Chael Sonnen is, well, Chael Sonnen.
He’s a polarizing athlete who says what he wants, does what he feels needs to be done and has the utmost confidence while doing so.
That’s why he’s such a popular entity in mixed martial arts today. Add unparalleled wrestling, conditioning, motivation and gusto, and you have one of the more game fighters in the sport.
So whether you would sing at his birthday party or spit on his grave, Sonnen is a man who commands and deserves unwavering respect.
This Saturday at UFC 167, the promotion’s best trash-talker will have yet another chance to prove his bite is just as big as his bark.
Here are three questions Sonnen must answer to escape the sheer athleticism of fellow UFC Tonight mainstay and former light heavyweight champion Rashad “Suga” Evans.
Can he stand with Evans?
Sonnen isn’t scared to stand and bang. That’s no secret.
What he likes to do is bombard opponents from the initial bell and attempt to overwhelm them with his “gangster” pressure.
Unfortunately for him, Evans is the last guy you want to do that with. He possesses great athleticism and movement, allowing him to surge forward with very powerful punches.
While Evans hasn’t recorded a knockout in years, he still holds some of the most impressive and memorable finishes in UFC light heavyweight history.
Sonnen needs to pick his shots, keep a good pace and understand that Evans is going to be much faster than Mauricio “Shogun” Rua was.
Will he be the better wrestler?
Through all the trash talk and gimmicks, Sonnen is still regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in MMA.
His ability to lay into a double-leg takedown and bring the fight to the ground is often second to none. But as good as Sonnen has been at middleweight, Evans has been just as good at light heavyweight.
Not only has “Suga” been able to implement the takedown himself throughout his UFC career, but he’s also been taken down only 13 times in 17 fights.
It’s going to be interesting to see whose wrestling reigns supreme Saturday night. And if they go to the ground, can Sonnen become the first fighter ever to submit Evans?
Will his conditioning be the ultimate factor?
The fact of the matter is Evans didn’t look like himself in his last two fights. He looked somewhat sluggish and unable to find his rhythm.
Sonnen needs to exploit that and pressure Evans from the get-go. While he needs to stay patient and understand that “Suga” is still a dangerous threat, Sonnen‘s conditioning could take over this fight and allow him to grind out a victory.
Look for the “bad guy” to stay glued to Evans at all times in order to close the distance, keep Evans busy and deter him from finding any sort of groove.
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