Tomorrow’s long-awaited clash between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva at UFC 148 in Las Vegas promises to be one of the biggest events in UFC history. If Dana White is to be believed, it’s one of the biggest sporting events in this Olympic year.
It all goes down at the MGM Grand at 10 p.m. ET, live on pay-per-view.
Hopefully, by the time the Silva-Sonnen main event goes down, you’ll already be pretty drunk. So to finish you off, whether you’re enjoying the proceedings over pizza at Larry’s house or your favourite downtown sports bar, here’s a drinking game that’s fun for all the family!
NB: Before we start, you will need ready access to a bottle of cachaca (or any other Brazilian rum, such as Sagatiba—you can substitute with normal rum if you have to) and a bottle of whiskey, preferably American bourbon (we’re running a Brazil vs. U.S. theme).
Rule 1
MMA is replete with personal rivalries and deep-seated animosity between combatants. But the truly personal, venomous nature of the Silva-Sonnen rivalry sets it apart from anything we’ve seen before in the Octagon.
It’s almost unthinkable that the fighters will touch gloves before the match starts.
If they do, chug your beer and follow it up with a shot of cachaca and a shot of whiskey. If Silva bows as he backs up to his corner, take another shot of cachaca.
Rule 2
All bets are that Sonnen will stick to the game plan that almost landed him the belt in their first encounter. So expect plenty of takedowns or at least takedown attempts.
For every Sonnen takedown attempt, whether it’s a shot or from the clinch, chug your beer.
Rule 3
Following on from the second rule, every time Sonnen lands a takedown, finish chugging your beer, and down a shot of whiskey.
Rule 4
Silva fans are hoping the Brazilian will be better prepared against Sonnen this time and that he won’t be rag-dolled like he was in the first encounter. They also hope for a fully functioning rib that will help in stuffing any one of Sonnen’s takedowns.
Every time Silva stuffs a takedown, finish chugging your beer as per rule 2, and take a shot of cachaca.
Rule 5
Sonnen is one of the rare wrestlers to have had success against Silva because he’s not afraid to fight in the pocket. Expect a flurry of power shots from both fighters landing on target.
Every time that happens and either Joe Rogan or Mike Goldberg shout, “He looks rocked!” or “That rocked him!”—or when they declare either fighter to be “rocked”—take a shot of cachaca if Silva lands the strike or whiskey if it’s Sonnen.
Rule 6
And following on from the fifth rule, it’s highly likely that one or both fighters will score a “knockdown” at some point in the match from a strike. This requires either fighter hitting the canvas on his ass at any point of the match.
So whether it’s a “knockdown” or a “knockout,” take two shots of cachaca for a Silva knockdown, or two shots of whiskey for a Sonnen knockdown.
Rule 7
The last fight ended with Silva’s planting a triangle arm bar on Sonnen and forcing him to tap. There’s a high chance that if the fight goes to the ground, Silva will bring out his jiu-jitsu and end Sonnen’s night exactly the same way.
But wait, Sonnen’s BJJ coach Vinny Magalhaes has said that Sonnen has all the skills to submit Silva.
So if the Brazilian gets the submission, take two shots of cachaca—or two shots of whiskey, if it’s Sonnen.
Rule 8
Their first encounter was minutes away from a decision, which would have likely gone Sonnen’s way. There’s every chance that this will happen again.
The eighth rule is that if the decision is unanimous in favour of Silva, down two shots of cachaca. If Sonnen gets the unanimous decision, take two shots of whiskey.
If it’s a split decision in Silva’s favour, that’s just one shot of the Brazilian rum. If Sonnen gets the split decision victory, down a shot of whiskey.
And that’s it, eight simple rules by which to get drunk on Saturday night.
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