Realistically, it was only a matter of time before Chael Sonnen moseyed his way over to a mic and delivered a response to Anderson Silva’s smoldering conference call. So it wasn’t too much of a surprise when Sonnen phoned into last night’s episode of UFC Tonight, and predictably, it didn’t take long for the sound bytes to start flying.
“A couple things (Silva) didn’t say he was going to do: starting with beating me, starting with breaking my spirit, starting with leaving with a victory, because he’s not,” Sonnen retorted.
“It was nice to see the real Anderson Silva come through. You know, the guy’s a dirtbag, like I’ve told you for years. He made a lot of statements like he’s going to break my teeth, he’s going to break my jaw and break my skull. I’ve fought 49 men. It’s not like I’ve never been to the orthodontist before. It’s not like I’ve ever had my jaw re-set. It’s not like I’ve never had to have my scalp stapled shut in an ER. I can take the staples in the head and all this other crap. … I’m going to shoot a double and run him into that cage. Shoot a double and put him on his prissy little ass, and sit there for 25 minutes until he gives up.”
How’s that for a response from the people’s champ?
But that if wasn’t enough, our good friend Alistair Overeem soon showed up — sporting an utterly gangster pinstriped suit, I might add — and in his first public appearance in two months, “The Reem” clarified a few things about his testing failures, before revealing his plan to get back into the UFC’s good graces via a schedule of voluntary, monthly random drug tests.
“I’m going to convince Dana (White) through my actions, I am a legit fighter, and do the random (drug) tests,” Overeem explained. “I’m very sure that this situation cannot happen again. … What I want to show the world is that I am a clean fighter. I’ll do these tests on my own. One test doesn’t say anything. If I do these tests every three to four weeks, then you prove to everyone that you are clean. The medical staff is observing you taking the test. There’s no foul play involved.”
The MMA community widely scoffed at Overeem last week when he announced his first voluntary NSAC drug test. So it’ll be interesting to see the reaction towards his new testing schedule, considering he’s doing this completely of his own accord, as a sign of good faith to his critics.
Oh, and he still wants a title shot in December. So that might have something to do with it as well.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Sonnen fires back. No. 1 UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen returned fire at his rival Anderson Silva, proclaiming the champion to be a dirtbag who possesses nothing but amateur skills.
Overeem speaks. After two months out of the public eye, polarizing UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem broke his silence to explain his absence and discuss his notorious 14:1 testosterone-to-epitestosterone drug test.
Aoki to headline ONE FC 5. DREAM lightweight champion Shinya Aoki signed a multi-fight deal with ONE FC and is already set to headline ONE FC 5, which takes place August 31, in Manila, Philippines, within same arena as Muhammad Ali’s legendary ‘Thrilla in Manila.’
Moreira talks Huerta soccer kick. Zorobabel Moreira discussed his grisly soccer kick knockout of Roger Huerta at ONE FC 4, stating he thought the fight should’ve already been stopped and did not want to throw the kick.
Belfort calls out Jones. UFC middleweight contender Vitor Belfort speculated about a potential move back up to light heavyweight, while declaring, “I am not afraid of Jon Jones.”
MEDIA STEW
The debate over Silva-Sonnen has been renewed with this latest run of trash talk, so the UFC fanned the flames by releasing the pair’s legendary UFC 117 clash in its entirety. What say you guys? Can Sonnen replicate this performance?
Roger Huerta’s awful weekend wasn’t the first time poor ref’ing led to someone eating a soccer kick to the face.
The Rousey vs. Kaufman marketing train has officially left the station with this slick trailer from Showtime.
The coolest part of Roots of Fight’s new short film about Mike Tyson: Finding out 14-year-old Tyson promised a post-Larry Holmes Muhammad Ali he would get revenge for Ali when he grew up. And Tyson resoundingly keeping that promise. (HT: MMA Mania)
A GENTLEMEN’S AGREEMENT
. @rory_macdonald VADA anti-doping has offered to sponsor our upcoming fight.I’ve accepted and invite you to help me clean up the sport
— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) June 26, 2012
@bjpenndotcom already worried BJ? honestly i think its a great idea 2, and im ready to do the testing for our fight aswell @danawhite
— Rory MacDonald (@rory_macdonald) June 26, 2012
THE PLOT THICKENS
Hi Roy. Yes VADA does test for HGH RT @roynelsonmma: @VictorConte does VADA test for HGH? If so, a lot people are Fu@Ked
— Victor Conte (@VictorConte) June 27, 2012
MAKING WAVES
DREAM Champion Bibiano Fernandes has officially signed with ONE FC.He will debut on August 31 in Manila.
— ONE FC (@ONEFCMMA) June 27, 2012
PROFESSIONAL POT STIRRING
Ok, here’s something to rile folks up: I say MMA has jumped the shark to becoming a fad. It’s lost a lot of it’s originality and purity.
— Josh Barnett (@JoshLBarnett) June 27, 2012
CALLING IT
@UFCTonight Anderson’s sudden trash talk won’t help his takedown defense. @sonnench wins again on 7/7
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) June 27, 2012
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Tuesday, June 26, 2012):
UFC on FOX 4: Terry Etim (15-4) out with injury against Joe Lauzon (21-7)
UFC 149: George Roop (12-9-1) out, Daniel Pineda (17-8) in against Antonio Carvalho (13-5)
UFC on FUEL 4: Nick Penner (11-2) out with injury against Tom DeBlass (7-1)
Strikeforce: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (15-3) vs. Derek Brunson (9-1) booked for August 18
ONE FC 5: Shinya Aoki (30-6, 1 NC) vs. TBA
ONE FC 5: Bibiano Fernandes (11-3) vs. TBA
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes from Trust Doesn’t Rust, who tries his hardest to summarize the first international season of The Ultimate Fighter: Crying and Jesus– 11 Crazy/Awesome Things About TUF Brazil
5. Everybody in Brazil has a nickname, whether you are a badass or just some dude. Not only that, but people call you by your nickname like somebody would call you “Steve” or “Mike.” Even the annoying little baby who sucks at fighting (Gasparzhino) gets a nickname. I know the culture’s different, but do guys at Joey Beltran’s gym say “hey Mexicutioner, you have a booger on your shirt” when Joey Beltran has a booger on his shirt?
6. The Pe De Chumbo-Serghino fight was sad. For some reason, this fight stood out to me above all others on the season. You had Wanderlei’s last and maybe best guy, who was supposedly this jiu-jitsu grand wizard, fighting one of Vitor’s guys who we learn is also pretty good at jiu-jitsu. But this Pe De Chumbo guy, we learn, is supposed to be a jiu-jitsu legend in Brazil, and seems pretty confident that he’s going to get the win. Wanderlei, clearly nervous about the impending manufactured team armageddon, even notes that they “really need” this victory. So what happens? Pe De Chumbo come out like a white belt, gets sloppy, and gets submitted in like two minutes after he gives up his back.
7. Fabricio Werdum seems like a hell of a guy, Though barely shown and, like most TUF assistants, inexplicably getting no recognition or speaking parts unless he’s drunk (like that striking coach GSP brought in) or crazy (like the wrestling coach who got fired by Junior Dos Santos), every time you’d see Fabricio he looked like he’d just been caught cracking wise. From his physical comedy routine in the Alistair Overeem fight, to that video of him making dirty jokes in the elevator to Fedor’s posse, he just seems like the kind of guy who’s great to have around.
Found something perfect for the Morning Report? Just hit me on Twitter @shaunalshatti and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s post.