Author: David Daniels

UFC on Fuel 4: Chris Weidman Is Worthy Opponent for Anderson Silva

Mark Munoz likely believes Chris Weidman deserves a shot at Anderson Silva.In UFC on Fuel 4, Weidman knocked out Munoz, keeping his perfect record glistening. After yet another eye-opening performance, The All-American’s next opponent should be n…

Mark Munoz likely believes Chris Weidman deserves a shot at Anderson Silva.

In UFC on Fuel 4, Weidman knocked out Munoz, keeping his perfect record glistening. After yet another eye-opening performance, The All-American’s next opponent should be none other than The Spider himself.

Jamie Penick of the MMA Torch reported that Weidman believes he’s capable of being the first UFC fighter to make Silva submit. He said:

I’ve got the length with Anderson Silva, so he’s not going to be able to play on the outside much with me. If he comes in, my takedowns are pretty good. I’ll take him down…I could submit him and finish him.

Before his loss to Weidman, ESPN ranked Munoz as the fourth-best MMA middleweight fighter only behind Silva, Chael Sonnen and Vitor Belfort. Silva already beat both of them—Sonnen twice, one this past week, and Belfort in 2011. But not only did Weidman take care of Munoz, his previous triumph was against Demian Maia, who survived five rounds against Silva and forced Sonnen to submit in the first round.

Weidman thinks his resume is strong enough to warrant a matchup with Silva, and it’s difficult to argue with him. He said (via MMA Torch):

This is five straight in the UFC. I beat two top-five guys. I feel like I did put my dues in. I know I’m just 9-0, but I really believe I’m ready, and I’m going to go after Anderson Silva and get that shot.

Sure, Weidman doesn’t have a Silva-like resume, but how many fighters do? He’s an undefeated competitor rapidly on the rise that’s recently taken out top-notch talent. Not only is he worthy to face off against the legendary Silva, he’d give the veteran a run for his money.

Just don’t expect a submission.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen: Retirement Shouldn’t Be on Sonnen’s Radar

Athletes are supposed to retire on a high note.After getting beat down by Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen couldn’t be lower right now. If The American Gangster hangs up the gloves before another bout, he’ll regret his decision without a doubt….

Athletes are supposed to retire on a high note.

After getting beat down by Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen couldn’t be lower right now. If The American Gangster hangs up the gloves before another bout, he’ll regret his decision without a doubt.

Sonnen talked a big game heading into UFC 148 but failed to back it up. While he got off to a phenomenal start, proving that he belonged in the octagon, The Spider was just too much.

Silva recorded a TKO in the second round. But as much as Sonnen’s critics are pushing for his retirement, the outcome of Saturday night’s match says far more about Silva’s greatness than Sonnen’s ability as a fighter.

Matt Erickson of the USA Today reported that UFC president Dana White talked about Sonnen’s domination of Silva in the first round of the fight. He said:

When Anderson has gone in the past against strong wrestlers, like Dan Henderson, that’s what the first round looked like—Chael got him. I said it before the fight and I’ll say it again—Chael, not only does he talk a mean game, he goes in and fights, man. He said he wasn’t afraid of Anderson Silva, and he went in and he fought Anderson Silva like he wasn’t. Anderson Silva came out in the second round and did what he did.

At this point in his career, Sonnen is far too talented to retire on a loss. Sure, he’s 35 years old, but he hasn’t lost a fight to anyone besides Silva since early 2009. He’s still 5-2 in his last seven fights.

If Sonnen is officially washed up, he should retire. But I don’t think anyone in the right mind would label him as such. Sonnen has a handful of strong fights left in him and should pick the right spot and retire on a note that will leave him with no regrets.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.


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Silva vs. Sonnen: American Gangster Put a Hit on Himself with Foolish Trash Talk

Chael Sonnen set himself up for failure.It isn’t wise to taunt an elite fighter, but that’s exactly what Sonnen did in UFC 148 against Anderson Silva, and he paid for it. Trash talk is a part of sports. It is an extremely useful tool to gai…

Chael Sonnen set himself up for failure.

It isn’t wise to taunt an elite fighter, but that’s exactly what Sonnen did in UFC 148 against Anderson Silva, and he paid for it.

Trash talk is a part of sports. It is an extremely useful tool to gain an edge on an opponent by getting inside their head. Of course, such an edge will only be created if trash talk is used correctly.

Sonnen didn’t get it right. He took it too far, so instead of throwing Silva off his game, Sonnen’s trash talking only fueled Silva’s fire, making him an even fiercer fighter.

His turn for the worse began last year when he went on a Twitter rant in which he repeatedly dissed Silva’s home country of Brazil. The nation’s paper O Globo covered the story, which only fanned the flames.

In October of 2011, Sonnen did an interview with Mauro Ranallo of theScore.com. In it, he was quoted saying:

“You tell Anderson Silva that I’m coming over and I’m kicking down his back door and patting his little lady on the [butt] and I’m telling her to make me a steak, medium-rare, just how I like it.”

Rules of trash talking No. 1 and 2: never bring up a competitor’s family and never insult an athlete’s home. Sonnen broke both of them, and he paid for it. Silva recorded a TKO in the second round on Saturday, ending the foolery.

Dan Stupp of USA Today reported that Silva was fueled by the American Gangster’s threats. He said after shutting him up once and for all: “Chael disrespected my country.”

Sonnen blew his chance to get revenge against Silva with foolish trash talk. He could’ve evened the series and forced a third and final fight, but now he’ll never get another shot at the Spider.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen: Spider Must Fight Jon Jones After TKO

Anderson Silva has everything to gain and nothing to lose.The Spider is coming off of a huge victory over Chael Sonnen in UFC 148 in which he recorded a TKO in the second round. It’d be in Silva’s best interest to make his next matchup against Jo…

Anderson Silva has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

The Spider is coming off of a huge victory over Chael Sonnen in UFC 148 in which he recorded a TKO in the second round. It’d be in Silva’s best interest to make his next matchup against Jon Jones.

When asked if he still had the motivation to fight middleweight in the post-fight press conference, Silva responded (via UFC.com):

Yes I still have the motivation. What motivates me is to be involved in the sport, like being involved in the weigh-ins yesterday that broke all the records and it’s always motivating to be among the top athletes out here.

But when questioned on a potential fight with Jones, he answered, “Nope.”

At 24 years old, Bones has a major youth advantage over the 37-year-old Silva. Jones has yet to take a loss in his professional mixed martial arts career outside of an illegal-elbow strikes disqualification and would be favored in the dream matchup.

But that shouldn’t stop Silva from fighting him.

If Jones wins, so what? He’s 13 years younger. Such a victory would prove nothing in the big picture of things.

And if you look at the big picture, it’s Jones who shouldn’t want to fight Silva. While Jones is still young, it’s safe to say that each competitor will go down as a UFC legend. If Silva were to defeat Jones despite being over a decade older than him, he would forever be remembered as the superior fighter.

That isn’t something a legacy is capable of overcoming. Jones could go undefeated the rest of his career, but no one would be able to ever label him a better fighter than Silva if the veteran beat him with retirement on his radar.

Silva is riding 16 straight victories. It isn’t like fighting Jones is suicide. Silva would be against the odds, but he’d definitely still have a shot at knocking him off.

Not that he needs it, but a win would do wonders for his legacy. A loss does nothing. It wouldn’t be wise to pass up such a golden opportunity.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Silva vs. Sonnen: Spider’s Refreshing Display of Sportsmanship Deserves Applause

The only thing sweeter than revenge is rubbing it in after revenge. Anderson Silva was in position to do just that following UFC 148. Instead, he showed sportsmanship, and under the given circumstances, it was quite surprising. Like the vast majority o…

The only thing sweeter than revenge is rubbing it in after revenge.

Anderson Silva was in position to do just that following UFC 148. Instead, he showed sportsmanship, and under the given circumstances, it was quite surprising.

Like the vast majority of UFC fights, trash-talking preluded the bout, but Silva intensified his verbal assault of Chael Sonnen beyond the norm. While The Spider did go into the generic I’m-going-to-hit-you-so-hard-your-mother-will-feel-it rant, he didn’t just take a shot at Sonnens toughness but his character as well.

Steven Marrocco of USA Today reported what Silva said going into the fight:

“First of all, Chael is a criminal,” Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) said through translator and manager Ed Soares. “He’s been convicted of crimes. He doesn’t deserve to be inside the octagon. And when the time comes and the time is right, I’m going to break his face and break every one of his teeth in his mouth.”

Silva didn’t literally dismantle Sonnen like he threatened to on Saturday, but he did record a TKO in the second round. Almost two years since their first bout, Silva had defeated Sonnen yet again, proving his superiority once and for all. The American Gangster was officially shut up.

What did Silva do after achieving the triumph that he had been patiently waiting for?

Now, I’d imagine that if I were in his position, my first reaction would be to stare Sonnen down, and then grab the mic and yell something like, “I told you all!”

But Silva, feeling merciful perhaps, didn’t gloat on his victory.

Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times reported that in the Octagon, the same Octagon he said Sonnen didn’t deserve to be in, Silva told his audience, “Show Chael we have manners. I want everyone to applaud Chael.”

Now, from there, Silva could’ve easily followed that up by taking a shot at Sonnen’s pride, but instead he told his rival, “If you’d like to have a barbecue at my house, I’d love to have you over.”

It takes far more humility to resist rubbing in revenge than it does courage to kick a man when he’s down. Silva chose to show humility against Sonnen, and he should be applauded for it.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and is a syndicated writer.


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Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen: Spider Will Eat the People’s Champ Alive

Confidence is everything. Anderson Silva is scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen in UFC 148 on July 7, but he’s already won. If the Spider isn’t already in Sonnen’s head, it’ll only take one powerful blow to have the American Gangster on his heels after all…

Confidence is everything.

Anderson Silva is scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen in UFC 148 on July 7, but he’s already won. If the Spider isn’t already in Sonnen’s head, it’ll only take one powerful blow to have the American Gangster on his heels after all of the pre-fight trash talking that has been going on.

Steve Marrocco of the USA Today reported that Silva is quite confident that he won’t only defeat Sonnen on Saturday, but that he’ll dismantle him. In fact, “confident” is a massive understatement.

Silva said in a conference call last week:

“What I’m going to do inside the Octagon is something that’s going to change the image of the sport, I’m sorry. I’m going to beat his (expletive) like he’s never been beaten before. This is going to be violent and I am sorry. I’m going to make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, that his arms are broken and his legs are broken. He’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee that. He will need a plastic surgeon afterward.”

He wasn’t finished, though. According to bjpenn.com, in the pre-fight press conference Silva reportedly whispered in Sonnen’s ear, “You’re going to die.”

I wouldn’t bet on any of Silva’s threats to actually come true, but expect him to still beat Sonnen down.

When the two competitors fought back in August of 2010, Silva forced a submission in the fifth round. Let’s just say if Sonnen was ever going to defeat Silva, that was his chance.

According to Steven Marrocco of MMA Junkie, Silva defeated Sonnen despite a battling through a rib injury which was serious enough to provoke his doctor to advise him not to fight. Following the loss, Sonnen tested positive for extremely high testosterone levels as well as performance enhancing drugs and was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission, according to Sherdog.

Of course, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reported that Sonnen struggles with Hypogonadism and because of that, he’ll actually be able to use testosterone in the days leading up to the rematch, as long as his testosterone-to-epitestosterone level stays under the Nevada State Athletic Commission limit.

Now, if Sonnen couldn’t beat Silva with an illegal amount of testosterone fueling him, then how in the world is he going to pull off a victory without its advantage?

Silva hasn’t lost a fight since 2004 (besides his illegal-kick disqualification against Yushin Okami in 2006). You’d be nuts to bet against him this weekend.

 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.


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