Tag: Chael Sonnen

Should Anderson Silva Be Stripped of the UFC Title for "Ducking" Sonnen?

Duck, duck, goose!Chael Sonnen has insulted Anderson Silva in every way possible to get another crack at the UFC title. With “The Spider” refusing to budge, Uncle Chael believes it’s time he surrenders the middleweight title.”I’m not a bully. If a guy …

Duck, duck, goose!

Chael Sonnen has insulted Anderson Silva in every way possible to get another crack at the UFC title. With “The Spider” refusing to budge, Uncle Chael believes it’s time he surrenders the middleweight title.

“I’m not a bully. If a guy doesn’t want to fight, I’m not going to continue to tell him to fight. If he’s got his reasons that he doesn’t want to fight, then I don’t want to fight him either. The problem is he’s got a belt that I want, so he can surrender that belt, or I’m going to come and take it,” Sonnen told Karyn Bryant of MMA H.E.A.T.

After getting dominated for four straight rounds, Silva mustered up a last-minute triangle choke and submitted Sonnen in the waning minutes of the final round of their epic August 2010 encounter.

Since the bout, Sonnen has gone on record numerous times to take verbal jabs at Silva, his wife and the entire country of Brazil.

Silva has remained relatively quiet throughout the situation, but his silence certainly hasn’t encouraged Sonnen to let up. At UFC 136, Sonnen was more direct with his challenge after earning an impressive second-round submission victory over Brian Stann.

“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck. Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business, I’m calling you out Silva,” Sonnen yelled into the mic in his post-fight interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan.

Sonnen is the rightful No. 1 contender, but Silva feels like he shouldn’t have to face someone so disrespectful.

“It’s the fight everyone wants to see,” UFC President Dana White said on The Jim Rome Show. “People want to see Chael vs. Anderson. Anderson is in the position where he feels this guy is so disrespectful he doesn’t want to give him a shot and everything else, but Anderson will end up fighting Chael Sonnen.”

The confirmation of the highly anticipated rematch had the MMA community buzzing with excitement, but it wouldn’t last long, as devastating news from Silva’s camp gave him yet another reason to not face Sonnen.

Following his UFC 134 victory over Yushin Okami, Silva decided to take some time off to heal after doctors reportedly diagnosed him for having bursitis in his shoulder.

The condition was expected to keep him out of action until early 2012, but according to White at the UFC 139 post-fight press conference, Silva will likely be sidelined until June.

“He called out Michael Bisping. When you’re the champion, you don’t call people out. You get called out. When you’re the champion, you take on all comers. You don’t point your finger like this is a Don King promotion, and we’re trying to protect guys,” said Sonnen.

“Anderson’s supposedly on the injured list. ‘Ahhh, I’ve got this bad shoulder.’ What are you calling guys out while you’re hurt for?”

Is Silva ducking Sonnen, and, if so, should he be stripped of his UFC title?

Silva and his doctors are the only ones that truly understand the extent of his shoulder injury. It would be incredibly close-minded to accuse a world class fighter of “faking an injury” to avoid facing another world-class fighter.

Bursitis is a tricky injury that causes some people complications their entire lives.

With that said, Silva is the UFC champion and the proposed best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He needs to step up and accept Sonnen’s challenge.

If he believes Sonnen is “disrespectful,” he should step up and punch him in the mouth. It’s an awkward stance for a world champion to take in the sports world to not face someone because you dislike them.

Should the New England Patriots and the New York Jets scratch their pair of meetings in the regular season due to personal disdain for one another? What about the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics? Could you imagine a world where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier never fought?

As the champion, Silva has an obligation to defend his throne against the best in the world, and currently, Sonnen is the top contender in the middleweight division.

The thought of stripping Silva is far-fetched at the moment, but the UFC could opt to put Sonnen in an interim world-title bout. The Oregon native has already been linked to a January bout with fellow middleweight contender Mark Munoz.

As long as Sonnen keeps winning, the rematch is inevitable.

Whether it’s a few months from now or a couple of years down the road, Silva needs to embrace the inevitable and prepare for another showdown with Uncle Chael.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Michael Landsberg Explains Own Confusion With Strange Chael Sonnen Interview

Filed under:

Michael Landsberg, host of TSN’s Off the Record, blames his own confusion for an awkward interview conducted last week that abruptly ended when UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen walked off the show (video).

And this was after the interview had already been once restarted at Sonnen’s suggestion.

“I was really confused. I didn’t know if he was mad or I didn’t know if he was joking,” Landsberg said Monday on The MMA Hour. “I didn’t know if he was getting the whole thing.”

Landsberg is known for asking tough and arguably, aggressive questions and the longtime Canadian sports journalist didn’t start off on the right foot when he opened the satellite interview by asking Sonnen if he “backed down” from his initial offer of putting his UFC career on the line against champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen responded by asking Landsberg to check his tone and facts.

Landsberg said Monday he figured the opening question would be a good way to push Sonnen’s buttons in a gentle way to bring out the best of Sonnen’s outspoken personality.

“I knew going in that he liked to be challenged — or at least I thought he did,” Landsberg told host Ariel Helwani. “I knew he’s the greatest promoter ever. I know that he’s at his best when he’s got a little edge to him.”

Landsberg said he had never spoken with Sonnen before that day, describing Sonnen as a “total stranger.” However, Landsberg felt he hit it off with Sonnen when he introduced himself before the recorded interview.

But the tone quickly changed when the cameras started rolling and Landsberg pressed Sonnen with the question of “backing down.”

“I thought this would go to a fun tongue-in-cheek place,” Landsberg said. “Like he clearly had his tongue in his cheek in the Octagon when he challenged Silva. There was no way Silva was going to accept those terms.”

Landsberg, who pointed out the shortcomings of interviewing someone via satellite, admits he had difficulty reading Sonnen.

“I was pissed off but I’m also trying to match his anger to do good television,” he said. “I wish from my standpoint I would have done it better. It was tough to undestand what was going on.”

According to Landsberg, Sonnen was the first person in 3,000 shows to walk out of an interview with him.

“I have no animousity towards him at all. This is my confusion more than anything,” Landsberg said. “He’s a great interview. He’s the kind of guy where a show like ‘Off the Record’ lives for.”

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under:

Michael Landsberg, host of TSN’s Off the Record, blames his own confusion for an awkward interview conducted last week that abruptly ended when UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen walked off the show (video).

And this was after the interview had already been once restarted at Sonnen’s suggestion.

“I was really confused. I didn’t know if he was mad or I didn’t know if he was joking,” Landsberg said Monday on The MMA Hour. “I didn’t know if he was getting the whole thing.”

Landsberg is known for asking tough and arguably, aggressive questions and the longtime Canadian sports journalist didn’t start off on the right foot when he opened the satellite interview by asking Sonnen if he “backed down” from his initial offer of putting his UFC career on the line against champion Anderson Silva. Sonnen responded by asking Landsberg to check his tone and facts.


Landsberg said Monday he figured the opening question would be a good way to push Sonnen’s buttons in a gentle way to bring out the best of Sonnen’s outspoken personality.

“I knew going in that he liked to be challenged — or at least I thought he did,” Landsberg told host Ariel Helwani. “I knew he’s the greatest promoter ever. I know that he’s at his best when he’s got a little edge to him.”

Landsberg said he had never spoken with Sonnen before that day, describing Sonnen as a “total stranger.” However, Landsberg felt he hit it off with Sonnen when he introduced himself before the recorded interview.

But the tone quickly changed when the cameras started rolling and Landsberg pressed Sonnen with the question of “backing down.”

“I thought this would go to a fun tongue-in-cheek place,” Landsberg said. “Like he clearly had his tongue in his cheek in the Octagon when he challenged Silva. There was no way Silva was going to accept those terms.”

Landsberg, who pointed out the shortcomings of interviewing someone via satellite, admits he had difficulty reading Sonnen.

“I was pissed off but I’m also trying to match his anger to do good television,” he said. “I wish from my standpoint I would have done it better. It was tough to undestand what was going on.”

According to Landsberg, Sonnen was the first person in 3,000 shows to walk out of an interview with him.

“I have no animousity towards him at all. This is my confusion more than anything,” Landsberg said. “He’s a great interview. He’s the kind of guy where a show like ‘Off the Record’ lives for.”

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Anderson Silva Out Until June 2012, Chael Sonnen To Fight at UFC on FOX 2?

Little did Chael Sonnen known that his life would be turned upside on August 7th, 2010, when he took on Anderson Silva at UFC 117. After arguably the most dominating performance in mixed martial arts history, Sonnen found himself in one of the worst po…

Little did Chael Sonnen known that his life would be turned upside on August 7th, 2010, when he took on Anderson Silva at UFC 117.

After arguably the most dominating performance in mixed martial arts history, Sonnen found himself in one of the worst positions a fighter can possibly find himself in.

Silva had trapped Sonnen in a triangle armbar with just two minutes remaining in the fifth and final round. Just seconds later, Sonnen tapped, allowing Silva to remain the undisputed UFC middleweight champion.

However, following their historical bout, it was Sonnen who made it known to the world that he wanted a rematch with the world champion.

And, after an impressive submission victory over Brian Stann at UFC 136, that’s exactly what Sonnen got.

Or did he?

Silva was originally expected to return at some point in the early parts of 2012, but news recently broke that not only would Silva not be putting his title up for grabs in a few short months, but he also wouldn’t make a return to the Octagon until at least June of 2012.

With Silva’s shoulder injury worse than once thought to be, it will not only change his course of direction, but Sonnen’s as well.

If Sonnen were to wait for Silva, it would have been nine months since his last outing in the Octagon, which is very unlikely to happen.

Following one of the best events in UFC history at UFC 139, UFC president Dana White was asked if Sonnen could take part in UFC on FOX 2, which will air January 28th, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois.

White immediately responded with, “It’s possible.”

While nothing is certainly set in stone, there’s a possibility we could see Chael Sonnen squaring off in the main event at the United Center for UFC on FOX 2.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA Monday Headlines with Amber Nichole

Amber Nichole tweeted this proof picture [above] and we’re not exactly sure what it’s for…maybe for her calendar. Regardless, it’s lovely. Gray Maynard is expected to leave Xtreme Couture as announced on HDNet’s Inside MMA.

Amber Nichole tweeted this proof picture [above] and we’re not exactly sure what it’s for…maybe for her calendar. Regardless, it’s lovely.

Gray Maynard is expected to leave Xtreme Couture as announced on HDNet’s Inside MMA by his [former] boxing coach, Gil Martinez.

Demetrious Johnson vs. Eddie Wineland rumored for UFC on Fox 2 card in January.

UFC 144 adds Cheick Kongo vs. Mark Hunt and Takeya Mizugaki vs. Chris Cariaso.

Stephan Bonnar vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson may be in the works.

Chael Sonnen accepts (via Twitter) Anderson Silva‘s offer to fight in Brazil.

Cung Le gets paid $350,000 for loss to Wanderlei Silva at UFC 139.

Check out the pay differences of Saturday nights UFC 139 fighters to Friday night’s Strikeforce Challengers 20 fighter payouts.

Junior dos Santos looking to box in the 2016 Olympics.

Video: Reporter Says He Was and Still is Confused By Sonnen Interview; Claims it Wasn’t Staged

REPORTER CONFUSED BY SONNEN INTERVIEW – Watch MoreFunny Videos

The Canadian reporter who conducted the highly-publicized Q&A with with Chael Sonnen last week in which the “Gangster from America” questioned his credentials and berated him for ten minutes before walking off the set says that he still isn’t quite sure what the hell happened in the interview.

Michael Lansberg, the longtime host of “Off the Record,” got the goat of the UFC middleweight early in the interview when he asked why he rescinded his loser leaves town fight offer to Anderson Silva, prompting an agitated Sonnen to to fire back with a few barbs of his own. The interview went downhill from there, at least in terms of Lansberg maintaining control.


REPORTER CONFUSED BY SONNEN INTERVIEW – Watch MoreFunny Videos

The Canadian reporter who conducted the highly-publicized Q&A with with Chael Sonnen last week in which the “Gangster from America” questioned his credentials and berated him for ten minutes before walking off the set says that he still isn’t quite sure what the hell happened in the interview.

Michael Lansberg, the longtime host of “Off the Record,” got the goat of the UFC middleweight early in the interview when he asked why he rescinded his loser leaves town fight offer to Anderson Silva, prompting an agitated Sonnen to to fire back with a few barbs of his own. The interview went downhill from there, at least in terms of Lansberg maintaining control.

Besides making fun of his mundane questions, Chael asked Lansberg — who claims to have interviewed UFC president Dana White between “10 and 25 times” — if he even knew what MMA was and scolded him for taking his quotes out of context.


(Video courtesy of YouTube/UFC)

In an interview he did with Ariel Helwani on the MMA Hour today, Lansberg says he thought Sonnen was kidding around at first, but mid way through the segment he says he started questioning whether or not the Oregon fighter was seriously perturbed.

He has since written Chael a letter taking responsibility for his part of the communication break down and says that he received an “appropriate response” back, although he wouldn’t reveal what was Sonnen said. Still, Lansberg says he is unsure about whether or not Sonnen was in character or if he was truly as pissed off as he seemed to be and he concedes that he’ll likely never find out.

UFC News: Chael Sonnen Accepts the Demands of Anderson Silva

Chael Sonnen does not like Anderson Silva.And the award for stating the obvious goes to—Tim McTiernan!But Sonnen has taken his trash talking to a whole new level in his search for a rematch with Anderson Silva.He went after Silva’s wife, claiming…

Chael Sonnen does not like Anderson Silva.

And the award for stating the obvious goes to—Tim McTiernan!

But Sonnen has taken his trash talking to a whole new level in his search for a rematch with Anderson Silva.

He went after Silva’s wife, claiming that he wants her to “make him a steak—medium rare” and many other things.

At UFC 136, Chael Sonnen issued another challenge to Anderson Silva.

Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck. I’m calling you out, Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. You beat me, I’ll leave the UFC forever.

Silva remained silent and said nothing.

Sonnen continued his crusade to get a rematch, going around and doing various interviews, attempting to lure Silva out for a fight. Finally, Silva had a response:

I don’t like this guy, this guy (wants to) fight me? Go to Brazil. No problem. Chael talks too much. I’m ready to fight Chael. But you have the chance–go to Brazil to fight me.

 

Sonnen has accepted the challenge of Anderson Silva.

The one thing that could not allow this fight to happen in Brazil is the amount of hatred that the Brazilians have towards Sonnen.

He was not able to corner his friend Yushin Okami in his fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 134, because he was asked not to enter the country.

If they can get past this roadblock, the fight should be a no-doubter.

This is the fight that the fans want. This is the fight that Sonnen wants. This is the fight that Dana White wants.

Silva has had his demand met. It is time for Sonnen to have his met. Let him get a second crack at Silva.

 

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com