Tag: Caged In

Chael Sonnen’s Best UFC Brazil Press Conference Quotes

UFC President Dana White took Chael Sonnen to Brazil for a press conference held this morning to announce that the much-anticipated UFC 147 bout between Sonnen and Anderson Silva was actually being moved to UFC 148.And, as he usually does, Sonnen stole…

UFC President Dana White took Chael Sonnen to Brazil for a press conference held this morning to announce that the much-anticipated UFC 147 bout between Sonnen and Anderson Silva was actually being moved to UFC 148.

And, as he usually does, Sonnen stole the show. 

You can watch the full press conference in the video embedded above, but I’ve transcribed some of Sonnen’s golden moments below. 

 

On the fight being moved to Las Vegas:

Look, Las Vegas is the fight capital of the world. This is the biggest fight in the history of combat. Boxing, wrestling, fighting; anything that’s mano-a-mano, there’s nothing that’s bigger than this. It’s going to take place on July 7th. We’re going to the biggest city. We’re going to the fight capital of Earth. We will be the biggest sporting event in the history of combat.

My plan wasn’t to walk in here and tell you guys we’re not coming here. My plan was to come here, take your money, my new belt and go back to America. But instead, I’m going to have to wait. I’m going to have to stomp him on July 7th, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

 

Does he think the Brazilian people are offended by his comments?

Well, first off, my impression has been great and I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t have anything against the Brazilian people. I got something against a Brazilian that’s sitting a few feet from me and maybe with a couple of other gentlemen. But your women are all okay with me, so feel free to give me a call or pay me a visit.

But as far as my impression? It’s a lot like America. You know, when I was a little kid, I remember going outside and sitting around with my friends. We’d talk about the latest technology and medicine and gaming and American ingenuity. And I would look outside and Anderson and the Brazilian kids are sitting outside playing in the mud.

And I’ll tell you something else. I think it’s disgusting and I think it’s an embarrassment to the sport that he would come around with that fake belt when the entire world watched me defeat him on live TV. He goes and gets himself a fake belt and sits up here and pretends to be champion. He’s obviously thriving off of all of the new fans of the sport by putting out misinformation and trying to mislead everybody. But as sure as night follows day, I sit before you undefeated and undisputed.

 

After Silva talked about his legacy:

This guy says the craziest stuff, man. He’s surrounded by yes-men. It’s unbelievable that he actually thinks like that. He talks about his legacy. He’s so close to the trees that he can’t see the forest. Come to America and ask people what they think about him. Oh yeah, this guy is the real deal. He became the No. 1 contender when he beat the great Chris Leben. He then defended his belt against the great Patrick Cote and the amazing Thales Leites. What a star this guy is.

What about the fact that I called him out for six years? “Oh, you’re disrespecting my family.” Yes, I did, and what did you do about it? Not a damn thing, and you’re not gonna do anything on July 7th. Get your excuses ready now, Anderson. I told everybody before the first fight that our skills are not even close and that I’m going to destroy him.

And I will tell you again now: Our skills are not even close. So go to your Ed Soares school of excuse-making and get some handy, because you’re going to need them on July 7th.

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Hector Lombard Signs with the UFC; Who Should He Face in His Debut?

The UFC middleweight division has a new player, and his name is Hector Lombard.Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the news today to MMAFighting’s Mike Chiapetta. Rebney said that it made no financial sense, at least based on the current Bellator model…

The UFC middleweight division has a new player, and his name is Hector Lombard.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney confirmed the news today to MMAFighting’s Mike Chiapetta. Rebney said that it made no financial sense, at least based on the current Bellator model, to keep Lombard around:

“We have a business model where we make decisions based on analyzing data,” he said. “Since the first day we came into being, we made decisions based on real models, not hypotheticals. The UFC model is largely based on pay-per-view, and the offer they made to Hector is going to be monetized via pay-per-view. While pay-per-view could play a role in our future, today it doesn’t. So, we did our due diligence to review the UFC contract, analyzed it in terms of charging our audience to see Hector vs. putting him on free TV, and we decided to allow the UFC to sign Hector, where I am extremely confident he will win the UFC middleweight title on pay-per-view.”

Now that the news is official, we can look forward to Lombard’s debut. We have no idea when he’ll actually step into the Octagon, but I’m assuming it’ll be this summer at some point. He won’t get an immediate title shot at Anderson Silva, partly because Silva already has a fight booked with Chael Sonnen, and partly because Lombard isn’t quite on the level of a guy who can come into the UFC and get an immediate shot at the gold.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few of the options available as Lombard’s first UFC opponent and offer up predictions on who I think would win each fight.

 

Brian Stann

Stann makes the most sense to me. He’s near the top of the division, and a win by Lombard would certainly elevate him to the point where he can be given a title shot.

The same thing goes for Stann, though. A win over Lombard would be a big deal, and would finally give one of the UFC’s most marketable stars the push he needs to earn a title fight. 

Stann also makes a lot of sense from the perspective of trying to put together an exciting fight. Stann has suffered greatly against wrestlers in the past, but Lombard’s striking background makes him the perfect style matchup.

Prediction: Lombard

 

Mark Munoz

Munoz is another guy who, like Stann, is near the very top of the division and just needs one win to earn a ticket into the title picture. Lombard would have considerable difficulty with Munoz’s wrestling, so he’s not a great opponent if you’re looking to give Lombard a free pass into a fight with Silva.

Prediction: Munoz

 

Chris Weidman

Weidman has a lot in common with Munoz. He’s a fantastic wrestler and grappler with enough ground skills to stifle Lombard. His striking isn’t very good, however, and that gives Lombard a real weakness to exploit.

Prediction: Lombard

 

Winner of Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares

Belcher and Palhares will tie up on May 5th at UFC on FOX 3 in New Jersey. The winner of the fight would be considered one of those guys who is almost ready for a title shot, but still needs one more big win to get a crack at Silva.

That makes the winner a perfect match for Lombard.

Both fights would be tough for Lombard. Belcher’s all-around game has improved drastically in recent years, while Palhares has that disgustingly awesome grappling game that makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division.

Predictions: If Palhares, then Palhares. If Belcher, then Lombard 

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Alistair Overeem and Nevada Commission Combine for Embarrassing Performance

If you’re a true MMA fan, you knew Alistair Overeem was scheduled to go in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission today for a hearing regarding his 14:1 T/E test failure back on March 27.Overeem did show up. He was there, in person, taking his m…

If you’re a true MMA fan, you knew Alistair Overeem was scheduled to go in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission today for a hearing regarding his 14:1 T/E test failure back on March 27.

Overeem did show up. He was there, in person, taking his medicine.

Or at least explaining how medicine he was unintentionally given by a rogue doctor caused his test failure.

The rogue doctor was the highlight of the proceedings, which were streamed online. Dr. Hector Oscar Molina is a self-described family medicine practitioner in Texas. He used to be a plastic surgeon, but those days seem to have ended when one of Molina’s patients was hospitalized after a botched breast augmentation surgery.

These days, he’s running a male performance-enhancement clinic in Texas where they’ll write you prescriptions that last up to a full year. And then there are the family violence charges Molina incurred exactly two years ago today.

Molina was a one-man circus during the meetings. As the story goes, he gave Overeem a shot on Jan. 12 after Overeem came in complaining of pain in his ribs. Molina gave him an anti-inflammatory shot, but mixed in a little bit of testosterone for good measure.

Overeem said Molina never told him he was mixing in the special ingredient, and Molina confirmed that he never said anything of the sort to Overeem.

Molina changed his story constantly when grilled by the Nevada commissioners. But amazingly enough, Molina’s terrible testimony and background worked in Overeem’s favor. The commission voted to keep Overeem out of action for nine months, retroactive to his March 27 test date.

Huh? 

Explain something to me, if you can: King Mo Lawal goes in front of the commission and takes a full measure of blame for ingesting a substance that caused him to test positive for steroids. He gets a nine-month suspension.

Overeem goes in front of the same commission, puts the blame on a quack doctor and gets the same suspension? 

How is this possible? And how is it possible that the commission closed out the proceedings by telling Overeem that they’re huge fans of his and they hope he’ll have the grace to come back and fight in Nevada someday?

They were actually apologetic that they were forced to suspend him at all.

I shouldn’t be surprised by today’s events. Money talks, especially in a city such as Las Vegas. But it’s a disheartening to see, especially after the treatment Lawal was given just a short time ago.

Preferential treatment should not be handed out when dealing with PED offenders. And the personal fandom of commissioners shouldn’t even be stated during events like this one. They have no place on the record, and certainly no place when doling out punishments.

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Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen Makes UFC 148 the Most Stacked Card in History

You have any plans on or around July 7 this year?No? Then you should probably plan on heading to Las Vegas.Go ahead and get your flight now, because in a few weeks the Fourth of July holiday time frame will send air prices skyrocketing. Tickets are alr…

You have any plans on or around July 7 this year?

No? Then you should probably plan on heading to Las Vegas.

Go ahead and get your flight now, because in a few weeks the Fourth of July holiday time frame will send air prices skyrocketing. Tickets are already $600 from Houston to Las Vegas; that’s roughly six times the average price for a plane ticket more than two months out.

Yes, it’ll take a bit of planning on your part. But you’ll want to be there. Trust me. Why?

Because the addition of the new main event—between old rivals Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen—makes UFC 148 the most stacked card in UFC history.

This is no joke. Take a look at the pay-per-view card and then tell me I’m wrong. You can’t do it.

  • Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen (UFC middleweight title)
  • Dominick Cruz vs. Urijah Faber (UFC bantamweight title)
  • Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
  • Cung Le vs. Rich Franklin
  • Michael Bisping vs. Tim Boetsch

For comparison’s sake, here’s the card for UFC 100:

  • Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
  • Georges St-Pierre vs. Thiago Alves
  • Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping
  • Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher
  • Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago

There’s really no comparison, after all. UFC 100 had three big fights, each featuring two big-name competitors. UFC 148, as currently scheduled, has five fights with a total of nine big-name fighters. And Tim Boetsch isn’t the biggest name in the business, but he’s on a roll in the middleweight division and deserves his bout with Bisping.

Granted, injuries and illnesses could wreck this card like they have so many others over the past two years. I’ve learned that no fight is set in stone until it happens. But right now, as things are currently planned, there can be no question that UFC 148 is the biggest, most-stacked event in UFC history.

I’ll be there. Will you?

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UFC: Will Nevada Allow Chael Sonnen to Fight at UFC 148?

Earlier today, UFC President Dana White announced to the world that the rematch between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight championship, will be moved from Brazil to Las Vegas to headline UFC 148.It’s a shame we will miss out on t…

Earlier today, UFC President Dana White announced to the world that the rematch between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight championship, will be moved from Brazil to Las Vegas to headline UFC 148.

It’s a shame we will miss out on the extreme partisan reactions of the Brazilian crowd as they cheer on their countryman Silva. But, no matter where the fight takes place, it’s bound to be hotly anticipated and an extravaganza like few others in MMA history.

There’s no question that the MMA world is in a frenzy over this fight. In their initial match, Sonnen beat Silva from pillar to post before eventually succumbing to a final round submission from a battered champion. After the fight, it was revealed that Sonnen had competed while being treated for hypogonadism, a condition that prevents the body from producing normal levels of testosterone.

While defending his testosterone-to-epitestosterone ratio of 16.9-to-1 (the legal ratio in California was 4-to-1), Sonnen told the California Athletic Commission that he had been approved for a therapeutic use exemption in the state of Nevada, allowing him to use testosterone legally. Nevada’s Executive Director Keith Kizer categorically denied the claim:

Keith Kizer, executive director of the NSAC, testified over streaming video from Las Vegas that neither he nor Nevada commission-licensed doctors granted Sonnen a therapeutic use exemption, which allows for prescribed medication to be used by a licensed competitor if it’s deemed necessary for his or her well-being.

Sonnen, Kizer said, was never told he didn’t need to disclose testosterone treatments.

“That is a false statement,” Kizer said.

Kizer would eventually meet with Sonnen, his then manager Matt Lindland and members of the UFC’s senior management team. After much discussion and thought, Kizer tells Bleacher Report that he doesn’t see why Sonnen wouldn’t be eligible to fight in the state. In fact, he might even be eligible for an administrative license, meaning he would be approved without the necessity of a commission hearing.

“If he files, any and all relevant issues will be addressed,” Kizer said, conceding Sonnen’s past would potentially be an issue. “There is always more scrutiny, but that does necessarily mean a hearing is needed. That is something to be decided but I think he may be eligible for administrative licensing, i.e., no need for hearing. The final decision on that point would be the Chairman’s.”

The standard licensing procedure does present some potential pitfalls for Sonnen:

  • Therapeutic Use Exemption: While Sonnen can apply for an exemption to the Commission’s prohibition against artificial testosterone, even having the proper paperwork isn’t a guarantee that it will be approved
  • Criminal Record: Sonnen will need to disclose a 2011 guilty plea in a federal money laundering case:

U.S. attorney’s office spokesperson Gerri Badden told MMA Fighting that Sonnen was sentenced on Friday to 24 months probation, a $10,000 fine and forfeiture of his real estate license as the result of his Jan. 3rd guilty plea.

In his plea, Sonnen admitted that he was part of a financial transaction that was conducted or designed to disguise the ownership of funds due to wire fraud. The charge had carried a possible fine of up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

  • While there is no reason to assume that Sonnen isn’t clean, he should learn a lesson from Alistair Overeem and expect to be tested by the Commission when he applies for his license. Nevada reserves the right to test the athletes out of competition and upon request for licensure. I suspect Sonnen may be asked to submit to drug testing before the bout.

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Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen 2 Rescheduled for UFC 148

At UFC 117, the MMA world saw Anderson Silva vulnerable for the first time in his UFC career.For four and a half rounds, he was dominated from pillar to post by Chael Sonnen, who not only out-wrestled the champion, but out-struck him as well. It was a …

At UFC 117, the MMA world saw Anderson Silva vulnerable for the first time in his UFC career.

For four and a half rounds, he was dominated from pillar to post by Chael Sonnen, who not only out-wrestled the champion, but out-struck him as well. It was a Hail Mary triangle choke that forced Sonnen to tap and saved Anderson Silva’s title reign. Chael Sonnen’s performance was unfortunately tainted when his post-fight drug test came back for elevated levels of testosterone. 

While serving his one year suspension, Sonnen became something of a media darling because of his ability to cut a promo. For an entire year, Sonnen would tell anyone and everyone who would listen about how he was the real middleweight champion and that Anderson Silva would never survive “the mean streets of West Linn, Oregon.”

Finally, after two years of waiting, Chael Sonnen would get another shot at the champion. He’d be traveling to Silva’s backyard and fight in front of a rowdy Brazilian crowd at UFC 147.

The UFC, to their credit, recognized how big of a fight this could be for the South American nation and intended to hold the fight at a soccer stadium. 

Unfortunately, plans began to fall through when the United Nations scheduled a conference the very same weekend. Not only would there be a ton of security in town for all of the diplomats, but there were also concerns that the country’s infrastructure wouldn’t be able to accommodate both the UN and UFC.

Following UFC on Fuel 2, UFC President Dana White confirmed to the attending media that the card was in jeopardy.

Rumors of the fight being moved to UFC 148 soon followed.

Today, the UFC confirmed that the fight had in fact been moved to UFC 148 in Las Vegas. The fight will headline one of the deepest cards in recent history which also features a bantamweight title fight between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber as well as Tito Ortiz’ last fight ever. 

UFC 147 will still go on at a yet to be named venue in Brazil with Vitor Belfort vs Wanderlei Silva in the main event. Jose Aldo is also expected to fight on that card. 

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