Georges “Rush” St. Pierre, the current UFC Welterweight champion, is 22-2 in his professional MMA career and has gone 9-0 since his loss to Matt Serra in 2007, defending his Welterweight title six times.Though he’s been criticized recently as over…
Georges “Rush” St. Pierre, the current UFC Welterweight champion, is 22-2 in his professional MMA career and has gone 9-0 since his loss to Matt Serra in 2007, defending his Welterweight title six times.
Though he’s been criticized recently as overly cautious, there can be no denying St. Pierre’s dominance—since regaining the Welterweight belt in 2008 he has won 23 out of 25 rounds, not including his TKO victory over BJ Penn. Whether by using his vaunted wrestling or newly dominant boxing, St. Pierre has proven that he has what it takes to defeat all challengers at Welterweight.
While there are still fights to be had at Welterweight, Nick Diaz at UFC 137 and potentially Carlos Condit after that, St. Pierre is coming as close to “cleaning out” a division as we’ve ever seen. Add to this the talk that St. Pierre will eventually step-up in weight for a superfight against Middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and the question has to be asked…
How would Georges St. Pierre fare against the UFC’s top Middleweights?
Since Chael Sonnen’s California fighter’s license expired on June 29, 2011, it basically gave him the green light to compete in the Octagon again. The always outspoken 185-pounder has given a plethora of interviews since then, and one poin…
Since Chael Sonnen’s California fighter’s license expired on June 29, 2011, it basically gave him the green light to compete in the Octagon again.
The always outspoken 185-pounder has given a plethora of interviews since then, and one point that he has emphasized again and again is that he will be in friend and training partner Yushin Okami’s corner when he takes on Anderson Silva at UFC 134.
This is a bit surprising, given Sonnen more or less declaring war against Brazil due to his feuds with Wanderlei Silva, Lyoto Machida, the reigning UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, and to a lesser extent, even Jose Aldo.
Nevertheless, the self proclaimed “American Gangster” told interviewer after interviewer that “they love me in Brazil,” and that nothing would prevent him from watching his friend defeat Anderson Silva up close and personal.
In the past few days, this situation has gotten very interesting.
The event description, translated to English by Bloody Elbow, states, “Guys, everyone is aware of what this insect has been spewing about Brazil, the fighters, of the people of this country, of our culture.”
“I think we should give him a ‘warm welcome’ when he comes to attend UFC Rio on the 27th, since Brazilians carries the fame of being sympathetic, hospitable, warm people, how about a big party for our friend Chael Sonnen?”
As of this writing, 5,066 people are attending and 12,169 invitees are awaiting reply.
While there is no reason to believe that Sonnen will actually be lynched if he attends UFC 134, it seems that he has been inaccurate in his assessment that he’s a fan favorite in Brazil.
As to be expected at this point, Sonnen took to Twitter to respond to the event:
“Please, FB nerds, no group has the strength to lynch me. I’m a Republican; we run on neither blood nor oxygen.”
Normally, that would be that, but this story continues to have legs.
Apparently, SPORTV spoke with the coaches at Team Quest on Sunday, August 21, and while no direct quotes were released, a translation of the article says that Sonnen will NOT be at UFC 134.
The most telling quote, once again translated by Bloody Elbow, reads, “However, the coaches of Team Quest denied that Sonnen has or will come to Brazil.
“According to a post by the official UFC Brazil twitter, Sonnen was just ‘trolling’ and will not be in Rio for the fight. Sonnen has a fight scheduled for Oct. 8 at UFC 136 against Brian Stann, and will be focused for training for the occasion.”
Sonnen is still on probation from his money laundering case, so it is possible that he may not be allowed to leave the country.
However, on August 18, Sonnen tweeted, “Going to train in the worst conditions to make this fight even easier. Long story short, Rio on Friday! See you in the streets, turkeys.”
Then, on August 21, Sonnen addressed the report once again via Twitter. This time, he was not as forthcoming, though. “Am I going to Rio……. ‘The greatest trick the Devil ever did, was getting the world to believe he didn’t exist,’” he wrote.
So by quoting Keyser Soze, is Sonnen telling us that he will indeed be in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 27?
Looks like only time will tell, but as usual, Sonnen has a significant number of fight fans heavily anticipating his next move
Anderson Silva is the greatest champion in MMA history. He has won 14 fights in a row and defended his middleweight championship a record eight times. He has fought at light heavyweight defeating consensus top-10 fighter Forrest Griffin by way of knock…
Anderson Silva is the greatest champion in MMA history. He has won 14 fights in a row and defended his middleweight championship a record eight times. He has fought at light heavyweight defeating consensus top-10 fighter Forrest Griffin by way of knockout.
Silva is the most dominate fighter in the game today, but it appears that his reign may be coming to an end.
Anderson faces Yushin Okami in less than a week at UFC 134: Rio. This fight is a rematch that took place right before Silva started fighting for the UFC, and it was also the last time that Silva tasted defeat. It wasn’t a legit loss, it was by disqualification. Since then both men have changed in one way or another. Anderson is the more dangerous striker, while Okami has developed improved wrestling.
Is Okami the man to dethrone Silva?
He could very well be. He trains with Chael Sonnen, and has good submission defense. If he can literally replicate the game plan that Sonnen had for four rounds, and keep busy on the ground, there is a solid chance that he could become the new UFC middleweight champion.
Realistically speaking.
In most cases, there would be a high chance for Okami to dethrone Silva, but the fight is in Brazil and the odds in this taking place are virtually slim to none. The reason Okami could dethrone Silva is because he has an annoying fight style for fighters, but there is a slim chance that many Brazilians lose in Rio, especially Anderson Silva.
Brian Stann vs Anderson Silva seems in most eyes as a slugfest. The way Stann fights, he always tends to gas out by the second round. This could end up as a typical Anderson Silva finish, unless Stann catches him early.
This fight gives Stann a puncher’s chance, but he is still evolving as a mixed martial artist and realistically is being put in the title picture too soon. Yes, he has looked great, but he needs more time to improve. Silva would win this fight due to his technical style.
Remember though, it’s MMA and anything can happen.
Stann is improving in his BJJ, the bad thing for him is the fact that a bout with Silva would be five rounds. If Stann defeats Sonnen, does he stand a chance with Okami or Silva, realistically? Sure, as long as he keeps it on the feet and exchanges in a smart way instead of blowing his load too soon in the fight. Stann is a good person for the sport, but the odds in him being the guy to take over the middleweight division are virtually slim to none(at the current time).
Then there is one…
Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva need to fight again. The fans need to know, did Sonnen really dominate because Silva had a fractured rib, or is Sonnen really that good? This is the must see fight. If Okami defeats Silva, a rematch between Okami and Sonnen is not a truly marketable fight, but is worth watching. Who wins if Sonnen and Silva fight again?
There are many things that could truly take place in the rematch.
Sonnen has a very good chance of taking over, and dethroning Silva. The odds in him remaining champion are pretty good as long as he can avoid fighters with elite submission skills, which has always been his big problem throughout his career. Of the three men listed, Sonnen has the best chance. But as stated above, it is MMA; anything is possible.
These three men all have a legitimate chance to defeat Anderson Silva to become champion. Silva, in all honesty, has the toughest road ahead of him as champion, but there is a reason that he is the pound-for-pound king. He has faced his fair share of tough opponents, but the way the title picture is starting to look, it appears his run could truly come to an end.
That does not in any way mean that any of the three men are better mixed martial artists than him, but he is now lined up with the type of fights that are his to win but easy to lose. Keep your eyes open these next few months, there may be a new sheriff in town for the UFC middleweight division.
Chael Sonnen has not fought since tapping out to Anderson Silva at UFC 117 in August of 2010. After that fight, Sonnen faced a suspension due to high levels of testosterone in his fight-related drug test. That suspension has run its course, and Sonne…
Chael Sonnen has not fought since tapping out to Anderson Silva at UFC 117 in August of 2010. After that fight, Sonnen faced a suspension due to high levels of testosterone in his fight-related drug test. That suspension has run its course, and Sonnen is set to face Brian Stann in his return to the Octagon.
Sonnen and Stann will meet on the main card of UFC 136, which is set to take place on October 8 at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. Stann has fought twice since the Sonnen versus Siva bout, scoring impressive finishes over Chris Leben and Jorge Santiago. Stann scored a TKO over Leben on January 1 and earned a knockout over Jorge Santiago in May. The second-round stoppage of Santiago also earned “Fight of the Night” honors.
In an interview with ESPN’s Jon Anik, Sonnen sounded unsure of himself heading into the fight, “I forgot what it’s like. I forgot what it’s like to be sore every day and tired every day and living life uncomfortable due to the training regiment.” Sonnen later added,” You push as hard as you can, but look, ring rust is a real thing. It’s going to be a step back. I won’t be at my best on that night, and I’m not gonna lie to myself and make believe that I will be.”
The idea of ring rust took a huge blow lately when Rashad Evans came back after a 14-month layoff to dominate Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC 133. That victory moved Evans into a top contender spot for the UFC light heavyweight title. UFC president Dana White recently told MMAFighting.com that the he felt that winner of the Sonnen versus Stann fight “should be” considered a No. 1 contender bout in the middleweight division.
It is somewhat odd for a fighter to openly claim that he will not be at his best when he steps into the cage against top competition. Sonnen’s statement opens the door to questions like: is he lining up excuses in case of a loss?
Anderson “The Spider” Silva is on a 13-fight winning streak in the UFC: 8 coming by way of KO/TKO. 3 by way of Submission. 2 by Unanimous Decision. To date he has successfully defended his UFC middleweight title a record eight times. The on…
Anderson “The Spider” Silva is on a 13-fight winning streak in the UFC:
8 coming by way of KO/TKO.
3 by way of Submission.
2 by Unanimous Decision.
To date he has successfully defended his UFC middleweight title a record eight times. The only fighter to even come close to that record is current UFC welterweight champion George St. Pierre; who has successfully defended his title six times.
“The Spider” has won eight Fight Bonuses, more than any other fighter in the UFC, save for Chris “Lights Out” Lytle, with whom he shares the record.
Silva’s UFC Fight Bonuses: Knockout of the night; Rich Franklin, Fight and Submission of the night; Dan Henderson, Fight and Knockout of the night; Forrest Griffin, Fight and Submission of the night; Chael Sonnen and Knockout of the night; Vitor Belfort.
“The Spider” is set to defend his title for a record ninth time when he throws down with Yushin “Thunder” Okami on Aug. 27 at UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Okami is the same fighter who defeated Anderson Silva via disqualification.
That was more than five years ago at Rumble on the Rock 8. Yushin Okami won the fight by default; whilst Okami secured top position, Silva struck Okami with an up kick to his chin (temporarily rendering him unconscious) that was deemed to be illegal. And that was the reason for his disqualification.
For Anderson “The Spider” Silva; UFC 134 is all about Revenge, Resolution, but most of all; Redemption.
The indomitable Anderson Silva is indubitably, pound for pound the greatest mixed martial artist of his aeon.
He has dominated his contemporaries and destroyed his peers, and in doing so, has achieved both an iconic and venerated status amongst the aforementioned.
His pre-eminence is admired by the fans as well, whether they love him or despise him.
Since his debut in the UFC, no fighter yet has deciphered the enigma that is Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
(“Maybe he was born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline.”)
One overlooked scenario from today’s blockbuster announcement that Fox Networks has signed a seven year broadcast deal with the UFC is that Gus Johnson may somehow be involved in its UFC coverage.
Fox recently inked the sometimes MMA commentator to a multi-year commentary deal that will see the veteran football and basketball play-by-play man call a variety of Pacific-12 football and basketball games, the Cotton Bowl and football games on the Big Ten Network, which is also partly owned by Fox. He will also call about 30 BTN basketball games as well as some yet-to-be-determined college basketball games on either Fox or FX.
Hopefully for the sake of the majority of MMA fans who came to loathe the much-maligned Renzo Gracie BJJ blue belt’s oblivious Strikeforce commentary, his other duties will keep his made-up mug off of the UFC-related broadcasts, that are said to include pre and post-fight shows and a weekly or daily UFC magazine-type series.
(“Maybe he was born with it. Maybe it’s Maybelline.”)
One overlooked scenario from today’s blockbuster announcement that Fox Networks has signed a seven year broadcast deal with the UFC is that Gus Johnson may somehow be involved in its UFC coverage.
Fox recently inked the sometimes MMA commentator to a multi-year commentary deal that will see the veteran football and basketball play-by-play man call a variety of Pacific-12 football and basketball games, the Cotton Bowl and football games on the Big Ten Network, which is also partly owned by Fox. He will also call about 30 BTN basketball games as well as some yet-to-be-determined college basketball games on either Fox or FX.
Hopefully for the sake of the majority of MMA fans who came to loathe the much-maligned Renzo Gracie BJJ blue belt’s oblivious Strikeforce commentary, his other duties will keep his made-up mug off of the UFC-related broadcasts, that are said to include pre and post-fight shows and a weekly or daily UFC magazine-type series.
If UFC president Dana White has his way, Johnson, who he called “bush league” for the way he handled the brawl in Nashville last year, won’t be allowed near any of his shows.
Here’s what White had to say about Johnson’s “Sometimes these things happen in MMA” remarks in an interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole:
“When have you seen anything remotely close to that happen at a UFC event?” White asked. “What kind of ridiculous commentary was that? That was an idiotic thing to say. And then he was yelling at them to stop, telling them they are on national television. That was just another example of how bush league they are.”
UFC color analyst Joe Rogan is also not a fan of GuJo.
(Video courtesy of YouTube/Romain1212)
I’d rather see Mauro Ranallo get the gig than Gus and I’d much rather see Chael Sonnen host his own UFC show. Maybe he could do double-duty as a political analyst on Fox News.
Since Chael Sonnen’s California fighter’s license expired on June 29, 2011, it basically gave him the green light to compete in the Octagon again.