawn the ‘loser leaves town offer’ he made to Anderson Silva at UFC 136.Sonnen appeared on The Jim Rome Show...
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, town offerrsquo, sonnen i
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyChael Sonnen Says Loser Leaves Town Offer Expired When Anderson Silva Didn’t Accept
Chael Sonnen went on Jim Rome’s radio show today to further hype up a rematch with Anderson Silva. When asked if the loser leaves town stipulation that Sonnen presented to Silva at UFC 136 was still good, Sonnen said he meant it 100% at the time, but like all offers it had an expiration date and it expired when Anderson Silva failed to accept the challenge. Chael made it clear that he’s trying everything to pick a fight with Anderson, but he won’t say anything other than “I don’t want to fight him.” At the end of the day though, Sonnen says it doesn’t really matter if Anderson wants to fight him or not, because he’s going to do what Dana White tells him to and if Dana White wants the rematch, he’ll get it.
When asked which is the bigger fight — Sonnen vs. Silva II or GSP vs. Silva — Chael said, “me fighting a mop or a garbage can is a bigger fight than those two turkeys.”
Posted in: fight, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen on Jim Rome: 'Loser leaves town' offer to Anderson Silva is off the table
After Chael Sonnen got done pasting Brian Stann at UFC 136 this past Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas, he took control of the entire arena by giving what some are calling the best post-fight interview in UFC history.
He called out his arch nemesis, Anderson Silva, and offered him a match over the Super Bowl weekend next year but with added stipulations. If Chael won, Silva would leave the division, if Anderson won, Sonnen would leave the UFC forever.
Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, that offer is no longer on the table, as explained to Jim Rome on his radio show today (via MMA Nation):
"That offer was good when I made it, but it's like any offer, you know, they've got to expire. Apparently, that didn't work. I'm doing anything I can to lure him out, and yes, I would have absolutely done that. I'd have done a winner-takes-all, I'd have done any stipulation he wanted. All he needed to do was stand up and give me a thumbs up. He wanted to accept that offer, all he needed to do was nod to me, or have one of his handlers come into the back and says 'Anderson accepts.' He did the exact opposite. He went to the media and said 'I do not want to fight that guy.' So what can I do? Now I have to come up with a new offer."
Well, it was fun while it lasted.
UFC President Dana White maintains that he would be "stupid" not to make the rematch right away but "The Spider" camp feels strongly that Sonnen doesn't deserve a second shot. Which side do you come down on?
The full audio from Sonnen's appearance with Jim Rome is after the jump and yes, there are plenty of gems, including the following statement: "Me fighting the air is a bigger fight than those two (Anderson Silva vs. Georges St. Pierre) turkeys."
Posted in: jim rome, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, offer
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSonnen hints loser-leaves-town offer off table, but promises to push for Silva rematch
Chael Sonnen made a limited-time offer to Anderson Silva. The loser-leaves-town fight he presented the middleweight champ is apparently off the table.
"That offer was good when I made it, but it's like any offer: They've got to expire," Sonnen said today during an appearance on "The Jim Rome Show."
But as with many proclamations given by Sonnen, it's a good bet that just the opposite is true, or the entire offer was never true.
Posted in: sonnen, offer, middleweight champ, offer theyve, loserleavestown fight
Read the full article at MMA JunkieChael Sonnen had another epic appearance on Jim Rome today
Chael Sonnen may very well be the first fighter to ever be sponsored by FOX News and all of you saw it coming. He nicknamed his fists 'Fair' and 'Balanced'. Actually, I can't take credit for that one. Josh Gross from Sports Illustrated somehow outwitted me one night -- and I swear it will never happen again. If I had to explain the Tao of Chael Sonnen to an alien visiting earth for the first time, I would tell him/her/it that Chael Sonnen sort of looks like every dude you've ever ran over with a tank in Grand Theft Auto. Then, I would have to spend the next hour explaining to the alien what 'Grand Theft Auto' is before I realize that I'm talking to a friggin' extraterrestrial being about videogames. Chael Sonnen wouldn't have that problem. Dude probably lives by the republican motto of 'Bag 'em, Tag 'em, and let Christian conservative Jesus sort them out'.
This morning Chael Sonnen appeared on the Jim Rome show, the same place where he made the statement that a 'Hispanic doppleganger' imitated him on a radio interview a few days before UFC 117. Check out the entire interview below, compliments of MiddleEasy reader Matt P.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, time i, chael, theft auto
Read the full article at Middle EasyMatt Lindland Has A Plan For Chael Sonnen To Finish Anderson Silva Before Round Four
“I think the rematch would look just like the first one, except I’ve got a game plan for Chael to finish him before the end of the third round. So, yeah it’ll look similar to their first encounter, but with some additional techniques and strategy, it won’t make it to the championship rounds… We do not employ BJJ. We employ American wrestling submissions… we would employ a submission hold finish or some vicious ground ‘n’ pound to finish that fight.”
— Chael Sonnen’s trainer Matt Lindland telling the Bleacher Report he has a strategy to finish Anderson Silva before the fourth round
Some of you will probably hate me for this, but I’m going to say it anyways. This is Chael Sonnen’s fight to lose.
Rib injury or not, Anderson Silva has never had great takedown defense and that hasn’t changed since Sonnen took him down at will in their first meeting. Even if Silva’s sharper than he was at UFC 117, the only way he’s going to stop Sonnen’s takedowns is by knocking him out on his feet first. This is Anderson Silva we’re talking about, so it’s certainly a possibility, but not probable given Sonnen’s ability to absorb a tremendous amount of damage. We may not see Sonnen catch Silva by surprise and outstrike him like we did last year, but I just don’t see how Silva stays off his back without running or dropping Sonnen first.
Assuming it does go to the ground, Silva could always catch Sonnen in a submission off his back again, but I’m sure Sonnen will be working extra hard in camp on staying out of the riskier positions much like Brock Lesnar did when he fought Frank Mir the second time. If Sonnen can get a finish out of it, good on him, but another dominant five-round performance sans the triangle of course will also do the trick and win him the “12 pounds of gold.”
Image via FIGHT! Magazine
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen Continues Media Campaign for Anderson Silva Rematch
Filed under: UFC, NewsUFC president Dana White has already said he'd be crazy not to sign middleweight champion Anderson Silva against Chael Sonnen in a rematch of their August 2010 classic, but that's apparently not enough to pacify Sonnen.
The contender ratcheted up his campaign for another chance at Silva on Tuesday's edition of the nationally syndicated Jim Rome Show, admitting he was trying to pick a fight with what he believes to be an unwilling participant.
"[Silva] tells Dana he wants the biggest fight," Sonnen said. "Well this is the biggest fight he can have and I've never heard my name come out of his mouth once."
Sonnen discussed his UFC 136 post-fight challenge, in which he told Silva that if he lost, he would leave the promotion, saying that he was still willing to answer to the stipulation, but that "like any offer, it'll expire sometime."
At the time of the offer, Silva was in the crowd but simply smiled before pretending to cower in fear. Since then, Silva's manager Ed Soares told a Brazilian news program that while Sonnen is a great fighter, he had his chance, lost and should "go back to the end of the line." Rome asked Sonnen how he would have responded if he were on the receiving end of the offer.
"I would have come over the guardrail, walked up the steps, gone into the octagon, taken the microphone out of his hands and shoved it straight down his throat," he said.
Sonnen reiterated the claim that he was the rightful winner of their UFC 117 fight, during which he dominated the first four-and-a-half rounds before losing via tapout. Rome challenged him on that, reminding him that he tapped out due to submission. Sonnen didn't necessarily agree.
"Who are you going to believe? Me or your lying eyes," he said. "I'm here to tell you under any other scoring system in the world, I won that fight. I hit him 300 times, he hit me 11 times. Look, if the rolls had been reversed and he hit me 30 unanswered times, they would have pulled him off me, declared him the winner and sent him on his way. I not only hit him 30 unanswered times, I did it at 10 different points of the fight."
As Rome playfully pressed the point, Sonnen acknowledged the fight's final outcome but said he was the man to unseat Silva. Past that, he said that if Silva is angered by some of the things he has said -- including a recent comment that many believe crossed the line by referencing Silva's wife -- this is his chance to shut him up.
"As far as the line, I don't care," he said. "People say it's not personal. Well, it is personal. But he has a problem and what does he do? He calls Dana and tattles about it. Guess what? Let's get into the octagon, the people's forum and I'll answer for everything I've ever said."
Sonnen went on to call Silva "a paper champion, overpaid and overrated," before adding some new material to his Silva diatribe. After saying he would slap Silva in the face the next time he saw him, he added this gem: "I was going to dump a Coke on him one time. He was right next to me, and if I thought he was worth the buck-fifty I spent on the Coke, I would've done it."
Rome, who is known to generate headline-grabbing interviews from his subjects, apparently left the conversation in awe of Sonnen's fight-selling skills, calling him one of the five best guests he's had on the show, and describing any future Sonnen interviews as "appointment listening."
With Sonnen getting national mainstream press, it's even more likely that Sonnen-Silva II is in our near future. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, time, silva, sonnen, rome
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMatt Lindland: Anderson Silva wouldn't make it out of the third round in a Chael Sonnen rematch
Sounds like former middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen has "The Law" on his side.
That's because Matt Lindland, who came up through the ranks alongside his fellow wrestler, has already established a gameplan for Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen part deux, one that involves finishing "The Spider" before the end of the third round.
Straight from the horse's mouth (via Bleacher Report):
"I think the rematch would look just like the first one, except I’ve got a game plan for Chael to finish him before the end of the third round. So, yeah it’ll look similar to their first encounter, but with some additional techniques and strategy, it won’t make it to the championship rounds."
Sonnen basically had his way with Silva for almost the entire five rounds of their UFC 117 main event back in Aug. 2010. That is, until the Brazilian slapped on a fight ending triangle choke to save him from what would have been his first UFC defeat.
The mixed martial arts community has been clamoring for "Silva vs. Sonnen II" following Sonnen's successful return to action at UFC 136, a second round submission win over the hard-hitting Brian Stann back on Oct. 8, 2011.
While Ed Soares doesn't believe his client should be obligated to grant an immediate rematch, it's safe to say that he will eventually be overruled by the court of public opinion.
And it helps that Sonnen is really the only 185-pound contender who hasn't been thoroughly trounced by the aging arachnid.
Well, what say you Maniacs? Does a gameplan exist that will allow Sonnen to seal the deal? And if it does, anyone think it comes from Matt Lindland?
Opinions, please.
Posted in: round, silva, matt, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen withdraws "Loser Leaves Town" challenge, says "alleged champ" Anderson Silva declined
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen made his octagon return in style earlier this month, dominating Brian Stann en-route to a second-round submission victory at UFC 136. However, as impressive as his performance was, it was during his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan that Sonnen truly made his presence felt, issuing a "loser leaves town" challenge to the division Champion, Anderson Silva, who sat cageside looking on. Though the highly anticipated rematch has yet to be confirmed, UFC President Dana...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, octagon return, town challenge, postfight interview
Read the full article at Low KickTWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of October 9 - 15
CHAEL BAIT
"Let's see what the big boss is going to do." - Brazilian supermanager Ed Soares, with a line I like to use in the bedroom. (SporTV)
"My opinion is that he had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line. " - Soares, on Chael Sonnen. I wonder if this "back of the line" business applies to Lyoto Machida, 1-2 in his last 3 fights and a title shot on the horizon?
"We should recognize that Anderson only has around 4 fights left in his career." - Soares. Fool me once, Ed...
THE WEEK IN CHAEL
"I got tunnel vision. I'm after the belt. Period. I'm not making any apologies or qualms about it." - Chael Sonnen (Studio MMA)
"And the rest of the cowards in the back that just want to get their faces on TV and don't want to carry any heavy water, I've got no time for those guys. All of them. Every damn one of them that isn't named Chael Sonnen is nothing but a coward." - Sonnen, water-carrier.
"When you're the greatest fighter in the world the day they've got a name for you. They don't call you a great fighter, they call you Chael Sonnen." - Sonnen. And if you're the worst fighter in the world, they call you Jason Reinhardt.
SUMMERING IN CROATIA
"You can tell by his face that the man is slow, that he is stupid and has the IQ of a child's shoe size." - Mirko Filipovic, on Chael Sonnen. European or American shoe size? (Some Croatian show that's on Youtube)
"Is he crazy? Obviously he is, but I'm not mad at him. It's just as I can't get mad at my eight month old son Filip." - Filipovic. Filip Filipovic?
"That man holds a PhD in idiocy. I'm only sorry that he is missing like 30 pounds because I would beat his ass so bad he would multiply three times." - Filipovic. Three Chael Sonnens? Make the match, Dana!
"One day I'm hoping to see him summering in Croatia, so I can iron his ass, so steam can shoot out his pompous ass." - Filipovic. "Right leg, hospital; left leg, cemetery" this is not.
BACK, BACK, BACK...NOT GONE?
"As I ramped up my training for UFC 141 my body locked up during training. It wasn't like the Lesnar fight but my back just tightened up and I froze." - Shane Carwin. I believe there's a [sic] that belongs in there, yes? (Shane-Carwin.net)
"I scheduled an MRI and the results showed that my disc in my lower back is into the nerves." - Carwin. That disc doubles as the Bloody Elbow web servers.
"My doctor gave me two options; retire and I could probably go on for a few years without surgery or I could undergo surgery and continue my career." - Carwin. And at 36 years of age with a history of back/neck issues and a steady career to fall back on, Carwin called it quits.
"I am scheduling surgery and I hope to return to the Octagon by spring or summer 2012." - Carwin. Well then. All jokes aside, good luck, but this seems doomed.
WHITE NOISE
"And believe me, I will [expletive] die before I let this not happen." - UFC President Dana White, on the recently announced Arrested Development season and movie. (MMA Junkie)
"I told him that. 'Dude, you're the unluckiest guy I've ever met.'" - White. But the Dude abides? (USA Today)
"We've only been around ten years, Bob's been promoting fights for 120 years." - White, on Bob Arum. (MMA Weekly)
"The people from Bellator have never said anything about us. I have nothing to say about them either." - White, echoing the thoughts of the MMA media. (MMA Weekly)
PARTING SHOTS
"I think if Vince McMahon and I were able to sit down at the same dinner table and break some bread that we could come up with some kind of gameplan." - Brock Lesnar (ESPN)
"He'll enter with the label of being a prodigy, but I'll be stronger because of that." - Lyoto Machdia, rehashing quotes from 2005. (Sherdog)
"What are they going to do, all they all going to keep beating each other up and then having another shot at him?" - Michael Bisping, on the welterweight division. (Fighters Only)
"In the three bouts I lost, I felt like I could've won. But the win somehow eluded me. I felt I could do it. I had chances, but God's will was different." - Fedor Emelianenko. GOD HATES FEODR. (RT.com)
"[It was] just kind of trying to finish it with one big shot. You need to learn those lessons. You need to learn those lessons early on." - Greg Jackson, on Melvin Guillard's performance against Joe Lauzon. Melvin has over 40 pro fights. It's a little late to be learning lessons. (Sherdog)
"I think there’s one guy on earth right now that I would look at and say to myself, ‘He could beat Hector.’ His name is Anderson Silva." - Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney, on Hector Lombard. His name is also "Gegard Mousasi" and "Akihiro Gono." (Sherdog)
Posted in: fight, mma, sonnen, chael, filipovic
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen’s Manager Responds To Ed Soares: Dana White Makes The Fights, Not Us
“It makes no sense at all. Chael is as deserving as anybody for that next title shot. The bottom line is it doesn’t matter what I think and it doesn’t matter what Ed thinks. It matters what Dana (White) thinks. Ed’s not the matchmaker, I’m not the matchmaker, you’re not the matchmaker. Joe Silva and Dana White make the matches… I don’t think Anderson’s scared of Chael at all. I mean Anderson may be the greatest fighter of all time. Do I think he wants to fight Chael? There’s probably other people he’d rather fight at this point in his career. Chael poses some problems that a lot of these other guys don’t, and we’ll see… Ed’s saying some personal things about Chael and I don’t think Ed or I are in a position where it’s good to throw insults at anybody. I think Ed’s a good guy that’s maybe got caught up a little emotionally himself with some of the things Chael has said about Anderson. It’s just better in my opinion if we leave that to the fighters.”
— Chael Sonnen’s manager Mike Roberts responding, via MMA Weekly, to Ed Soares’ recent comments about Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II
Mike Roberts may be right about Dana White and Joe Silva making the fights, but that isn’t going to stop his client from putting the pressure on Anderson Silva to accept his challenge. An impatient Chael Sonnen actually issued an ultimatum to Silva over the weekend:
Anderson, you've got 24 hours to accept my offer. I suggest you take it, my next one won't be quite so nice.October 15, 2011 3:50 am via webReplyRetweetFavorite@sonnenchchael sonnen
As far as I know, Silva never even acknowledged the ultimatum, let alone accepted it. Ed Soares told Inside MMA over the weekend that Anderson thinks Chael is a “crazy lunatic,” but beyond that Sonnen’s constant badgering doesn’t affect him at all, not even the comments he made about his wife. He thought they were “disrespectful” but that’s about it.
Image via CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: silva, ed, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertOne fan's view: Why Chael Sonnen doesn't deserve Anderson Silva on Super Bowl weekend
FanPost edited and promoted by MMAmania.com
Some people call him a genius, a master in the art of baiting opponents and engaging fans to either watch him win or watch him get his comeuppance, but most people watch him. That was until he fought Brian Stann and the long-term fans of MMA remembered that without the insults and controversy, Chael Sonnen is just a wrestler who trains his strengths and makes strides towards becoming a well-rounded fighter.
No more, no less.
Sonnen turned in a dominant performance at UFC 136 against what I believe was a mediocre fighter with heavy hands, but that wasn't enough. What separates MMA from other sports is the sportsmanship. It's the respect that a fighter who dedicates his life to stepping in a cage in front of millions of people and fighting another man one-on-one has for the man who has done the same thing to get in there and do the same thing.
Chael Sonnen has thrown that out to talk his way into another title shot
It is one thing to appear racist, it's another thing to be convicted of a felony then brag "that's all i got caught for," or to test positive for performance enhancers and then get caught in a web of lies afterwards. Sonnen decided that wasn't enough and he was going to talk about putting his hands on Anderson Silva's wife, doing what no man, competitive or not, should ever do.
I keep reading these pieces online about Silva ducking Sonnen, a man he beat at UFC 117 on what could have been his worst day, and Sonnen's best day. I think Silva knows one thing through all of this, nobody cares about Chael Sonnen unless Silva is involved.
There was little fanfare when Sonnen fought ANYONE else, with perhaps the exception of Paulo Filho, only because Sonnen's controversy about phantom tapping in the first match and the then-unstoppable Filho seemingly checked out of reality for the second.
Silva owes Sonnen nothing.
For the lines he has crossed both professionally and personally, Silva doesn't owe him another fight or even an acknowledgement of his existence.
Anderson Silva is a fighter who fights the best in the world. Regardless of what his record is, that's what he does. He has the quality that makes an MMA fighter an MMA fighter, the lack of fear to fight another man. He did not get to where he is just by hand picking opponents and having fear in him that someone might beat him up.
Fear has nothing to do with this equation, power does.
When Anderson eventually accepts the fight with Sonnen, he will be doing him an enormous favor, both financially and professionally, and he knows it. I, for one, hope he makes Chael earn his title shot like everyone else, because if threats against spouses and testosterone injections are what it takes to earn a title shot, MMA is headed in a direction that will alienate a lot of its original fans.
Posted in: sonnen, silva, fighter, man, mma
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFor Anderson Silva's Title, Line of Challengers Begins and Ends with Chael Sonnen
Filed under: UFCYou can't blame Anderson Silva for not wanting to get bossed around by Chael Sonnen. Here's the UFC middleweight champ, the consensus pound-for-pound king of MMA, and he has to sit next to Charles Barkley in Houston and listen to a guy he beat a year ago stand in the cage and try to map out his future.
Super Bowl weekend. Las Vegas, Nevada. Loser leaves the division and possibly the UFC "forever." That makes for a great pre-fight promo piece, but it must have come as a surprise to the champ, who had yet to agree to any of it.
That's why it's somewhat understandable for Silva's manager, Ed Soares, to insist on a recent episode of Inside MMA that Sonnen should "get to the back of the line" if he wants a crack at the belt.
The trouble is the line isn't quite as long as he seems to think. The Silva camp can argue with the UFC over dates and locations, but there's really only one dance partner that makes any sense right now, and it's Sonnen.
One can see how it might seem frustrating to Silva. He beats Sonnen in August of 2010, Sonnen then gets put on the shelf following the dual headache of testosterone use issues and money laundering charges. When he comes back, Sonnen wins exactly one fight before demanding a title shot on his own personal timetable and according to his own specific pro wrestling terms. Who does this guy think he is?
But that's an easy question to answer. Sonnen happens to be one of the only middleweights left who can sell a fight against Silva, and he knows it. That's why he can afford to call his shots, at least to a degree.
Silva (or Soares) might not like it, but what other options are there? Should he get past Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Dan Henderson has said he'll cut down to middleweight for a rematch with Silva. Then again, he also said he'll only cut down for a fight with Silva, which makes you wonder what would happen if he managed to beat the 185-pound champ.
Henderson is 41 years old, and, from the sound of it, not all that excited about losing a bunch of weight every three or four months at this point in his life. Does the UFC really want a middleweight champ who doesn't want to be a middleweight?
Even with the potential infusion of Strikeforce fighters, the landscape at 185 pounds isn't exactly overflowing with attractive contenders. Luke Rockhold, Tim Kennedy, even the winner of the Michael Bisping-Jason Miller fight -- there's no logical contender who poses enough of a threat to be interesting to fans right away.
Some of that is Silva's fault. It's hard to find a compelling fight for him when he has so thoroughly dismantled every challenger. That is, every challenger except for the one who took him five rounds deep before one careless mistake cost him the fight.
Ideally, the case for a rematch should be based on more than simply the potential to make it a close fight, but this is Silva we're talking about. Finding him a close fight is a battle in itself. Finding him one with an opponent who can also do all the hype work that the champ either can't or won't is like finding the winning lottery ticket in among the dirty laundry. The UFC would have to be crazy not to cash in on this find while it can.
If Silva doesn't want to fight as soon as Super Bowl weekend, whether it's because his shoulder is still bothering him or because he simply wants more time to prepare, that's the champion's prerogative. He should get more say in choosing the date, just like he should feel free to ignore Sonnen's loser-leaves-town proposition altogether.
But if he's waiting around for a better challenger or a bigger fight, he's going to be waiting a long time. At 36 years old, and with the clock likely ticking on his MMA career, now's the time to fight the big fights, the ones people will remember him for long after he's retired.
The first fight with Sonnen was one of those. Whether the second fight can live up to those expectations or not, he's really got no choice but to take it and find out. And besides, it might be his only hope of finally shutting Sonnen up for good. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, champ, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen’s Manager Says Let Dana White Decide if Sonnen vs. Silva 2 Should Happen
Chael Sonnen's manager fires back at Anderson Silva's representative Ed Soares who says that Sonnen needs to get back in line if he wants a shot at the middleweight title.
Posted in: title, silva, sonnen, chael, manager
Read the full article at MMA WeeklySonnen's manager responds to Soares
Anderson Silva’s manager Ed Soares has been telling anyone who will listen that Chael Sonnen does not deserve a rematch with the middleweight champion,...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, soare, manager, sonnens manager
Read the full article at Fighters OnlySonnen manager responds to Soares
Anderson Silva’s manager Ed Soares has been telling anyone who will listen that Chael Sonnen does not deserve a rematch with the middleweight champion,...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, soare, manager, sonnen manager
Read the full article at Fighters OnlySaturday Night's Mania Event: The pro wrestling style genius of Chael Sonnen
By now you've probably heard quite a few fans -- and just as many pundits -- tell you that UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen models himself after pro wrestlers. With his over the top interviews and larger than life personality, which is mostly fabricated, it's difficult to disagree with such a statement.
But how many truly know the extent of his pro wrestling genius?
I can imagine how many of you are checking out now, surely shaking your head at this subject matter. It's the old pro wrestling vs. MMA debate and whether or not the two actually have any discernible similarities. I'm not here to argue that, although it's important to note a few things.
Pro wresting, while those that participate in it are athletes in the sense that they perform feats that require great athleticism, is not a sport. It's a form of entertainment, an art that few truly bother to ever really understand, even folks that call themselves fans.
MMA, on the other hand, is the pinnacle of sport. It represents the purest form of competition. One man's blood, sweat and tears against another man's blood, sweat and tears. It's violently romantic, a beautiful blend of carnage and fluid motion.
When putting it like that, how could the two possibly share a common bond?
The answer is in the promotion. The loose tie is tightened only when considering the nature of creating hype via savvy marketing. UFC President Dana White will admit to you that he borrowed heavily from the business model WWE head honcho Vince McMahon used to make his entertainment conglomerate a smashing pay-per-view success.
McMahon did so by eschewing pro wrestlers who knew how to work a match inside the ring for specialists with the gift of gab. Hulk Hogan, a name nearly all of you should know, certainly didn't rise to prominence because of his big boot and ensuing leg drop. In fact, his matches are widely regarded as the worst in main event level history.
But he had an aura about him and knew exactly how to turn a microphone into a tool to control the crowd that paid to see him. He made you want to spend your hard earned money to watch him wrestle even if you had never actually seen him wrestle. That's how charismatic he was when cutting his promos. His timing and delivery was -- and still is -- unmatchable.
Chael Sonnen, who never would have been a star otherwise, used these principles to not only talk himself into a title shot against one of the greatest fighters that ever lived, but he turned himself into one of the biggest stars in the entire industry.
Rewind back to Feb. 21, 2009, and UFC 95 in London, England. Sonnen fought at that event, the second act on the main card of a free show on Spike TV. He was making his re-debut inside the Octagon for his second tour of duty and while he had grown since his initial stint with the promotion, it didn't show in that first fight back.
He was taken down and submitted just a few minutes into the contest.
This wasn't the same Sonnen, though. Sure, his Achilles heel had reared its ugly head once again to cost him a bout against a future title challenger. But his wrestling was as good as it had ever been and his mouth was as potent as it would ever be.
He quickly rebounded by accepting a short notice match-up against Dan Miller, gaining favor in the process, and outworking the New Jersey native en route to a decision victory.
It was around this time that Sonnen's tongue began working almost as hard as his takedowns.
Ensuing victories over Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt, both dominant decision wins, lacked the excitement typical fight fans usually crave. But, again, he made up for this by selling his fights not with his abilities inside the cage but with his speaking skills outside of it.
Sounds familiar, no?
After his victory over Marquardt, Sonnen began unleashing verbal bombs on Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. He did what no other 185-pound fighter in the UFC was willing to and he called "The Spider" out at every turn. He learned from notable pro wrestling promo artists like Rowdy Roddy Piper how to turn himself into a hot commodity.
He did so by turning himself into a character.
The sporting enthusiasts among the MMA audience loathed him for his less than honest method of shameless self promotion. Sonnen utilized what's known as "kayfabe" -- the act of creating -- and never breaking -- character in order to better market himself to sell pay-per-views.
His game plan was carefully crafted. Silva, you see, had a reputation of his own as a supremely talented fighter that had no real respect for the fans. His abilities were otherworldly but if he felt unchallenged, he had a tendency to mail in performances.
When I say mail in, I mean openly mock his opponent, his employers, and all the fans in attendance and watching at home. He was loved for how unbelievably talented he is but hated for his perceived attitude as a bit of a diva. Silva can speak English, but rarely does so when conducting interviews. Instead, he uses a translator, his manager Ed Soares, who has a tendency to conveniently forget a word or two when relaying back what his fighter says.
Sonnen saw and heard this and used it to his advantage. Chael, the man, may or may not have felt the same as fans but Chael, the character, lambasted Silva for his shortcomings in the media. He did so to endear himself to the wider audience, who had previously refused to accept him as an elite fighter. It's not that he wasn't but his style of fighting, which relies largely on a grappling heavy top control game, is the least aesthetically pleasing mixed martial art. So instead of making himself famous by spectacularly knocking out a band of elite middleweights like Silva did, he used timing, a microphone and marketing savvy to become the antihero that fans had been waiting for as a foil to the seemingly untouchable 185-pound king.
There were those that were terribly turned off by Sonnen's blatant insincerity. This group of people generally leaned toward hating his guts for even bringing this sort of behavior into the usually classy world of mixed martial arts. They wished nothing more than for Silva to give him his comeuppance.
And that, my friends, is the genius.
Sonnen managed to use pro wrestling influence to do what most modern day pro wrestlers can't even do -- he played both sides of the fence and made the largest audience possible want to pay to see him fight. He worked one group into thinking he was the perfect foil for Silva and his wrestling style would finally bring an end to the middleweight champions five year reign of terror. He worked the other group into enough of a frenzy that they simply wanted to watch "The Spider" destroy him once they finally stepped inside the cage and the talking stopped.
It was utterly brilliant.
The result of the fight, at that point and to his larger purpose, was immaterial. If he won, hey, he backed up his big talk. If he lost, whatever, he got a huge payday out of it and made himself into a media darling that will have a sustained career afterwards as a main event level draw.
Sonnen would go on to lose that night at UFC 117 but not until he pounded away at Silva for four and a half rounds. He backed up every bit of his big talk by using the same game plan he flat out told the champion he would. Takedown, ground and pound, rinse and repeat.
But, in the fifth and final round, with the title within his grasp, Sonnen choked ... literally. He allowed himself to be snared up in a triangle and tapped to award his opponent the victory. Silva went home the champion, Sonnen went home having made himself a star and the UFC basked in the glow of a highly successful pay-per-view event.
Sonnen became even more like a pro wrestler when word came about that he failed a drug test for elevated levels of testosterone after the fight. It marred what was otherwise an unbelievable all around performance.
Controversy would follow, including Sonnen being busted for money laundering and lying in front of the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC). He would emerge relatively unscathed, though, as the reputation he had built beforehand was one of a liar, anyway. He broke kayfabe only every now and again and only long enough to earn himself the proper points to get back to where he needed to go.
Throughout the entire process, he never stopped calling out Silva. Despite losing to him by way of definitive submission, he maintained he would earn himself a rematch and finish the job he came so close to doing last year.
But how?
Silva and his management team played their cards smart by simply stating that other worthy contenders were available and fresh talent was emerging every day. Sonnen losing by way of submission, instead of say, controversial decision, didn't exactly give him much of a case for a rematch, even if he came closer than anyone to defeating the dominant champion.
Sonnen, though, a cerebral tactician with the ultimate goal always in mind, positioned himself perfectly once again to challenge his arch nemesis and earn a big payday in the process.
Here's how he did it.
He accepted a bout against Brian Stann at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas. This accomplished many things. For starters, Stann had been on an absolute tear leading into the fight and was widely considered a potential title challenger ... if he could win one or two more fights. Just as soon as he was paired up against Sonnen, the bout was announced as a number one contender match.
The bout was also booked to take place in the state of Texas, which has a notoriously lax athletic commission who wouldn't hesitate to clear Sonnen to fight by granting him his license. And they didn't.
The UFC was also holding a Fan Expo during the weekend, meaning all the big stars on the roster would make their way down and most of them would be in attendance for the fights.
Including Anderson Silva.
Finally, Sonnen was simply a style nightmare for Stann. His strong wrestling and relentless pressure would prove too much to overcome, as the Republican former realtor absolutely destroyed "All American" en route to a second round submission finish, about as good a result as Sonnen could have possibly hoped for.
And then color commentator Joe Rogan entered the cage for the usual post-fight interview and Sonnen became even more pro wrestling than pro wrestling. This was his moment to sell the masses on a second fight against Silva. This was his time to explain to everyone why he should be given a second shot at the title despite losing definitively the first time around. This was his time to shine.
And shine he did.
He kicked things off like any great promo artist by delivering a line that would grab the attention of the entire arena while also letting them know he means business.
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck!"
The crowd exploded with glee, the same crowd that booed him during his entrance before his fight against Stann. This was made even more incredible because, again, Silva was sitting in his seat not far from the cage with Sonnen looking directly at him while he said this.
It's a brilliant move, really, to use this forum to say such a thing. Silva is essentially a hapless victim, trapped like a sitting duck to sustain the oncoming verbal assault while the live crowd cheers it on.
Even if he wanted to, he couldn't do a damn thing about it.
Then came the bait:
"Super Bowl weekend will be the biggest rematch in the history of this business. I'm calling you out, but we're upping the stakes."
Now the crowd, which was already on its feet, is on pins and needles awaiting what Sonnen will say next. This is his mastery of manipulation. He had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, heavily intrigued by what will come next.
Then the hook:
"I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC ... forever."
That's pro wrestling at its finest.
Sonnen has now done two things: He's established a solid reason to hold the rematch that extends beyond his coming close to winning the first time. If he loses, he'll bail on MMA (which is entirely possible considering his age and other factors) and if he wins, Silva will hardly be able to show his face inside UFC arenas. The Brazilian has no reason to follow the "leave the division" stipulation but again, that's not even the point. What happens after the bout is immaterial, as noted previously.
The other, more important, thing Sonnen accomplished with this was he got the fans right back on his side. Maybe not in the sense that they'll cheer him but they'll most definitely be ready and willing to drop another $60 on a pay-per-view headlined by Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen part deux.
And that's it in a nutshell, ladies and gentlemen.
That's Sonnen using pro wrestling influence to manipulate his way to the top of the food chain using a combination of skilled fighting with stellar marketing to make a boatload of money for all involved.
And hell, we fans might even be treated to another classic finish.
Nothing wrong with that.
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, fan, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBas speaks the truth about Sonnen
submitted by djdonnell [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: ba, sonnen, djdonnell, truth
Read the full article at RedditMichael Bisping says Chael Sonnen blew his chance, wants Anderson Silva next
Michael Bisping is tired of hearing people talk about Chael Sonnen being in line for a crack at UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva after losing cleanly to “The Spider” a year ago and only fighting a single time since. He’s also ready to fill the contendership vacancy Sonnen’s removal from the picture would create, that is of course assuming he gets by Jason Miller on December 3 at the Ultimate Fighter Season 14 Finale.
A former Ultimate Fighter winner himself, Bisping spoke bluntly on the subject in a recent interview with Fighters Only Magazine where he provided an explanation for his rationale regarding Sonnen’s status and his own claim to a title-shot.
“Sonnen had his chance, put on a great performance but lost,” said 32-year old. “Got tapped out, got finished, and then after that he failed a steroids test. As far as I can see he had his chance and he blew it.”
Bisping Says Sonnen Getting a Silva Rematch Would Be Complete BS
“I feel I deserve a shot,” Bisping continued. “I have got to beat Miller, he is tough, I am not looking past him. (But) it’s me – I’m the contender. Vitor Belfort has just been beat, Yushin Okami has just been beat, Sonnen got beat…what are they going to do, are they all going to keep beating each other up and then having another shot at him?”
“So yeah if I get my shot… listen, it’s easier said than done,” he admitted. “You can sit here and say ‘You’ve got to do this against Anderson’ (but) getting in the cage and doing it to him is a completely different kettle of fish. (However), I feel I have earned the right to have my shot.”
With an overall record of 21-3, including seventeen stoppages, a potential four-fight winning streak with a successful showing against Miller, and past wins over Yoshihiro Akiyama, Dan Miller, and Chris Leben, “The Count” could be onto something.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: miller, bisping, michael bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva, you've got 24 hours to accept my offer ... or else
Chael Sonnen is back doing what he does best -- sticking his finger in the face of reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
It would seem Sonnen just can’t get the pound-for-pound king out of his mind, throwing dirt on his name every single chance he gets. You could argue he's become borderline obsessive
Sonnen brought out his inner "Stone Cold" Steve Austin last week in Houston after he defeated Brian Stann at UFC 136, as he laid out a veritable "loser leaves town" style challenge for "The Spider" with this beautifully crafted promo:
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck! Super Bowl weekend will be the biggest rematch in the history of this business. I'm calling you out, but we're upping the stakes: I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC ... forever."
Silva, in attendance and doing his best to laugh it off, has yet to accept and has remained mostly quiet. That could be because he's still healing a few nagging injuries and isn't sure if he'll be ready by early February.
Naturally, this has prompted yet another outburst from Sonnen:
"Anderson, you've got 24 hours to accept my offer. I suggest you take it, my next one won't be quite so nice."
Hell hath no fury like Chael Sonnen scorned.
Now that the Republican rabble-rouser is getting impatient with Silva’s lack of attention to his challenge, we can certainly expect business to pick up.
But should Silva respond at all?
After all, he already rid of Sonnen once, defeating him via triangle choke at UFC 117 back in Aug. 2010. What's the need to do it again?
And what could Sonnen have in mind if Silva doesn't answer the call? Any ideas?
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMatt Lindland Says Anderson Silva Trying to Weasel Out of Chael Sonnen Rematch
When Chael Sonnen called out Anderson Silva for a rematch after Sonnen destroyed Brian Stann at UFC 136 it seemed like the only smart fight to make for Silva. In the days since we've seen Silva's manager Ed Soares talk about how Sonnen should be at the back of the line.
In an interview with MMA HQ, that didn't sit well with Matt Lindland:
Ok one last question if I may then; I'm sorry if it's a bit out of left field but I'd really like to get your take on this. Do you think Anderson Silva takes the Superbowl weekend fight with Chael Sonnen?
Haha. Anderson will to find a way to weasel out of that fight. I don't know what his contractual obligations are as far as who he has to fight as a champion but they're already laying the ground work; I mean look at the article that came out this morning on Bloody Elbow.
His manager Ed Soares is already making excuses for Anderson to not take that fight so yeah I think they're going to try to weasel out of it. I don't know what his obligations are contractually to the UFC but his obligations to the fans are that he needs to take that fight.
Everyone of the fans know that Chael's the number one contender and the guy that has a chance of beating him, can beat him and exposed his weaknesses in that fight. The fans want to see that fight and Anderson owes the fans that fight.
Some think Soares was trying to weasel out of the fight because of the threat Sonnen presents, others think that the line was simply put out there to add extra fuel to the fire.
We're going to continue to see the fighters and their camps throw out little digs like this until the two fighters step into the cage to square off again.
Posted in: fight, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowAnderson Silva's next fight: Who should be 'The Spiders' final four?
Is Anderson Silva the greatest MMA fighter of all time?
Any knowledgeable fan of the sport can understand an argument for the affirmative. Silva's dominance in the past five years has been unmatched. He's taken on every challenger, including some in other weight classes, and disposed of them with ease. In fact, he's been so dominant in some of his performances that he's been labeled "boring."
News broke just yesterday that Silva's career may be entering its twilight period. His manager, Ed Soares, made it clear to SporTV "The Spider" has just four fights left before the end.
"Let's see what the big boss is going to do. My opinion is that he (Sonnen) had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line. The same thing is true with Vitor Belfort. They're great fighters, but they had their chance. Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre, but we should recognize that Anderson only has around 4 fights left in his career."
With precious few fights remaining before he calls it quits, then, who's left to challenge him? His impending retirement means there are some match-ups that absolutely must be made in the very near future.
We'll give you the four most important bouts to solidify Silva's title as "The Greatest Of All Time" after the jump.
Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2
This rematch must happen. After Sonnen's outburst at UFC 136, there is no side stepping it. Silva may have been able to pass by Sonnen's borderline lunacy prior, but now, he has to squash it.
Sonnen handled Anderson for 21 minutes of their first 23 minute bout. Chael hit him with punches, took him down at will, and controlled him on the mat ... until the last minute, of course. But the damage to Silva's aura of "invincibility" was done. For the first time, we saw holes in the champs armor.
Silva and camp have said that Sonnen's outburst will not control when they accept the fight, and rightfully so. The champ should decide when he wants the rematch, but there should not be a question of 'if'. If Silva does not accept this fight, rumors from Silva-haters everywhere will ring loud and clear. "HE DUCKED HIM!!" "HE WAS SCARED!" "HE KNEW HE WOULD LOSE!" In order to go down as the all-time great, you have to silence your critics. You beat Chael for a second time, you're well on your way.
Anderson Silva vs Georges St Pierre
It's a match that MMA fans have been salivating over for quite some time now. If there's a case to be made for someone being as dominant as Anderson Silva in the past couple of years, that case is usually made for GSP. He has defended his belt 7 times and done so in as equally impressive manner as Anderson. Assuming Silva can get past Sonnen, it's time he step up to Sonnen 2.0.
GSP does everything that Sonnen does, he just does it better with less size and twice the athleticism. And we already know that Sonnen had a game plan for success. St. Pierre would be able to land more explosive takedowns, a quicker jab, and have that little extra added bonus known as "submission defense." In my opinion, "Rush" represents one of the biggest challenges that Silva could possibly face. A wrestler with great top control and good defense. If Silva makes it through Sonnen, a match-up with "GSP" should be in his very near future.
Anderson Silva vs Jon Jones
Assuming he handles both St. Pierre and Sonnen, we should first, stop for a round of applause. Then promptly get back to picking him apart. In my completely hypothetical tournament, Silva would have already disposed of two outstanding MMA wrestlers. We have to change our course of action. How about one of the most dynamic strikers in the sport?
Oh, and by the way, he'll be heavier and taller than you. Maybe this will work.
The two would have to meet at some sort of catchweight, but Jones would still clearly have a distinct height and reach advantage. Jones could still wrestle his way out of a bad spot if needed, but it would serve him well to keep his range and light Silva up from distance. Jones represents a unique challenge with his unorthodox striking, but would it be successful against Silva's head movement?
We might as well try, because I am running out of ideas.
Anderson Silva vs Middleweight Challenger 'X'
If Silva puts a stern beating on Sonnen, St. Pierre, and Jones, we simply give up. That's right, just hang it up. I'm sure someone out there will want him to face Cain Velasquez (or whoever the heavyweight titleholder is at that time) but we have to draw the line somewhere. It's time to let Silva bask in the glory of being the best ever. That's why we give him a final send off in his home territory.
During the amount of time it would take Silva to face these three challengers, I'm sure that a new and exciting middleweight challenger will rise from the ashes. A challenger that many fans will be excited to see challenge for the belt. We'll break down his new and exciting strategy and his ten keys to victory. That's when Anderson steps back in and crushes all of our hypothesis for the final time. He defends his belt once again and walks away with a legendary winning streak, the likes of which may never be seen again. An induction into the UFC Hall of Fame will undoubtedly follow the bout.
So there it is. My final four dream fights for "The Spider." It's unlikely that his final stretch will materialize this way, but we can always hope, right?
Maybe you see it a little differently. Let me know in the comments section below who you want in Anderson's "final four" and the order you want them to happen.
Whether it plays out this way or not, watching the career of Anderson Silva has been an amazing spectacle for all of us who have been lucky enough to watch it.
Posted in: fight, time, silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaWar of Words: Matt Lindland says Anderson Silva would try to "weasel out of the fight" with Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen's Team Quest teammate and training partner Matt Lindland reacted on Anderson Silva's manager, Ed Soares' recent comments, stating that "The Spider" will try to "weasel out" of the fight with People's Champion and Linear Champion Chael P. Sonnen. Lindland added that fans know Sonnen is the current #1 contender, and a fighter with the best chance to dethrone Silva:
"Anderson will to find a way to weasel out of that fight. I don’t know what his contractual obligations are as far as who he
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, dethrone silva, matt lindland
Read the full article at Low KickSonnen gives Anderson 24 hours to respond to his challenge... dun dun dunn
submitted by red1392 [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: hour, challenge, sonnen, anderson, dun
Read the full article at RedditAnderson Silva’s retirement closer than fans may think
Ed Soares has done a lot of the speaking for UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva. That trend continued recently when Soares disclosed that “The Spider” has only a few fights left in his stellar career before he rides off into the sunset.
Chael Sonnen, who lost to Silva last year in a title fight, is hoping that his name is the next one on a contract for Silva to sign. Soares, however, doesn’t feel Sonnen is deserving of another crack at his fighter because he already had his opportunity. Still, the level of personal jabs that Sonnen has thrown towards the champion makes him a strong contender to the title.
“My opinion is that he (Sonnen) had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line,” said Soares, in a recent interview with SporTV. “The same thing is true with Vitor Belfort. They’re great fighters, but they had their chance.”
Soares went on to say, “we should recognize that Anderson only has around four fights left in his career.” With that statement, Soares added, “Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre.”
Many have felt that to complete his legacy, Silva needs to have a super-fight with St-Pierre, the current UFC welterweight title-holder or UFC light heavyweight king Jon Jones. But, with the way Sonnen has fired off shots at Silva, he would also make sense.
“Let’s see what the big boss (Dana White) is going to do,” Soares concluded on the topic.
Nothing has been made official as far as Silva’s next fight, as Sonnen’s challenge was laid down at UFC 136 last weekend for a bout in February on Super Bowl weekend. The Brazilian champion is currently sidelined while recovering from a shoulder injury. No specific timetable has been offered for his return.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, soare
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainAnderson Silva retiring after four more fights says manager Ed Soares
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, the winner of 14 straight bouts inside the Octagon, has "around" four fights left in his career before calling it quits.
That's according to the Brazilian's manager, Ed Soares, who recently told SporTV (via Bloody Elbow) that fans may only get four more chances to see "The Spider" do his thing.
And why waste them on rematches with Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort, two fighter he already finished?
"Let's see what the big boss is going to do. My opinion is that he (Sonnen) had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line. The same thing is true with Vitor Belfort. They're great fighters, but they had their chance. Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre, but we should recognize that Anderson only has around 4 fights left in his career."
The mixed martial arts community has been clamoring for "Silva vs. Sonnen II" following Sonnen's successful return to action at UFC 136, a second round submission win over the hard-hitting Brian Stann back on Oct. 8, 2011.
It helps that Sonnen went into his pro wrestling schtick and ran a verbal train on the cageside champion after the fight, but outside of the trash talk, there is a legitimate argument for booking part deux.
That's because the mouthy ex-Realtor beat the stuffing out of Silva for four and a half rounds back at UFC 117 and to date, has been the only middleweight to pose any kind of threat to the 185-pound kingpin.
True, he was finished before he could seal the deal, but his performance was light years beyond what any other challenger was able to accomplish. Dan Henderson? He likely won the first round against Silva at UFC 82, but was quickly finished off in the second stanza.
So, if "The Spider" has only four bouts left, who should he use them to fight? If he's not moving up or down in weight for a potential "superfight," then few challenges outside of Sonnen remain.
Anyone out there have the answer?
Is it time to get Hector Lombard out of Bellator and into the UFC? Or should we give the winner of Michael Bisping vs. Jason Miller the next title shot?
Thoughts?
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, vitor belfort, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaEd Soares: Anderson Silva Only Has Around Four Fights Left, Sonnen Should Be Back of the Line
Anderson Silva's manager, Ed Soares, recently spoke to SporTV in Brazil and made it clear that Silva is reaching the end of his career. He also stated that Chael Sonnen shouldn't get the next shot.
Here's a clip from the article, translated by Tom Mendes:
Let's see what the big boss is going to do. My opinion is that he had his chance and taped, he should go back to the end of the line. The same thing is true with Vitor Belfort. They're great fighters, but they had their chance. Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre, but we should recognize that Anderson only has around 4 fights left in his career.
It's sad to know that Silva is in the twilight of his career, but it does remain a positive to know that (at least for now) the plan is to get out at an appropriate time and before his skills have gone.
Still, other than St. Pierre or Jon Jones there simply is not a bigger fight out there for Silva than Sonnen. Moving Vitor to the theoretical "back of the line" makes sense given Belfort didn't have a second of success. Chael, however, had roughly 1,380.
I'll continue hoping that "the big boss" sees fit to put Chael and Anderson in the cage together one more time.
Posted in: fight, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMichael Bisping stakes his claim as #1 Contender, says Chael Sonnen blew his chance
Currently set to square off with opposing TUF 14 coach Jason "Mayhem" Miller on December 3rd, Bisping (22-3) initially accepted the coaching position under the premise that he'd serve opposite Sonnen himself on the reality series. However, due to ongoing issues with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the Team Quest fighter was promptly replaced. Had the show went on as planned, Sonnen vs. Bisping was likely to name the next man in line to face "The Spider." So what do you think LowKick'ers? Is Chael...
Posted in: bisping, sonnen, nevada state, reality series, coaching position
Read the full article at Low KickMirko CroCop, not fond of Sonnen's antics
submitted by muayguy [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: antic, sonnen, mirko crocop, mirko, crocop
Read the full article at RedditUFC 136 Video: The Gracie Breakdown of Chael Sonnen's Submission Win Over Brian Stann
After UFC 136 ended, everyone was focused on Chael Sonnen's post-fight statements towards Anderson Silva, when he proposed a pro-wrestlingesque (yes, that's a word!) loser-leaves-town match. That's understandable, as it was one of the most entertaining parts of the PPV broadcast, although it also made it easy to forget how dominant his grappling was on that fight.
For all the faults and criticism the guy gets about his submission losses, Sonnen did display some pretty nice technique with his passes, transitions, and takedowns which eventually ended up with the submission victory. Don't take my word for it though. Here's the always entertaining duo, Ryron and Rener Gracie, giving us their take on things as they breakdown Sonnen's UFC 136 win over Brian Stann this past weekend:
In this Breakdown, Ryron and Rener analyze the slick mount transitions, guard passes, and remount techniques used by Chael Sonnen to dominate round one against Brian Stann. Then, they dissect the Arm Triangle used by Chael to close the deal and they explain why the defense strategy used by Brian Stann didn't work.
HT: BE Reader R.T.
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowMichael Bisping: I'm the number one contender, not Chael Sonnen
Why is Chael Sonnen (unofficially) getting another shot at Anderson Silva's middleweight title?
Well, aside from publicly calling out the reigning division champion during Sonnen's now infamous "loser leaves town" promo that came on the heels of his dominating win over Brian Stann at UFC 136, he's the only one to even come close to defeating "The Spider" since the Brazilian took over the throne back in 2006.
But in the eyes of Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 14 coach Michael Bisping, "close" doesn't "count."
In fact, the British bad boy went so far as to flat-out call himself the next number one contender, despite a pending middleweight match-up against Jason Miller on Dec. 3 in Las Vegas.
Here's his quote from Fighters Only:
"Chael Sonnen had his chance, put on a great performance but lost. Got tapped out, got finished, and then after that he failed a steroids test. As far as I can see he had his chance and he blew it. I feel I deserve a shot. I have got to beat Miller, he is tough, I am not looking past him. [But] it's me, I’m the contender. Belfort has just been beat, Yushin Okami has just been beat, Sonnen got beat. What are they going to do, all they all going to keep beating each other up and then having another shot at him? No, I’m the contender."
"The Count" is 21-3 and currently enjoying a three-fight winning streak. While fans tend to call him "pillow-fisted," he has finished more than half his UFC fights by way of technical knockout.
But has he proven himself to be worthy of a shot at the belt?
Anyone who puts Bisping as the number once contender automatically puts him above Chael Sonnen and implies that he will defeat "Mayhem" later this year.
Anyone out there okay with that? Or is this crazy talk?
Thoughts? Opinions? Accusations?
Posted in: i &rsquo, contender, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaMirko Cro Cop: Chael Sonnen has an IQ of child's shoe size
Mixed Martial Arts icon Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic hit back at Chael Sonnen, labeling the former UFC Middleweight title challenger an "idiot with an IQ of child's shoe size". Sonnen blasted Filipovic on several occasions, often suggesting that the Croat's achievements in the sport are far from being hard earned. This time, Cro Cop had a choice of words for Chael Sonnen and a promise that he will "iron" the Oregonian's a-- if they ever meet face to face outside the UFC.
"You can tell by his face that the man
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, cro cop, shoe size
Read the full article at Low KickEd Soares: Chael Sonnen should take a number and wait for Anderson Silva
Anderson Siva's manager Ed Soares spoke to MMAJunkie.com about Chael Sonnen's unusual (but quite expected) outburst at his client during UFC 136 post-fight interview. Soares was sitting next to Anderson Silva when Chael Sonnen announced that "The Spider" absolutely sucks, and called out the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion for a rematch on Superbowl weekend in February. But according to Soares, Chael Sonnen has to be put in jail, rather than fighting for the UFC Middleweight title:
“First the guy
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, soare
Read the full article at Low KickDon't overthink it, just let the Gracie's breakdown Sonnen's submission over Stann
At UFC 136, there exist some eloquent maneuver of poetry in Chael Sonnen's arm-triangle of Brian Stann. A guy who's last seven losses came by the way of tapping out managed to drop his first submission on an opponent since he brabo choked Tim McKenzie in Bodog over four years ago. Relax, I've located a video of the match for your pleasure. The camera even cuts to Chael Sonnen's girlfriend at the time. If I told you she was Brazilian, would your head ignite from the bottom up? Well, watch the video and find out. I'm not here to give you any spoilers. Not at all. I'm merely here to inform you that Ryron and Rener Gracie have broke down Sonnen's submission over Stann, and it's something you should watch. [Source]
Posted in: submission, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann, tim mckenzie
Read the full article at Middle EasyBisping stakes claim to title shot, "Sonnen blew it"
A lot of people want to see Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen have a rematch in the near future. Michael Bisping isn’t one of them.Speaking exclusively...
Posted in: title shot, anderson silva, bisping, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyChael Sonnen: Fighters Not Named ‘Chael Sonnen’ Are Nothing But Cowards
Another illuminating interview with Chael Sonnen via Studio MMA.
Posted in: interview, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, studio mma
Read the full article at MMA ConvertSilva's camp: Sonnen crossed a line, not in position to determine champ's return date (MMAJunkie.com)
Chael Sonnen is funny, sure. But he's crossed the line, manager Ed Soares today told MMAjunkie.com...
Posted in: line, mmajunkie.com, chael sonnen, sonnen, return date
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsChael Sonnen Can Apply For Nevada License On Dec. 1, Dana White Doesn’t Foresee Issues
As we’ve already covered, Chael Sonnen will have to obtain a fight license from the NSAC if he hopes to fight Anderson Silva on Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas. In most cases that’s just a formality, but with Sonnen it’s anything but given his issues with both the CSAC and NSAC for the past year.
The issue stemmed from testimony Sonnen gave to the California commissioners last year, claiming that NSAC director Keith Kizer had given him verbal approval for a TRT use exemption in a previous fight. Kizer, however, denied ever having any conversation with Sonnen, let alone one about TRT, and claimed that Sonnen would need to resolve his issues with the CSAC before he could work things out in Nevada.
Well, fast forward six months and Sonnen still hasn’t made nice with either commission. So where does that leave Sonnen for a possible rematch with Anderson Silva in Vegas?
That’s a good question because Kizer isn’t talking about it anymore. When asked by Fighter’s Only what their stance on Sonnen was now, Kizer gave the equivalent of “no comment,” only saying that any fighter could apply for a license on Dec. 1.
“Any applicant may apply for a 2012 license as of December 1, 2011,” Kizer responded.
“I cannot really comment beyond that, but I am always hopeful that any applicant can meet his or her burden to obtain a license.”
At the moment, the only person talking about it is Dana White, and he doesn’t understand what the big f-ing deal is.
“There’s no reason they shouldn’t license Chael,” White said. “It shouldn’t even cross my mind the thought of whether Chael could get licenses in Nevada or California or anywhere. It should be the least of my worries. The guy did everything he was told to do.”
“When guys like Floyd are getting licensed in Nevada, why should I have to worry about Chael?” White said.
Whether Chael has done his time or not, it’s still up to the commission to license him and you never know what they’re going to do. So for now it’s still a big question mark.
With the application date established though, the problem for Super Bowl weekend is the UFC will probably want to have the main event nailed down by then. It would be awful risky to sign the fight not knowing if Chael could get licensed or not. Maybe they could have some kind of preliminary meeting with the NSAC to figure out whic direction they’re leaning, but beyond that, I really don’t see them taking that risk. That coupled with Anderson Silva’s shoulder issues and general reluctance to agree to Sonnen’s wishes makes me think Silva vs. Sonnen II is very unlikely for Super Bowl weekend.
Posted in: sonnen, license, chael, bowl weekend, kizer
Read the full article at MMA ConvertNew coach validated by Sonnen's submission win, NSAC mum on licensing prospects
It was a proud moment for Scott McQuary when Chael Sonnen cinched an arm-triangle choke that forced Brian Stann to tap out.
McQuary, who joined forces with Sonnen three months prior as a jiu-jitsu and muay Thai coach, said the submission was one of a handful drilled into the fighter over the course of training camp.
"I saw it as an opportunity - because in all of Chael's fights previously, he was always in those positions," McQuary told MMAjunkie.com.
Posted in: brian stann, sonnen, training camp, scott mcquary, licensing prospects
Read the full article at MMA JunkieChael Sonnen-Anderson Silva Rematch: Dana White Doesn’t Expect NSAC Issues
If Chael Sonnen gets his wish to rematch middleweight champion Anderson Silva at the UFC’s traditional Super Bowl weekend event, UFC President Dana White doesn’t expect issues between Sonnen and the Nevada State Athletic Commission to prevent the bout from taking place in Las Vegas.
“There’s no reason why they shouldn’t license Chael,” White said after Saturday’s UFC 136 event. “It shouldn’t even cross my mind whether Chael could get licensed in Nevada or California or anywhere else. It should be the least of my worries. The guy did everything that he was told to do. When guys like Floyd are getting licensed in Nevada, why should I have to worry about Chael?”
Sonnen (26-11-1) dominated fellow middleweight Brian Stann before submitting him in the second round in his first fight in 14 months after testing positive for elevated testosterone following his near-upset of Silva last August.
Silva (31-4) is recovering from a shoulder injury that didn’t stop him from knocking out Yushin Okami at UFC 134 in August for his ninth title defense and 14th-straight UFC win.
The UFC has not yet made the matchup official, but with pay-per-view buys dipping in 2011, the UFC is expected to book the rematch to get their 2012 scheduled, which is expected to include 34 events compared to 2011′s 27, off to a strong start.
For the latest UFC news and UFC rumors stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com.
Pictured: Chael Sonnen
Posted in: ufc, silva, sonnen, chael, matchup official
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyChael Sonnen: Symbol or Charlatan of Spectacle?
Chael Sonnen is nothing if not interesting. I've never been receptive to the so called pro wrestling antics of promotion. Yea, I understand the need for promotion, and like everyone else, I'm excited at the prospect of a rematch with Anderson Silva. At UFC 136 even I was impressed with his quick and precise "loser leaves town" speech.
But it's not something I find especially compelling. The words of a promoter are fleeting, superficial, and when the cage door shuts, their echoes disappear into the spectacle of prizefighting where they no longer have purpose except to demand the attention of our expectations. I'm gonna digress for a second, and for as self serving as it may seem, I believe there's a connection worth making.
You may have heard of the Occupy Wall Street protests, and you may have heard of the reactions by politicians. Paul Krugman took that reaction to task in a recent article in the New York Times, stating (of the Wall Street denizens) "They’re people who got rich by peddling complex financial schemes that, far from delivering clear benefits to the American people, helped push us into a crisis whose aftereffects continue to blight the lives of tens of millions of their fellow citizens".
San Antonio, where I'm from, had their own protest downtown. I'm not sure the people, many of whom were young, understood what had really gone down on Wall Street. And there's hypocrisy within the outrage itself. As Michael J. Sandel writes in Justice, "The public was outraged when, in 2008, Wall Street firms (some on tax payer-subsidized life support) handed out $16 billion in bonuses. But this figure was less than half the amounts paid out in 2006 ($34 billion) and 2007 ($33 billion). If greed is the reason they don't deserve the money now, on what basis can it be said that they deserved the money then?"
It's unfortunate awareness is present when it has the least impact (after the fall). But I guess there's value in and of itself in the attempts to make that awareness a staple of American behavior it so desperately needs. In a similar vein, perhaps fans would think of Chael differently if his crime had been more easily understood.
It was early this very year when Chael pled guilty to money laundering for mortgage fraud. As the wiki link notes, the maximum sentence for such a crime is 20 years in prison, and a carries with it a $500 thousand dollar fine. But because it's a white collar crime, which tends to be less well understood, the image of Sonnen isn't drawn as easily for the public as if he kicked down the doors of a Seven Eleven and pulled money out of a cash register. Yet the criminal principles are the same.
I'm not interested in moral protest here. Tangentially, I think the TRT issue, as with everything else on the topic of steroids, is overblown nonsense. It's not moral outrage I look for, so much as a reflection on our perceptions. Sonnen continues to be viewed as a symbol for what's proper about MMA when entertainment aligns with sport. About how to promote yourself the right way. Nate Wilcox asks the question, "can sport without spectacle sell?"
That depends on what kind of spectacle, just as it depends on to what degree of sport. Has Sonnen really promoted himself the right way? For some, that may seem a stupid question, but Sonnen is a convicted felon, who was probably worth more to the UFC as an active fighter than as man taking a year long layoff to deal with very serious legal issues (the kind of legal issues that can outright kill a career). The MMA Media seems to relish Sonnen's behavior in a way that suggests Sonnen's legal past is unimportant.
Or worse, that they simply don't understand that character is still worth something in sports because the viewers are not simply adults, but children who seem to understand moral virtue better than the adults. Do you think AT&T, Gillette, and Tag Heuer valued Tiger Woods the same because more people were talking about him because he told some escort he wanted to treat her "like a dirty whore"? I'm not condemning the MMA Media though. I just think they're unaccustomed to what happens to an athlete when their flaws are laid bare on a larger stage, and not even their own boss is interested in holding them accountable. How would Chael's crimes have been handled if the UFC were already on FOX, and that that was the time and place Sonnen used to display his corruption?
Sonnen flaunts his thinly veiled racism, half truths, and past transgressions. And worst of all, like the plutocrats Krugman speaks of, he's unapologetic. His official crime harkens back to the current architects of our collective woes. It's not the direct comparison I'm trying to make. It's the moral curtain these people hide behind: a curtain colored with theory, and virtue, but behind it sits a man smug in his assumption you're too dumb to smell his odor of moral decay.
But who cares because it's "Chael being Chael", and what a "brilliant promoter!". But sports history, real history, is ultimately written in the words of performance, not polemic. If Sonnen loses to Silva, what will people talk about five years from now? Frankie Edgar's unbelievable comeback in an already storied trilogy with Gray Maynard, or Sonnen's pro wrestling rhetoric, and lines about pygmy tribes?
Personally I'll take my Frankie Edgars, and Jose Aldos, and leave the entertainment to the professionals, like Armando Iannucci and Bill Hicks. The media wants you to think Chael Sonnen is a big green wizard from Oregan holding the keys to the UFC's Oz. But he's not. He's Frank Morgan with a criminal record. Unfortunately for humorless stiffs like me, he's Frank Morgan with brilliant prizefighting abilities too.
Poll
Who is Chael Sonnen?
Symbol of Spectacle
Charlatan of Spectacle
2 votes | Results
Posted in: people, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, spectacle
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendChael Sonnen on Anderson Silva Challenge: 'If I Couldn't Bite, I Wouldn't Growl'
In the wake of Chael Sonnen's UFC 136 dominance of Brian Stann, he continues to prove what a little bit of media savvy can do. Frankie Edgar may have won the main event in a spectacular comeback, but it's Sonnen getting most of the attention since the event. And, before anyone tries to blame the media for making it such, traffic after the event clearly showed where public interest was.
In an interview with StudioMMA, Sonnen talks about his bout with Brian Stann, if he was serious about the leave the division/leave the UFC challenge laid out to Anderson Silva, and what he would do after winning the title:
On if he was serious about the challenge and leaving the UFC if he loses to Silva:
If I couldn't bite, I wouldn't growl.
The previous line about Nogueira and other fighters trying to "feed a carrot to a bus":
That was sad. That really happened. That was sad. That wasn't even all that happened. THey didn't just try to feed the bus a carrot. One of the tried to hook a rope to it. They were going to take it home like, as a pet or something and put it in their back yard. That really got weird.
What Chael would do after winning the title:
...it could be a sweet and sour experience for me. I don't know. I know some other guys, some friends who went after olympic glory and they got their gold medal and they said it was one of the worst days of their life the next day. They said 'I don't know what to do, I spent my whole life trying to get this. I don't know what to do.' So maybe I need to start reworking my mind now preparing for that. But I've got tunnel vision. I'm after the belt, period. I'm not making any apologies or qualms about it.
And the rest of the cowards in the back that just want to get their face on TV but don't want to carry the heavy water? I got no time for those guys.
When asked if the "cowards" comment was directed at anyone specific:
All of 'em. Every damn one of 'em that isn't named Chael Sonnen is nothing but a coward.
...
When you're the greatest fighter in the world today they have a name for you. They don't call you a 'great fighter' they call you Chael Sonnen
SBN coverage of UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, i couldn
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowIf Silva-Sonnen II is booked for Super Bowl weekend, White expects no NSAC issues
UFC president Dana White believes the long-awaited rematch between UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is big enough to justify a stadium show.
But if it does happen as a traditional arena event in Las Vegas on Super Bowl weekend - and Sonnen made his spirited plea this past weekend - White expects few problems.
Despite Sonnen's extended clashes with a pair of state athletic commissions - including Nevada's - White sees no reason he shouldn't be licensed anywhere he wants.
Posted in: las vegas, weekend, sonnen, bowl weekend, arena event
Read the full article at MMA JunkieThe Forward Roll: UFC 136 Edition
Filed under: UFCJust in case UFC president Dana White had any doubts about what he would do next with the middleweight division -- and before UFC 136, he seemed a bit torn -- Chael Sonnen made his case with his actions and his mouth. Afterward, it seemed clear that White would grant Sonnen his wish for a rematch with division champion Anderson Silva.
According to White, it's a matchup that Silva wants, too, because, as he told MMA Fighting, Silva "hates him with a passion." The funny thing is, Silva should love Sonnen. He should send him thank you cards. And 20 years from now, he'll probably feel that way. Because regardless of his words, Sonnen has helped to raise Silva's profile and to define his career.
Years from now, when Silva is old and we have a stronger grasp of MMA history, the win over Sonnen will be seen as the defining one of his career. It was a victory that only a champion could have pulled out. Silva was fighting with a severe rib injury, and was trailing badly on the judges' scorecards -- 40-34 on one judge's card. The fifth round started much the same as the first four, with a Sonnen takedown. But Silva somehow willed one last gasp triangle that caught Sonnen and forced a tapout.
Of course, master fight promoter Sonnen barely waited to begin talk of a rematch. It was at the post-fight press conference that same night when he said, in Silva's presence, "Here's the truth: if the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I would fight him again right now."
If we've learned anything about White over time, it's that he loves a fighter who proactively campaigns for opportunities. Passion moves him. Whether you love or hate Sonnen, you can't deny his passion. And after his first performance against Silva, you can't deny he has a chance to win. That should mean big interest in the fight, and big business for the event, and even Anderson Silva should be able to appreciate that.
Frank Edgar
Edgar has spent the last two years of his life focused on two fighters: BJ Penn and Gray Maynard. He has to be thrilled about moving on. And he also has to be thrilled about finishing his toughest opponent after nearly 12 rounds of war, earning a decisive conclusion.
Edgar will take off the next two weeks or so, and he won't be back in the cage until early next year. Gilbert Melendez has been mentioned, but for now it seems like Melendez's status is up in the air. That makes it a toss-up as to whether Edgar will face him next, or a UFC lightweight.
Prediction: Edgar faces the winner of UFC on FOX 1's Ben Henderson vs. Clay Guida fight
Gray Maynard
Maynard seemed heartbroken after UFC 136, and you can't blame him. He came within a punch or two of winning the lightweight title in two different fights and couldn't close it out.
There is a silver lining though, as his competitive performances have shown that he is clearly capable of giving the world's best a run for their money. And after having been tied up with Edgar so long, there are plenty of fresh matchups out there for him.
Prediction: He faces the loser of UFC on FOX 1's Henderson vs. Guida fight
Jose Aldo
Aldo received some criticism for his win over Kenny Florian from those who believed he was too conservative with his offense. But with the way Florian was attacking him, Aldo did the right thing. Florian was looking to take away Aldo's explosiveness by either taking him down or grinding him against the cage. By FightMetric's count, Florian tried 19 takedowns (and only completed one).
Even if you didn't watch the fight, from those number you can surmise that Florian didn't give Aldo much room to operate. Aldo had to worry about defense for good reason, and he did a great job with it. It may not be any easier in his next fight.
Prediction: He faces unbeaten Chad Mendes in early 2012.
Kenny Florian
At least in the immediate aftermath of UFC 136, Florian looked like a man who was done with fighting. Verbally, he wouldn't commit to either continuing or retirement, and rightfully, Florian should take time to consider all his options. At 35 years old, Florian is still a very good fighter, and he could certainly continue on and seek out intriguing matchups if he so chose. But Florian has always said his goal was a UFC championship belt, and now it appears that will never happen. That leads me to wonder if he will have the proper motivation to go through the grind of training camps. Hopefully he makes a decision he can embrace wholeheartedly.
Prediction: Florian retires and continues his strong work in broadcasting
Chael Sonnen
Sonnen's performance Saturday night was nothing short of systematic destruction. Sonnen finished off Stann with the arm triangle choke and got up off the canvas with a stoic, focused look on his face. It seemed like there was something on his mind other than Stann, and we quickly found out what it was. Bring on the rematch.
Prediction: Silva-Sonnen II
Brian Stann
Stann is a strong, powerful dude, but he had no prayer of stopping Sonnen's takedowns. He'll always be a tough matchup for strikers, but wrestlers are always going to try to follow the blueprint laid by Sonnen and Phil Davis. Fortunately for Stann, there aren't an overwhelming number of wrestlers. Anyway, it's time to retool and reload for Stann.
Prediction: Stann might have a bit of a wait until his next fight. I'm thinking he could face Mark Munoz if Munoz should lose to Chris Leben next month, or if not, Stann gets someone like a returning Alessio Sakara.
Joe Lauzon
Lauzon has some of the best finishing instincts in the UFC, fearless in his attempts to close out a fight. His win over Melvin Guillard was a shocker, entering the fight as a massive underdog. Despite the big win, Lauzon's only 3-2 in his last five, so it's hard to figure exactly where he fits in the lightweight hierarchy.
Prediction: TJ Grant looked very good in his lightweight debut. Sounds like a good matchup.
Anthony Pettis
When the UFC announced Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens, no one was expecting a slow grind of a fight. And while it wasn't Pettis' best performance, he proved he could go in there against a rugged, powerful striker and win. Ultimately, Pettis isn't going to win a title with his wrestling, so I don't expect him to employ the same kind of game plan against anyone. Let's get him back in there against another striker.
Prediction: Pettis faces Sam Stout
Stipe Miocic
You may or may not have seen the debut of Miocic, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound heavyweight who outlasted the always tough Joey Beltran during the prelims. Miocic looked good but not great against a guy who is among the UFC's most durable heavyweights. But even though he has plenty of work to do, it was a positive first step.
Prediction: He faces Mark Hunt Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, florian, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC Quick Quote: The greatest fighters in the world are named Chael Sonnen
"I got tunnel vision. I'm after the belt. Period. I'm not making any apologies or qualms about it. And the rest of the cowards in the back that just want to get their faces on TV and don't want to carry any heavy water, I've got no time for those guys. All of them. Every damn one of them that isn't named Chael Sonnen is nothing but a coward…. When you're the greatest fighter in the world the day they've got a name for you. They don't call you a great fighter, they call you Chael Sonnen."
-- Chael Sonnen, the self-proclaimed true champion, linear champion, peoples champion and best damn middleweight there has ever been, informs the mixed martial arts (MMA) community about a distinguished honor to which the best fighters in the world can now aspire. Forget "pound-for-pound" and "all-time great" discussions and replace them with Chael Sonnen because, well, that's apparently the new gold standard. One that nemesis Anderson Silva -- widely regarded as the best in the business and the best there has ever been -- will likely like to avoid like the plague. Sonnen, fresh off a big win, his first in more than one year, over Brian Stann at UFC 136 this past weekend, immediately executed the full court trash talk press on "The Spider," who was sitting ringside at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. And it doesn't appear that he intends to let up anytime soon. Not until he gets his rematch, at least, which he unofficially scheduled for Super Bowl weekend in early 2012. Will Sonnen emerge as the best Chael Sonnen in the middleweight division or will Silva maintain his Chael Sonnen status when the enemies finally collide?
Posted in: fighter, champion, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaSonnen can apply for Nevada license from December 1st
Chael Sonnen has asked for a rematch with Anderson Silva to take place on Superbowl Weekend 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight looks likely to be made,...
Posted in: anderson silva, las vegas, chael sonnen, sonnen, nevada license
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyEd Soares thinks Chael Sonnen should be in Jail
Chael Sonnen inspired me to Google Earth West Linn, Oregon today, and I accomplished absolutely nothing by doing so. One day, I intend on driving cross country in a 1983 Cadillac Eldorado and stop in Portland to try a Maple Bacon Bar at VooDoo Doughnut. At no point on that expedition will I find myself curious to see where Chael Sonnen is from. Even if I found myself in a position where I blow a head-gasket, and all the spare parts I need are in West Linn, I would probably just sell the car for scrap metal and finish my trip to the West Coast by scooter.
I would, however, be curious to see Chael Sonnen in a rematch with Anderson Silva – just like every other humanoid on this side of the planet. You might even be able to stretch that demographic to multiple time-zones on the opposite end of the planet; places where they’ve never heard of Voodoo Doughnut, voodoo, or even doughnuts. While we eagerly wait for UFC to make it official, Ed Soares doesn’t share the same enthusiasm about Chael’s UFC 136 post-fight speech or any hope of Anderson competing in a “Loser-leave-town” match. Here’s what he had to say about the gangster from Oregon in a recent interview:
“First the guy gets in trouble for fraud, then he tests positive for steroids, and now he wants to kick in someone’s door and slap their wife in the ass? This guy should be in jail; he shouldn’t be fighting. Chael is not the person that’s going to determine when [Silva] is going to take the fight. When he’s going to take this fight is when his shoulder is completely healed up, and he’s ready to start his training camp for the fight. It’s not because Chael says he wants to fight in February. Who is Chael to determine that? Chael needs to take a number and wait his turn,” Soares told MMAJunkie today. “He got his opportunity, and he tapped. It’s not the first time he’s tapped, and I guarantee you it won’t be the last.”
While Sonnen fans will be quick to accuse Anderson Silva’s manager of being a hater, they can get giddy knowing this will all but guarantee months of verbal warfare from Oregon’s toughest republican until the rematch contract is signed. You can dislike Chael, but you can’t deny his #1 contender status for the middleweight title. You also can’t deny you want a tall glass of milk and a Maple Bacon Bar from VooDoo Doughnut. [Source]
Posted in: ’t, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, voodoo doughnut
Read the full article at Middle EasyAnderson Silva’s Manager Fires Back at Chael Sonnen, Says He Should Be In Jail
So Anderson Silva was apparently pretty pissed off about that whole patting his wife on the ass comment that Chael Sonnen made last week. Between the mortgage fraud, the “steroids” and the comments, Silva’s manager Ed Soares tells MMA Junkie that Sonnen should be locked in a different kind of cage.
“First the guy gets in trouble for fraud, then he tests positive for steroids, and now he wants to kick in someone’s door and slap their wife in the ass? This guy should be in jail; he shouldn’t be fighting… Hyping up the fight is one thing, but I think you cross the line when you start talking about people’s family.”
Still, despite Sonnen’s best attempts to coax the middleweight champ into a rematch, the Silva camp isn’t exactly jumping at the opportunity. They’re more focused on Silva’s injured shoulder instead.
“Chael is not the person that’s going to determine when [Silva] is going to take the fight,” Soares said. “When he’s going to take this fight is when his shoulder is completely healed up, and he’s ready to start his training camp for the fight.
“It’s not because Chael says he wants to fight in February. Who is Chael to determine that? Chael needs to take a number and wait his turn. He got his opportunity, and he tapped. It’s not the first time he’s tapped, and I guarantee you it won’t be the last.”
“Would it be a big fight? It would be a huge fight, but right know, it’s not so much who he’s going to fight and when,” Soares said of a potential rematch. “It’s making sure Anderson gets back to 100 percent before he gets in there.”
Regardless of how they choose to play it in the media, money talks at the end of the day and this is a big money fight. There’s no way they would duck Sonnen unless they really don’t think Anderson would beat him again.
It may not happen on Super Bowl weekend, but it would be pretty shocking (and disappointing) if it didn’t happen at all.
Image via CombatLifestyle.com
Posted in: fight, silva, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA ConvertChael Sonnen is known for "putting asses in the seats." Frankie Edgar is known for delivering...
Chael Sonnen is known for "putting asses in the seats." Frankie Edgar is known for delivering exciting fights. Does the fan reaction to Sonnen's pro-wrestling-inspired schtick, compared to the rather ho-hum reception for Edgar, prove that spectacle has triumphed over sport? Or is it a simple matter of yin and yang? Find out here.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, frankie edgar, fan reaction, pro-wrestling-inspired schtick
Read the full article at MMA ManiaAnderson Silva upset with antics of Chael Sonnen
In a sport like Mixed Martial Arts, competitive desire and confidence often collide with the need to market match-ups and as a result the combination creates some level of trash-talking between opponents while building up to an eventual bout. While taking verbal jabs at an adversary may be a common occurrence, UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen has taken the art form to another level with his WWE-style promos and plain-as-day insults directed towards 185-pound champion Anderson Silva.
However, things have apparently escalated to an uncomfortable point beyond the simple selling of a scrap.
Earlier today Silva’s manager, Ed Soares, spoke to MMAJunkie where he referred to recent comments made by Sonnen taking aim at the Brazilian’s family and made it clear things have now become personal.
“(Anderson) definitely doesn’t respect him for the things that he’s saying,” Soares explained. “Hyping up the fight is one thing, but I think you cross the line when you start talking about people’s family.”
The statement in question came last week on The MMA Show where he joked about kicking Silva’s door down, “patting his little lady on the ass”, and telling her to make him a steak.
“First the guy gets in trouble for fraud, then he tests positive for steroids, and now he wants to kick in someone’s door and slap their wife in the ass,” Soares asked about Sonnen’s behavior before firing back, “This guy should be in jail; he shouldn’t be fighting.”
Soares also explained he was unsure if Silva would be ready by Super Bowl Weekend – a date requested by Sonnen – and was still in the process of recovering from a shoulder injury.
“Chael is not the person that’s going to determine when (Anderson) is going to take the fight. When he’s going to take this fight is when his shoulder is completely healed up, and he’s ready to start his training camp for the fight. It’s not because Chael says he wants to fight in February. Who is Chael to determine that? Chael needs to take a number and wait his turn. He got his opportunity, and he tapped. It’s not the first time he’s tapped, and I guarantee you it won’t be the last.”
With tension this high four months out from February and the rumored rumble clearly Sonnen vs. Silva II will one of the biggest bouts of 2012 if not the last few years as a whole.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: fight, silva, thing, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainSilva's camp: Sonnen crossed a line, not in position to determine champ's return date
Chael Sonnen is funny, sure. But he's crossed the line, manager Ed Soares today told MMAjunkie.com.
"First the guy gets in trouble for fraud, then he tests positive for steroids, and now he wants to kick in someone's door and slap their wife in the ass? This guy should be in jail; he shouldn't be fighting," the Anderson Silva rep said.
Sonnen called out the middleweight champ following his victory over Brian Stann at this past weekend's UFC 136 event. But the fighter's comments a week prior set things off, Soares said.
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, middleweight champ, return date
Read the full article at MMA JunkieDemian Maia discusses warming up alongside Chael Sonnen at UFC 136
Demian Maia knows just how dangerous both Chael Sonnen and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva are inside the Octagon, as the submission specialist owns a victory over Sonnen and a loss against Silva.
This past weekend at UFC 136, the submission savvy Brazilian even shared a locker room area with Sonnen. Maia defeated Jorge Santiago, while Sonnen stopped Brian Stann. After his win over Stann, Sonnen called out Silva for a rematch, something even Maia is interested in as he works his way back to being a top contender at 185 pounds.
Some may wonder how a fighter like Maia can handle preparing for a fight in the same area as Sonnen, but, according to Maia himself, it didn’t have any affect on him.
“I met him many times before, and it wasn’t any different, he was respectful,” said Maia, in an interview with Tatame. “I have no troubles with him. Each one of us was warming up, with our minds on our bouts.”
Maia had Santiago in full control, taking a decision on all three scorecards to get back on track after a loss to Mark Munoz in June at UFC 131. Maia is now 3-1 in his last four fights since falling to Silva by decision. He also holds a 2009 win over Sonnen where he submitted him midway through the bout’s opening round using a Triangle Choke.
Sonnen-Silva II has not been scheduled, but most feel like it is only a matter of time before the UFC books it for a card in 2012. Silva is currently rehabbing a shoulder injury, and Sonnen isn’t licensed to fight in Nevada, so those are two obstacles needing clearance before the bout can be signed.
“I guess Anderson would be harder to submit on the ground than Stann, because Anderson trains with experts, but Chael doesn’t depend on the submission – he can work on the ground and pound,” said Maia, of a potential rematch. “He’ll be training his takedown defense so he doesn’t get in trouble like it happened to him before.”
As for his own future, Maia says he will take some time off before stepping back inside the Octagon.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, maia
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainTWIQ: MMA Quotes for the Week of October 2 - 8
THE WEEK IN CHAEL
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck." - Chael Sonnen, talking to Joe Rogan after submitting Brian Stann at UFC 136. (UFC 136 telecast)
"Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business, I'm calling you out Silva, but we're upping the stakes." - Sonnen, before brandishing a brand new middleweight WAMMA belt.
"I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever." - Sonnen. I love that there are people questioning whether Sonnen would really leave the UFC. Have you never watched pro wrestling? Loser-leaves-town stipulations NEVER stick.
"I do not like Anderson Silva. But I do not wish anything bad in life for him. I want to beat him, I want to do everything I can to him in the ring but I hope he has a great life." - Sonnen
NOTE: THE WEEK IN QUOTES IS SATIRE. MY TRIP TO LAS VEGAS IS NOT. ENJOY BLOODY BROOKHOUSE THIS WEEK.
NEVERENDING STORY
"It’s hard to say that it exists (a punishment by the UFC). Maybe so, maybe not, perhaps they’re keeping me on the sidelines, but I don’t believe that." - Lyoto Machida, on whether the UFC is holding out on him after asking for "Anderson Silva money." Meanwhile, back in Albuquerque... (Bloody Elbow)
"So in reality, he's kind of the one who's ducking the fight. I feel like he's ducking the fight." - Jon Jones. After tentative plans to fight Rashad Evans at UFC 140, Jones will instead fight the aforementioned Machida. (MMA Fighting)
"[Twenty-four] hours ago, my physician removed the pins. At that time, I learned that it would require another three weeks of rehabilitation before engaging in any exercise or training that would require the use of my hand." - Evans, who injured his hand in his victory over Tito Ortiz at UFC 133. (MMA Torch)
"We play a similar game. He kicks, I kick, he punches and goes to the ground, I can defend myself and take him down too." - Machida (Tatame)
WHITE NOISE
"He's actually quite pleasant on the phone. I can have a conversation with him forever on the phone now." - UFC President Dana White, on Brock Lesnar. The two anxiously await All My Children's move to the Online Network.(MMA Junkie)
"I always thought he was the biggest waste of talent and he really turned that around and I’m happy to see it." - White, on his cousin's Walt's friend, Jesse Pinkman. (5thRound.com)
"Nothing sucks worse than a draw, I hate it." - White (MMA Torch)
"I have to run my business so if I have to yank him over here then I'll do it." - White (MMA Nation)
"He's like the Arturo Gatti of MMA." - White, on Frankie Edgar. Do all the Arturo Gatti's of MMA receive power rings too? (MMA Mania)
"He's the number two pound-for-pound fighter in the world, period." - White, again on Frankie Edgar. Six straight title defenses just don't mean what they used to.
"I'm going to continue making moves that are stupid and will never work." - White (Houston Chronicle)
PARTING SHOTS
"I stay out of their beef, and I keep myself neutral to everything." - Melvin Guillard, a one-man Hamsterdam. (Sherdog)
"A lot of it is really there to put a pace on you, put pressure on you and really distract you from what is coming, which is a world-class double-leg takedown that nobody seems to be able to stop." - Brian Stann, on Chael Sonnen. (USA Today)
"If I go out and lay a turd..." - Joey Beltran, on his stool. (Heavy.com)
"I do really good on improv." - Jon Jones. Yes, and?
Posted in: ufc, mma, ." , week, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 Results: How Chael Sonnen Can Dominate Anderson Silva in Rematch
What fun is the aftermath of a UFC if you can't make some crazy proclamations. After a lead up to UFC 136 that saw people claim that Chael Sonnen was "done" following his suspension, Sonnen ran through Brian Stann as though Stann were a rank amateur. He called out Anderson Silva for a rematch in the aftermath in typical over the top Sonnen style and immediately the debate began. After winning almost every moment of the first bout before being caught in a submission before the final bell, could Sonnen pull off the victory in the rematch?
Not only can he, but I'm willing to say he will.
Too many people write off what Sonnen did with his takedowns and striking on the feet because Silva had injured ribs. But Sonnen has taken down better wrestlers than Silva with ease in the past and I have a feeling he'll do it again in the rematch.
Sonnen also takes punches very well so he should be able to eat a shot if he needs to in able to close distance and establish the clinch. One area where Sonnen does not get enough credit is his dominance in the clinch. He is one of the best workers from the clinch since Randy Couture popularized the position as a place to work strikes to takedowns. Brian Stann is not a small middleweight and Sonnen muscled him around when they locked up. It's an area where he will be able to control Silva in the rematch. It isn't like how Okami was ineffective in getting the fight to the ground against the cage, Sonnen is simply better in the position.
Finally, it's all about learning from his mistakes. Sonnen has legitimately good grappling on the ground, but he gets aggressive with his striking and makes positional mistakes from inside the guard. He's very good at passing the guard and he did a fine job in the first fight of working at least to half guard and doing damage from there. In the fifth round he hung out in Silva's guard and wasn't aware enough and got caught.
I expect more of the Chael we see when he's on his game in the rematch. Bullying his way inside, getting takedowns from the clinch and working Silva over from top position while passing at least to half guard to limit Silva's attacks off his back.
Silva is an amazing and rare talent. He's a rare talent that has dominated the competition in violent fashion. But every fighter has someone who is a stylistic problem for him, and Sonnen just represents that for Anderson. Yes, Silva found a way to get a great finish in the first fight, I just don't see him doing it again in the second.
Posted in: silva, guard, rematch, sonnen, half guard
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen does not wish anything bad in life for Anderson Silva
Chael Sonnen does not like Anderson Silva, but he still wants "The Spider" to have a great life.
Huh?
The trash-talking middleweight, who dominated fellow contender Brian Stann at UFC 136 last Saturday night (Oct. 8) in Houston, Texas, called out the Brazilian straphanger because he wants to beat him.
Nothing more, nothing less. Or so he tells Dan Mathews at CBS Houston:
"You know sometimes as athletes we get so close to the trees we can't see the forest.You get so wrapped up in it you forget, no, wait a minute, this is a sport. We're gonna compete and we're gonna shake hands. I do not like Anderson Silva. But I do not wish anything bad in life for him. I want to beat him, I want to do everything I can to him in the ring but I hope he has a great life. I don't have something against him on a level like that."
Hear more from Sonnen on his win over Stann and his planned rematch against Silva, after the jump.
Anyone buying Sonnen's "nothing personal, just business" shtick?
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, life, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White Says if NSAC Licenses Floyd Mayweather, They Should License Chael Sonnen
It's possible that the biggest fight the UFC can put on right now (that doesn't involve weight class jumping) doesn't involve Brock Lesnar or Georges St. Pierre. It just might be the rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. After Sonnen demolished Brian Stann at UFC 136 he got on the mic to announce that Anderson Silva "absolutely sucks" and challenged the long time middleweight champ to a WWE style stipulation match on Super Bowl weekend.
Of course, Chael's status in Nevada may present a little bit of a snag when it comes to making that fight. The Super Bowl weekend card is always held in Vegas to capitalize on the high rollers that flock to the city and they're not likely to change that any time soon.
But should Chael's prior suspension for elevated testosterone levels stand in the way of him getting a new license to compete in the state?
Dana White doesn't think so, and he's bringing a boxing superstar's name into the mix. Via MMA Weekly (ht: MMA Mania):
Chael Sonnen has paid his dues (and) has done his thing, has done whatever. Floyd Mayweather fights in Nevada. This guy's been arrested. He's got 50 lawyers defending him right now and all that crazy stuff and he's fighting in Nevada. Don't even get me going on that one. There's no reason why they shouldn't license Chael. It shouldn't even cross my mind. The thought of whether Chael could get licensed in Nevada or California or anywhere else should be the least of my worries. The guy did everything that he was told to do. When guys like Floyd are getting licensed in Nevada, why should I have to worry about Chael?
A few things here. First off, Floyd's outside the ring actions and Chael's actions which directly related to the fight are apples and oranges.
A more appropriate comparison would be to bring up that Antonio Margarito is going to be fighting in Madison Square Garden in New York City in a matter of weeks and his offense was more dangerous and all around worse than anything Chael did. And I fully believe given the way the state handled the Margarito situation that he should be getting licensed at this point, but that's a discussion for another day.
In the end Dana is right that Sonnen did his time and the point of a suspension is a set amount of time as a punishment. Any state failing to license Chael at this point is grandstanding and nothing more.
Posted in: anderson silva, sonnen, chael, nevada, license chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 Results Recap: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
In a much anticipated Middleweight fight at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, Chael Sonnen defeated Brian Stann via arm triangle choke in the second round. Sonnen dominated the fight from the opening bell, using superior wrestling to take Stann down and absolutely control him on the mat. This was MMA grappling at its finest, and another very impressive outing from Sonnen. The win here marks Sonnen's first fight back after a year out of action following his loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117. For Stann, this was the toughest fight of his young career, and ended his perfect 3-0 run at Middleweight.
Heading into the fight, the normally antagonistic Sonnen was uncharacteristically quiet, stating that he respected Stann for his military service and would not trash talk him. But as soon as the fight ended, the trash talking Sonnen reappeared. In his post-fight interview, Sonnen challenged Anderson Silva to a rematch at the Super Bowl weekend show in 2012. Sonnen also vowed to raise the stakes, challenging Silva to leave the Middleweight division forever should Sonnen win, and promising to leave the UFC himself if he loses.
What was the high spot of this fight?
Sonnen's entire performance was great, and I could point to his grappling or submission finish, but let's be honest here - it was the post-fight challenge.
Where do these guys go from here?
Dana White would be insane to not book Silva vs. Sonnen 2 at this point. I just can't fathom any reason not to go for it.
Stann showed that he's not quite at these upper levels of Middleweight just yet. But he's also someone with value to the UFC. I think they'll want to rebuild him with a somewhat high profile striker he can slug it out with. Vitor Belfort or Yoshihiro Akiyama would both make fine choices.
Watch it now, later, or never?
Now. I've been skeptical of Sonnen at times, but this was one of the most dominant uses of wrestling in an MMA setting we have seen. The submission was beautiful, and whatever you may think of his pro wrestling antics, he's got everyone talking.
More BE coverage of UFC 136 in the full entry.
UFC 136 Results: Post-Hangover Thoughts and Reactions - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Embodies Rocky's Message in Win Over Gray Maynard - Leland Roling
UFC 136 Results: Aldo vs. Florian, Phan vs. Garcia FightMetric Reports - Mike Fagan
UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II Will Produce Massive Interest Despite Skepticism - Leland Roling
UFC 136 Results: Dana White Says Frankie Edgar Is Top 2 Pound-for-Pound, Wants Him to Face Jose Aldo - Anton Tabuena
UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard Post-Fight Recap and Analysis - Mike Fagan
UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian Fight Video Highlights
UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard 3 Fight Video Highlights
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 88: UFC 136 Results Review
UFC 136 Results: Frankie Edgar Stops Gray Maynard In Four - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for PPV Fights - Brent Brrokhouse
UFC 136 Results: Jose Aldo Decisions Kenny Florian - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Challenges Anderson Silva After Dominating Brian Stann - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Results: Nam Phan Wins Decision Over Leonard Garcia - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Results: Joe Lauzon Makes Quick Work of Melvin Guillard - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play For Spike TV Fights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Results: Demian Maia Decisions Jorge Santiago - Leland Roling
UFC 136 Results: Anthony Pettis Narrowly Edges Jeremy Stephens - Leland Roling
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Results and Play-by-Play for Facebook Fights - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Results: Stipe Miocic Makes Successful Debut, Edges Joey Beltran - Leland Roling
UFC 136 Results: Darren Elkins Out Grapples Tiequan Zhang, Wins Decision - Leland Roling
UFC 136 Results: Aaron Simpson Dominates Eric Schafer - Leland Roling
UFC 136 Results: Mike Massenzio Batters Steve Cantwell, Takes Unanimous Decision - Leland Roling
Posted in: ufc, fight, result, vs, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 results: Chael Sonnen has ensured his Anderson Silva rematch will sell huge
The date is set, the stakes have been announced.
In what is sure to be the most anticipated rematch in the history of the UFC, Chael Sonnen challenged middleweight champion Anderson Silva to a bout on the pay-per-view (PPV) card the promotion historically holds the day before the Super Bowl.
And he did so in the most flamboyant way possible. In a move that would have made Vince McMahon stand and applaud -- or sit and stew quietly in a jealous rage -- Sonnen laid out the ultimatum to his Brazilian foe.
If "The Spider" loses, he will leave the 185-pound division. If Sonnen loses, the Team Quest member will quit the UFC. The battle lines have been drawn, Maniacs.
Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard should be glad they had another amazing fight otherwise all the post-event chatter would have been about the gangster from Oregon and his quest to claim what he claims is rightfully his. Sonnen will tell anyone who will listen that despite not getting his hand raised in Oakland last year, he beat Silva for nearly 25 minutes and became the champion. He's the "people's champion, the lineal champion, and the best damn middleweight."
The pro wrestling schtick rubs some mixed martial arts (MMA) fans the wrong way. They think that particular brand of theatrics has no place in a real sport and only serves to sully its reputation. And then there are some who love it. They appreciate Sonnen's showmanship and status as a quote machine with a pulse.
But whichever side of the fence you end up on when it comes to Chael Sonnen, one thing cannot be denied: the man knows how to sell a fight.
And thanks to him, Silva/Sonnen II will do at least one million buys.
After Floyd Mayweather won his latest bout after what some -- including this writer -- called a sucker punch, hatred for the boxing great reached a fever pitch. It was then -- more than ever -- that the casual fan wanted to see Mayweather get his comeuppance at the hands of Manny Pacquiao.
If that fight is ever made, it would make ludicrous amounts of money. If there's a record for something -- be it attendance, gate, or even amount of nachos sold inside the venue -- it would be broken at a Mayweather/Pacquiao bout. The fight is that anticipated.
It's simply because fans have an emotional investment in the fight. Mayweather seems to be everything that we hate. Yes, he is one of the best but he also knows it and acts accordingly. Why hatred stems from that is unclear but it's the same psychological trick that professional wrestling has been exploiting for years. Watching Sonnen operate, it seems that he might be the only MMA fighter to have figured it out.
You can groan and roll your eyes as images of Ric Flair and Roddy Piper enter your mind but Sonnen is mixing drama and sport perfectly. The Team Quest wrestler is 4-1 in his last five fights with that lone loss being to the champ. He is head and shoulders the number one contender to Silva's title above any other middleweight under the UFC's employ.
The sport side of the issue is fulfilled, there's no arguing that. You would be hard pressed to make a convincing argument that anyone was more deserving than Sonnen to take on "The Spider." His domination of Brian Stann -- who was undefeated at 185-pounds and also in line for a title shot should he have won -- and subsequent finish was a definitive statement.
This isn't Brock Lesnar getting a title shot with a 1-1 UFC record simply based on his name. While Lesnar ended up making good on the opportunity by going on to defeat Randy Couture, Frank Mir, and Shane Carwin, the justification for putting him in a championship bout was a farce.
But Sonnen sets himself apart from every other fighter in the business with his ability to add a sense of drama behind what would otherwise seem logical and well, a bit bland. A fight like Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos is anticipated simply because it's two of the best stepping inside the Octagon.
Beyond that, there aren't any angles to sell the PPV. In the same way, Silva and Sonnen are also two of the best but the drama that Sonnen has added makes the fight a can't-miss.
Sonnen may fail when he takes on "The Spider" for the second time. Like the first fight, he may fall victim to another submission thrown out by the Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt. He has admitted as much. Where he doesn't fail, where he doesn't falter is in getting people to watch it.
In that regard, Sonnen is the pound-for-pound king.
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA Mania
Sonnen Submits Stann, Rematch with Silva Likely
UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen submitted Brian Stann and likely cemented a rematch with champion Anderson Silva sometime in the near future.
UFC President Dana White didn’t necessarily confirm Silva-Sonnen II, but did say a rematch is “more than likely” in late 2011-early 2012. In their fist fight, Sonnen controlled Silva before being caught in a triangle choke that eventually forced the Oregon-based fighter to tap.
Silva is reportedly angry — and tired — of hearing Sonnen talk so much, which is likely very bad for the contender. Instead of throwing the champion off his game, I expect Silva to be focused and prepared to try and punish Sonnen as much as possible.
The Brazilian champion has dominated opponents inside the octagon, and it’s true that Sonnen remains the only fighter that seemingly put Silva in trouble. Whenever the rematch is made, expect Sonnen to talk — and Silva will patiently wait before looking to make Sonnen pay for his words.
Posted in: silva, rematch, sonnen, silva-sonnen ii, fist fight
Read the full article at MMA OpinionDana White says UFC show at Cowboys Stadium is only a matter of time
Fresh off a successful event in the Lone Star State, Dana White is already looking ahead to the organization’s return to Texas. Though no date or venue was mentioned specifically, one likely option appears to be the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.
Seating more than 100,000 people and featuring the world’s largest HD screen, Cowboys Stadium has been mentioned as a possible destination for the UFC in the past and, at least according to White, it appears there’s more substance than speculation relating to the reality of an event taking place in “Jerry World”.
“We’ve been talking to Jerry Jones for a while about doing a fight there,” explained the UFC President at a press conference after UFC 136. “It’s just got to be the right fight. We’re definitely going there. It’s just a matter of when.”
As far as what the “right fight” would be, White didn’t elaborate with specifics but did mention a rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen might be a possibility, saying, “I think we could do a big, big venue for that one.”
Sonnen Back on the Offensive Against Silva
The first encounter between Sonnen and Silva lived up to the high level of hype surrounding it with “The Spider” submitting his outspoken opponent in the final few minutes of the fifth round in a fight Sonnen was clearly winning beforehand. Sonnen rekindled their rivalry Saturday night after beating Brian Stann in Houston, challenging Silva to a second scrap on Super Bowl Weekend with a willingness to put his own career on the line as part of the stakes.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, cowboys stadium
Read the full article at Fighters.comDana White: If Nevada will license Floyd Mayweather, they should license Chael Sonnen
Everything seemed to be setting up a little too nicely.
First, Chael Sonnen runs through Brian Stann last night (Oct. 8) at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, submitting him in the second round in the most dominant performance of his Octagon career after 14 months away from fighting.
Fittingly enough, Anderson Silva is in the building thanks to the Fan Expo that was also in town for the event.
Then, Sonnen lays down a challenge in his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. He tells Silva how he "absolutely sucks," which the crowd explodes for, while the camera pans to "The Spider," who does not look amused.
Uncle Chael goes on to say he wants Silva on Super Bowl weekend in a veritable "loser leaves town" fight. The live audience eats it up, the Internet damn near explodes and UFC President Dana White can't help but feel the influence.
He later claims he would be "stupid" not to set up the fight. But if he wants to do so during the promotion's annual Super Bowl weekend card, it would have to be in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Sonnen has yet to kiss and make up with Keith Kizer, the Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC).
Which means it's all too possible Sonnen would struggle to get licensed for the fight. And how does White have to say about this (via aaMMA Weekly)?
"Chael Sonnen has paid his dues (and) has done his thing, has done whatever. Floyd Mayweather fights in Nevada. This guy's been arrested. He's got 50 lawyers defending him right now and all that crazy stuff and he's fighting in Nevada. Don't even get me going on that one. There's no reason why they shouldn't license Chael. It shouldn't even cross my mind. The thought of whether Chael could get licensed in Nevada or California or anywhere else should be the least of my worries. The guy did everything that he was told to do. When guys like Floyd are getting licensed in Nevada, why should I have to worry about Chael?"
Sonnen's initially landed in hot water with the Nevada Commission after telling tall tales during his steroids appeal in front of the California State Athletic Commission last year.
Naturally, this caused quite the stir with Kizer.
He was scheduled to meet with the Commission a number of times in an attempt to get back in their good graces but that never came to be.
The situation is at a standstill as we speak, and it would seem that if there is a fight between Silva and Sonnen over the Super Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, it won't come before a fight in front of the NSAC.
Then again, as White alluded to, controversial boxer Floyd Mayweather has gotten licensed while battling through a list of legal woes that runs a mile long. Maybe it won't be a problem.
Wishful thinking or actual possibility?
Posted in: fight, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, nevada
Read the full article at MMA ManiaDana White says 'he would be stupid' if he didn't make Sonnen vs. Silva II
You may be getting ready for Sunday Night Football tonight, but let's forget the performance we witnessed at UFC 136. Seriously, whatever tasks you engage in today, you must not forget the level of gangsterism that Chael Sonnen displayed in his fight against Brian Stann, a very tough Brian Stann. In his last three fights prior to UFC 136, Stann finished everyone and even grabbed 'Fight of the Night' honors in two of the bouts. Sonnen nullified Stann's gameplan and one could easily assume that Chael is next in line for a shot against Silva. At least, that's what Chael wants us to believe.
Sergio Non of USA Today conducted an interview with Dana White and it appears that White is fully aware of the pressure exerted from the entire MMA world to put together a rematch of Sonnen vs. Silva.
What was going through your mind when Chael Sonnen went on a spiel (about Anderson Silva)?
"That's very Chael. Those guys really don't like each other. Anderson, I don't know if any of you saw his face when (Chael) won, but he wasn't doing the whole joking around thing. He (Silva) was (ticked) and he's really upset about the whole smacking his wife on the butt thing and cook him dinner. He's really upset about it. He's really (ticked) about it."
So you're making that fight then?
"Probably, yeah. More than likely. I don't like to commit to anything the night of the fight, you know what I mean? But yeah, I'd be pretty (freaking) stupid if I don't make that fight."
Today I found out that in 2011, West Linn, Oregon was on CNN's list of The 100 Best Places to Live in America. By definition does that mean Chael Sonnen is one of the best gangsters in America? Chael seems to think so. [Source]
Posted in: fight, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 136: Payout Perspective
Welcome to another edition of Payout Perspective. This time we come to you from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas where fans saw one of the best cards of this year.
Edgar bullies Maynard
The first round of Edgar Maynard III looked a lot like Edgar Maynard II. Instead, Maynard remained composed throughout the rest of the round. However, Maynard seemed too lax in the second and Edgar got to Maynard in the fourth.
Maynard looked stunned after the match. Not sure who looked more crestfallen: Maynard or Kenny Florian.
Aldo outlasts Florian
Jose Aldo controlled the match and defeated a game Kenny Florian. When the final round ended, Florian had a look of a defeated fighter and someone that knew his career (at least trying to win UFC gold) was over.
Sonnen outclasses Stann
Chael Sonnen returned to the Octagon to beat Brian Stann. This was a definite step up in competition for Stann and it showed. Sonnen had his way with Stann and used the arm triangle to choke him out.
But what was more interesting than the fight was the post-fight interview. Short, brief and concise. Sonnen challenged Anderson Silva (who was in attendance and sitting next to Charles Barkley) to a loser leaves match (Silva leaves division or Sonnen leaves the UFC). A textbook pro wrestling promo: 1) Insult opponent, 2) challenge said opponent to a fight, 3) state when the fight is happening, 4) state stipulations and 5) leave.
Silva thought the promo was hilarious and the UFC attempted to diffuse the situation by panning the camera to Barkley.
Phan outlasts Garcia – Third fight upcoming?
In the fight of the night, Nam Phan defeated Leonard Garcia in another entertaining slugfest. How is it that Leonard Garcia got more post-fight interview time than Nam Phan? It seems like the UFC is trying to package these guys together. Initially, Phan said in the post-fight interview he didn’t want another fight with Garcia but seemed more receptive later. I think Phan is thinking about moving up and on but the UFC may sign them up for another fight.
Garcia will never be cut by the UFC although he really must try something different. All of his fights look like he’s swinging like a guy in a bar at last call. He’ll be in the same category as Pat Barry and Dan Hardy. Entertaining fighters but not successful.
Attendance and Gate:
MMA Fighting’s Mike Chiappetta reported attendance of 16,164 for a gate of $2.3 million. According to the Toyota Center web site, the arena houses 18,300 for basketball and 19,000 for concerts. Not sure The attendance figure is better than the UFC’s last event at the arena, UFC 69. However, 69 produced a bigger gate: $2.8 million.
Bonuses
MMA Junkie reports that the bonuses for UFC 136 were $75,000 each.
Fight of the Night: Nam Phan vs. Leonard Garcia
Submission of the Night: Joe Lauzon
KO of the Night: Frankie Edgar
Promotion of UFC 136
The UFC had an off beat promo for UFC 136 entitled, “The Great Debate.” It currently has over 191,000 views on YouTube.
The UFC also held another #Hunt4UFC, where White gave hints on places around Houston to be at for fans to win tickets.
Sponsorships
Upcoming movie release, Immortal, Tapout, Dodge, UFC Trainer, UFC.com store, Xyience, SafeAuto Insurance, Toyo Tires and Bud Light with the center were in the cage tonight. Is it me or is the UFC.com store being promoted much more.
Fighter walkout shirts are here. I like the track jackets that some fighters are using. Although its hard to pull over the gloves, its still another piece that clothing brands can market.
We saw for the first time the video game cover for the UFC video game, “Undisputed 3”. As reported by USA Today, Anderson Silva was voted to be on the cover after THQ conducted a poll to see which UFC champion should be on the cover.
Xyience took the fighting check point. It appears that its a revolving sponsor although Harley Davidson had the checkpoint for some time.
There was a huge push for the movie Immortal. Chael Sonnen wore it on his fight trunks and had an Immortal hat on during a taped interview in the pre-fight hype package.
UFC Fan Expo
The UFC held another fan expo in Houston which gave fans, sponsors and fighters the ability to interact. No word on attendance at the expo but we will follow up. With the first one going on in Toronto for 129 and this one happening for 136, we should expect at least a couple expos in 2012.
Post-UFC 136 storylines
Sonnen vs. Silva – Super Bowl Weekend. The event is not on the schedule yet but I guess we have our first fight. This will be a big event and should help jumpstart 2012 with a big buy rate. Sonnen will be in full promo mode and with the help of Fox, we’re going to be seeing Sonnen’s face all over the Fox networks. There are talks of this being in Cowboys Stadium although that seems like talk at this point.
Aldo vs. Mendes – An interesting matchup but what will be more interesting will be how much longer Aldo will stay in the Featherweight division. He’s had trouble with the weigh cut and an Aldo-Edgar, Aldo-Melendez fight would bring some spark to the lighter weight divisions.
Edgar vs. Melendez or Aldo? – The worst kept secret is that the Strikeforce lightweight champion is coming to the UFC to “unify” the titles. The matchup makes sense and would draw interest. But when will it happen. Melendez is slated for a Strikeforce title defense in December. But, Dana White is bullish on Melendez in the UFC lightweight division. White also said that he’s interested in Edgar going up against Jose Aldo.
PPV Buys
Last night marked the end of a three week period where four UFC titles were up for grabs. UFC 136 was one of the best, if not the best card the UFC has put on this year. Top to bottom, the card was exciting. It will be interesting to see what the PPV buys will end up at. Does anything lower than 400K say anything about fan perceptions of the lower weight divisions? Or is it just that there are too many PPVs going around that fans just can’t buy them all?
Odds and ends
Rashard Evans got booed again when the camera panned to him. What was funny is when the camera widened fans cheered for Forrest Griffin who was sitting next to him. Griffin looked back at Evans and playfully laughed at him. Pretty funny considering these two fought for the title a couple years ago.
Chad Mendes was announced as the newest member of Team Edge. Good for him considering he may get the next title shot against Jose Aldo.
Another loss by Tiequan Zhang. He was thought to help garner interest from Chinese fans. But, his losses are mounting and it seems like the UFC may have to look to someone else to make inroads into the Chinese market.
The Spike Prelims featured Anthony Pettis and Demian Maia. Good match-ups which should mean another good rating.
Among the writeups for UFC 136, there was this one on Nam Pham.
Posted in: ufc, fight, fan, sonnen, maynard
Read the full article at MMA PayoutThe Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
Whenever you're waiting for the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill, just keep in mind that I live in Hollywood, California -- which is so obviously located in the Pacific Standard Time Zone. So what may be afternoon for you is still morning for us west coasters. Also, picture me passed out on my sofa, slightly hung over, fully clothed from last night with a frozen pepperoni pizza unwrapped and sitting on my kitchen counter. Sure I had every intention to put it in the oven and have a tasty snack while I watched this weekend's episode of Project Runway, but the allure of horizontally positioning myself on my sofa was just too strong. I couldn't fight it, nor should you. Enjoy the Sunday Morning Rumor Mill.
Former M-1 executive, Jerry Millen, continues to insist on Twitter that 'UFC has a big problem.'
It appears that even though we wrote an article on the current 'Beef Saga' in Thailand, it's not even close to over yet. We've been told by a very close source that allegedly Ray Elbe organized a drug raid on Phuket Top Team. Thai authorities were also allegedly 'paid off' to arrest people and the authorities 'found' illegal weapons within Phuket Top Team and apparently a pregnant woman (who will not be named here) was thrown in jail under false pretenses. Her family plans to retaliate against the person responsible for this, who some people believe to be Ray Elbe.
In Chael Sonnen's post-fight interview with Ariel Helwani, he mentions that he 'has his reasons' to believe that an Anderson Silva rematch is planned for Super Bowl weekend, insisting that he 'knows something' that we don't. Well, as of right now, nothing is planned for Sonnen on Super Bowl weekend, let alone a rematch between Sonnen and Silva. It was all wishful thinking from Chael, However, according to a recent Dana White interview from USA Today, it looks like Chael Sonnen may be influencing Dana White. In short, Chael's wishful thinking may actually be working.
It appears that even though it was rumored that Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki is slated for a future DREAM event, it appears that Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney may prevent this fight from taking place.
Road FC and Dare Championship's new partnership deal may also come with a new TV deal for the South-Asian region.
While the NBA season is on hiatus, it appears that a large number of Los Angeles NBA players (Clippers and Lakers) have been secretly enrolling in 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in West LA. If you're in the area, I'm pretty sure you can catch 'Metta World Peace' trying to learn a gogoplata inside the gym.
DREAM is still wrestling with the idea of having a one-night, open-weight women's tournament on New Year's Eve. Three names that have been mentioned are Amanda Lucas, Miwa Asao and I've been told that DREAM execs want to get Gina Carano in the event.
Dan Quinn appears to still be in the process of assembling a fight with Jose Canseco.
Mark Pavelich has issued a challenge to fight Dana White in a boxing ring, claiming that he is an 'above average' boxer.
A UFC accredited MMA news source has been advised not to use the term 'Blackzilians' to describe the Florida MMA group which includes Rashad Evans, Bigfoot Silva, Jorge Santiago, Michael Johnson (and a few others that I'm missing). It's important to note the company the site is owned by advised them not to use the term, not ZUFFA.
It's rumored that Ken Pavia sold his 'MMA Agents' business for the price tag of $190,000.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, bowl weekend, ray elbe
Read the full article at Middle EasyVideo: UFC 136's Chael Sonnen is the true champion, linear champion, peoples champion ...
… And the best damn middleweight there has ever been:
"Anderson Silva is a nuisance to me and a thorn in my side. But, Im not delusional. I understand what his skill set is, I understand that he's got what I want. I'm not crazy. I get it that he's a good, skilled guy. At the same time, he's a chicken, he's a coward and he won't fight me. [In the rematch] We're going to play for keeps this time. Winner takes all."
We're off, just like that.
For more on the rematch between Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen, which Dana White said would be a fight he'd be stupid not to make as soon as possible, click here. To check out Sonnen's epic UFC 136 post-fight victory speech after submitting Brian Stann, click here.
Anyone got an early favorite?
Posted in: champion, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, hellip ; 
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136 Results: Post-Hangover Thoughts and Reactions
I had unrealistic expectations for UFC 136. There had been multiple times where I called it the best UFC card ever put together in terms of how good fights should be on paper. I'd say that things didn't quite play out the way I expected and it wasn't what I'd consider the best UFC event ever but it was certainly entertaining with some great performances.
Let's run it down.
I still can't quite figure out what happened with Gray Maynard after the first round. Yes, Edgar started to get his timing down and was in and out with his speed, but Maynard needed to still try to let his hands go. Instead it was another great first round but this time the fight just slipped away more and more. I wonder if Maynard was more shellshocked from Edgar surviving the first round than Edgar was from taking the damage.
Edgar is a very good and very unique fighter, don't get me wrong. But I want to see him get a few more title defenses in before I'm ready to comment on his place in lightweight history and the sport. Still, last night was a great display of heart and coming back from adversity to break Maynard's will and eventually stop him.
Jose Aldo's performance is going to get overlooked and that's a shame. He showed one of the true marks of a champion and after a first round by Kenny Florian that set the tone for the fight, Aldo was able to make the correct adjustments and clearly take over the rest of the fight. It wasn't the spectacular KO that we got used to from Jose in the WEC, it was simply a mature in-fight approach against a guy who looked to take the champ out of his comfort zone.
Mike Fagan hit it right on the head that Florian is a perfect example of "good, not great." He has good skills but he isn't quite as good as he has been sold and he was never an elite fighter.
I couldn't shake what Phil Davis did to Brian Stann when thinking about Stann vs. Chael Sonnen. Sonnen is just a much better wrestler in terms of application to MMA than Davis and I figured he'd have plenty of success getting it to the ground, it was just if he could avoid getting hit on the way in. Sonnen absolutely drubbed Stann throughout the fight. Some of the most impressive stuff in the fight was Sonnen's passing ability and ground transitions. Stann is a very solid fighter who isn't likely to ever challenge for the title but will beat people who are solid stylistic matchups.
I love that some people are mad that Sonnen would dare say Anderson Silva "sucks." The guy is simply great at selling a fight and generating some buzz. The clip of Sonnen's post fight mic work alone will sell more PPV's for that rematch than the great UFC 136 matchmaking did for this show.
Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan put on an exciting fight. Technique isn't everything for me and I did enjoy the fight. But the announce team has to do a better job of pointing out how few of Garcia's punches actually land. He certainly "goes for it" but his lack of accuracy leads to tons of wasted energy. Phan ate him alive for the first two rounds. Garcia finally connected with him in the third and had Phan hurt, but he didn't settle down, take aim and land shots to finish it off. Instead he just fired wide shots that didn't connect and Phan had the chance to recover. Without judging travesties, Garcia should now be on a nine fight losing streak.
Fagan left out the most amazing Garcia/Phan Fight Metric stat in his earlier analysis. Garcia landed 9 power shots to the head out of 130 thrown. That's an incredible lack of accuracy.
Melvin Guillard was not a mature fighter last night. He was flying around trying to do something spectacular and Lauzon just stayed composed, threw some simple punches, connected on a bit of a looping hook from an awkward position and dropped Melvin. Once it hit the ground Melvin was unable to balance recovering with defending and got subbed with quickness.
Jorge Santiago needs to be used at a lower level. Just treat him like they do with Leonard Garcia if they're going to keep him around and stick him in fights that are likely to be decided in a stand-up battle.
Anthony Pettis and Jeremy Stephens fought a smart fight. That ended up being a disappointing thing as I think everyone was hoping for a dynamic and exciting stand-up battle. It wasn't that it was a bad fight, it just didn't deliver exactly what we (or at least I) wanted. Is that unfair? Probably.
I really, really did not enjoy the Joey Beltran/Stipe Miocic fight. I just don't enjoy Beltran fights but I think the UFC loves him so I don't expect him to get cut.
Posted in: ufc, fight, round, sonnen, garcia
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White: I would be pretty stupid if I don't make Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen rematch
Question: What does Chael Sonnen do after he throttles Brian Stann at UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" last night (Oct. 8, 2011) in Houston, Texas?
Answer: Call out Anderson Silva.
He didn't just call "The Spider" out, though. He laid down a challenge to the current middleweight king and pound-for-pound great that dictates the following -- Sonnen wins, Silva leaves the division; Silva wins, Sonnen leaves the UFC ... forever.
Ridiculous stipulations for an MMA fight, right? This isn't pro wrasslin' here, this is sport fighting.
Well, the fans at the Toyota Center absolutely ate this up. And casual fans are already getting hyped to a rematch between the two best middleweights in the world.
As for UFC President Dana White? He told media at UFC 136 (via USA Today) he would be "f*cking stupid" not to make that fight.
"Those guys really don't like each other. Anderson, I don't know if any of you saw his face when (Chael) won, but he wasn't doing the whole joking around thing. He (Silva) was pissed and he's really upset about the whole smacking his wife on the butt thing and cook him dinner. He's really upset about it. He's really pissed about it. Probably, (I'll make this fight), yeah. More than likely. I don't like to commit to anything the night of the fight, you know what I mean? But yeah, I'd be pretty f*cking stupid if I don't make that fight."
Sonnen earned his first title shot by way of his big mouth and even bigger skill-set. He talked a big game for months leading into UFC 117 and then he went and backed it all up.
For four and a half rounds.
Championship fights are five rounds, though, and he couldn't quite make it to the finish before finding himself tangled up in the long limbs of "The Spider."
One triangle induced tap later and Silva put that chapter behind him.
Now that Sonnen has run through Stann and thrown down the gauntlet once again, however, that book is about to be reopened. But can Sonnen rewrite the story with a happier ending for himself? Or will Silva play spoiler once again?
And how much are you looking forward to this one, Maniacs?
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, f *cking
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen explains “loser leaves town” challenge of Anderson Silva
The world of professional wrestling was put on notice last night at UFC 136 when middleweight Chael Sonnen stepped up to the stick after submitting Brian Stann in the second round of their bout and cut one of the greatest “promos” in promotional history.
Rather than focus on his performance against Stann, Sonnen issued a challenge to middleweight champion Anderson Silva demanding a rematch over Super Bowl Weekend with a unique stipulation – a win for Sonnen would result in Silva moving up to light heavyweight on a permanent basis while a loss to “The Spider” would force Sonnen to leave the UFC.
Sonnen elaborated on his statements in a post-event interview with MMAFighting where he explained his reasoning.
“Cause he’s a coward and I don’t think he’d accept,” Sonnen responded when asked why he had sought Silva’s departure from the middleweight division rather than the company as a whole. “And you’ve gotta play by a coward’s rules sometimes. I’m trying to lure him into a fight so I gotta stick that carrot out there – something that I think he’ll do.”
According to Sonnen, who feels Silva will likely duck the fight after how close the Brazilian came to losing the first time, he even had more to say but was cut short by the short duration of his post-fight interview.
“If Joe Rogan hadn’t taken the microphone out of my mouth I would have told him, ‘Anderson Silva I want your answer right now. If you accept I will wait till Super Bowl Weekend but if you reject I will walk over there right now and whip your ass in Houston, Texas!’”
However, as much as Sonnen may detest Silva, he still had something complimentary to say in regards to the champ’s footwork.
“I have seen Anderson dance and I will tell you, he’s got some pretty good moves. He’s a pretty good dancer, I’ll give him that. I caught him at a club one time dancing and was like, ‘You’re a pretty good dancer.’ He can move a little bit.”
On a more serious note, Sonnen also made it clear as to what motivates him as a fighter and it doesn’t even relate to Silva specifically.
“I do the best I can,” the 26-11-1 grappler began. “These guys are tough guys. Stann is no different. He hit me hard in the body. Man, it hurt. I can still feel it. All these guys are tough. There’s really nothing I can say. You go do these matches, you do the best you can, but I am not here to be one of ‘these guys’. I’ve got plenty of money and plenty of fame. I’m after twelve pounds of gold and that’s it.”
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: i ’m, silva, “ i, sonnen, bowl weekend
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainUFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II Will Produce Massive Interest Despite Skepticism
In the lead-up to UFC 136 this past week, UFC President Dana White had a hesitant tone when talking about Chael Sonnen's future. Questions revolving around where he stands in the division, and who UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva would face next were met with non-committal answers. In the back of everyone's mind, it was obvious that Sonnen vs. Silva II was a huge fight that the UFC would eventually have to put on. The only question was when.
Sonnen made the answer obvious after destroying Brian Stann in a main card middleweight match-up at UFC 136 on Saturday night. Stann wasn't given any space to work, constantly defending against the relentless pace and wrestling of Sonnen. Impressively, there weren't any signs that Sonnen's lengthy layoff due to his legal problems and positive drug test for elevated testosterone levels had any effect on his performance. It was a perfect route of a legitimate, rising star.
Sonnen's post-fight pro wrestling promo in which he told the cheering crowd in Houston, Texas that Anderson Silva "absolutely sucks" and that he would leave the UFC if Silva beat him in a rematch brought an undeniable excitement to the fanbase watching. Any uncertainty in Dana White's mind was absent during the post-fight press conference as White stated the rematch needs to happen as soon as possible because the fans want it, Chael wants it, and Anderson Silva wants it.
The question now is whether this potentially massive pay-per-view card will produce exactly that... massive numbers. UFC 117, which was headlined by both Silva and Sonnen, reached an estimated 600,000 buys with a below average supporting cast. Undoubtedly, the rematch with the proper promotion and supporting fights could reach upwards of 800,000 to possibly 1 million buys as White alluded to at the post-fight presser.
There isn't any evidence to suggest that Sonnen has the connection with the UFC's fanbase to bring in those types of numbers. While there were many opinions in the aftermath of UFC 136 that were negative toward Sonnen's consistent schtick as the American badass, it's difficult to see it not amping up casual fans who don't have the hunger for the technical nuances of fighting. Those fans just want to see a great fight, and the added emotions and drama behind such a rematch should be enough to bring in new fans, especially if the UFC can promote the fight on their new network partner Fox.
Anderson Silva has brought more prominence to himself in recent appearances as well. The front kick knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 and his destruction of Yushin Okami at UFC 134 have laid to rest some of the bad memories of his stale performances in the past. He's also helped drive pay-per-view buys to an estimated 750,000 at UFC 126, hinting that he's beginning to move the needle as he should.
Sonnen is the major player in helping this eventual rematch breakthrough the ceiling. The UFC will undoubtedly push him into the spotlight to cut promotions and drive interest. They have all the material they need to connect with casual fans because Sonnen is in full production mode from now until the fight happens. It may be a tired WWE tactic, but the difference is that this schtick is in the confines of the real world, not a soap opera. Casual fans will eat it up, and Sonnen vs. Silva II will likely become a massive success.
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, fan, sonnen
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowDana White says he would be pretty stupid not to book Silva vs. Sonnen II
On Saturday, October 8 Chael Sonnen returned to the Octagon for the first time in 14 months. Sonnen easily handled Brian Stann, earning a second round submission victory. After the fight Sonnen ignored Joe Rogan’s post-fight interview question, instead electing to challenge current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, who was in attendance.
“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck,” Sonnen said. “Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I'm
Posted in: sonnen, bowl weekend, fight sonnen, sonnen ii, ,” sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 136 results recap: Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann fight review and analysis
Chael Sonnen was noticeably silent with the trash talk leading into his UFC 136 bout with Brian Stann.
It turns out he didn't have to.
The mouthy Republican ex-realtor put on a grappling clinic en route to a dominant second round submission victory over "The All-American" last night (October 8, 2011) in front of a rambunctious crowd at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Yeah, you read that correctly, Sonnen wins via submission.
So how'd he pull it off against the gritty Greg Jackson-trained fighter? And where to both men go from here?
Chael Sonnen made his intentions known immediately when he shot in for a takedown in the first five seconds of the bout. Stann defended him at first but was pressed against the fence in the clinch. When Stann got a little too aggressive throwing big right hands to the body, Sonnen turned him away from the fence and toppled him over directly into side control.
Once on the ground, this wasn't a Chael Sonnen that was content to throw pitter-patter ground and pound from inside Stann's full guard, this was an extremely aggressive Sonnen who was looking to pass, do damage and really work to gain dominant positions.
Watch How Sonnen sticks with Stann as he tries to turtle and sit out of a bad position on the ground. Sonnen is stuck to his back like glue.
Also notice how he slides directly into mount despite Stann's best effort to push on his thighs and keep him from doing just that.
Brian Stann didn't get any room to throw punches until the second round began.
So what did he do with his freedom in the stand-up realm? He throws a weak left leg kick that Sonnen immediately catches, dives forward and blasts him to the canvas with a power double-leg takedown.
This was such a poor choice of attack to get things started for Stann especially considering the fact that Chael Sonnen had attempted to shoot in and take him down in the first few seconds of the first round. He honestly should have known better.
Stann would not fare well on the canvas, giving up mount quickly on the ground.
Eventually, Stann retained full guard and the ref stood them up as he was hunting for a submission. "The All-American" clipped Sonnen with a 1-2 hook combination but the Team Quest fighter shook it off, closed the distance with a clinch against the fence, dropped down, lifted the Iraq war veteran over his head and slammed him to the ground with authority.
From side control, Sonnen would isolate one of Stann's arms with an arm triangle choke and he slickly hopped over Stann to the oppositie wide which allowed him to tighten the choke with greater leverage.
Stann tried to hold out, but his face was beet red and Sonnen was squeezing incredibly hard. It even looked like Stann's right arm was getting torqued as well from collateral damage.
Eventually, "The All-American" couldn't hold out and was forced to tap out and surrender the number one contender position to Sonnen.
For Brian Stann, he simply needs to continue to work his defensive wrestling abilities. He stuffed Sonnen a couple times, but he couldn't keep the fight standing long enough to land that knockout blow he desperately needed. Stann definitely earned this bout, but Sonnen manhandled him on the canvas once he had him there. Despite his improvements, he still needs a lot of work before he can hang with the elite ground fighters in the division.
Expect to see Stann face someone like recent title challenger Yushin Okami to help see where he truly stands in the division. If that's too much, a match against the winner of the Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le bout would make sense, as would Mark Munoz depending if he wins or loses his UFC 138 match against Chris Leben. If he doesn't mind waiting, he could also face the loser of the upcoming fight between Jason Miller and Michael Bisping.
For Chael Sonnen, this was as good as he's ever looked in the Octagon. Despite 14 months away from the cage, he showed absolutely no signs of ring rust. He dominated from start to finish and had his way with Brian Stann once the fight went to the ground. With his stoppage victory, he proved that he's heads and shoulders above the rest of the middleweight division.
With his awesome post-fight speech, it's obvious that the only opponent that would make sense for Chael Sonnen would be a much-anticipated rematch against Anderson Silva. He was minutes away from dethroning the champion last year and he's most certainly earned another crack at "The Spider." Whether the bout will actually take place on Super Bowl weekend is yet to be seen. What we do know is that you can expect the trash talk to be flying and we will be on "Chael Sonnen watch" 24/7 until that fight takes place.
So what did you think Maniacs?
How impressed were you with Chael Sonnen's dominant performance? Are you read for a rematch between him and the champion Anderson Silva?
Speak up!
For complete UFC 136 results, including blow-by-blow, fight-by-fight coverage of the entire pay-per-view (PPV) event as well as immediate post-fight reaction click here, here and here.
All gifs by Zombie Prophet via IronForgesIron.com.
Posted in: ground, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaFight Day: Chael Sonnen Post-Fight Interview
You won't want to miss this epic Chael Sonnen rant after his dominant win over Brian Stann at UFC 136.
Posted in: brian stann, fight day, sonnen, chael, epic
Read the full article at Heavy MMADid Chael Sonnen, fresh off his dominating performance over Brian Stann at UFC 136, issue his own...
Did Chael Sonnen, fresh off his dominating performance over Brian Stann at UFC 136, issue his own ZUFFA pink slip? Find out why the trash-talking middleweight could leave the promotion forever in his call-out of Anderson Silva right here.
Photo courtesy of UFC.com.
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, trash-talking middleweight, photo courtesy
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136 Morning After: Chael Sonnen Talks, Anderson Silva Will Shut Him Up
Filed under: UFCChael Sonnen is the best talker in the UFC. Anderson Silva is the best fighter in the UFC. Over the next few months, I expect to hear Sonnen do what he does best and relentlessly trash talk Silva leading up to their inevitable middleweight title fight.
And then when they step into the cage I expect to see Silva do what he does best and give Sonnen a beating.
When Sonnen grabbed the microphone after beating Brian Stann at UFC 136 and said, "Anderson Silva, you suck," it was disrespectful and preposterous. Silva is universally regarded as the top pound-for-pound mixed martial artist in the world, and Sonnen talking to him that way is absurd. But it also elicited a roar from the crowd, and there can be no doubt that hundreds of thousands of UFC fans are already planning to fork over $50 to buy that fight on pay-per-view.
So Sonnen did his job: He beat a good opponent after a long layoff, and then he immediately started hyping up the Silva fight. But does anyone seriously doubt that Silva is going to do his job and beat Sonnen when the rematch happens?
More Coverage: UFC 136 Results
Sonnen is the only man ever to give Silva any real test inside the Octagon, and he's to be commended for that. When Silva and Sonnen met at UFC 117, Sonnen gave Silva all he could handle for four rounds before finally getting submitted in the fifth. This isn't meant as a knock on Sonnen.
But let's get real: Silva is the best fighter this sport has ever seen, and he's going to be highly motivated to put on a show against Sonnen, It's really, really hard to imagine that Sonnen could win the rematch. Silva should put him in his place.
Sonnen vowed that he would leave the UFC if he loses to Silva, but that smells like pure hype: Sonnen knows pro wrestling has long sold tickets with "loser leaves town" matches, and he wanted to borrow that tactic. A loss to Silva wouldn't cause Sonnen to leave the UFC.
Nor should it. Sonnen is a great personality, as he has shown in countless interviews over the last couple of years, but he's also a great fighter, as he showed against Stann.
He's just not as great as Silva.
UFC 136 Notes
--Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard have given us a wonderful trilogy of fights, with Edgar evening the score at UFC 136 after Maynard had beaten him once and fought to a draw with him once. Edgar remains the lightweight champion and will defend his belt against someone else next, but I'm personally hoping we'll see a fourth fight between these two some day.
--According to CompuStrike, Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan combined to land 232 strikes, with Phan outlanding Garcia 161-71 in total strikes and 87-51 in power strikes. There's not much doubt that Phan deserved his unanimous decision victory.
--Anthony Pettis looked in his split decision win over Jeremy Stephens like he has put a lot of work into improving his takedowns and his wrestling since his loss to Clay Guida in June. I expect the 24-year-old Pettis to keep getting better, and to eventually fight for the lightweight title.
--It's been disappointing to see Demian Maia, who's a brilliant Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner, settle for getting dominant positions and winning fights by decision. When Maia entered the UFC he made everybody tap: He won his first five fights by submission and received the Submission of the Night bonus four times. But since then Maia has had seven more fights and hasn't submitted anybody. Against Jorge Santiago Maia easily won the unanimous decision, but Maia has reached the point where he doesn't seem to want to take any chances. That makes him a lot less entertaining than he used to be.
--The UFC would love to see its only Chinese fighter, Zhang Tiequan, have some success inside the Octagon. If that's going to happen, Zhang is going to need to spend a lot of time training with a high-level camp in the United States. As we saw in Zhang's unanimous decision loss to Darren Elkins, Zhang has a rudimentary ground game and doesn't have a backup plan if his go-to move, the guillotine choke, doesn't force his opponent to tap. Zhang showed a good deal of toughness just surviving to go the distance with Elkins, who thoroughly outclassed him. Now it'd be nice to see Zhang show the capacity to develop into a complete mixed martial artist.
UFC 136 Quotes
"He's got a good head. I watched all his fights. He's got a head, man." -- Stipe Miosic after his unanimous decision victory over Joey Beltran. Miosic hit Beltran over and over again, and Beltran just kept coming back for more. Beltran isn't a particularly good fighter, but he does have a lot of heart -- and, as Miosic noted, a hard head.
"This ain't easy fighting someone three times. Gray forced me to bring the best out of myself." -- Edgar, after the fight with Maynard. They both brought out the best in each other.
Good Call
I liked seeing Aaron Simpson enter his fight with a great game plan and execute it perfectly in his unanimous decision victory over Eric Schafer: Simpson knew Schaefer's best chance of winning was pulling off a submission on the ground, and so Simpson, an excellent wrestler with good takedowns, resisted the urge to put Schaefer on his back and instead turned their fight into a boxing match. Simpson showed that his punching power and accuracy were far better than Schafer's, and Simpson won 30-27 on all three judges' scorecards.
Bad Call
Mike Goldberg said, "Garcia and Jung" at the start of the fight between Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan, confusing Phan with Chan Sung Jung. That was a mistake, but maybe Goldberg was just being prescient: Just like Jung, Phan had lost a bad decision after a wild slugfest with Garcia, and just like Jung, Phan then won the rematch.
Stock Up
Mike Massenzio showed a lot of heart in his unanimous decision victory over Steve Cantwell. After Cantwell got the better of him in the first round, Massenzio came on very hard in the second and blew Cantwell away in the third. Massenzio had lost his last three UFC fights and probably wasn't going to get another chance if he didn't beat Cantwell. But he looked like he belongs on Saturday night.
Stock Down
Heading into UFC 136, Melvin Guillard had a good chance of proving that he deserved to be next in line for the lightweight title. Instead, he was choked out in 47 seconds by Joe Lauzon, and he now has to get behind a whole lot of guys in a long line in the lightweight division.
Fight I Want To See Next
Is there any doubt? Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva. Let's see this soon.
%VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100% Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: sonnen, silva, ufc, fight, decision
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseDana White: Floyd Mayweather Gets Licensed in Nevada, No Reason Chael Sonnen Shouldn’t
UFC President Dana White doesn't foresee any problems for Chael Sonnen to get licensed in Nevada should they choose that location for the rematch with Anderson Silva.
Posted in: floyd mayweather, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 136 winner Chael Sonnen offers Anderson Silva rematch, calls Vitor Belfort a fool
HOUSTON - Consider Chael Sonnen's silence broken.
After a pre-UFC 136 buildup largely void of any of Sonnen's famed
trashtalking and epic rants, the top middleweight contender wasted
little time in further alienating any Brazilian fans he may have had by
proclaiming himself the UFC's true middleweight champion and offering
Anderson Silva a second crack at the title.
Oh yeah, and he called Vitor Belfort a fool and ordered "The Phenom" to carry his luggage to the airport.
Posted in: vitor belfort, chael sonnen, sonnen, middleweight champion, brazilian fans
Read the full article at MMA Junkie‘True Middleweight Champ’ Sonnen Issues Bold Challenge to Silva
Former UFC middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen made good on his prefight declaration Saturday at UFC 136, as the rarely-silent wrestler dominated the surging Brian Stann at the Toyota Center in Houston.
Posted in: ufc, brian stann, sonnen, toyota center, rarely-silent wrestler
Read the full article at SherdogSonnen dares Silva to win or go home (Yahoo! Sports)
Chael Sonnen claims he’ll put his UFC career on the line if Anderson Silva will give him a rematch.
Posted in: silva, ufc career, anderson silva, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Yahoo! SportsChael Sonnen doesn't expect "coward" Anderson Silva to accept his Challenge
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who defeated Brian Stann at UFC 136, discusses the victory, as well as his anticipated rematch with division Champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen is pleased with his triumphant return, but insists he has only one guy in his sights, "The Spider."
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, brian stann, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Low KickChael Sonnen Calls Out Anderson Silva in Epic Fashion at UFC 136
After thoroughly dominated Brian Stann, Chael Sonnen gave what some are calling “the best interview in UFC history.” Whether it was or not, it was certainly the gutsiest. With Anderson Silva ringside, Sonnen completely ignored Joe Rogan’s first post-fight question and proceeded to call out the middleweight champ in epic fashion.
“Anderson Silva – you absolutely suck. I’m calling you out, Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I’ll leave the UFC forever.”
Then he walked out of cage.
At the post-fight press conference, Sonnen said a deal’s a deal and he’s a man of his word, and added that if the roles were reversed, he would walked into the cage and “shoved the microphone up his ass”, but all Anderson did was sit there.
Dana White stopped short of giving Sonnen the rematch right then and there, but acknowledged that it’s a fight that people want to see. Sonnen wants it on Super Bowl weekend, but Dana says that card will take place in Vegas where Sonnen still has licensing issues. As Dana said, “we’ll see what happens.”
HT: Cage Today
Posted in: silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson, epic fashion
Read the full article at MMA ConvertCatch Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Legend Billy Robinson watching Chael Sonnen at UFC 136. I just...
Catch Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Legend Billy Robinson watching Chael Sonnen at UFC 136. I just had to share. HT Jake Shannon.
Posted in: ufc, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, billy
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Dominates, Places Bet on Anderson Silva Rematch
Chael Sonnen dominated Brian Stann in their UFC 136 fight in Houston. The always-vocal Sonnen even called out middleweight champ Anderson Silva and put an interesting wager on the rematch. Read here to find out what it is.
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, always-vocal sonnen, places bet
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyChael Sonnen Calls Anderson Silva a 'Coward' After UFC 136 Win
Filed under: MMA Videos, UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting caught up with Chael Sonnen following his UFC 136 win over Brian Stann. Sonnen discusses the victory, his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, if he felt any ring rust and if he thinks Anderson Silva will agree to a rematch and much more.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, mma, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 136 results: Chael Sonnen challenges Anderson Silva to Super Bowl weekend 'loser leaves town' fight
Shortly after Chael Sonnen submitted Brian Stann in the co main event of UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) in Houston, Texas, Joe Rogan approached him for the usual post-fight interview.
And while we all know Sonnen to be an extremely outspoken antagonist, we couldn't possibly have expected him to a cut a pro wrestling style promo on Anderson Silva, his arch nemesis who was sitting cageside, challenging him to a "loser leaves town" fight.
Here's how he laid down the gauntlet:
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck! Super Bowl weekend will be the biggest rematch in the history of this business. I'm calling you out, but we're upping the stakes: I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC ... forever."
Of all the men to step inside the Octagon to challenge "The Spider" for his 185-pound title, only Sonnen has even come close to taking it away from him, when he narrowly lost by submission back in Aug. 2010.
Now he's back and has earned his rematch. And just from the reaction of the audience at the Toyota Center, fight fans badly want this to happen.
Do you? Will UFC President Dana White actually go for this?
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, bowl weekend
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Reignites War With Anderson Silva After UFC 136 Win
Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- Chael Sonnen arrived at UFC 136 with modesty, and left with bluster.
The dominant second-round submission win over Brian Stann? It was just the beginning of the Sonnen show. It was what the middleweight contender said afterward that sent a buzz through the MMA world.
"Anderson Silva," Sonnen said, pausing for dramatic effect, "you absolutely suck."
Those are fighting words, but Sonnen wasn't done.
The middleweight champion Silva happened to be at the Toyota Center, and as his face was shown on the replay screens inside the arena, Sonnen issued his challenge.
"Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business," he said. "I'm calling you out Silva, but we're upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever."
Upon issuing his pro-wrestling style, loser-leaves-town challenge, he walked out of the cage.
Sonnen had once been scheduled to get that rematch. In August 2010, he beat up Silva for four-and-a-half rounds before falling victim to a triangle choke submission. It was a dramatic finish and a heartbreaker for Sonnen, but afterward, UFC president Dana White quickly decided Sonnen would get a second chance.
But that was scuttled shortly thereafter when Sonnen's pre-fight drug test came back irregular due to an elevated testosterone to estrogen level, indicative of steroid use. Sonnen later revealed he was undergoing testosterone replacement therapy but the California state athletic commission ruled he hadn't properly disclosed it, and he was suspended. Sonnen later had legal woes relating to a federal money laundering charge, and with his compounded problems, Sonnen was shelved by the UFC.
With that, his chance at gold seemed gone. By the time he returned, the UFC middleweight division was not much different. Silva is still at the top. But surging closer was Stann, a former Marine who had mowed through his last two opponents in dominant knockouts.
But for Sonnen, Stann was barely a roadblock. Sonnen took him down repeatedly from the opening bell and held the top position, and in the second, he closed out the show, transitioning to an arm triangle for the finish. That task done, he took no time to turn his attention back to Silva.
"As far as Anderson goes, we're playing for keeps this time," Sonnen said. "I've had it with this guy, and he's probably had it with me, so let's just figure this thing out once and for all. You heard what I said. My word is good. A deal is a deal and I didn't see him stand up and accept the challenge. If the shoe was on the other foot, I'd come over there and shove the microphone up his ass, if he would've said that to me. But you saw what he did. He sat there, and it was a good move."
White said later that he Sonnen's wish would probably be granted.
"More than likely," he said. "I don't like to commit to anything the night of the fight, but I'd be pretty f------ stupid if I don't make that fight."
Even on a night where two titles were defended and Frankie Edgar pulled off one of the most dramatic comeback wins in recent history, all it took was a few choice words for Sonnen to take back the spotlight. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, opening bell
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseMy GOD this Chael Sonnen...
I could work on this article for the next 500 years and I will not be able to find any combination of words that will do justice to the sheer performance Chael Sonnen just placed at UFC 136. Sure he imposed his will on Brian Stann just like he said he was going to do. If you followed Chael Sonnen since the WEC, you knew exactly what he was going to do. That was just Chael Sonnen being Chael Sonnen. Put aside the antics for the past year, the dude would be like an 11-mana casting cost creature in Magic The Gathering. However, you all know what I'm getting it. Chael Sonnen laid down perhaps the greatest post-fight speech in UFC history.
After submitting Brian Stann after shoving every available appendage in his face for the duration of the fight, Chael Sonnen got on the microphone and essentially challenged Anderson Silva to a fight on Superbowl weekend with the most grandiose ultimatium I've ever witnessed inside the octagon. Chael said that if he beats Silva in a rematch, he wants The Spider to leave the division. However, if by some chance Ando defeats Chael Sonnen -- he will leave the UFC.
That's right, folks. Now someone put together a reasonable argument as to why Chael Sonnen isn't the most interesting man in MMA. Go ahead, I'll read them all in the comment section.
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, ultimatium i
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 136 Results: Chael Sonnen Challenges Anderson Silva After Dominating Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen pushed Anderson Silva to the absolute limits in his last time in the Octagon. At UFC 136 he made his return and faced Brian Stann, a man on a mission for a middleweight title shot of his own.
Sonnen looked in form in the first round, getting an early takedown and dominating on the ground. He worked from back control, mount and inside the guard, landing punches and elbows while never finding himself in any danger. It was total domination.
Unfortunately for Stann, it didn't get any better in the second round as Sonnen quickly took him down and resumed his dominance. Despite a horrific stand up when both men were working, Sonnen scored another takedown and locked up an arm triangle and forced the submission.
Sonnen looked like he hadn't lost a thing in the cage and on the mic he was no different.
Sonnen challenged Anderson Silva in the ring saying "Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck" and challenging him to a fight on Super Bowl weekend. Sonnen said that he wanted to "Up the stakes" saying that if he wins Silva needs to leave the middleweight division, and if Silva wins he (Chael) will retire from the UFC.
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, brian stann, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 results: Chael Sonnen returns with submission win over Brian Stann
Perhaps the most anticipated bout on the UFC 136: "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" fight card taking place tonight (Sat., Oct. 8, 2011) in Houston, Texas, was Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann.
On the line was a middleweight title shot and the pride of two friends who had planned to train together before being matched up against one another.
Sonnen had been out of action since Aug. 2010, where he lost to Anderson Silva before taking an extended hiatus for complications with multiple athletic commissions.
Stann, on the other hand, has had the best year of any fighter in any weight class. Of course, that means nothing once you're standing across the cage from one of the best wrestlers in the 185-pound weight class.
And its the superior grappling of Sonnen that told the tale in this fight, as the former title challenger made his case for another shot at Anderson Silva but submitting Stann with an arm triangle choke in the second round.
Sonnen was as aggressive as he's ever been when the horn sounded to open the fight. He bum rushed Stann before sending him ass over tin cups and dominating from top position.
Elbows, punches, guard passes; Uncle Chael had his way with his opponent.
Naturally, the second round featured the very same opening. Sonnen rushed in, grabbed a double leg and slammed Stann to the mat.
Only this time he worked his way to an arm triangle choke and finished "All American" off after turning in one of the most dominant performances of his life.
Silva vs. Sonnen part deux, anyone?
The fans in Texas clearly wanted it, as they changed Silva's name after Sonnen's victory. What were boos quickly became cheers. And what did he tell Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview?
"Anderson Silva you absolutely suck!"
To check out MMAmania.com's LIVE UFC 136 results post, which includes up-to-the-minute, blow-by-blow coverage of EVERY fight click here.
Posted in: fight, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136: Chael Sonnen Submits Brian Stann, Calls Out Anderson Silva
Filed under: UFCChael Sonnen returned to the Octagon after a 16-month layoff on Saturday night and won in dominant fashion, submitting Brian Stann in the second round at UFC 136.
It was a one-sided beating by Sonnen, who completely outclassed Stann on the ground and forced him to tap to an arm-triangle choke at 3 minutes, 51 seconds of round 2.
But the real news came after the fight when Sonnen demanded a rematch with the man who defeated him in his last fight, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
"Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck," Sonnen said. "Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I'm calling you out, Silva, but we're upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever."
Sonnen showed after the fight that he's a good talker, but he showed during the fight that his wrestling is as good as anyone's in MMA. Sonnen came out fast and clinched with Stann immediately, and after working at it for a little more than a minute, Sonnen secured a takedown and got into side control. From there it was a dominant round for Sonnen: He relentlessly beat on Stann on the ground, and Stann was able to do nothing about it.
Within five seconds of the second round, Sonnen jumped on Stann again and dominated him. The referee stood the fight back up midway through the second round, and Stann briefly hurt Sonnen with a couple of punches, but that was just a speed bump for Sonnen, who picked Stann up, slammed him down, and finished him off.
And with that, Sonnen's long-awaited rematch with Silva is just a matter of time. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, round, silva, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 136 Live Blog: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Updates
Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- This is the UFC 136 live blog for Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann, a middleweight bout on tonight's UFC 136 pay-per-view from the Toyota Center.
Sonnen (25-11-1) has not competed since his loss to Anderson Silva in a championship bout at UFC 117 in August 2010. Stann (11-3) has won his last three fights against Mike Massenzio, Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago.
The live blog is below.
More Coverage: UFC 136 Results | Latest UFC 136 News
Round 1: Sonnen immediately rushes in for the takedown without a single punch. Stann defends and puts him against the cage. Stann fires right hooks to the body. Sonnen turns Stann into the fence.
Round 2:
Round 3:
%VIRTUAL-Gallery-136100%
Follow Us on Twitter Friend Us on Facebook Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, round, blog, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseVitor Belfort: Chael Sonnen talks to promote because he's a boring fighter (Video)
"Chael Sonnen's the type of guy, he's trying to talk all that to promote because he's a boring fighter. He doesn't knock anybody out. What's the last knockout he has on his career? What's the last submission he has on his career? ... What he's accomplished is just talking."
To answer Vitor Belfort's question, the last time Chael Sonnen was credited with a legitimate knockout win was all the way back in April 2004, a 40-second flying knee destruction of Justin Bailey at Rage on the River. In fairness, he's had a couple TKO wins since then. Five, actually, but none inside the Octagon. He'll try to end that streak tonight (Oct. 8) at UFC 136 against Brian Stann. And if he does, depending on what happens with Dan Henderson on Nov. 19, he might just meet "The Phenom" early next year. Sound good?
Posted in: vitor belfort, sonnen, chael, knee destruction, couple tko
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVitor Belfort: ‘Chael Sonnen Is Trying to Talk All That Cause He’s a Boring Fighter’
Vitor Belfort is coming back from an injury, but he wants to fight at UFC 141 and he's hoping to get the winner of Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann.
Posted in: vitor belfort, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at MMA WeeklyUFC 136 Fight Card Primer: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
At UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III, we will see what is likely a #1 contender's match for Anderson Silva and the Middleweight title. Chael Sonnen (25-11-1; 4-4 UFC) faces Brian Stann (11-3; 5-2 UFC) in this Middleweight contest. This is the 3rd bout on the PPV portion of the broadcast. Sonnen is currently ranked #3 at Middleweight in the USA Today/BE Consensus Rankings, with Stann at #6. The PPV begins at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.
Whether you are looking at a man's character, or his fighting style, you can't get much further apart than Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann. Stylistically, Sonnen is unequivocally a wrestler, who uses his skills to take opponents down and grind them out. Stann is, primarily, a striker, who wants to stand and knock you out. On the personal level, Stann is a real life Marine, with combat experience in Iraq, while Sonnen has really pushed his status as a real life villain in recent years, with racist and disparaging comments to his opponents, and legal battles with both Athletic Commissions and the State of Oregon. If you wanted to view this as a Hero vs. Villain battle, you certainly would be justified.
How do these two stack up?
Sonnen: 34 years old | 6'1" | 74" reachStann: 31 years old | 6'1" | 74" reach
What have these two done recently?
Sonnen: L - Anderson Silva (Sub) | W - Nate Marquardt (UD) | W - Yushin Okami (UD)Stann: W - Jorge Santiago (TKO) | W - Chris Leben (TKO) | W - Mike Massenzio (Sub)
How did these two get here?
Chael Sonnen is an old school Team Quest fighter with 14 years of MMA experience. He had a 1-2 UFC run in 2005-2006 that was primarily characterized by his screaming in pain when Babalu applied a submission. After that, he made his way to the WEC, where he became the first man to defeat former Middleweight great Paulo Filho in an embarrassing performance from Filho. When the WEC folded the division, Sonnen came to the UFC, putting together a 3-1 record before challenging Anderson Silva. That fight is the best fight of 2010, with Sonnen managing to control Silva for 23 minutes, only to be submitted by a triangle choke as the clock ran down. He then tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone, and had a ridiculous battle with the California State Athletic Commission that kept him sidelined for a year. This is his return fight.
Brian Stann came to the UFC after a run as WEC Light Heavyweight champion. He went 2-2 in the UFC Light Heavyweight division, but a loss to Phil Davis led him to drop down to 185 and the Middleweight division. There, he's 3-0 over increasingly tough opponents, but he's definitely facing the toughest test of his career against Sonnen. Stann trains with Greg Jackson, and has developed a more well rounded game to add to his heavy hands.
Why should you care?
A lot of people love watching Sonnen, either to cheer him to victory or revel in his loss. Either way, he does get people involved in the fights. Winner here is also likely next in line for Anderson Silva.
More Bloody Elbow coverage of UFC 136 after the jump.
UFC 136 Judo Chop: The Striking of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard - Fraser Coffeen
UFC 136 Preview - Melvin Guillard Gunning for Knockout Bonus - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136 Video - Bruce Buffer: 'You Can't Announce the Way I Announce If You're Not Into It' - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Live Weigh-In Video and Results - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Video: Frankie Edgar Says Belt Proves He Belongs at Lightweight - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III - Bloody Elbow Staff Predictions
UFC 136 Preview: Melvin Guillard Says Joe Lauzon Folds Under Pressure - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann - Mike Fagan
UFC 136: Frankie Edgar Talks Gray Maynard, Jose Aldo - Mike Fagan
UFC 136: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon Dissection - Dallas Winston
Bad Boy Presents Bloody Elbow Radio - Episode 87: UFC 136 Preview
UFC 136: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention - Leland Roling
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III Betting Lines - Tim Burke
UFC 136: Spike TV Preliminary Card Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann? - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Jose Aldo's Second Chance to Destroy Foolish Assumptions - Leland Roling
UFC 136: A Running Diary of Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard II - Mike Fagan
UFC 136 Pre-Fight Press Conference Video and Updates - Tim Burke
UFC State of the Union: UFC 136 and the Lightweight Division - Fraser Coffeen
Countdown to UFC 136 Video
UFC 136: Melvin Guillard's Continuing Quest for a Title Shot - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136 Preview: Looking Back at Edgar vs. Maynard 2 Highlights and Reaction - Brent Brookhouse
UFC 136: Facebook Undercard Dissection - Dallas Winston
UFC 136: Dana White Video Blog, Day 1
Posted in: ufc, vs, sonnen, stann, edgar
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 fight card: Chael Sonnen reluctantly looks to return to relevance at Brian Stann's expense
He's been suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Copped a plea in a federal investigation. Sat on the sidelines for more than one year.
And all along the way, former number one UFC middleweight contender, Chael Sonnen, has professed his innocence, even when the evidence against him was irrefutable. Sonnen, you see, can seemingly talk his way out of any situation, it doesn't even matter if his outrageous remarks are captured on a voice recorder.
He'll deny, deny, deny.
One thing he can't deny, however, is his respect for Brian Stann, a United States military veteran who has extensive combat experience defending freedom abroad in dangerous war-torn nation's such as Iraq. Sonnen, in fact, admitted that the prospect of fighting "All American" at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, later this evening (Oct. 8, 2011) kept him awake at night.
Sonnen has since come to terms with the match up, but he has done so in a remarkably reticent fashion.
Indeed, the outrageously outspoken Oregonian has bit his lip. Under any other "normal" circumstance, Sonnen would have done just about everything (bold-faced lies and hyperbole included) to not only ensure that everyone was well aware that this is his first fight inside the Octagon in more than a year, but also cleared their schedules to eagerly watch his triumphant return.
He's the UFC's comical carnival barker. A master at self promotion. Perhaps the best in the business.
But, he just isn't himself. He can't be because of his opponent, a likable, selfless, 185-pound contender on a three-fight win streak who just so happens to share the same goal: A title shot against reigning division champion, Anderson Silva.
To hear Sonnen tell it, tonight is his first title defense. He already defeated "The Spider" at UFC 117 in Aug. 2010, beating up the Brazilian in a 23-minute fight like he was his bitch. It's irrelevant that Silva actually won the fight with a last-minute triangle choke in the fifth and final round. He didn't win that fight, he just got lucky.
It's vintage Sonnen speak. However, we'll have to wait to see how he handles Stann this evening if we expect to hear it again anytime soon. For now, silence.
Shhhhhhhhhh .... nothing to see here.
Posted in: ufc, fight, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Said So : Random Quotes from One of MMA's Most Exciting Personalities
submitted by MattyBlayze [link] [1 comment]
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, mattyblayze, chael, quote
Read the full article at RedditA Journey Into the Mind of Chael Sonnen
Filed under: UFCHOUSTON -- I am supposed to write something about Chael Sonnen. I know this. I keep reminding myself of it. But nothing comes.
It is not writer's block. I am simply confused by him. This is not a shocker. Sonnen is a bright guy, but he says lots of things, many of which are not compatible with others. He says things that are funny, if not always 100 percent true. But mostly, he says things with feeling. And feelings are hard to quantify in words.
This is a hard fight for him, you can tell.
First, there is a lot at stake. Sonnen has blood, sweat and tears invested into this matchup, not for what it is, but what it could be. He needs another chance to fight Anderson Silva, that much is obvious. And the only way to get there is by winning at UFC 136.
Second, he likes Brian Stann. For real. He was at Stann's first fight back in 2006. Sonnen was the ringside announcer, and Stann fought his teammate Aaron Stark. Sonnen had trained with Stark long enough to know how good he was. And Stann ran through him. That memory stuck. Stann later came out to train with Sonnen and the Team Quest guys for a while. There is a tangible friendship there. When they got approached about the fight, Sonnen reached out to Stann. Let's do it, they both decided.
Third, he's been away. He got put in the corner. And training for the future isn't the same as training for a fight, he says. He believes in ring rust, he says. He's not excited about fighting, he says.
Chael Sonnen says these things and he sounds something we haven't heard before. He sounds vulnerable.
This is crazy, I think to myself. I have been covering MMA for several years now, and yet somehow, I had never crossed paths with Sonnen in person before this week. Like most of you, I've seen him evolve into a soundbyte-machine, and I came to town expecting that Chael.
He didn't disappoint, but the trademark brashness wasn't there.
On Thursday, I asked Sonnen how he expects to be received by the crowd. And at first he gave a political answer.
"I only ask the crowd to do two things: be present and be loud," he said.
But then, he went on.
"When I'm a fan, I show up to boo," he said. "I don't show up to cheer, I show up to heckle. So what comes around, goes around, and I fully expect it."
OK, fair enough, but what about the fight? Well, Sonnen couldn't even bring himself to say he would beat Stann on Saturday. This from the man who called Anderson Silva a "fraud" before facing him. This from the man who said he was going to "throw [Silva] on his back and beat a hole in his face."
Here's what he said this time around: "Brian can beat me, and I can beat him. I like those odds, 50-50, and it doesn't matter either way. Either way, you've got to move forward."
I didn't know what to make of it. Sure, it's an honest answer, but isn't a fighter supposed to believe 100 percent he is going to win? I mean, this is Chael Sonnen?
Maybe it really is Sonnen being vulnerable, and at his most candid. There is no way you can tell for sure. But there is no way you can go through what he went through -- problems that resulted in a suspension from his fight career and a legal conviction in his personal life -- and walk away unscathed.
Sonnen admitted as much this week, saying that he did have doubts about this whole return.
"What fun would this be if you knew the outcome?" he said. "What fun would this be if it wasn't all on the line? That's how I want it. I love dealing with that adversity. I love going to the ring hurt or sick or tired and trying to figure out how to win anyway. That's just the way it goes. I saw the ride and bought the ticket anyway. So I'm on board for it. I don't care."
This week, the brashness was muted and the honesty was turned up. That struck me. It's almost like he was bracing himself. Or maybe the wound is still open. Or maybe I'm reading too much into it. But Sonnen has something to prove, and his mouth can't do it.
Less than two years ago, Sonnen said that he wanted to be "king of the mountain," otherwise, he said, he'd move on in life. He is 15 minutes away from another crack at Anderson SIlva. He is also 15 minutes away from sliding back down the mountain. And even for someone who is known for his wit and humor, that, my friends, is a heavy situation. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, way, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 136's Chael Sonnen's ability, not his mouth, should be the focus with win over Brian Stann
There are some people in this world who you either love or hate.
Former number one Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight contender Chael Sonnen is just such a person. He's become somewhat of an icon in the mixed martial arts (MMA) universe.
You may know him for his tongue-in-cheek interviews that leave fans (and often the interviewers) asking the question: "Is this dude for real?"
You might follow him on Twitter for his outrageous nuggets of wisdom or to see which fighter he'll call out next. Whether it be for his much reported feud with the entire country of Brazil or his infamous legal troubles, one thing is for certain:
Chael Sonnen knows how to polarize an audience.
However, Sonnen has tempered his shtick to a dull roar in the build up to his fight Brian Stann tonight (Oct. 8, 2011) at UFC 136 in Houston, Texas, because of his respect for the American war hero. Will it and/or a win over "All American" change the perception of Sonnen and/or his seemingly larger than life persona?
If I told you he was just kidding, would that change your mind at all? No?
Fair enough.
If you hate Uncle Chael because of his braggadocio, you're a part of an ever-growing club. You think he brings a "pro wrestling" or circus-type atmosphere to MMA. You don't want that. Who could blame you?
He made up a story about the Noguiera brothers mistaking a bus for a horse.
He pretended not to know that Brazil had the Internet.
He refuses to admit that Japanese MMA has ever been legitimate and taunts fighters like Fedor Emelianenko and "Rampage" Quinton Jackson for being phonies (according to Sonnen).
Recently, he remarked in an interview that he plans to visit Anderson Silva's house, kicking the door down and then patting Silva's wife on her fanny while she makes him a steak.
It's all ridiculous. It's a shtick. Some of you get it, some of you don't.
Some of you will never forgive him for his indiscretions with Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Once a cheater, always a cheater, right?
At the end of the day, whether you dig his swagger or not, the real issue should be his ability.
Before Anderson Silva "wrapped his legs around him," causing him to tap with less than two minutes to go in the fight (at UFC 117 on Aug. 7, 2010), Sonnen had been on a very respectable win streak.
During his run, Sonnen won three fights in a row. He beat Dan Miller, Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt.
Not too shabby.
If Sonnen were to defeat Stann at UFC 136, he'd be beating a man who took on enemy combatants, transported wounded soldiers, defended his men and earned a Silver Star in the process. To boot, Stann is also riding a three-fight win streak and has become a top contender in the UFC's middleweight division.
If you don't like Sonnen, you're rooting against him defeating "All American." But what if he does? Would it soften your stance or are you firmly rooted in your hatred? Is there anything this guy can do to win you Maniacs over? Would a win over Stann change your mind at all?
Your turn. Sound off!
Posted in: ufc,  , sonnen, stann, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen challenges Anderson Silva to a "loser leaves town" Match
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen made his return in style tonight, dominating Brian Stann en-route to a second-round submission victory at UFC 136.However, as impressive as his performance was, it was during his post-fight meeting with Joe Rogan that Sonnen truly made his presence felt.Taking center octagon, the one-time title challenger zeroed in on Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, who sat cage side, issuing a challenge to the pound-for-pound king."Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck," Sonnen
Posted in: silva, sonnen, title challenger, post-fight meeting, cage side
Read the full article at Low KickVictorious Chael Sonnen calls out Anderson Silva: If you win, I'll leave the UFC forever!
After 14 months of absence, People's Champ Chael Sonnen exceeded expectations with a dominant victory over Brian Stann at UFC 136. Sonnen dominated Brian Stann during all three rounds, before finishing fight with a somewhat ironic Arm Triangle victory. But the biggest story of this fight was yet to come.
In his post fight interview with Joe Rogan, Chael Sonnen decided to call out the reigning UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva, who was in attendance at UFC 136. Sonnen's words speak for
Posted in: ufc, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, joe rogan
Read the full article at Low KickUFC 136 Main Card Results - Sonnen Bullies Stann, Calls Out Silva
HOUSTON, October 8 – Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen picked up right where he left off from August of 2010, but this time he left the Octagon with the submission victory, dominating Brian Stann before finishing the “All-American” in the second round. But his fiercest attack was saved for the man who defeated him at UFC 117 last year, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck,” said Sonnen, calling out the champion. “Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in history. But we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I leave the UFC forever.”Sonnen (27-11-1), who had been on the sidelines due to a California State Athletic Commission suspension and a legal issue, immediately closed the gap and locked up with Stann, bulling the Marine Corps vet to the fence. Stann fired off hard shots from close range and looked to be on the verge of escape before Sonnen regained control. Nearly a minute and a half in, Sonnen scored the takedown, landing in side control. In a scramble, Sonnen took Stann’s back and then moved into the mount position briefly, eventually settling into the top position, where he dominated with strikes until the bell sounded.The deceptively fast Oregonian put Stann (11-4) on his back seconds into round two, again getting into the mount position as Stann tried to hold on and force a restart. Midway through the round, he got his wish, and even landed a hard right before getting slammed to the canvas by the swarming Sonnen, who quickly slapped on an arm triangle choke. Stann tried to resist, but Sonnen wasn’t going to be denied, and the tap out came at the 3:51 mark, prompting chants of “Silva, Silva” from the crowd, and a smile from the champion.All that’s left is a rematch.PHAN vs. GARCIAIt took two fights and six rounds, but Nam Phan got his win over Leonard Garcia, reversing the result of their controversial 2010 bout with a three round unanimous decision victory in a rousing 15 minute brawl that left Houston fans begging for more.Scores were 29-28 across the board for Phan, who improves to 17-10; Garcia, who decisioned Phan last December, falls to 19-8-1.With three rounds already in the bank against each other, there was no need for a feeling out process, and Garcia and Phan immediately got to work, with Garcia working his jab and kicks well, and Phan scoring with hard combinations and a jab of his own that jarred his opponent. As the round progressed, there was a pattern similar to that first fight, as Garcia was busier, but Phan was landing with the more accurate and harder blows.Phan’s power shots began to take their toll in round two, with Garcia beginning to get sloppy with his striking as he wildly moved around the Octagon off-balance. With under two minutes left, Garcia looked winded, with his fatigue undoubtedly helped along by Phan’s consistent body shots. Phan stayed cool though, calmly picking Garcia apart with his precision punching.Showing an extreme sense of urgency, Garcia came out winging for round three, eventually hurting and dropping Phan in the second minute. Phan eventually cleared his head though, with a tie up against the fence buying him some precious time. And then it was Phan’s turn, as he started teeing off on the Texan before getting him down to the mat with under two minutes left. With 1:20 remaining, referee Jacob Montalvo stood the fighters up, and Garcia even scored a brief takedown before the two stood and traded until the final bell, drawing another huge roar from the crowd in appreciation for one of the best fights of 2011.“If we come back to Houston, I’ll do number three,” said Garcia.LAUZON vs. GUILLARDIn the main card opener, Joe Lauzon bested Melvin Guillard in a battle of lightweight finishing artists, using his jiu-jitsu game to submit “The Young Assassin” in less than a minute, momentarily derailing Guillard’s title hopes.Guillard roared out of his corner to kick off the bout, but so did Lauzon, and after eating a couple of shots, “J-Lau” rocked Guillard with a straight left. Guillard backpedaled after taking the shot, but his legs still weren’t under him, and he stumbled to the mat. Lauzon pounced and furiously worked for the finish of his groggy opponent. Moments later, he sunk in a rear naked choke, and it was game over for Guillard, who tapped out at the 47 second mark.The loss snapped Guillard’s five fight winning streak, dropping his record to 46-10-3 with 1 NC. Lauzon, who has finished all eight of his UFC wins, improves to 20-6.
Posted in: round, sonnen, stann, phan, garcia
Read the full article at UFC(Pic) UFC 136 "bromance:" Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann, who will reluctantly fight each other at...
(Pic) UFC 136 "bromance:" Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann, who will reluctantly fight each other at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, tomorrow night (Oct. 8, 2011), traveled back to their hotel together on the same bus after the weigh in event earlier this evening. Prior to going to separate rooms (we think) the pair stopped to sign several autographs for the fans. Anyone digging the reserved, mild-mannered Sonnen?
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, tomorrow night, toyota center
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann Dissection
Chael Sonnen, the polarizing, wisecracking wrestler that was one-hundred seconds away from taking Anderson Silva's title, makes his return at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III against rejuvenated middleweight Brian Stann.
After the performance of a lifetime in which he handled the seemingly untouchable Silva for four and a half rounds before succumbing to a triangle, Sonnen was sidelined due to some static with the Nevada and California State Athletic Commissions. His re-entry has been uncharacteristically docile due to his beaming respect for Stann's heroic military honors.
Considered the former, de facto WEC middleweight champion after defeating Paulo Filho -- as the Brazilian's inability to make weight took the belt out of the equation -- Sonnen's debut as a UFC middleweight was unremarkable. Soaring sub-demon Demian Maia not only tapped him in the first, but dressed up the catch by hurling the reputable takedown artist off his feet effortlessly in the clinch.
The MMA populace (myself included) wrote Sonnen off as allergic to submissions and destined to fade into the depths of the division. Thoroughly gratified with each heaping spoonful, the Team Quest standout proceeded to serve up a triple serving of humble pie with commanding wins over Dan Miller and perennial top-contenders Nate Marquardt and Yushin Okami, re-establishing himself among the elite and earning a crack at Silva in the process.
Brian Stann blasted his way up the WEC light-heavyweight ranks with five consecutive first-round knockouts, culminating with a title affair against champion Doug Marshall to attain the 205-pound strap. His first defense of the belt -- a rematch with Steve Cantwell -- would also be he first loss of his career and his only TKO loss to date.
Like Sonnen, Stann's opening run in the Octagon was rather pedestrian: he was finished again, this time via Krzysztof Soszynski's signature kimura, he notched decisions over Rodney Wallace and in a rematch with Cantwell, then found himself buried under the double leg takedowns of Phil Davis. A drop to middleweight rekindled the flames, as three straight stoppages would follow in a submission of Mike Massenzio and vicious knockouts of Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago.
Gifs and analysis in the full entry.
There was no better way to set the tone for a surprise than Sonnen staggering Silva with punches early.
The normally elusive champ stood directly in front of Sonnen with his feet mysteriously planted, absorbing a nicely cast straight-left to the chin.
Sonnen shifted the momentum in his favor thirty-seconds in and never relented until the late turnaround; perhaps throwing the agile kickboxer off by relying on his striking to lead the attack.
Duping Silva into a striking war was the ideal set up to spring his engulfing double legs.
To the left, Sonnen again finds success in simple, straight punches, clearly connecting on most of these punches while the champ continues his abnormal defensive tactics.
Compared to the past, the boxing technique, footwork, balance and head movement that Sonnen shows here signifies some progression.
Silva, who danced around the cage with excessive circling and movement in his previous title defenses, remains stationary and allows himself to be cornered against the cage.
With a well-timed level drop, Sonnen nails the takedown.
A salient statistic from UFC 117 is that Sonnen only secured three of seven takedowns. Going from memory, I would've guessed he hit a half-dozen based on so much time ground time.
That does reinforce how Sonnen maximizes his takedowns by not only holding control on the mat, but pushing the action enough to avoid a referee stand up.
Sonnen is a tenacious workhorse from the top. He almost always slithers to half guard and looks to trap the right arm with his left knee as he does here.
This enables him to freely land a high volume of short, damaging punches from an advantageous perch and he also pursues the arm-triangle from this position.
If no one else has come up with a corny catchphrase for his technique to the left, I'd like to offer my own by coining this "The Windshield Wiper."
Though hardly effective and mostly annoying, it's considerably demoralizing to have a stocky leviathan rag-doll you on the feet and then methodically grind you down with an incessant shower of blows.
At the close of this sequence, Sonnen's left forearm ends up across Silva's face, which leads to another of his favorite one-armed tactics, which is a series of short but stiff forearms. He'll also palm the head to control it before dropping Jeremy Horn-style elbows.
All of Sonnen's true offensive potency revolves around his ability to set up and complete takedowns.
If he can't nail them with timing and quickness alone, he does an excellent job of setting it up with strikes; typically the overhand left as depicted here.
While Silva's footwork and movement was suspiciously lacking, Sonnen's footwork is straight-line effective, especially in that he penetrates deep into the pocket and drives his through his attempts.
He's an intelligent stalker who carefully selects a wise position to spring from so the fence wall prevents escape routes for the defender.
I started looking at Brian Stann in a whole new light when he knocked out Chris Leben, joining the great Anderson Silva as the only fighters to separate "The Crippler" from consciousness with strikes.
He's always been a hard-nosed, athletic specimen, but his drop to 185 seemed to coincide with achieving the next level of his potential.
His military commitments took precedence over his training curriculum in the past, so transitioning to a full-timer at Greg Jackson's is a sensible explanation.
What I found particularly admirable about the Leben KO is that his opponent has staked a reputation for being a feisty brawler with a nearly impervious chin, and Stann flat-out beat him at his own game.
Overwhelming one of the toughest scrappers with raw brutality speaks volumes about his inherent toughness, but his fundamental strides are what made the difference.
In the first gif, Stann holds Leben's head down with the single collar tie and switches to the knee to finish him.
Throughout all of these animations, he makes excellent use of either the whizzer or head control to maintain good balance while dirty boxing and to repel Leben's takedown attempts.
To the right, the key to dropping Leben is the sweet circle under and back to his left during the incoming blitz of punches.
After swatting the big right hook, he lands in side-control when pouncing, then constricts the guillotine due to his head control when Leben stands.
Against Jorge Santiago (right), Stann shows the same sharp pivot to his left to matador Santiago when he bursts forward.
This will pay huge dividends when defending Sonnen's deadly double legs.
I'm sure his stance and strategy in these animations are tailored to striking-oriented opponents and that Team Jackson will tweak his stance, footwork and hand position more towards sprawl-mode.
Such as: having a bigger cushion, keeping his hips back and his guard up but prepared to dig underhooks.
Nitpicking on the sequence to the left, against Sonnen, Stann will need to be either well outside of range to counter-punch and circle when Sonnen shoots or right in his face dropping bombs (in short bursts).
That extended left leg is a perfect target for Sonnen's filthy mitts when he's dropping low, so I'd suggest either opening his stance more, crouching down further or both.
I also like the level at which his punches are landing here. The first one-two is at shoulder-level and the uppercut sequence keeps the lower pocket unfriendly.
The exact same shuffle to his left, while effective again, could be a repetitive pattern that Sonnen picks up on.
If Stann doesn't mix up his angles, Sonnen could easily toss out his overhand left and cut a hard right turn during his takedown attempt.
Though Stann claims to be "falling in love with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu", I'm not sure he can threaten from the bottom.
While Stann can't outwrestle Sonnen, he might have an adequate combination of strength and agility to shake off his fair share of attempts.
Even if he does, winning a decision doesn't seem likely. That leaves a knockout or submission as his alternatives.
I do feel Stann has enough raucous power to clip Sonnen standing and, for that reason alone, feel he has a decent shot here. While Sonnen's stand up and takedown set ups have improved, the singular threat is the takedown. Stann's shown a decent enough chin to err on the safe side by taking some punches rather than defending them over the takedown.
I'm in line with the betting odds giving Sonnen a slight push. Unfortunately, Stann was taken down rather easily by Mike Massenzio; many times throwing leg kicks that the wrestler happily scooped up, other times just unable to fend it off. He could have all the tools to adjust his footwork and takedown defense to score an upset, but he just hasn't showed them so far.
My Prediction: Chael Sonnen by decision
Sonnen vs. Silva gifs via Caposa
All others via Zombie Prophet of IronForgesIron.com
Poll
Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen
Brian Stann
5 votes | Results
Posted in: takedown, silva, punch, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen: The Most Interesting Man in the World
Chael Sonnen: The Most Interesting Man in the World
Posted in:  , chael sonnen, sonnen, man, chael
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136: Chael Sonnen Denies Gameplanning for Brian Stann
Matt Roth's been running around Houston, Texas this week, covering UFC 136 for MMA Nation. He got himself in the media scrum with Chael Sonnen following Sonnen's open workout yesterday. Roth has a great writeup over at Nation, but he left out my favorite Sonnen quote for the video:
I don't do gameplans. Listen, guys. You can take all these guys with their eighth education and their gold teeth trying to sit around and break down a fight. This is the most unsophisticated and un-well-thoughtout thing you need to do in life. Two half-naked men are gonna get in a steel cage and fight for the applause of a drunken rowdy crowd in Houston, Texas, on a Saturday night. We don't need to plan for this.
Like anything Chael says leading up to a fight, the truthiness of his statement is up for debate. Then again, when you're MMA game is based on the power wrestling blueprint Mark Coleman laid out over a decade ago, there might not be much need for serious gameplanning.
Posted in: fight, sonnen,   nation, un-well-thoughtout thing,   writeup
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136: Gray Maynard, Kenny Florian, and Chael Sonnen are in 'do or die' situations
Bruce Buffer announced the third judge's score as 47-47. 10 months later, UFC President Dana White said that regardless of the outcome of the UFC 136 main event, a fourth bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard would not be considered.
The 155-pound division was cut down the middle twice by The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 1 runner-up Kenny Florian but he came up short when he stepped inside the Octagon opposite Sean Sherk. The announcement of the three judges' scores echoed in "KenFlo's" three taps when B.J. Penn wrapped his arm around the challenger's neck. Two opportunities to become a champion, two times Florian left the Octagon empty-handed.
Having spent 22 minutes brutalizing and dominating middleweight champ Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen found himself on the verge of accomplishing what many thought would never happen. A triangle choke led to the end of the bout and a loss while a highly suspect testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) regimen led to a suspension for the Republican wrestler.
These three men -- Maynard, Florian, and Sonnen -- all took different routes to get to tomorrow's (Oct. 8) event, but a loss for any of them amounts to the same fate.
Each faces the same ultimatum: win or risk never getting a title shot again.
"The Bully" spent over three years toiling away and had to earn eight wins before getting a title shot against a man he had already beaten. This was likely because his dominant, stifling style likely didn't earn him fans in the UFC office. While Maynard's rival Edgar wasn't known as a finishing machine himself, the New Jersey-native still managed to thrill fans when he stepped inside the Octagon.
A lot of those fans labeled Maynard a stereotypical wrestler and at worst, a blanket. He became the Jon Fitch of the 155-pound division: no one seemed able to stop him but despite continuing to win, a swelling of fan support never came.
Florian --having spent his season on TUF as a middleweight -- quickly dropped to 170-pounds and then finally settled at lightweight. Well-spoken, well-known, and well-trained, he was the perfect candidate to challenge for the long-vacant 155-pound title. The belt hadn't been worn since Jens Pulver left the promotion the first time and a four-man tournament in which the finals ended in a draw effectively killed the division for a couple of years.
But another recent drop down to lightweight stood in his way. Sean Sherk -- who was built like a human tank -- had taken Matt Hughes to the limit at 170-pounds and at 15 pounds lighter, it seemed like he would be unstoppable. Florian was able to use one of his patented elbows to slice his opponent open early but "The Muscle Shark" would not be denied.
It took "KenFlo" six more wins to get back to a title shot. This time around, it was Penn -- who had finally fulfilled his destiny in becoming the lightweight king we all knew him to be -- who smashed the TUF veteran's dreams of wearing championship gold.
Florian would have gotten a third opportunity if he had beaten Maynard at UFC 118.
Sonnen went from a wrestler who couldn't defend a submission to save his life to somehow working his way to a shot at Anderson Silva's middleweight title. He surprisingly beat Yushin Okami and then even more surprisingly bested Nate Marquardt. But perhaps the most shocking of all Sonnen's accomplishments was the over 20-minute beatdown he handed "The Spider" in August of last year.
It was in the build up to the UFC 117 main event that polarized Sonnen amongst MMA fans. He was either a racially insensitive hate monger or a modern day carnival barker, saying whatever it took to get you to buy a ticket to his show. In the end, over half a million people did and they were treated to quite a fight.
The Team Quest member fought as perfectly as he could have hope to and came within minutes of winning but came up short. Even some of his most ardent critics felt a rematch should be in order. Those who still vilified him were justified in doing so when a shady TRT treatment earned Sonnen a year-long suspension and a heavy fine. Money laundering charges from a real estate scheme was icing on the cake.
It seems tomorrow all three men have reached the end of their ropes. A loss for any man would be devastating and would likely ensure their remaining days would be spent as name talent a newcomer could get a win over.
Maynard's style kept him from a title shot for years already. There's no indication it won't again. Florian would be zero for three in title fights and would solidify his reputation as being good but not great. Sonnen would be shrugged off as a loudmouth who had his moment in the sun but needed some medical help and a Silva rib injury to get there.
None of these men are getting any younger. "The Bully" celebrated his 32nd birthday this year while Florian and Sonnen are 35 and 34-years old respectively. Time is not on their side.
And with a loss tomorrow, time will have run out.
Posted in: title shot, title, florian, sonnen, maynard
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136's Chael Sonnen: 'I think I'm the most respectful guy in this sport'
HOUSTON - In many ways, Chael Sonnen makes it too easy for reporters.
Ask a few questions, and you have a headline-worthy sound bite, a boastful prediction, a claim that flies in the face of conventional wisdom, and then a stealthy compliment that makes you think the outspoken fighter really isn't all that bad.
For Sonnen, it's just another day on the job as MMA's most unique personality.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, claim, chael, headline-worthy sound
Read the full article at MMA JunkieChael Sonnen admits that nobody wants to fight "vicious competitor" Brian Stann
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who meets Brian Stann this Saturday night, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Sonnen admits that nobody wants to fight Stann, who he says is both a "nice human being" and "vicious competitor," but insists he will not lay down or back down for anyone inside of the octagon.
Posted in: saturday night, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, fight stann
Read the full article at Low KickIt's true, Chael Sonnen is the most interesting man on the planet
Chael Sonnen approaches the English language as if every word stole his grade-school lunch and the only way he can exert revenge is to combine the most whimsical expressions and aim it directly at one person, usually Anderson Silva. Sometimes Chael can just exist in this universe and people will still consider him the most interesting man on the planet. We know this because there's a nifty trailer dedicated just to Chael Sonnen. This weekend, we will see if all of that pent-up angst will aid him in his effort to defeat Brian Stann at UFC 136. However, just to reaffirm how interesting of a person Sonnen is, MrUFCTrailers made a promo to further back your previous assumption (of how amazing Chael Sonnen truly is).
Posted in: anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, person sonnen
Read the full article at Middle Easy5 Oz. MMA Link Club
Welcome back to another edition of “MMA Link Club”, Five Ounces of Pain‘s weekly smorgasbord of offerings from our brothers and sisters in the MMA community. This week we’ve offered up a double-dose of MMA-related goodness based on all the excellent material out there to choose from. Enjoy…
Jeremy Stephens’ Latest Video Blog Before Facing Anthony Pettis at UFC 136 (LowKick.com)
Mark Hominick Ready to Carry on the Legacy of Shawn Tompkins (Fightline.com)
UFC Featherweight Jason Young Doesn’t Care What Michihiro Omigawa Has Done in the Past (MMATraining.com)
Bellator Ring Girl Mercedes Terrell Looking Fantastic As Always (CagePotato.com)
It’s the Sport’s Most Interesting Man – Chael Sonnen (MMAMania.com)
A Look at What Flyweights Have to Offer the UFC (MMAConvert.com)
A History of MMA in the Nation’s Capital (TheFightNerd.com)
Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz Set for Spike TV Prelims at UFC 139 (Fighters.com)
Dana White Issues a Challenge to Kenny Florian (5thRound.com)
Zuffa Shows Sense of Humor with New UFC 136 Promo (MMAPayout.com)
Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen in a High Stakes Scrap this Weekend (NBCSports.com)
Sonnen Says He Was Penalized for Using a Legal Substance (FightOpinion.com)
25 “Can’t Miss” Fights Coming Up in the Next Three Months (BleacherReport.com)
A Conversation with Dana White on All Things UFC Live 6 and Beyond (MMAFighting.com)
MMA in a Castle. Seriously. (MiddleEasy.com)
A Look Back at UFC Live 6 and Ahead to UFC 136 (FightLinker.com)
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, mma, video blog, sonnen, michihiro omigawa
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBrian Stann Thinks Win Over Chael Sonnen Should Earn Him Title Fight
Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, News, VideosHOUSTON -- MMA Fighting spoke to Brian Stann on Thursday about his UFC 136 fight against Chael Sonnen, whether he thinks middleweights don't want to fight him, his thoughts on fighting Sonnen and whether he thinks he deserves a title shot if he wins on Saturday night.
Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: fight, title shot, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUFC 136: Chael Sonnen is the most interesting man in the world (Video)
Chael Sonnen will look to defend his status as "the most interesting man in the world" by taking on the most decorated fighter in the world, Marine Corps medalist Brian Stann, at UFC 136 this Saturday night (Oct. 8) in Houston.
I don't always watch UFC pay-per-views, but when I do, it's with Chael Sonnen.
Posted in: world, saturday night, chael sonnen, sonnen, ufc pay-per-views
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen Is Still The Most Interesting Man In The World
Love these…
Posted in: world, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, love
Read the full article at MMA ConvertUFC 136: Time Aplenty for Chael Sonnen Despite Competition for Contention
A couple of weeks ago, one might be hard pressed to find articles that weren't focusing solely on the UFC 136 main event title showdown between Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar. Kenny Florian's name has popped up from time to time as he's knocking on retirement's door, yet has been dubbed a fighter who has all the tools to take the strap from featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. Surprisingly, former UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen has had a subdued presence, only having the spotlight long enough to insult Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Travis Browne. In fact, we might be hard pressed to find casual fans who actually knew he was fighting this weekend.
There isn't a mountain of evidence suggesting that Sonnen has vaulted himself into a role as a sure-fire pay-per-view draw. We do know that his trash-talking ways create intrigue among fans, mostly playing the heel role in fights and backing his ridiculous claims up with pure violence. So, why has Sonnen been the third wheel in the promotion of this card?
The obvious answer is his opponent, Brian Stann. The real life American Hero is about as wholesome and honorable as a man could be in the fight game. Sonnen's vitriol, for the most part, has been reserved for fighters he has no respect for, and Stann doesn't fit that profile. Naturally, Sonnen has kept his mouth shut because he truly respects Stann as a figther. To Stann's credit, winning three of his last four fights has given him this much deserved opportunity.
The lacking promotion of Sonnen in the lead-up to UFC 136 has led to speculation regarding his progression back to the top of UFC's middleweight division. Ideally, an impressive performance against Stann would catapult him back into contention to face Anderson Silva once again. UFC President Dana White, however, threw a curveball at the assumed progression, stating Dan Henderson's return to the UFC and scheduled bout with Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua may have bigger implications. Sonnen's lessened presence on the card isn't doing him any favors, and he can't exactly flip the switch and go into heel mode on Brian Stann.
Henderson not only has a higher profile fight against a former UFC champion, he's also has an impressive run of highlight reel knockouts in recent memory, one of those being against Fedor Emelianenko. Sonnen has been out since August of last year due to a variety of out-of-the-cage problems. He tested positive for elevated levels of testosterone after his fifth round submission loss to Anderson Silva, claiming he was authorized to have testosterone replacement therapy. If that weren't enough, he took a plea deal as a result of money laundering charges brought against him. He was fined $10,000 and sentenced to two years probation. If we compare those status updates over the course of the last year, Henderson makes a little more sense, don't you think?
Let's also not factor out the fact that Henderson is 41 years of age. We have no idea when his body will succumb to old age. Sonnen is 34, and while he's at an age in which athletes begin to wither away -- he has far more time than Henderson. The UFC obviously wants to strike while the iron is hot with both fighters. Henderson is the right call if he can beat Rua, and Sonnen... Sonnen has plenty of enemies that would fit perfectly into his plan to reassert himself as the grand heel of them all atop the UFC's middleweight division if he gets past Stann.
Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Michael Bisping come to mind. Can you imagine?
Posted in: ufc, silva, henderson, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowUFC 136 Breakdown: The Undercard
If there were ever any lingering doubts as to the importance of marquee superstars in the sport of MMA, this Saturday’s UFC 136 will serve as a useful — but perhaps unfortunate — reminder. On the whole, this card is light-years superior to its PPV predecessor, UFC 135. And yet, despite two championship bouts complimented by a stellar undercard, this weekend’s event isn’t generating the kind of hype worthy of a show of this magnitude. Nevertheless, from top to bottom, UFC 136 offers arguably the most robust lineup of mouth-watering fights we’ve seen this year.
Before Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard settle the score once and for all, and before Kenny Florian tries to capitalize on what could be his last opportunity to taste that ever-elusive UFC gold, Chael Sonnen returns to the cage for the first time since his heartbreaking loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 117, Melvin Guillard bids to take another step towards title contention, and Nam Phan will hope to gain a measure of revenge in a rematch of 2010′s worst piece of injustice.
Preliminary Predictions
* Mike Massenzio to defeat Steve Cantwell by Decision
* Aaron Simpson to defeat Eric Schafer by Decision
* Zhang Tie Quan t0 defeat Darren Elkins by Submission in Round 2
* Joey Beltran to defeat Stipe Miocic by TKO in Round 3
* Anthony Pettis to defeat Jeremy Stephens by Decision
* Demian Maia to defeat Jorge Santiago by Decision
Featherweight Fight: Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan
Following a criminal split decision win for Garcia at last year’s TUF 12 Finale, it was only right for both fighters’ paths to cross once again. What Garcia will bring to the table is hardly a secret: he will move forward aggressively, throw plenty of wild haymakers, load up on every hook, and sneak in the occasional uppercut. When he’s not doing that, Garcia likes to throw plenty of head kicks, and sometimes mixes things up by punching the body. A stout chin means Garcia can afford to employ such a reckless approach, and for one reason or another, judges seem to be appreciative.
Phan will be the more technical fighter, and the first fight saw him blend some sharp combinations with accurate counter-punching and especially, the body shots that have become a staple throughout his career. While his body kick is effective, it is the left hook to the liver that is Phan’s most lethal weapon, and Garcia needs to be wary of that fact. Phan’s main weaknesses are his takedown defense and his inability to fight off his back. Recently however, Phan has improved his ability to regain his feet after being taken down, and this will be essential for him moving forward, as he doesn’t offer up much from the bottom and is prone to being positionally dominated. Phan will not have to worry about any of that for this bout, as despite some sparse takedown attempts aimed to “gain points”, Garcia doesn’t shoot with any conviction, and will generally not be interested to take this one to the ground.
Expect the fight to pan out very similarly their first encounter, where each fighter has his moments, but it is ultimately Phan who will be the more effective striker. Garcia will throw plenty of haymakers that are likely to hit air or land on Phan’s arms, while the latter will pick his spots, counter, and finish many of his combinations with trademark body blows. Hopefully, the judges get it right this time around.
Official Prediction: Nam Phan to defeat Leonard Garcia by Decision
Lightweight Fight: Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon
In an odd piece of match-making, Melvin Guillard, riding a huge wave of momentum, takes on Joe Lauzon, fresh off his win over Curt Warburton. Why Guillard wasn’t paired up with another title contender remains a mystery, but he will need to perform to the best of his abilities regardless.
Lauzon is one of the most dangerous fighters in the division for the first five minutes, but he’s as pedestrian as they come from the second round onwards. His cardio problems have been especially glaring in his losses to Sam Stout and George Sotiropoulos, as in both instances, Lauzon won the opening frame before fading away. Undoubtedly, Lauzon will need to put Guillard on his back and utilize his excellent top game. Moreover, he needs to polish him off with a submission early, before the usual conditioning issues start kicking in. Lauzon’s wrestling isn’t particularly great, but he possesses some good throws and takedowns from the clinch. Attempting them however, means having to get past Guillard’s reach and within his firing range; a perilous proposition for any fighter in the division. Furthermore, Guillard’s athleticism and ever-improving takedown defense will make life very difficult for his opponent. Lauzon’s best bet will be to try to initiate a scramble and secure a dominant position from there — something that he excels at — as conventional takedowns will be difficult to secure. Holding Guillard down will be an even more arduous task as “The Young Assassin” does a terrific job at regaining his vertical base.
Should Lauzon manage to stay on top for any significant period of time, expect a frantic pace highlighted by some sharp elbows, effortless guard passing, and constant submission attempts. He likes to go for kimuras from side control and armbars from full mount, and Guillard needs to be prepared to defend. More importantly, Guillard needs to avoid leaving his neck exposed during scrambles, as it has cost him in the past.
On the other hand, if — as expected — Guillard manages to stay off his back, the fight is his for the taking. He is the much superior striker in terms of power, speed, and technical ability. His last two bouts saw him show some tremendous counter-punching ability, which serves as a great addition to his repertoire. In addition, Guillard possesses one of the most diverse striking arsenals in the division.Whether it is his favorite left hook/right uppercut combo, brutal body shots, or devastating knees, Guillard is a joy to watch when he puts it all together. He is especially good at taking opponents by surprise in close-quarters by going to the body, and the effects are usually felt immediately. Improving further are Guillard’s footwork and head movement, which will serve him well to counter Lauzon’s aggressive approach on the feet, as Guillard’s light-footed stance as well as his ability to slip punches will allow him to frustrate his opponent, control the distance, and thus render takedowns even more difficult.
It is hard to pick against Melvin Guillard at the moment, especially when he stylistically matches up so well with his opponent. Lauzon, though the vastly superior grappler, will find it hard to put Guillard down, and the Greg Jackson pupil will add yet another impressive finish to his highlight reel.
Official Prediction: Melvin Guillard to defeat Joe Lauzon by TKO in Round 1
Middleweight Fight: Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
After enduring one of the most surprising rises up the middleweight ranks, and one of the quickest and most eventful falls in recent memory, Chael Sonnen finally returns to the Octagon in a bid to earn a second shot at the man he almost dethroned over a year ago, Anderson Silva. But before the Oregon loudmouth is able to get his hands on “The Spider” once more, he needs to deal with one of the most improving fighters in the division in Brian Stann.
Ever since dropping down in weight following his loss to Phil Davis, Stann has been on an absolute tear. Almost every aspect of his game is noticeably improved, and the results have come accordingly. Stann’s striking has quickly become one of the most dangerous in the division. On the outside, Stann will look to chomp down on his opponent with repeated leg kicks, and will occasionally switch it up by throwing one to the body. That is going to be tricky strategy against Sonnen, as the Team Quest veteran has exquisite timing on his takedowns. How Stann fights on the outside could be the difference maker in this one, as he needs to keep his distance to avoid being planted on his back. Therein lies the problem for the former Marine, as Stann’s best offense comes from the inside, and trying to get into close-quarters exchanges without being taken down will be difficult.
Stann’s best punch is his right cross, and it will be his best bet against Sonnen. He possesses a very good left hook as well, but he needs to find range on both punches without having to get on the inside. To Stann’s credit, he does a good job at countering with those particular strikes, and he will need to make Sonnen pay for every rust-induced mistake. Stann’s clinch work has also improved tremendously, and should he have Sonnen hurt, we could see some brutal knees to both the head and body.
Of course, the most pivotal issue will be Stann’s takedown defense, as while improved, it is still very suspect, especially against a wrestler of Sonnen’s caliber. Mike Massenzio was able to take Stann down quite liberally in their encounter a year ago, but it was the Team Jackson product’s improving bottom game that saved the day, as he landed a late triangle to snatch the come-from-behind victory. Of course, Sonnen is suspect to getting caught by submissions from the bottom, but as off late, he only seems to get submitted by very good grapplers. One fatal flaw in Sonnen’s takedowns is that he almost always leaves his neck exposed, and he frequently finds himself locked in a guillotine as a result. That is an element that Stann and his team have no doubt been working on, but in Sonnen’s defense, he rarely gets outright finished by the choke, and usually finds a way to escape.
Despite his rightful reliance on his wrestling, Sonnen is much improved as an overall MMA fighter. His striking has become quite solid, highlighted by a surprisingly quick left cross. Additionally, Sonnen has always possessed a very good chin and has never been stopped with strikes. This has historically allowed him to aggressively move forward, eat some shots, but get the takedown anyway. And that will be the difference-maker in this fight, as unless Stann absolutely pulverizes Sonnen with a fight-ending shot, he will find himself on his back repeatedly, as Sonnen’s takedowns and diverse wrestling will prove too much. Whether he’s getting underhooks in the clinch and slamming his opponent down or driving double legs right through him, Sonnen’s wrestling will ultimately be the decisive factor.
Stann will have his moments, and he would be smart to throw plenty of elbows from the bottom in an attempt to cut Sonnen up, but the man who pushed Anderson Silva to the very limit will get the competitive — but decisive — win.
Official Prediction: Chael Sonnen to defeat Brain Stann by Decision
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: takedown, guillard, sonnen, lauzon, stann
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainChael Sonnen: Tell Anderson Silva I will pat his wife on the ass and have her make me a steak
I get the feeling Chael Sonnen really wants to fight Anderson Silva (again).
That could explain his obsession with calling out the reigning 185-pound champion, who survived four-and-a-half rounds of abuse before submitting Sonnen with a triangle choke at UFC 117 back in August 2010.
The mouthy middleweight mudslinger was a recent guest on The MMA Show and told host Mauro Ranallo (via Middle Easy) to relay a message to "The Spider," which sounded more like the threat of home invasion, but let's not argue about semantics.
"You tell Anderson Silva I'm coming over and I'm kicking down his backdoor and patting his little lady on the ass and I'm telling her to make me a steak, medium-rare just how I like it."
So far we have trespassing, breaking and entering, assault, and excellent taste.
Sonnen's trip to Brazil may depend on the outcome of UFC 136, where he's currently booked to throw hands opposite Marine Corps crusher Brian Stann on Oct. 8 in Houston.
It's the All-American wrestler versus the "All-American."
No word yet on whether or not Peter Luger will be the official sponsor of Silva vs. Sonnen II, but if the Spider camp does respond, don't expect it to be in jest.
Stay tuned.
Posted in: silva, sonnen, anderson, all-american wrestler, spider camp
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136 Chael Sonnen Live Chat
Filed under: UFCUFC fighter Chael Sonnen will return to the Octagon for the first time in 16 months when he faces Brian Stann on Saturday at UFC 136, but before he does he'll take some time out of his schedule to chat with MMAFighting.com readers on Thursday afternoon.
Our Chael Sonnen live chat is your opportunity to ask him whatever you want to know about his fighting career, his fight with Stann, his feud with Anderson Silva or anything else.
The chat starts Thursday at 2 PM ET below.
<a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php/option=com_mobile/task=viewaltcast/altcast_code=fd6aaae498" >Chael Sonnen MMAFighting.com Live Chat</a> Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: sonnen, chat, chael, thursday afternoon, chat &
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseBrian Stann: “I can knock Chael Sonnen out with any punch.”
Brian Stann has never been known as a trash-talker. A decorated Marine who is generally seen as one of MMA’s most respectful, highest-character athletes, the 31-year old middleweight rarely, if ever, has anything negative to say about his opponents.
Stann has stayed true to form during the build towards this weekend’s match-up at UFC 136 with Chael Sonnen, often mentioning Sonnen’s outstanding technique and overall tenacity as a competitor. However, when asked recently about how his striking stacks up against Sonnen’s, the 11-3 Stann offered a frank assessment that in some circles might be seen as atypical of his normal behavior and viewed by others as another example of him genuinely voicing something be believes in his heart.
“I feel that I’ll be the best prepared fighter he’s fought in quite some time,” Stann explained in an interview with the UFC’s website after stating he felt Sonnen had never actually lost a round other than those he’d been finished in. “I have gone into very uncomfortable positions, I’ve brought in the people I needed to bring in to learn how to compete in certain areas that he may try and put me in. And there’s the obvious biggest difference as well, in that I can knock Sonnen out with any punch.”
Stann Unafraid of What Sonnen Has to Offer
“If you watch my last two fights, I feel I have some of the best handspeed in the middleweight division, and I’m a lot stronger than those guys, physically stronger, so he’s gonna have to really work to get me to the mat and he’s gonna have to work the entire time to keep me on the mat,” the Jackson’s MMA team-member continued. “I’m not gonna lay there, close my guard and just hug him, hoping the ref is gonna stand us up. And I believe I can hit him harder from my back then he can hit me on top. And I’ll put my money where my mouth is on that.”
Regardless of outcome, Stann appears content with simply having an opportunity to test himself against someone with Sonnen’s reputation and accomplishments, saying he didn’t even expect to draw an adversary of his ilk for another year.
“The best part is, I’ve got nothing to lose. I’m the underdog coming into this fight and there’s zero pressure on me. I can fight a hundred miles an hour; he’s got to be concerned with the amount of pressure he’s put on himself. He’s the older fighter, he’s got to get back to a title fight…I feel a lot of these things are going to play into my favor and I know I’m gonna go out there and surprise a lot of people.”
Fans can tune in to see Stann and Sonnen battle it out on the main card of UFC 136 starting at 9:00 PM EST.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC / VIDEO CREDIT – HEAVYMMA
Tweet
Posted in: i ’m, “ i, chael sonnen, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at Fighters.comUFC 136 Head-to-Head Preview: The Non-Championship Fights
MMAFrenzy’s pre-fight coverage of UFC 136 continues with our head-to-head preview of the non-championship bouts of UFC 136. MMAFrenzy will take a look at what each fighter will be looking to do to win Saturday night.
UFC 136 takes place Saturday night in Houston, Texas and is headlined by the second rematch of UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. The card will be co-headlined by a UFC featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian.
Chael Sonnen versus Brian Stann
Keys for Sonnen- with Dana White recently promising a title shot to the winner of Sonnen-Stann, motivation for Chael to win will be even higher. Not that Chael needed help with that, nor is it that surprising that a title shot is on the line, but it certainly helps. So how does Sonnen beat Stann? Well it is actually quite simple… keep doing what has worked and not do what has not.
Sonnen’s strengths are also his weaknesses however, that applies outside the octagon as well, and that is what he has to make sure to avoid. Sonnen storms his opponent with all the subtlety of a wounded bull in a china shop and while this should not work, it works for him. The reason it does is because Sonnen has a method to his madness, when he storms his opponents with strikes it is all in an attempt to get the fighter looking high when he plans to shoot for the legs and impose his will on the ground.
Sonnen’s recent quote saying “In what parallel scoring system do you punch a man 300 times, he hits you 11 times, wraps his legs around your head for eight seconds and they declare him the winner?” is in many ways a referendum on his career in general and not just the Anderson Silva fight. The irony in that statement is that in nearly all combat sports, and this is especially true in wrestling, it only matters what the score was if you make it to the end of the match. Sonnen’s biggest issue is that in nearly every fight he has lost, he has been winning before making an aggression-based mistake.
While Stann may not be known for his grappling but his one submission of a very good grappler (Mike Massenzio) is impressive and showed the evolution of his ground game with the help of Coach Greg Jackson and Master Roberto Traven. So Sonnen cannot relax as both men have prepared Stann to be prepared for this thing to go sideways at times and we all know that Stann is cool under pressure.
In the end, Sonnen is his own worst enemy here. The biggest problem for him is that in order to correct his past mistakes it involves him dialing back on the aggression that has him where he is. Sonnen is unwilling, and should not do that. Sonnen has a lot of questions after the long layoff, a convincing win against an up-and-comer will go a long way to answer the critics.
Keys for Stann- It may not seem ideal, but one thing Stann can do against Sonnen is meet him in the middle and beat the former number one contender to the punch. Sonnen often charges forward with wild and winging punches. So if Stann can clip Sonnen as he is winding up he can disrupt his rythm and launch counters of his own. The trick is that Stann has to land a few shots and then immediately move before Sonnen can take him down. This means you cannot be over-aggressive and that you often have to sacrifice a kill shot for good footing. This takes a lot of discipline and often seems counter-intuitive as a fighter. It is the right move though.
If, and likely when, this fight hits the ground. It is important to maintain an active guard against Sonnen. The more active the guard, the more time Sonnen is forced to defend and the less time he can spend hitting you. The other upside there is that wears Sonnen down. Stann has worked hard as a fighter and, much like his WEC/Jackson’s MMA brethren Carlos Condit, his game has grown exponentially since joing the UFC. While Stann’s ground game is largely forgotten, it is there, and he has trained with many of the best in MMA to develop it. Stann staying active with the guard while looking to chain submissions could more than frustrate Sonnen and even lead to the second submission victory of Stann’s career.
For Stann, poise in the face of an onslaught and attacking when the chance presents itself is the key the longer this fight goes.
Melvin Guillard versus Joe Lauzon
Keys for Guillard- Guillard is arguably on the best run of his career right now, with his name becoming very popular to throw around in title shot discussions. Guillard is arguably the fastest fighter at lightweight, which benefits his explosive striking and wrestling. Guillard has an advantage in the striking game with that speed and power, as he can pepper Lauzon from the outside and maneuver for a killshot better than most. It may seem counter intuitive for Guillard to take down Lauzon but I expect Guillard to at least use the takedown to disrupt Lauzon’s timing and possibly finish the fight. If Guillard seizes control of where and when the exchanges occur, he should be able to win a victory in violent fashion. If he lets Lauzon tie him up and slow the fight down, the fight could become a coinflip like his fight with Jeremy Stephens.
Keys for Lauzon- Joe Lauzon will attempt to derail the considerable momentum that Melvin Guillard has built up this Saturday. The key for Lauzon is to avoid unnecessary striking exchanges against a very explosive striker but not just dive into bad shots, which expose him to further damage. Lauzon has the ground game to match up with most lightweights in the UFC and that is where he should try to keep this fight. If he adopts a heavyweight boxing style striking attack for this fight, he has a better chance to get it to the ground via takedown or by using the cage. By heavyweight boxing style, I am not referring to any particular punch but rather the pattern of firing a combination and then clinching. The combo is not nearly as important as the effective clinch. The more time this fight spends on the ground, the better chance he has of winning.
Nam Phan versus Leonard Garcia
Keys for Phan- This one is pretty easy… technique Garcia to death and avoid the brawl. Garcia is at his worst against guys who choose to avoid the brawl and stick closely to a “stick and move” game plan (ala Mark Hominick). Phan is sometimes a slow starter, and Garcia comes out swinging, so if Phan avoids getting too far behind early he should be able to pull out a victory. If Garcia starts putting Phan on his heels, Phan may begin shooting for takedowns. If Phan does that, there is no reason he should not get the win unless the judges decide they do not like him… again. Of course Phan could always take the fight out of the hands of the judges, but with Garcia only being finished twice in his career (both due to subs) that is easier said than done. Phan’s UFC career is likely on the line here, so if by the third he is trailing on the scorecards I expect him to throw everything that is not tied down at Garcia.
Keys for Garcia- Garcia needs to make this fight so ugly that hipsters buy it and call it “vintage.” Garcia is one of those fighters whose ability to entertain has often exceeded his technical prowess. Garcia has been a Zuffa mainstay, going 6-6-1, since his first UFC stint starting at the infamous UFC 69 in Houston, Texas but a bad loss could lead to the end of that relationship. With that said, it is highly unlikely that Garcia will put on a poor performance in his rematch with Phan. Hopefully, Garcia learned through his rematch with Chan Sung Jung that you do have to change some things in a rematch. Garcia must be careful not to chase too much against Phan and if the fight goes to the ground he must use the ground game. Garcia trains out of Jackson’s Gym, so hopefully he decides to use whatever game plan Jackson gives him and does not just resort to brawling.
For complete coverage of UFC 136, stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.
Posted in: ufc, fight, sonnen, stann, garcia
Read the full article at MMA FrenzyUFC 136 fight card: Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann preview
The UFC will decide the next man to challenge for Anderson Silva's middleweight title this Saturday night (October 8, 2011) as former number one contender Chael Sonnen takes on ex-WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann on the UFC 136 main card.
Sonnen is finally returning to the Octagon after a 14 month layoff due to a bonanza of issues. He's been campaigning for another crack at Anderson Silva ever since the post-fight press conference at UFC 117 and he's now one fight away from getting that opportunity.
Brian Stann is an American hero, an Iraq war veteran and he's brought some fresh blood into the UFC middleweight title picture with back-to-back knockouts of both Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. He'll definitely turn some heads if he can put a halt to Sonnen, who's widely considered the number two middleweight on the planet.
Will Sonnen do what he does best and pound Stann with a plethora of takedowns? Can "The All-American" smack down the politician on the national stage? Who will win their primary this Saturday night and force their opponent to concede?
Chael Sonnen
Record: 25-11-1 overall, 4-4 in the UFC
Key Wins: Yushin Okami (UFC 104), Nate Marquardt (UFC 109), Jason Miller (HFP 1)
Key Losses: Anderson Silva (UFC 117), Demian Maia (UFC 95)
How he got here: Oh boy, Chael Sonnen has had a long and storied history in mixed martial arts. He was an All-American at Oregon, was a national champion in Greco Roman wrestling and was an Olympic alternate. His first real fight was against "Mayhem" Miller, in which he ground out a decision with his wrestling.
The story of Sonnen's entire career has been his ability to use his wrestling to defeat opponents while coming up short occasionally to tough submission fighters. Jeremy Horn famously beat him on three separate occasions, twice by submission and once from a cut. Sonnen also fell short to the likes of Forrest Griffin and Renato Sobral in his pre-UFC days.
After dropping a tough loss to Paulo Filho for the WEC middleweight title, Sonnen rebounded to hand Bryan Baker his first career loss and then beat Filho in a rematch, although the champion had failed to make weight (and also saw invisible people).
Sonnen lost his first fight in the UFC to Demian Maia via, you guessed it, submission in the first round but he bounced back strongly with solid victories over top contenders Yushin Okami and Nate Marquardt to earn a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. In his title fight against "The Spider," Sonnen refused to back down and was minutes away from a dominant decision victory before Silva wrapped him up in a triangle choke and forced the tap.
The Oregonian tested positive for testosterone after the fight and has been dealing with suspension and other issues this past year before finally getting a crack at Brian Stann where the winner will earn a title shot.
How he gets it done: Chael Sonnen has a terrific ability of being aggressive with his striking because he knows his opponents are very concerned about the takedown. He's been able to outstrike just about everyone he's fought because of this. If his opponents get flustered and try to open up, he puts the fear into the back of their minds by diving in with his wrestling.
Sonnen has a terrific double leg, single leg and high crotch takedowns. He clearly possesses some of the best MMA wrestling on the planet and he throws a ton of strikes once he has his opponent on the ground. They may not be heavily damaging blows, but they accumulate and Sonnen never gets tired.
He will push the pace of this fight, pressing Brian Stann in the striking, clinch and especially on the ground. If Stann gets a little too antsy in the stand-up and starts tagging him, Sonnen always has that terrific shot in his back pocket. Being able to control where the fight takes place is incredibly vital.
Sonnen knows exactly how hard Brian Stann hits so don't expect him to stand with "The All-American" for long. He wants to get in deep, bury his head in Stann's chest and blast him into the canvas. That's the best way to neutralize someone's powerful punches and he knows it.
Brian Stann
Record: 11-3 overall, 5-2 in the UFC
Key Wins: Chris Leben (UFC 125), Jorge Santiago (UFC 132), Mike Massenzio (UFC on Versus 2)
Key Losses: Phil Davis (UFC 109), Krzysztof Soszynski (UFC 97)
How he got here: If you really want the long (and highly entertaining version) check out Stann's book, Heart for the Fight, but for the condensed version, "The All-American" was a linebacker for the Navy, got interested in fighting while in the marines and would fight whenever he'd come home from Iraq, where he was a highly decorated officer.
Stann fought admirably in the WEC light heavyweight division, winning the title in just his sixth professional fight before Zuffa consolidated the division but he had trouble with the bigger, stronger light heavyweights in the UFC. After a 2-2 stint in the division, Stann made the decision to drop to the middleweight division.
As a 185-pounder, he now had a size and strength advantage over his opponents that he didn't have at 205. The ex-marine was able to showcase his new well-rounded skills with a triangle victory over Mike Massenzio and then followed it up by cracking Chris Leben's granite chin at UFC 125 with a first round technical knockout victory. Stann called out Wanderlei Silva but happily settled for Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago at UFC 132, defeating "The Sandman" by technical knockout in the second round.
The victory over Santiago put him in title contention and he has been matched up against Chael Sonnen in a number one contender's fight this Saturday night.
How he gets it done: First thing's first, Stann absolutely needs to keep this fight standing. Chael Sonnen is going to try to take him down early and often. Stann has been working tirelessly with top wrestling coaches like John Bardis and Israel Martinez in the last year to get him up to speed in the grappling arts. He needs to make sure to throw his strikes with enough power to do damage without leaving a huge opening for the takedown.
"The All-American" has also been working specifically on doing big damage with short punches either as Sonnen enters a clinch with him or on the exit of a clinch. He needs to keep pounding Sonnen with every opportunity because he can't afford to lose a round by spending it on his back.
Sonnen can be a bleeder as well if he's hit hard enough so Stann should also not be afraid to utilize knees and elbows if the fight gets up close.
If and when Sonnen takes Stann down, he needs to either A) work for a submission off his back like he did to Mike Massenzio or B) do everything in his power to get back to his feet.
Brian Stann is a very powerful middleweight so he might have the explosion and core strength to get Sonnen off of him on the ground and if he does, he needs to make Sonnen pay before he shoots in again. This fight is all about doing as much damage in the stand-up as possible before the mouthy ex-realtor takes him down.
Fight "X-Factor:" The X-Factor for this fight absolutely has to be the war between Brian Stann's takedown defense and Chael Sonnen's elite wrestling. Stann has put in a ton of time with some world-class coaches in preparation for this fight but he's definitely had issues with tough grapplers in the past. While he's a completely different fighter than the man who got toyed with on the canvas by Phil Davis and Krzysztof Soszynski, it may not be enough to handle Sonnen's shot.
The other factor is the time that Chael Sonnen has spent away from the cage. Due to the suspension, the real estate issues and licensing problems, he's been MIA from the Octagon for 14 months. Sure, he's been training in his downtime, but if he shows up rusty for the first round of this fight with Brian Stann, that could be more than enough time for "The All-American" to relieve him of his consciousness.
Bottom Line: This is a classic grappler versus striker match-up. One man wants this bout to take place on the ground while the other wants it to remain standing. Both men are extremely high level practitioners of their craft and will be working to impose their will. This is about as good as it gets for a non-title middleweight fight in the UFC right now and with so much on the line, you will not want to miss this one. Even though Chael Sonnen's fights tend to go to a decision, there is always a ton of drama and he's won "Fight of the Night" his last two times out. Take your bathroom breaks beforehand because you won't want to miss a second.
Who will come out on top at UFC 136? Tell us your predictions in the comments below!
Poll
Which middleweight will earn a shot at Anderson Silva's middleweight title with a victory on the UFC 136 main card?
Chael Sonnen
Brian Stann
18 votes | Results
Posted in: ufc, fight, sonnen, stann, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaBattle Brewing Over Next to Fight for Belt as Champ Anderson Silva Recovers
Filed under: UFC, NewsHOUSTON -- Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann both hope to make their case as the next man to fight Anderson Silva on Saturday. But their UFC 136 fight, largely considered a possible No. 1 contenders bout, is no sure thing to produce a middleweight title challenger.
On Wednesday, UFC president Dana White said there was more than one possibility for Silva, and he seemed willing to wait to see how things play out before committing to a plan.
One alternate possibility? If Dan Henderson beats Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 139 next month, he might bump to the front of the line.
The returning star recently vacated the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship to come back to the UFC. And though his first fight back will be at light heavyweight, he's willing to move down to 185 for another crack at Silva.
"We've got to see what happens here," White said. "The winner of [Sonnen-Stann] deserves a shot at Anderson Silva? It'd be tough to say no. But if Henderson beats Shogun, it'd be tough to say that Henderson doesn't deserve the shot either. So we'll see what happens."
White also revealed that if Silva had been healthy, he likely would have been slotted into an immediate title bout with Henderson. It would actually be a rematch, as the two squared off at UFC 82 in March 2008, with Silva winning via rear- naked choke in the second round.
Meanwhile, Sonnen seems to have toned down some of his usually pointed comments aimed at Silva, a fact that led a Brazilian reporter to ask him about how much of what he says is for show. Sonnen, who came across a bit subdued throughout the UFC 136 press conference, suddenly came to life, saying that he still has the long-reigning champion in his crosshairs.
"I'm not scared of that guy, I'm not going to apologize to that guy," said Sonnen, who is favored to beat Stann this weekend. "And I appreciate what the Brazilian people said, and a lot of that was said in good fun. But the bottom line is I'm sticking a finger in his chest, I'm picking a fight, and I'm not going to quit."
Whether Henderson (28-8), Sonnen (25-11-1) or Stann (11-3) receives the opportunity might also be a question of timing. Silva is still on the mend after a shoulder injury. The problem isn't considered serious, but simply a matter of time and rehabilitation.
"He has bursitis in his shoulder," White said. "The doctor told him he needs to rest it for eight weeks, and he's doing physical therapy. It's not like he's got some injury that needs surgery or anything like that. As amazing as this guy is, we forget this guy is 37 years old."
Regardless of the challenger, upsetting Silva will be an uphill task. The popular champion is riding a UFC-record 14-fight win streak, and he's successfully defended his belt nine straight times, also a record. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, henderson, sonnen
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseUltimate Submissions: The achilles heel of Chael Sonnen
Does a good defense really make for a good offense?
In mixed martial arts (MMA) it is as important to defend as it is to attack. There are fighters who like to utilize a shootout style hoping to be the one left standing after the onslaught but there aren't many of these men that sit atop their respective weight classes.
The ones who do defend well are, often times, the most successful. A fighter like Anderson Silva has made a legendary career out of knocking opponents out while taking little to no damage in the process. He takes little punishment while handing out massive beatdowns. Ben Henderson and Jon Fitch have become known as being impossible to submit in their MMA careers, fending off submissions as though they're totally immune.
Those who have kinks in their defensive armor suffer heavily from not being able to match their offense with any sort of reliable defense. And that can be very costly with the elite fighters in the sport today who can capitalize on just about any mistake you make, even if it's just a small one.
One of these fighters is Chael Sonnen, a veteran in the sport with 37 career fights spanning several promotions dating all the way back to 1997. Of those 37 fights, Chael has lost 11 times, with eight of those coming by way of submission. And, not surprisingly to most that follow Sonnen, all but one of those submissions are chokes.
How could a wrestler who has been part of this sport for over 14 years have such a debilitating weakness? Knowing his own strengths, such as ground and pound and control from top position, shouldn’t he have trained chokes since that would be the best defense against his style of fighting?
To get more in detail on the errors Chael makes follow me after the jump.
At UFC 117, Chael Sonnen would hit the pinnacle of his career when he would meet up with Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen would earn that contender opportunity after ruthless beatdown victories over Nate Marquadt and Yushin Okami, two perennial contenders. After a decade plus of grinding through the MMA lifestyle that saw him fight the likes of Paulo Filho, Forrest Griffin and Jeremy Horn, he had finally cemented himself atop his respective division and was in line for his first shot at UFC glory.
Sonnen would deliver, too, and back up his bold prediction prior to the fight. The MMA world watched as Anderson Silva was beat up and battered with near-300 punches coming from the unrelenting and vicious challenger.
However, with the title at his fingertips and mere moments away, Sonnen would allow his Achilles heel to once again overshadow his talents.
Even though Silva just blasted Sonnen with a shot to the jaw that lands flush, you can see that Sonnen has top position inside the long legged guard of the champion. He has kept his posture upright which gives him space to land strikes while also keeping him in distance to anticipate submission attacks.
This position is one that was very familiar in this fight for Sonnen as he pounded his way through the defense of Anderson several times throughout this fight. He always kept his posture where it should be. A lot of instructors teach that you should always be able to see the sky or the roof from your posture while in the guard to keep from being vulnerable to submissions. That teaches you to keep yourself erect and away from any chance to be snatched down and your posture broken.
But while posture is hugely important, that's not all there is to it. One of the most important facets of jiu-jitsu is wrist control. In mixed martial arts this does a few things, one of them being a way to prevent getting hit with strikes. When Anderson clutches on to Sonnen's right writst, he limits Chael from landing strikes with that arm. But it also isolates it in anticipation of a possible submission attempt. Isolation of an arm can do a number of things ranging from arm bars, kimuras, triangles and even omoplatas.
Keep an eye out for isolation of the arms.
Now, Anderson has broken down Sonnen's posture. Sonnen is now within reach of both Silva's arms and legs. Even though he has a hand pressed onto Silva's face in hopes of blocking his breathing and causing discomfort, he now has his hands in an area where a mere second of lapsed judgment could lead to an isolation and submission attempt.
Anderson has the right arm still slightly trapped with his arm overlapping and he also has the left arm trapped as he squeezes it between his arm pit. Nothing at this point is fully committed to but he is attacking and seeking openings.
His elbow strike causes Sonnen to slump even more within his guard, which allows Anderson to rest from the strikes being thrown and also allows him to set up his next course of action.
The arm trapping finally produces results.
After absorbing hundreds of shots thrown by Sonnen, Silva finally sneaks his triangle into the mix. With both arms trapped by overlapping his hands over them to control, Anderson creates enough space pushing the right arm back and throwing his own left leg over Sonnen's shoulder. With a lengthy fighter like Anderson it is always dangerous to allow their legs to be on top of you. Why? Because he can lock in a triangle a lot quicker then someone with shorter legs.
Anderson throws the leg up and over and when Chael attempts to pull out of the hold, the other trapped arm is being tugged on to prevent that. Chael sits in the choke too long as Anderson pulls down on his head and pushes up with his hips to tighten the choke even further.
By the time Chael even begins defending, he is already in a deep hole.
Sonnen does do the right thing by stacking Anderson up; however, it is too little to late, as his efforts are thwarted by the choke itself which has sapped a lot of his energy. Anderson at this point should have cut the angle and rolled Chael over. By not doing this, he allows Chael one last desperation gasp of defense.
Sonnen tries to put his leg over Silva's body to wrap around and slip out of the choke. At this point, Anderson starts attacking with the armbar/triangle combination and he beats Chael to the punch, securing the tap out, the victory and notching another title defense in one of the most amazing come from behind victories in MMA history.
Chael loses for numerous reasons, starting at wrist control. He allows Anderson to trap his arms long enough to attack. Most of the basic jiu-jitsu techniques teach wrist control heavily and for Sonnen to succumb to that shows his lack of respect for Anderson’s jiu-jitsu while exposing his over confidence in his ground and pound and posture. (For breakdowns on the chokes and defenses, click here, here and here.)
He also gives up posture. He starts the round the way he had the four previous rounds and that is with great posture delivering brutal strikes to a grounded foe. Posture is another basic technique that is taught when attacking from inside the guard of an opponent.
But this isn’t the first time Chael has made these mistakes.
Yes, Maniacs, that is Forrest Griffin utilizing the underrated ground game Joe Rogan is always talking about. In 2003, Sonnen would face off against the future champion under the IFC banner. And the result is eerily similar to what we just discussed with Silva.
That is because Chael succumbs to the very same choke with the very same set up.
As you can see, Forrest has double arm control the exact same way Silva did. Forrest has isolated the left arm behind Sonnen and has also trapped the right arm in preparation for a possible armbar/triangle combination. The triangle comes up and over the neck and Forrest pulls down on the head until the tap out comes.
Sonnen would also succumb to the exact same choke to Demian Maia, Jeremy Horn and Renato Sobral.
This is a wrestler’s mentality, though. A lot of fighters with that base will establish themselves heavy on your body and deliver strikes from that position. Grapplers have been working to counter just that for years and in these two clips, it shows.
Chael Sonnen’s Achilles heel isn’t his lack of defense of chokes. His biggest weakness is that he is fails to follow the most rudimentary rules of grappling. It shows in his eight losses to men with a deep understanding of Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Luckily for Sonnen, Brian Stann doesn’t possess the high level jiu-jitsu off his back that Anderson Silva, Demian Maia, Renato Sobral and Jeremy Horn do. Will Chael brutalize Stann this weekend with his smothering ground and pound or do you Maniac’s feel this weakness will be exploited ... again?
Sound off!
Posted in: silva, arm, sonnen, anderson, chael
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136: Did Promotion Need More Chael Sonnen and Brian Stann?
UFC 136 looks like an amazing card on paper. It also is likely to only do 350,000 buys on pay-per-view. The harsh reality is that Gray Maynard and Frankie Edgar aren't major drawing stars right now, regardless of how great their last fight was. And watching Kenny Florian try for a title after losing two shots at the lightweight strap and then losing a title eliminator, forcing him to drop in weight, isn't likely to be a big motivator for the general public.
Personalities tend to sell pay-per-views and the UFC has two very big personalities with very good stories to tell sitting in the middle of the card with Brian Stann and Chael Sonnen.
Chad Dundas of ESPN discusses the lack of Sonnen and Stann in the event's promotion:
...it's kind of unusual for a high-stakes fight involving Sonnen -- especially considering he's making his return after 14 months away from the cage, a time when he fell from being No. 1 contender to being suspended for violating the California Athletic Commission's drug policy to being indicted on federal mortgage fraud charges.
After emerging on the other side of all that adversity, you'd expect Sonnen's comeback to feel bigger, more important. Yet, while this fight hasn't been forgotten by any stretch, it also hasn't taken on the momentum it might have attained had it been promoted with a bit more vigor.
I understand placing the emphasis on the two title fights, but having the return of Sonnen glossed over is strange after what seemed like a starmaking performance in the media leading up to his bout with Anderson Silva. The suspension may have made the UFC a little uneasy about hyping Sonnen up too much, but the personality differences between the two men are just too perfect to bury.
Of course, Sonnen and Stann haven't exactly been letting the trash talk fly. Possibly as a function of their placement in the marketing and possibly just because they do actually respect each other.
Of course, Chael is still running around talking about making Anderson Silva's wife cook him a steak so it's not like he has really turned over a new leaf in terms of self-promotion. It's just not carrying over into this fight.
I just can't help but feel like really pushing this match-up along with two title fights could have made this a bigger success at the box office.
Posted in: ufc, fight, sonnen, stann, title fights
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowA Kinder, Gentler Chael Sonnen...Sort Of
Filed under: UFCChael Sonnen got dealt a tough hand when the UFC matched him up against Brian Stann for UFC 136. It's not necessarily the difficulty of the fight itself -- though Stann's no pushover, oddsmakers give the edge to Sonnen.
No, for the Sonnen the trouble is all in the approach. How do you keep your over-the-top, pro wrestler-meets-insult comic persona going when you're fighting a war hero who's so inoffensive and wholesome that he could make a slice of apple pie feel like a dirty commie by comparison?
Judging by Sonnen's demeanor at Wednesday's pre-fight press conference, you don't. You play nice. You praise instead of berate. You do everything short of writing him a letter of recommendation, and then you wait for an opportunity to go back to talking about Anderson Silva.
"Nobody wants to fight Brian Stann," Sonnen said on Wednesday afternoon in Houston. "I'm not the only guy and that's not a big secret. But our paths are going to cross sooner or later. He keeps beating people up and so that's just the way it goes."
Presumably Sonnen then had to rush back to the hotel for some mouthwash just to get the unfamiliar taste of compliments out of his mouth.
Not that Stann was making things easy on him, mind you. He praised Sonnen's wrestling ability, his penchant for making other people fight his kind of fight, and even jogged down memory lane with his opponent, telling a story about when Sonnen served as a ringside announcer for his first pro bout.
"I don't even think he remembers, but I remember meeting him there and he was very respectful to a guy who was 0-0 at the time," Stann said, to which Sonnen replied that he remembered the fight and the meeting very clearly and recalled that Stann was "very nice back."
"Awwww," said UFC president Dana White, who might have been wondering what happened to the guy who once sat down at a pre-fight press conference and declared, "I don't really know what respect means. That sounds like something a kid in the street says after he's getting ready to take your coat and your shoes."
Of course, that little gem came before Sonnen's bout with the UFC middleweight champ Silva, who remains his go-to target for his choicest bits of trash talk.
"I'm out trying to pick a fight and I'm not making any qualms about it. I've been after Anderson for some time and that's it," said Sonnen, who added that he also had "a beef" with the other fighters in the UFC who continually ask for title shots.
"I've never told Dana I want a title fight; I told him I want the title," Sonnen said. "That's a big difference between me and everybody else."
You see? He's still got his gift with language when he wants it, but against a guy like Stann there just isn't much you can do with it. A man who once explained that he doesn't believe in utilizing the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu guard because that would involve lying on his back with another man between his legs and "I'm a Republican and we don't do that," probably also isn't going to make much headway trying to insult a former U.S. Marine with more boy-next-door charm than he knows what to do with.
Maybe the best Sonnen can do is play the nice guy for now, or at least as nice as he can stand to be. One way or another, he acknowledged, he still has a fight on Saturday night, and what happens once the cage door slams shut is the same whether you can find something bad to say about the other guy or not.
"When that guy in the shark suit gets out of the ring and the guy with the dreadlocks says 'fight,'" Sonnen said, "I will."
And if things go his way, maybe soon he'll be able to get back to being the Chael Sonnen we've come to know and expect. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, guy, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseChael Sonnen ready to get back to business at UFC 136
Despite not fighting since 2010, Chael Sonnen has kept his name in the MMA spotlight by doing countless interviews, appearing on several talk shows, and continuing to call out fighters such as UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva, as well as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Vitor Belfort.
Saturday night, Sonnen steps inside the Octagon at UFC 136 to face a man he has plenty of respect for in Brian Stann, a decorated military veteran who is 3-0 since dropping down to middleweight. The bout could be used to determine the next contender to Silva’s crown at 185 pounds.
Sonnen, who lost to Silva via submission in their meeting in 2010, didn’t seek out the media attention he has received. No, his comments just started becoming more press-worthy as he prepared to fight “The Spider.”
“I’m not doing anything different. The media has found me, I didn’t come find them,” said Sonnen, in a recent interview with the UFC’s website . “I didn’t create a persona or sit around and come up with things to say. I don’t have any idea what you’re gonna ask me, or the next guy or any of the fans at a Q&A. I’m just up there with a microphone and doing my level best. But I haven’t changed anything; they’ve just come to me. I was the top draw when I was with Bodog, I was the top draw when I was with the IFL, and I was the top draw when I was in the WEC, and for all these same reasons. They just didn’t have the platform that Zuffa has. So I’m not doing anything different.”
Sonnen was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission after the Silva loss for elevated levels of testosterone. He said it was because of a condition, but many questioned his ethics as he was also under investigation for mortgage fraud. Many believed Sonnen might be done fighting, but not himself, saying, “They can do all they want, but you can’t keep a good man down.”
Being able to train for an upcoming fight has helped motivate Sonnen, even though he has had to keep from using bashing-tactics while talking about Stann, a fellow fighter he respects.
“I don’t have any hobbies and I don’t have any friends, so all I have is practice,” Sonnen said. “All I have is going in and training and looking forward to a date and a new challenge and stuff like that, and it was all gone – I didn’t have any of it. So, I missed the whole process more than anything; I missed being one of the guys and having a goal and something to look forward to.”
Fans can catch Sonnen’s scrap with Stann on the PPV portion of UFC 136 starting at 9:00 PM EST. Other bouts featured on the main card include title-fights involving lightweight champion Frank Edgar (facing Gray Maynard) and 145-pound king Jose Aldo (facing Kenny Florian).
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Posted in: ufc, silva, anything, vitor belfort, sonnen
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainDana White confirms Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann winner to receive title shot
First there were rumblings, then there were rumors, then "sources close to the situation," and now the confirmation -- Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann at UFC 136 on Oct. 8 in Houston, Texas, is a number one middleweight contender fight.
This according to UFC President Dana White, who today confirmed at the "Edgar vs. Maynard 3" pre-fight press conference (video here, updates here) that a 185-pound title shot is awaiting the winner of this Saturday night's bout.
There are, perhaps, no two candidates better for such a consideration than Sonnen, who took current division king Anderson Silva to the brink his last time in the cage at UFC 117 in Aug. 2010, and Stann, who's knocked out both Jorge Santiago and Chris Leben so far this year.
And while neither man has put on his promoting shoes and done much talking to sell their fight this weekend, the match-up dictates a prize should be awaiting the victor.
Right?
Stann's value is currently at its highest thanks to those previously mentioned consecutive knockout wins over Leben and Santiago, respectively.
In fact, one could argue "All American" is easily having the best year of any fighter who plys his trade inside the Octagon.
A win over Sonnen would most certainly make him deserving of a shot, if for nothing else, a lack of other worthy available options.
And who wouldn't want to see Silva vs. Sonnen part deux?
Who wins this middleweight mash up and will they deserve a title shot when they do so?
Posted in: title shot, vs, shot, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen wants to ‘pat Anderson Silva’s wife on the ass and tell her to make him a steak’
If Chael Sonnen didn't make your cerebellum implode in your head on a weekly basis, then he would be letting the entire MMA world down -- and let's face it, no one wants that. Here's a question for the uninitiated: What do Republican gangsters from West Linn, Oregon do when they're hungry? Easy. They pat their competitor's wife on the butt and tell her to make a medium-rare steak. Well, at least future competitor.
This week on Mauro Ranallo's 'The MMA Show,' Chael Sonnen made yet another legendary appearance and just before hanging up the phone with Mauro, he wanted Ranallo to relay a message to Anderson Silva regarding his wife.
"You tell Anderson Silva I'm coming over and I'm kicking down his backdoor and patting his little lady on the ass and I'm telling her to make me a steak, medium-rare just how I like it."
If you listen closely, you can hear Anderson Silva's speed-dialing his phone in Curitba, Brazil, asking Dana White for a rematch to a fight he already won. [Source]
Posted in: silva, anderson silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC 136 Real Time Press Conference Highlights
The UFC has saddled up and moseyed on down to the Lone Star State once again, this time stopping in Houston for an event featuring dual title-fights and a number of match-ups between ranked/respected Mixed Martial Artists.
Headlined by lightweight Frank Edgar’s second consecutive title-defense against Gray Maynard with a co-main event between phenomenal 145-pound champion Jose Aldo taking on Kenny Florian, UFC 136 is one of the most-anticipated events of 2011 and it’s only four days away from unfolding at the Toyota Center!
However, before the fighters take to the Octagon, a handful of them including the champs and challengers sat down and spoke with media at a press conference related to the festivities. As always, Five Ounces of Pain was tuned in and relayed relevant information back to readers.
Frank Edgar:
- Doesn’t think Gray has his number or else he would have beaten him in the last fight
- Was surprised by how well Maynard pressured him in their last fight and how tough he was throughout the entire bout
Gray Maynard:
- Feels good and fully prepared / “Everything is done. It’s about time to have fun.”
- Wants to bring a title back to Xtreme Couture
- Credits Edgar with being a “tough kid” and says even he was “amazed” by his ability to come back
Jose Aldo:
- His preparation was great for the last fight but the weight cut was harder, says it has been much easier this time
Kenny Florian:
- Doesn’t feel this is his “last stand” / Loves the challenges provided by MMA, loves going to the gym every day, and wants to compete against the best guys possible
- “I feel it is my time.”
- As a MMA fan he is looking forward to Edgar vs. Maynard and is happy he’s fighting first so he can hopefully watch things unfold from backstage afterwards
Brian Stann:
- Has trained wrestling more than anything else over the past two years and knows he doesn’t have to out-wrestle Sonnen on Saturday night / “I even went back to my bout agreement and checked – I can punch in this fight.”
- Doesn’t feel Sonnen’s past opponents didn’t train specifically for him rather than focusing on what they were already good at
- Believes there is a rhythm to fighting but doesn’t expect Sonnen to show any “ring rust”
- Mentions that he met Sonnen after he had his first professional fight and referred to how respectful Chael was
Chael Sonnen:
- Has accepted he could be a bit rusty after the long layoff and believes “ring rust is a real thing”
- “I’m out trying to pick a fight (with Anderson) and I’m not making any qualms about it. I’ve never told Dana I want a title-fight..I want the title.”
- The break doesn’t feel too long / “I’ve never been a victim. I’m not going to complain.”
- “He’ll bring his skills, I’ll bring mine. We’ll shake hands after the fight and live with the result.”
- Admits he had some doubts about coming back / “I’m never secure out there. Every day I try to get a little better at something – a little faster, a little stronger…that’s part of it. What fun would this be if you knew the outcome?”
Dana White:
- “Nothing sucks worse than a draw.” / Excited about finally being able to move forward in the division
- Calls Florian and Aldo both being finishers
- “I want Kenny to prove me wrong on this one.” (referring to past assertions Florian chokes in big fights)
- Mentions how much the UFC has grown since the last time they were in Houston four years ago, specifically talking about how jacked he is about the deal with FOX
- Says Houston has been a great market for them where viewership is concerned
- Even if Edgar wins and ties the series 1-1-1 the UFC is still moving forward in the division
- Doesn’t remember how he scored the last fight but just remember the bad taste the draw left in his mouth and how passionate Maynard was about getting another shot
Posted in: fight, time, doesn, sonnen, maynard
Read the full article at Five Ounces of Pain
Chael Sonnen: “They found me guilty for taking a legal substance (testosterone)”
Chael Sonnen expounds upon his trials & tribulations regarding his come back to the UFC after the California State Athletic Commission went after him over the way he used & disclosed TRT (testosterone) usage.
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, chael, california state, testosterone
Read the full article at Fight OpinionChael Sonnen: Looking to pick a fight with Anderson Silva and not going to stop
Chael Sonnen participated in the UFC 136 pre-fight press conference on Wednesday and even though Sonnen was there in preparation for his fight with Brian Stann, there was the inevitable Anderson Silva line of questioning.
Recently Sonnen had some complimentary things to say about the UFC Middleweight Champ. While he was on the UFC 136 media call Sonnen offered the following, “...his wins and losses speak for themselves and the fact of the matter, whether I'd like to admit it or not, is he's done a
Posted in: ufc, anderson silva, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at Low KickAnd Away We Go - Chael Sonnen Returns
When you hear Chael Sonnen describe life as a middleweight contender in the UFC, it’s almost as if every day is Groundhog Day.“In my life, nothing changes,” said Sonnen, who returns to the Octagon after an absence of more than a year to face Brian Stann at UFC 136 this Saturday night. “Every fight I do the same thing. I do the same thing on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, all my practices are the same, I work out with the same guys, and I’ve got the same coaches. Take running for example – I run the same distance and I try to beat the same time every single time. Every step I run, I try to get up those steps a little bit faster regardless of who the opponent is. I’ve never looked at opponents. I’ve had people ask me ‘what’s your strategy?’ And I’m not even looking at him. It could be anybody. I’m just looking at myself. How fast are my hands, how many punches did I throw today, did I eat the right things, how many hours of sleep did I get last night? I only look at myself. The Octagon’s the same size, Herb Dean’s hair is just as bad, Bruce Buffer’s in the shark suit either way. Nothing changes for me. The rules are the same, the rounds are the same, and my life is the exact same. My money’s the same, I wear the same t-shirt, I’ve got the same cornermen, and they can call it a title fight, they can call it a main event, they can call it an undercard – my life is no different. When that same music hits those speakers, I’ll make that same walk, put that same mouthpiece in, and do everything I can to win, regardless of what’s riding on it.”Oh yeah, the man is back, and it’s a welcome return, not just because he’s one of the top 185-pound fighters on the planet and the lone man to push champion Anderson Silva to the brink of defeat, but because he’s one of MMA’s most intriguing figures. No one sees the game through the looking glass quite like the self-proclaimed “Gangster from West Linn,” and watching his every move has been compelling viewing for a few years now. But only before his bout with Silva in August of 2010 did the rest of the world catch up.“I’m not doing anything different,” he said. “The media has found me, I didn’t come find them. I didn’t create a persona or sit around and come up with things to say. I don’t have any idea what you’re gonna ask me, or the next guy or any of the fans at a Q&A. I’m just up there with a microphone and doing my level best. But I haven’t changed anything; they’ve just come to me. I was the top draw when I was with Bodog, I was the top draw when I was with the IFL, and I was the top draw when I was in the WEC, and for all these same reasons. They just didn’t have the platform that Zuffa has. So I’m not doing anything different.”In his second stint with the UFC, Sonnen has pulled off the rare trick of being a must-see athlete in and out of the Octagon. From his trio of wins over Dan Miller, Yushin Okami, and Nate Marquardt, to his stellar effort against Silva and his incendiary comments about anyone and everyone in the fight game, if you don’t know who the 34-year old Oregonian is yet, you just haven’t been around the MMA world. Yet after a suspension by the California State Athletic Commission following the Silva fight for having elevated levels of testosterone (a result explained by his being diagnosed with hypogonadism, a condition which requires synthetic testosterone injections), and a plea bargain in a mortgage fraud case, many questioned whether he would ever fight again. Sonnen wasn’t one of that crowd.“No,” he quipped when asked if he ever thought that he had fought his last fight. “They can do all they want, but you can’t keep a good man down.”It was a trying time to say the least though, as he spent more time in a suit defending himself than in his gym clothes preparing for a fight. You could say that he needed the break after a pretty hectic fight schedule over the last couple years. Again, he wouldn’t agree.“I didn’t need any breaks, I never need a break,” said Sonnen. “You only do this three times a year anyway. It’s like you’ve got all these crybabies out there talking about ‘my wife really wants me around more.’ What a ridiculous statement. What do you mean ‘around more?’ It’s three hours a day and three weekends a year. There is no around more. You couldn’t possibly be around more. So no, I definitely don’t need a break from three hours a day and three weekends a year. I was just the opposite. I was like a good cowboy that just wants to jump back on the horse.”So when he was greenlighted to resume his career and given a fight with the streaking Stann, who has finished all three of his fights at 185 pounds, Sonnen was ecstatic to get back to his form of normal.“I like the whole process,” he said. “I don’t have any hobbies and I don’t have any friends, so all I have is practice. All I have is going in and training and looking forward to a date and a new challenge and stuff like that, and it was all gone – I didn’t have any of it. So I missed the whole process more than anything; I missed being one of the guys and having a goal and something to look forward to.”You’d be surprised at how badly you can miss your routine when it’s taken away from you. For Sonnen, every minute away from the gym was another minute the rest of the pack was catching up. So going through the daily grind – even if it is only three hours a day – was like Christmas for him. Well, maybe not, but let’s just say getting the chance to do what he has done for much of his life again was a good thing.“I don’t know if that (the routine) is the appeal, but it’s certainly the reality,” said Sonnen. “And it’s real important to keep that in mind. You’ll see so many fighters come off title fights and great performances, and in their next time out, they just look awful. You can’t get roped into any of that. I know I’m the best fighter in the world, I proved it in my last fight, and there’s nobody even close to me. The current champion isn’t even within a mile of my ability, but if I don’t do everything right, those abilities are gone overnight. The one time I quit caring about my run, the one time I quit hitting the steps, the one time I let the diet go, I’m the best, but I’m only the best by an inch. And I can go from the top of the pack to the back of it overnight. Guys do it all the time. We just saw a Hall of Famer (Matt Hughes) get destroyed in the first round by a guy with bleached hair (Josh Koscheck). Even the best guy – me – is only the best by a little bit, and you’ve got to make sure every single thing is in line every single time. That’s the hardest thing about our sport. There are so many elements and you can’t overlook any of them, and the one time you do, you gotta start all over.”14 months is a long time in this game too, and it could be easy for many to forget August of 2010 and Sonnen’s brilliant performance against the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Silva. For nearly five rounds, Sonnen put on the best fight of his career and dominated Silva throughout.“I expected more resistance everywhere from him,” said Sonnen of Silva. “From the grappling to his striking, his strategy, I just expected more resistance everywhere. So yeah, I was surprised at his lack of resistance.”Like all great champions though, Silva had something left in his back pocket to pull out when he needed it most, and at 3:10 of the final round, a triangle armbar ended Sonnen’s night and, for the moment, his championship quest. If not for his suspension and legal issues, an immediate rematch might have been in the cards, but for now, it’s Stann.“This is what it is,” said Sonnen. “Brian Stann is next, and that’s fine. Look, if I had won the championship, I’m not sure Brian Stann wasn’t next anyway. He’s certainly arguable. There’s several guys that can fill that spot, but he’s definitely one of them, so no, it doesn’t make a bit of difference to me.”And the goal?“There is no other goal than the championship.”Since the bout, Silva has looked to be in better than ever form in knocking out Vitor Belfort and Okami, but obviously, the marquee bout for “The Spider” is a rematch with Sonnen should the Milwaukie native get by Sonnen. And Sonnen hasn’t let up with his verbal assault on the champion as we wait.“He’s a punk and a bully, he really is, and now he’s out there trying to be me,” said Sonnen. “He’s doing everything he can to copy me. He’s wearing masks to weigh-ins and yelling at guys at press conferences, and doing everything he can do to be me. So good for him. It’s like Marshall Mathers once said: ‘they may walk like me, talk like me, dress, act, not give a dang like me, and they just might be the next best thing, but they’re not quite me.’”Sonnen has even widened his trash talking range to encompass not just one Brazilian (Silva), but a whole bunch of them, including Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, and the Nogueira brothers, among others. He makes no apologies though, and is far from shocked that fight fans have gravitated to him.“People like respect and I’m the only respectful fighter in the whole sport,” he said. “A lot of other fighters have a real misunderstanding that lying and dishonesty is respectful. They love to bow to your face and stick a knife in your back the first chance they get. I don’t. I’ll tell you like it is to your face and then I’ll stick the knife in your back because I told you that if you turn around I’ll put a knife in your back. And that’s the difference with me. I’m honest and I’m respectful. And these guys love to say ‘Chael doesn’t have any respect.’ Well, check your dictionary at the local junior high that you flunked out of. I’m absolutely respectful and absolutely honest as well. You guys are a bunch of liars.”“People hang on every word I say,” Sonnen continues. “People are always disappointed when I’m not talking. I do an MMA show on ESPN and they blow a fit when I’m not on there. People are throwing a protest right now online that the UFC put out their commercial for the next event and they show the two title fights and they didn’t show me and Stann. Of course people would be upset, and I don’t blame them – I’m upset too. I like hearing myself as well.”There has been one fighter who has escaped Sonnen’s verbal wrath though, and it’s the man he’s fighting this Saturday. That’s not surprising considering that it’s almost impossible to dislike Stann. He’s also earned his place in the spotlight with his recent performances, which include knockouts of Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. And when you hear Sonnen assess his foe, it’s clear that he has a healthy dose of respect for the “All-American.”“He’s a tough guy in front of everything else,” said Sonnen of Stann. “He’s a real brute. He’s big and strong and he’s got a big heart, good cardio, and he can punch hard. I also think he kicks really well. He fought Santiago, who sucks, but he buckled him with a kick, and I’ve seen him use those big, powerful kicks to soften other guys up too. He used them well in the WEC back when he was kinda green. He was green in the WEC and he still won the title. So he’s absolutely a natural in there, but if I had to describe him in a word, it would probably be ‘brute.’ He’s that big, strong, tough guy that comes to fight.”Sounds like the perfect dance partner for Sonnen’s return.“It’s almost the opposite of the last guy I fought,” he said. “The last guy I fought was a little dancing chicken, and this guy’s more of a man that will come out and draw a line in the Octagon and say put your toe on it and let’s go.”Admit it, you’ve missed Chael Sonnen. Well, now he’s back, and he doesn’t plan on leaving anytime soon. “I don’t ever want to be done,” he said. “I’ll never quit this sport. I’ll never be done with this business, but at some point, this business will be done with me. I’ll be one of those last guys that hangs on past the time that he should. I like it, it’s what I want to do, I do it because I choose to do it, not because I have to do it, and there is no life after this. This is what I want to do with my life.”
Posted in: guy, ’t, i ’m, ’m, sonnen
Read the full article at UFCSonnen reveals his "biggest concern" about Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen has revealed what he says is his “biggest concern” about fighting Brian Stann at UFC 136 this weekend. The two middleweights are...
Posted in: brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, brian, concern
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyChael Sonnen Finally Gives Anderson Silva Praise
UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen may have tapped to a triangle armbar submission against champion Anderson Silva, but the brash Team Quest fighter has continually poked fun at Silva and other Brazilian fighters.
Silva, one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, was controlled by Sonnen on the ground before trapping the American wrestler in the fight-ending choke during the fifth round of their August 2010 fight.
Since that fight, Sonnen has attacked Silva on numerous occasions, while the middleweight champion has ignored the public statements.
“It’s getting harder and harder to deny he should be shown that appreciation,” Sonnen confirmed while promoting his upcoming middleweight fight against Brian Stann. “He ducked Okami for years, but he did finally get in there and he made it look easy. So I think you’ve got to look at that. If you’re asking if I’d ever concede that Anderson’s better than me, no. I would refer you to the tape (of our fight). I think he and I are vastly different and that I could come down a lot and still be ahead of him. I also think he ducks and dodges opponents constantly, but his wins and losses speak for themselves. The fact of the matter, whether I like to admit this or not, is he’s done a better job than anybody, done a better job than me, and he is the champion.”
If Sonnen is able to get by Stann later this week at UFC 136, a possible rematch with Silva seems likely sometime in 2012. I think it’d be interesting to see what adjustments Silva would make if he had to fight Sonnen again — he spent a large portion of the fight on his back, so he would clearly need to make changes.
Posted in: fight, silva, champion, middleweight, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA OpinionChael Sonnen: I may not be as good as I was when I left, but I'm still on top by a lot
Top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen, who will face "All American" Brian Stann this Saturday night, discusses his opponent, as well as his training and preparation for the bout. Sonnen admits that his time away from the octagon has made this camp a bit more challenging, but insists that he was the best in the world when he left and assures that even if he's lost a step, he's still on top by a lot.
Posted in: saturday night, brian stann, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Low KickAfter watching this clip, it's clear that Chael Sonnen doesn't think highly of Travis Browne
I've never met Chael Sonnen but I just have a feeling that he would be vehemently against teaching evolution in public schools. Dude seems like the kind of guy that would be for punishing children in the middle of class with a paddle. Sonnen is a throw-back to the old-school where people used to get burned at the stake for believing the earth is round. Chael is the living incarnate of Buckaoo Banzai. Only three people understood that reference and all of them probably live in their parent's basement. It's clear that Chael Sonnen doesn't care about a large majority of fighters in the UFC, but on ESPN this week, he made it abundantly clear that he does not think highly of Travis Browne. [Source]
Posted in: travis browne, sonnen, chael, . chael, teaching evolution
Read the full article at Middle EasyNo longer working a full-time job, Brian Stann focusing solely on Chael Sonnen
This Saturday night at UFC 136, Brian Stann enters the octagon against his toughest opponent to date, former UFC middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen.
A former Marine, Stann shows no fear when he stands across from his opponent, a man who is looking to beat him into submission or stoppage. Having been put in tough situation and extreme circumstances during his time in the military, Stann describes a fight as, “a game of pick up basketball.”
In his latest blog for FoxSports.com, Stann says, “I’ve never feared a fighter or a fight, and have only ever been concerned with whether I was truly good enough to get to the places I want to reach in this great sport of mixed martial arts.” Against Sonnen, “All American” will get to test his skills against the man who gave UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva the toughest fight of his UFC career, coming within two minutes of capturing belt before falling victim to a triangle choke.
Undefeated in three middleweight bouts, Stann has been working a full-time job throughout his entire MMA career. That has changed while preparing for his showdown with Sonnen. “I’m no longer running out of the cage after practice to multiple conference calls and meetings. I’ve got people around me who can help me lead the charity organization that I run, Hire Heroes USA, which helps US veterans find employment after discharge, and I’ve stopped doing my corporate real estate job — and it’s been tremendous.”
Now spending all of his moments focusing on MMA, Stann says, “I now have more time to watch films of my opponent, do one-on-one sessions with my coaches, recover more, train more and just immerse myself in the lifestyle of a professional fighter. Rather than try and cram a 30-hour workday into 24 hours, I now enjoy a far more manageable schedule and I can really focus on being a professional athlete, preparing the right meals and living the right life.”
With his newfound time, Stann has found that spending all day in the gym might not be such a good thing for his body, saying, “My coaches get upset with me from time to time and are often trying to kick me out of the gym. I sometimes get into that dangerous cycle of getting tired and thinking it is best to train even harder, rather than allow my body to recover.”
When he steps into the cage on October 8, the former WEC light heavyweight champion won’t be looking as his battle with Sonnen as a matter of “life or death.” To him, “professional fighting is just an athletic competition. It is a game.” He continued with, “What’s the worst that can happen in a fight? You might get beaten, stopped, knocked out or submitted. I’ve been through all that already.”
While he promises no victory on Saturday, he does promise that, “I will fight to the absolute best of my ability — which is actually all we can control in there.
“We cannot control what our opponent does, only our own actions,” said Stann. “Stepping into the Octagon with doubts or concerns about the fight or your opponent will only hold you back and prevent you from being the best fighter you can be at that moment. It really isn’t about who the best fighter is, it is about who fights best in that moment. Knowing that keeps me focused on exactly what I need to do to win my fight.”
*PHOTO CREDIT – UFC*
Posted in: fight, time, opponent, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainVitor Belfort reveals the extent of his injury and says he could sell a fight against Chael Sonnen
The last time I saw Vitor Belfort, security denied him access backstage at the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand-Prix. There was no verbal altercation, Vitor just waited until Ray Sefo met him at the gate and eventually they let him in. Something tells me that if Chael Sonnen were placed in that same scenario, the phrase 'do you know who I am?' would emerge, followed by a few mentions on how he's the 'fastest white Republican in MMA.' The security would eventually be forced to let him in due to the intangible injuries they would receive from a Sonnen verbal lashing. In MMA media, we call that 'getting Sonnen'd.'
Vitor Belfort appeared on Inside MMA this weekend to discuss why he pulled out of his fight against Cung Le, but also mentioned that he could sell a fight with Chael Sonnen. As far as requiring assistance to sell an event, Chael Sonnen has all aspects covered. The guy could sell energy drinks to a group of mitochondria. Regardless, check out the video of Belfort's appearance on Inside MMA.
{iframe}http://blip.tv/play/h5R0gtX9LwI.html{/iframe}
Posted in: mma, vitor belfort, chael sonnen, sonnen, chael
Read the full article at Middle EasyUFC Quick Quote: 'Humble' Chael Sonnen admits Anderson Silva deserves appreciation
"It's getting harder and harder to deny that [Anderson Silva] shouldn't be shown that appreciation. He ducked Okami for years but he did finally go in there and he made it look easy so I think you've got to look at that. If you're asking if I would ever conceive that Anderson's better than me, no. I would simply refer you to the tape. I think he and I's skills are vastly different. I think I could come down a lot and still be ahead of him. I also thinks he ducks and dodges opponents constantly but listen, his wins and losses speak for themselves and the fact of the matter whether I'd like to admit it or not is he's done a better job than anybody, he's done a better job than me and he is the champion. That doesn't mean that I'm gonna quit poking my finger in his chest but at some point I think fairness needs to kick in too and I think you need to look at what he's done and tip your hat to him a little bit."
It looks like somebody has an appetite for humble pie. Former title challenger Chael Sonnen has been all over the news with his trash talk of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, a man he was minutes away from defeating before succumbing to a fifth round triangle choke at UFC 117. But in today's conference call for next Saturday night's UFC 136 event alongside his upcoming opponent Brian Stann, Sonnen was noticeably tame. He heaped praise upon Stann and actually toned down his rhetoric on "The Spider." Perhaps Silva's two round obliteration of Sonnen's friend and teammate Yushin Okami had something to do with it. Do you think this change in attitude will stick if Sonnen is able to defeat Stann and earn another shot at the belt?
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaUFC 136: Chael Sonnen's Next In Line
Chael Sonnen is the only man in the UFC that has been able to bring the fight to Anderson Silva, almost defeating the champion before being submitted in the 5th round. If he defeats Brian Stann at UFC 136, I feel he’s earned another crack at the belt.
He’s easily the most controversial fighter in the UFC roster; brandishing a loud mouth and some of the best MMA wrestling in the sport, he’s single-handedly become one of the most talked about fighters in recent history. His savvy with a microphone is unparalleled among fighters and he was even cultivating a bright political career before he was charged with money laundering. If anyone can talk their way into another title fight, it’s Chael but has he earned it?
Coming into the UFC, Sonnen was the last WEC Champion (though not officially thanks to Filho’s belly) but was still a relative unknown at the time. He made his Octagon debut against Damian Maia who introduced fans to Sonnen’s Achilles heel, his atrocious submission defense. Sonnen rebounded with very impressive wins over Dan Miller, Yushin Okami, and Nate Marquardt but it was his trash talking that really sold the UFC on a title shot.
It hasn’t always been easy to sell a fight with Anderson Silva; not only has Silva had some incredibly dull performances, but the way he embarrasses his opponents leaves many questioning his challenger’s credentials. The UFC saw in Sonnen a man that not only had a great win streak in the UFC, but had the kind of pre fight trash talk to create the most heated Silva fight to date, and that’s exactly what he did.
For weeks Sonnen went on a Silva bashing campaign like no other the UFC has seen before; he attacked Silva’s character, record, skills, and home on any outlet that would have him. The talk varied from clever and witty to downright outrageous, but it worked and the fans were sold. What made all this talk so impressive is that he unexpectedly validated it with one hell of a performance.
He not only out wrestled Silva for four rounds, but landed some significant strikes standing as well. No one has done what Sonnen did to Silva in the UFC; it was a truly incredible performance. Silva may have caught Sonnen with a triangle in the fifth round but Sonnen showed he can at least hang with the greatest fighter on the planet. Unfortunately, it all unraveled after the fight.
A rematch was already being set up between the two when it was revealed that Sonnen had an elevated testosterone level and was suspended. Just like that, all the momentum Sonnen had built up from the incredible performance was gone. He was left to watch from the sidelines as Silva continued his middleweight reign.
UFC 136 marks Sonnen’s return to the octagon and assuming he wins against Stann; I can’t think of anyone more deserving of a title shot. Stann is a very credible win; since dropping down to middleweight, he’s been a real tear and is currently undefeated in the division. Sonnen would be only one win removed from the Silva defeat but who else is left to challenge Silva?
Middleweight isn’t exactly a stacked division and outside of Sonnen, I see very few interesting fights left for the champion currently. Silva also hasn’t been incredibly successful drawing major PPV numbers stateside and if anyone can change that, it’s Sonnen. Fans won’t be quick to forget the beating he put on Silva and with his patented trash talk, the fight could do big numbers.
Myself personally, I want to know if the last fight was a fluke. Silva claims he had injured his rib, and with Sonnen’s high testosterone levels, too many questions remain not to make this fight happen. Why wait and risk it never happening at all? Both fighters have contemplated retirement recently and it would be a tragedy to let this fight go by the wayside. The time is now.
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, &rsquo, sonnen
Read the full article at Head Kick LegendChael Sonnen Mellows Ahead of Brian Stann at UFC 136, Still Says He's Better Than Anderson Silva
Filed under: UFC, NewsThe last time we saw Chael Sonnen before a fight, calling him outspoken would have been a massive understatement.
Ahead of his UFC middleweight title fight against champion Anderson Silva at UFC 117 in August 2010, Sonnen was a whirlwind of controversial comments, outlandish outcries and, well, near lunacy.
Sonnen came closer than anyone before him in the UFC to stopping Silva, but his submission loss was followed by a suspension for elevated testosterone levels. And that was followed by a plea deal for money laundering in a mortgage fraud case. Is it possible that Sonnen has mellowed out?
Brian Stann, Sonnen's opponent at UFC 136 next Saturday in Houston, thinks it's a case of selective mellowing based on who Sonnen is fighting.
"I told everybody from the start I didn't think (the trash talk) was going to happen," Stann said Friday on a media call for the pay-per-view. "I said this a couple times. I believe Chael is very genuine when he says if he has a problem with somebody, he'll speak it. If he doesn't have a problem with somebody, he won't. You saw his fights against Nate Marquardt, Dan Miller and Yushin Okami, he didn't have anything to say about those guys. He spoke about the fight. So it wasn't surprising to me at all that didn't happen. And I wouldn't have taken it personally, anyway. I really think that our skill sets and the way that we fight has generated all the hype it needs."
When it comes to Stann, Sonnen (25-11-1, 4-4 UFC) has steered clear of any kind of trash talk. In fact, he'd actually prefer to not have to fight the war hero, who is on a three-fight winning streak. And he believes the same goes for the rest of the middleweight division.
"Nobody wants to fight Brian, but somebody's got to," Sonnen said. "Our paths have to cross. We're just in the same weight class, it's not that big of a pool and he keeps whipping everybody. If he quit beating everybody, I wouldn't have to fight him. But he decided to go out and become one of the top guys. I've done my part and put my time in and I'm up there too, so our paths have to cross."
With so much time off between fights, Sonnen said he's happy to be back on the job, but admitted there's no excitement that comes along with a task the likes of Stann (11-3, 5-2 UFC). It's possible the winner will get the next crack at Silva - a rematch for Sonnen, and the biggest fight of his career for Stann, the former WEC light heavyweight champion.
With Stann on a three-fight streak, all stoppages with a submission win over Mike Massenzio and convincing TKOs of Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago earlier this year, it's no wonder Sonnen won't use the word "excited" about his first fight in more than a year.
"I don't know that I ever look forward to (fighting)," Sonnen said. "I hear some guys say they're excited (to fight), and I always get jealous of those guys. I've never been excited to have to go fight another man. I'm not excited now. I'm happy to be part of it - I got put in timeout for a while, and I'm glad that's all over and behind me. But I go with a matter-of-fact approach - I'm not excited for the match. It's a bunch of emotions that get combined into one, and excitement isn't one of them."
A brasher Sonnen, circa Summer 2010, might have approached such a question differently. And it just might be possible that Sonnen's out-of-the-cage problems have him taking a different approach to how he portrays himself to the public. Possible.
"The happy part is, this is what I want to do and I got held out of it for a while," Sonnen said. "I've always been grateful for these opportunities, but I think I'm a little more grateful now. Appreciative would be a much stronger feeling that I'm having - to make up for the excitement."
Sonnen has even relaxed his stance on Silva - though make no mistake, a win over Stann and a possible rematch with his old nemesis would likely see him return to the Sonnen of old.
Sonnen said Silva has to be respected - but he still believes he's better than the champion, who beat Yushin Okami last month, whom Sonnen helped train for the title fight.
"It's getting harder and harder to deny he should be shown that appreciation," Sonnen said. "He ducked Okami for years, but he did finally get in there and he made it look easy. So I think you've got to look at that. If you're asking if I'd ever concede that Anderson's better than me, no. I would refer you to the tape (of our fight). I think he and I are vastly different and that I could come down a lot and still be ahead of him. I also think he ducks and dodges opponents constantly, but his wins and losses speak for themselves. The fact of the matter, whether I like to admit this or not, is he's done a better job than anybody, done a better job than me, and he is the champion.
"It doesn't mean I'm going to quit poking my finger in his chest, but at some point I think fairness needs to kick in, too, and you need to look at what he's done and tip your hat to him a little bit."
What Sonnen hopes for more than anything is a win over Stann, and a chance to let that finger poking start up once again.
Sonnen and Stann fight on the main card of UFC 136 on Oct. 8 at the Toyota Center in Houston. The main card is headlined by a pair of title fights - the lightweight title rematch between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard, and a featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Kenny Florian. Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
Posted in: ufc, fight, silva, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at AOL FanhouseSonnen talks US wrestling achievements
As much as he likes to troll the mixed martial arts world with his outrageous and utterly unfounded slanders of some of its biggest names, Chael Sonnen...
Posted in: chael sonnen, sonnen, arts world, sonnen talks, troll
Read the full article at Fighters OnlyVitor Belfort interested in December dance against winner of Sonnen/Stann
Explosive UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort may be less than a week removed from withdrawing from a bout at UFC 139 due to injury but he’s already got a date and opponent in mind for his eventual return to the ring.
With his medical issue only expected to push his readiness back a month, Belfort recently expressed his desire to fight at UFC 141 on December 30 against the winner of Chael Sonnen’s scrap with Brian Stann in early October at UFC 136.
“I hope Chael wins. I really want to fight him,” Belfort said in a conversation with MMAJunkie. “I think the winner of that fight, me and Chael, we’d be (in line) to fight for the title. His fighting always (goes) to a decision. He’s a boring fighter, but I’ll make sure that fight will end up quick, and I’ll give him a fight he’s never had in his life.”
“He’s the type of fighter who can sell with his mouth,” Belfort elaborated. “He cannot sell with his performance. He’s a great wrestler, and he’s a great fighter, but he’s not exciting. … He doesn’t bring the heat.”
However, while he may be pulling for Sonnen in order to settle their personal differences, “The Phenom” also isn’t opposed to mixing it up with Stann.
“If Stann beats Sonnen, he’s in line. I think Stann is a great fighter, a great person, a great athlete, a great man. He’s sells fights with his fists, with his technique and his performance. Stann is a great fighter.”
Belfort also spoke in the interview about his intention to continue competing for another 4-5 years and how being 100% health-wise is crucial to him at this stage in his career.
The 34-year old Brazilian holds an overall record of 20-9 with two-thirds of his wins coming as the result of a strike-based stoppage. He has won six of his last seven fights, the only exception being a defeat to middleweight champ Anderson Silva, and is coming off a devastating knockout of Yoshihiro Akiyama last month at UFC 133.
UFC 141 is set to be headlined by former heavyweight title-holders doing battle in the form of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem and will also feature perennial 170-pound contender Jon Fitch facing decorated amateur wrestler Johny Hendricks.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFCSimilar Posts:
Vitor Belfort fighting Yushin Okami for top contendership at UFC 122
Chael Sonnen draws Brian Stann in his UFC return
Alexander Gustafsson’s next test comes in form of Vlad Matyushenko
Ross Pearson poised for action against Edson Barboza at UFC Rio
Michael Bisping thinks Chael Sonnen as top contender is “complete bullsh*t”
Tweetgovernment,politics news,politics news,politics
Posted in: ufc, fight, belfort, sonnen, stann
Read the full article at Five Ounces of PainBelfort wants Sonnen/Stann winner at UFC 141
submitted by himynameisg [link] [3 comments]
Posted in: ufc, winner, belfort, sonnen, /stann
Read the full article at RedditChael Sonnen Comments On Anderson Silva's Injuries
Everyone's favorite zany middleweight Chael Sonnen recently weighed on a topic that has made the round a bit since UFC 134 - the fact that Anderson Silva said he went into his fight with Yushin Okami with an injury and took anti-inflammatories for the injury. Silva also said he was injured entering his fight with Sonnen at UFC 117, so Chael wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to say something about it. This dandy of a quote was said to Paul Lazenby:
"I don't think that treatment for Anderson's problems is prohibited by the UFC, even right before a match. Some medications are limited, as you know, but Anderson is in a state of medical legitimacy because I don't think that Midol is prohibited, nor are chocolate or Gerard Butler movies. I have never personally had to deal with his sort of condition, but I feel for him and I really want to see what his top fighting form actually is, since we apparently haven't seen it yet. I can't remember the last time that he didn't say he was hurt for a match, and it's starting to alienate the fight fans. So he should take care of himself when he's suffering, or else the public will be stuck with the same unengaging fights and lackluster victories until he either dies or finally hits menopause."
I'm sure Anderson will love that one. Sonnen will step into the cage for the first time since he was defeated by Silva when he faces Brian Stann at UFC 136 on October 8th. Silva will be on the shelf for the rest of the year rehabbing his injury and should return early next year.
More SBN coverage of UFC 136
Posted in: ufc, silva, anderson silva, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at Bloody ElbowChael Sonnen: Anderson Silva is starting to alienate the fans with his chronic injuries
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva retained his division title by destroying 185-pound number one contender Yushin Okami at the UFC 134: "Rio" pay-per-view event from the HSBC Arena back on Aug. 27 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
And injured his shoulder in the process.
That means the Brazilian, who was forced to finish his training camp on pain medication, will be riding the pine until 2012 while rehabilitating it.
Chael Sonnen (via PaulLazenby.com), not surprisingly, was unsympathetic:
"I don't think that treatment for Anderson's problems is prohibited by the UFC, even right before a match. Some medications are limited, as you know, but Anderson is in a state of medical legitimacy because I don't think that Midol is prohibited, nor are chocolate or Gerard Butler movies. I have never personally had to deal with his sort of condition, but I feel for him and I really want to see what his top fighting form actually is, since we apparently haven't seen it yet. I can't remember the last time that he didn't say he was hurt for a match, and it's starting to alienate the fight fans. So he should take care of himself when he's suffering, or else the public will be stuck with the same unengaging fights and lackluster victories until he either dies or finally hits menopause."
"The Spider," widely-considered one of the top pound-for-pound mixed martial artists on the planet, looked practically invincible during his incredible championship run inside the Octagon -- until Sonnen almost knocked him from his perch at UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" back in 2010.
Almost.
The trash-talking ex-Realtor dished out four rounds of punishment and was minutes away from a monstrous upset in the fifth and final frame before a careless guard attack left him strangled inside a triangle choke.
Nevertheless, Sonnen got a lot closer to the Brazilian's gold than anyone else in his division, prompting UFC fans to call for a second go-round should Brian Stann falter in his quest to become the next contender at UFC 136 on Oct. 8.
Prior to his suspension and other legal troubles, Sonnen was penciled in for an immediate rematch against Silva earlier this year. But Vitor Belfort -- who the Oregon wrestler describes as "one of the scariest guys in the company" -- was plugged in as a replacement and was finished in less than four minutes.
If Sonnen can defeat his "other" friend, Stann, later this fall, it could be near impossible for the promotion to deny him a title shot. The heat, rivalry and potential pay-per-view (PPV) revenue that the pair can generate in a rematch is just too much to withstand.
But can UFC fans handle another helping of Sonnen's relentless trash talk? And do you believe he can replicate his performance from the first fight -- sans triangle choke?
What say you?
Posted in: ufc, silva, ufc fans, sonnen, anderson
Read the full article at MMA ManiaChael Sonnen: 'Vitor Belfort ... you're a dead man'
He's at it again!
Chael Sonnen is doing what he does best, trash talking to anyone and everyone that dares speak out against him. This time, he's aiming his verbal assault towards none other than fellow UFC middleweight Vitor Belfort.
Sonnen tweets:
"Hey Vitor, take my name out of your mouth until you show up for half as many fights as you pull out of. You keep using the phrase, "pound him out." I don't think it means what you think it means, but you're a dead man either way."
This just got interesting.
Sonnen is surely responding to a tweet "The Phenom" posted on his twitter account a few days ago:
"I do want (to fight him), I’d really love to fight him, even more because of the crap he’s talked about Brazil. Actually I don't want to give him this type of attention, I don’t know why everybody keeps paying attention to what this guy says. His time will come, and when it comes, brother, it’s just do the job the way I’d do against any other opponent. Who’s Sonnen? He never done anything, his fights never sells, he doesn’t knock anybody out, he just brings the trash talk show. If he wants to talk, go do another thing."
Belfort is currently on the sidelines nursing an injury which caused him to pull out of a classic "striker vs. striker" match against former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le at UFC 139 in San Jose on November 19.
Sonnen is currently pitted to take on Briann Stann at UFC 136 on October 8 in Houston.
If Sonnen is able to defeat Stann, it could set up a nice number one contender match-up between Sonnen and Belfort for the right to face Anderson Silva (again).
Any Maniacs interested in this match-up? Or would you rather see Sonnen challenge "The Spider" again if he happens to get past "The All American?"
Sound off!
Posted in: fight, &rsquo, belfort, chael sonnen, sonnen
Read the full article at MMA ManiaVitor Belfort wants to fight Chael Sonnen in December
Just because earlier this week former UFC champion Vitor Belfort had to withdraw from a bout in November due to injury doesn’t mean the heavy-handed Brazilian is content to simply sit on the sidelines and twiddle his thumbs. Rather, Belfort already has a potential opponent in mind for his return to the ring and isn’t afraid to put his name out there either.
“The Phenom” recently spoke with Tatame where he expressed an intense desire to get in the Octagon with Chael Sonnen and “pound him out,” also saying he expected to be healthy enough to fight again before the end of the year.
“I hope I can fight (Sonnen). Let’s get this trashtalker…I think it’s the perfect timing, he’s a good opponent and it’s a fight that everybody wants to see,” Belfort began. “I really want to fight him.”
On the subject of his health, Belfort explained, “I don’t need to fight at 20% or 50%. I can’t take that risk, mainly in this special stage of my career. I have to be 100% there. (It’s) one thing (to) get injured during the camp, but I’d start my camp with an injury. The doctors decide that, and I’ll be ready to fight in December.”
If Sonnen is up to the task and the UFC brass decide to make the fight it would likely require the outspoken grappler to lose next month against Brian Stann as a win almost certainly guarantees him a second shot at dethroning pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva.
Even GSP Thinks Silva is UFC’s Top fighter
Belfort is 20-9 in his career with fourteen strike-based stoppages. He has won six of his last seven fights with the only loss coming to Silva while racking up victories over the likes of Matt Lindland, Rich Franklin, and most recently Yoshihiro Akiyama.
PHOTO CREDIT – UFC
Tweet
Posted in: ufc, fight, ’t, belfort, sonnen
Read the full article at Fighters.comVitor Belfort calls out Chael Sonnen: Sonnen offers reply
By now we all know that Chael Sonnen has a, shall we say, special relationship with many Brazilian fighters.
If, by chance, you are unfamiliar with Sonnen’s interaction with these Brazilian fighters, the short story is he likes to take verbal shots at many of the countries biggest stars. Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, Antonio Silva, the Nogueira brothers, and Jose Aldo have all heard from the acerbic Mr. Sonnen in the recent past.
One fighter that has maybe heard enough from Sonnen is Vitor
Posted in: fighter, silva, chael sonnen, sonnen, brazilian fighters
Read the full article at Low Kick