A heaping slice of humble pie could be on the menu for Rashad Evans and Chael Sonnen.
When it comes to trash talk, “Sugar” and “Uncle Chael” are in a class of their own. Luckily, the two UFC stars have been able to back up the pre-fight talk with impressive performances in the Octagon.
This time could be different for Evans and Sonnen, who are both major underdogs in upcoming title bouts.
While Evans is set to face light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in April, Sonnen’s second crack at middleweight champion Anderson Silva isn’t expected until mid-June.
The rift between former teammates Evans and Jones has provided for some quality entertainment, but no other rivalry compares to the animosity shared between Sonnen and Silva.
Most would agree that the rivalry with Silva helped catapult Sonnen’s professional career.
Sonnen has always been considered a quality middleweight, but since the start of his beef with Silva, he has gained a massive following. He is no longer “that guy” who used to fight in the WEC.
Now Sonnen is recognized worldwide as a mainstream star and an upper-echelon middleweight contender.
This all comes at the expense of Silva, who has endured years of verbal assault from Sonnen. The Oregon native’s snide comments haven’t just been for Silva. He has also gone after the middleweight champ’s wife, team and the entire country of Brazil.
If there was ever a line never to be crossed, Sonnen has spat and walked all over it on more than one occasion.
The feud between Evans and Jones is just as personal, but unlike Silva and Sonnen, the verbal jabs shared between the two adversaries are mutual.
While Evans and Jones have continuously gone back and forth on Twitter, Silva has remained relatively quiet in his feud with Sonnen.
There is plenty of humble pie to go around, but it would be hard to deny Sonnen the biggest slice if he loses to Silva for a second time.
Sonnen’s rematch against Silva is expected to take place at the Estádio Olímpico João Havelange soccer stadium in the heart of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. If Sonnen loses, he will have to face Silva and thousands of Brazilians he has mocked and belittled.
After everything that has been said, it would be crippling for Sonnen to lose again.
As for Evans, a loss to Jones would be equally disappointing, but he could always drop to middleweight or work his way back to a rematch.
Perhaps, both fighters win, and neither has to endure the bitter taste of defeat.
What say you? Who will eat the bigger slice of humble pie?
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