(“Let me tell you something, mudda fucka, you’re lucky I feel entitled to my fair share of Fight Pass ad revenue or I’d smash your face right now!”)
In the lead-up to the third season of TUF Brazil, there were several audacious claims being made that Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva is “the greatest rivalry in the history of mixed martial arts.” A rivalry isn’t truly great until it involves a Twitter war, a reality show, and a (possibly staged) on-set brawl on said reality show, is essentially what we’re being told. (Author’s note: In which case, allow me to cast my vote for TUF Japan: Sakuraba vs. Gracie.)
Being that Sonnen vs. Silva ranks second only to King Kong vs. Godzilla on the list of mythologized rivalries, you’d think that both sides would have signed the bout agreement for their May 31st showdown by now. If anything, you’d think that Sonnen would be the one hesitant to agree to anything in the wake of the TRT ban.
In either case, you’d be wrong, dummy. According to Dana White, it’s actually Wandy who has yet to sign on the dotted line (via MMAFighting):
“Yeah,” White affirmed when asked on Thursday if the fight still has yet to be signed. “There’s a lot more to that story than (I can say).
“He’s not balking,” White said of Silva. “Not even a little bit. It’s not over money either. I can’t tell you. It has to do with the show (TUF Brazil 3). It has to do with the show, that’s all I can tell you.”
“This is a frustrating job. S–t happens to me every day. … It’ll get done. We’ll get it done.”
This can only mean one thing: Chael Sonnen actually *has* taken control of both teams. All hail Chael. #americangangster #yolo #besteva
Or, and I’m just speculating here, it could have something to do with the fact that the coach on Team Silva who sucker-punched Sonnen was thrown off the show, told that he “ought to be arrested,” and likely barred from attending all future UFC events. It’s a cockamamie theory compared to the “all hail Chael” one, I know, but let’s not be close-minded here, Nation.