UFC Fight Night 26 headliner Chael Sonnen has been uncharacteristically quiet leading up to his bout with Mauricio Rua this Saturday, however, that all changed last night.
On this week’s edition of UFC Tonight, “The American Gangster” recited a poem that made it very clear he wants to settle the score with old rival Wanderlei Silva after he disposes of his “henchman” Rua.
“On August 17, a fight’s going to take place and everyone’s screen saver will be Wanderlei’s face.
Not scowling or pouting or pounding his fist
Or stumbling with English or rolling his wrist
But watching in horror as docs try to wake his little henchman Shogun who made the mistake of cutting in line on my way to his boss
And ended up knocked out and trying to explain the loss
Sitting at the press conference table with Wanderlei outside
Hailing a cab for the panic-filled ride to Logan Airport
Or better still to the docks, to stow away
On a boat to Brazil to get away from this gangster right here
Who will eventually will leave him face down and end his career.”
Shortly after his failed light heavyweight title bid against champion Jon Jones at UFC 159 in April, Sonnen began pushing hard for a fight with “The Axe Murderer,” with the match up appearing to be an obvious choice to headline the UFC’s first card on FOX Sports 1, via MMA Fighting.
Despite a lot of heavy fan interest, the bout never came to fruition.
Instead, Sonnen offered to fill-in on just two weeks notice against “Shogun” at UFC 161 after his original opponent, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, withdrew from the bout, via MMA Junkie.
However, the UFC chose to remove Rua from that card and booked Sonnen vs. Shogun for UFC Fight Night 26.
Both competitors enter the contest coming off losses and coming up short again here would likely eliminate either fighter from the title picture for the foreseeable future.
With that being said, Sonnen recently announced that after this fight, he will drop back down to middleweight afterwards, a stipulation of his new contract.
Will Sonnen’s world class wrestling be too much for Shogun to handle or will the former UFC light heavyweight champ’s vicious striking be the difference maker here?
John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
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