UFC president Dana White mentioned during the post-fight presser that the UFC middleweight champ took umbrage with Sonnen’s recent comments about kicking in Silva’s back door, slapping his wife on the ass and telling her to go cook him a steak.
“Those guys really don’t like each other,” White said. “I don’t know if Chael really hates Anderson, but Anderson – I don’t know if any of you saw his face when [Chael beat Brian Stann], but he wasn’t doing the whole joking around thing. He was pissed. He’s really upset bout the smack-his-wife-on-the-butt thing.”
UFC president Dana White mentioned during the post-fight presser that the UFC middleweight champ took umbrage with Sonnen’s recent comments about kicking in Silva’s back door, slapping his wife on the ass and telling her to go cook him a steak.
“Those guys really don’t like each other,” White said. “I don’t know if Chael really hates Anderson, but Anderson – I don’t know if any of you saw his face when [Chael beat Brian Stann], but he wasn’t doing the whole joking around thing. He was pissed. He’s really upset bout the smack-his-wife-on-the-butt thing.”
“The Spider” isn’t the only one who was rubbed the wrong way by Sonnen’s recent remarks. Silva’s longtime manager Ed Soares told MMAJunkie today that “The American Gangster,” who challenged his client to a loser leaves town match on SuperBowl weekend in February, is in no position to be making ultimatums given his legal issues the past few months.
“First the guy gets in trouble for fraud, then he tests positive for steroids, and now he wants to kick in someone’s door and slap their wife in the ass? This guy should be in jail; he shouldn’t be fighting.Chael is not the person that’s going to determine when [Silva] is going to take the fight. When he’s going to take this fight is when his shoulder is completely healed up, and he’s ready to start his training camp for the fight.It’s not because Chael says he wants to fight in February. Who is Chael to determine that? Chael needs to take a number and wait his turn,” Soares told MMAJunkie today. “He got his opportunity, and he tapped. It’s not the first time he’s tapped, and I guarantee you it won’t be the last.”
Kenny Florian’s unanimous defeat to featherweight champ Jose Aldo at UFC 136 was one of the toughest losses of his career, and it may have been his last good shot at a title. The 35-year-old was noticeably dejected in his post-fight pres…
Kenny Florian’s unanimous defeat to featherweight champ Jose Aldo at UFC 136 was one of the toughest losses of his career, and it may have been his last good shot at a title.
The 35-year-old was noticeably dejected in his post-fight press conference, and did not make a decision on his future immediately following Saturday’s loss.
On Monday, Florian released a statement regarding his future.
“The only response I can give right now is that I’m going to take some time. I want to rest, spend some time with my family and friends, and then evaluate all of my options. I’ll speak with [UFC president] Dana White, and my manager, Glenn Robinson, and we will figure out my next move.”
Since making his pro debut in 2003, Florian has a 14-6 MMA record, and is 12-5 in UFC. He has had a great career, but has been unable to win the title he’s craved.
Despite giving a great effort against Aldo, it seemed that Saturday’s fight was Florian’s last shot at a title.
Florian has fought in three title bouts, including Saturday’s featherweight title match against Jose Aldo, and has lost each one.
In his mid thirties, it appears that Florian doesn’t have what it takes to win a title against the younger and stronger fighters, which is why he needs to retire.
Florian is a fan favorite and is a very recognizable face of MMA, and even if he chooses to not fight again, he will certainly remain involved in the UFC.
He is currently a regular analyst on ESPN’s weekly program “MMA Live” and has done color commentary for the UFC.
Florian does well on TV, and the transition from not fighting any more to being on TV full time would likely be a smooth one for him.
UFC President Dana White has also praised Florian’s skills in the media.
“Kenny Florian’s awesome,” White said via MMA Junkie. “He commentated our last show. I think he’s great on camera. I think he’s great on the mic. He’s a talented guy with a lot of options, and he’s always been a solid guy with us and always been a team player.”
Whether Florian decides to retire or not, he’ll always have a home with UFC. He’s a smart guy with great knowledge of the sport, and would also help promote fights.
Kenny Florian never won a title, but his career is one to be proud of, and even in retirement, he can remain a big part of the success and rising popularity of UFC.
Forty-eight hours ago, two men entered, and later left a sold-out Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with championship gold around their waists. UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo successfully defended their co…
Forty-eight hours ago, two men entered, and later left a sold-out Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with championship gold around their waists.
UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo successfully defended their coveted belts against dangerous challengers—Gray Maynard and Kenny Florian—in the UFC 136 double headliner.
Aldo neutralized Florian in a technical five-round affair, and Edgar shocked the world with a fourth-round stoppage in his trilogy with Maynard.
Of course, anytime you have two champions who aren’t too far off in weight, you can’t help but fantasize about a dream matchup between the two.
This is exactly why fans desperately crave a fight between middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva and welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre, or a battle between Jon Jones and Cain Velasquez. There’s just something about two champions colliding that draws in anticipation like no other.
Such is the same with Edgar and Aldo. Even UFC President Dana White admitted in the post-fight press conference that he’d like to see this fight come to fruition in the near future.
It probably won’t be the next fight on the horizon, though. Edgar will likely defend against Ben Henderson/Clay Guida, and Aldo will challenge the unbeaten Chad Mendes.
Nevertheless, if these two champions continue their winning ways, a dream bout between the two is inevitable.
Everyone is bound to have different opinions on this fantasy bout, but here’s my take on why Edgar would clown Aldo.
Frankie Edgar has overcome tougher competition
Before I explain, let me just state that I am not by any means attempting to discredit Aldo. The Brazilian is a true phenom with a ferocious skill set, but he is not untouchable, Mark Hominick proved that in their UFC 129 slugfest.
As a standup fighter, Aldo possesses a yin-yang blend of flawless technique/timing and destructive knockout power. He is also a highly-decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the Nogueira brothers, but it is a skill that still had yet to be seen in the Octagon.
Simply put, Aldo is every bit as good as the media makes him out to be, but he hasn’t beaten the type of opposition that Edgar has dealt with since becoming champion.
Aldo has demolished many formidable contenders, but none compare to B.J Penn and Gray Maynard. Edgar beat Penn twice and just became the first man to not only defeat, but knock out Maynard in an official MMA bout.
Aldo has more title defenses under his belt, if you count his WEC title defenses. He has destroyed Mike Thomas Brown and Manny Gamburyan, picked apart a very game Urijah Faber, and outpointed dangerous foes in Hominick and Florian.
Good wins, but nothing to be overly impressed with as they were all matchups that Aldo was supposed to win.
Edgar was not supposed to beat Penn for the title at UFC 112, and he certainly wasn’t supposed to do the exact same thing in the rematch at UFC 118.
In his second fight with a then-unbeaten Maynard, Edgar was expected to lose to “The Bully” once again. Maynard swarmed all over Edgar in the first round with powerful boxing, but Edgar survived and arguably won the rest of the rounds.
Leading up to the trilogy fight, Edgar was actually the favorite for once, but nobody expected the New Jersey native to finish Maynard, much less knock him out.
Edgar has overcome adversity against elite contenders and rose to the occasion—Aldo has yet to do that.
Frankie Edgar is a nightmare matchup for Aldo
Aldo is a far superior striker than Maynard, but Maynard is a much more powerful human being. If Maynard, with all of his power, connected on Edgar’s chin multiple times and could not put him away, Aldo will fail in that department as well.
Even if Aldo has the technique and the speed behind his punches that Maynard lacked, Edgar can take it and keep moving.
Edgar isn’t on Aldo’s level when it comes to striking, but the lightweight champ is one of the best boxers for MMA. Edgar’s slick head movement and tricky footwork will keep Aldo guessing, and once “The Answer” decides to mix in some takedowns, Edgar will take complete control of the fight.
I mentioned before that Aldo is an extremely crafty BJJ black belt, but Edgar is no slouch when it comes to rolling. Trained by elite Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, Renzo Gracie and Ricardo Almeida, Edgar has one of the best ground games in the division.
Edgar would be able to maintain top control and pummel Aldo with a relentless ground-and-pound assault. This would be Edgar’s smartest route to victory, but with his well-rounded arsenal he could find a way to win in just about any position.
Aldo is very talented, but one mistake that many fans seem to make is comparing the featherweight champion to Anderson Silva.
Sure, there are similarities in style and they are on the same team, but Aldo isn’t quite there yet. The featherweight division itself is still developing.
Aldo is undeniably the best at 145 pounds, but Florian was his biggest test and he did not dominate. No disrespect to Florian, but Edgar is a different, better beast.
Mitch Ciccarelli is the sexiest featured columnist on B/R MMA and a United States Airman. Follow Ciccarelli on Twitter @mitchciccarelli
While it was obvious that Chael Sonnen was back with bad intentions after beating down Brian Stann and eventually choking him out, his words after the fight spoke volumes about his intentions. Sonnen said immediately after the fight with Stann about a …
While it was obvious that Chael Sonnen was back with bad intentions after beating down Brian Stann and eventually choking him out, his words after the fight spoke volumes about his intentions.
Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck. Super Bowl weekend, the biggest rematch in the history of the business. I’m calling you out Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you, you leave the (185 lbs.) Division. You beat me, I will leave the UFC forever.
Sonnen has never been one to mince words, but his newfound swagger after all of the turmoil he faced in the UFC and in his personal life are greater than anyone could’ve expected.
For those who don’t remember, Sonnen fought Anderson Silva and dominated for most of the fight before falling into a choke and eventually tapping out.
While all of the turmoil has drummed up more hype for a possible second fight between Sonnen and Silva, Sonnen has made it abundantly clear that he is back in the UFC for one reason.
Is that camera big enough to take in the largest arm in Westland, Oregon that has found its way to Houston, Texas? Because that thing looks a little bit small. I’m not here to be just one of the guys, I have plenty of money and plenty of fame. I’m after 12 pounds of gold and that’s it.
Silva has never been a man that backed down from a fight, and if Sonnen wants this fight bad enough, Dana White and the people of the UFC will make it happen.
With the hype that Sonnen created by calling out the champion after the fight, this fight could draw in the kind of numbers that make the UFC’s pockets that much fatter.
Going into his fight with Chael Sonnen on Saturday night, Brian Stann was being heralded as the next great thing at middleweight.He was riding a 5-1 record in his previous six fights, had proven his ability to reduce men to rubble in the cage and had g…
Going into his fight with Chael Sonnen on Saturday night, Brian Stann was being heralded as the next great thing at middleweight.
He was riding a 5-1 record in his previous six fights, had proven his ability to reduce men to rubble in the cage and had great marketing appeal as a former Marine who happens to be as affable and well-spoken as any pro athlete in the world today.
Unfortunately for him, the Sonnen fight served to completely undo a lot of what he’d accomplished. The American hero, that the UFC has so obviously been behind, was left battered and bruised after being outwrestled and choked out in a little over a round.
Not exactly what the company was hoping for. Probably even less so what Stann was hoping for.
However it really begs the question: was Brian Stann fool’s gold all along?
If you look at his UFC matchups since dropping to middleweight, most of them have been favourable. That’s not an attack or designed to be abrasive, it’s reality. Look at the list:
Mike Massenzio, a guy who has been hanging on like grim death just to stay on the roster. Stann finished him via triangle, establishing his ground game against a guy who likely only knew of triangles from math and music before being caught in one.
Chris Leben, the come-forward-no-matter-what slugger that Stann politely called out in an earlier effort to fight a name guy and get on the map. Mission accomplished, as he stopped Leben early in the first round. Still, it’s a guy you knew wouldn’t test anything other than his standup, and it made him look good in a big way.
Jorge Santiago, a fresh face with decent standup but without the durability to take Stann’s considerable punching power. Also enough hubris to try and fight fire with fire instead of fighting smart, which is what led to him being steamrolled by the former Marine.
So really, when you put him in there against Sonnen it was no wonder that he’d catch a beating. He seems like a good guy, and is unquestionably a great ambassador for the sport, but his accomplishments on the battlefield perhaps accounted for him being rushed along a little, just as much as those in the octagon did.
Everyone likes a good story, and Brian Stann is that. He’s the type of guy who is seemingly good at everything he does, and people respect his abilities no matter what they’re being applied to. In this case, he still has respect in his ongoing pursuit of success in MMA, but he’s further away than people realize.
Brian Stann was fool’s gold going into UFC 136. It was proven when he was so thoroughly outclassed by a man many consider to be nipping at Anderson Silva’s heels as best middleweight in the world. People—the UFC included—thought Stann was better than he was, and that injustice cost him a sound beating and a big loss.
He needs to get back in the gym and work on his wrestling and ground game, and then get matched up with a guy who can test it without the relentlessness and ferocity of Sonnen. Demian Maia comes to mind as a guy who makes a lot of sense, but there are others as well.
It was too far, too fast for Stann in the past year, and Saturday night officially marked the stopping point of that journey. Like most, I look forward to the reset that will follow, and the evolution he’ll go through to become better.
His story also needs to be remembered the next time a prospect on the rise looks invincible, because chances are he’s not.
With Chael Sonnen’s destruction of Brian Stann at UFC 136, it was obvious a rematch with Anderson Silva was the only option for the next championship fight. Aside from perhaps Mark Munoz and Michael Bisping, Anderson Silva has completely cleaned out th…
With ChaelSonnen‘s destruction of Brian Stann at UFC 136, it was obvious a rematch with Anderson Silva was the only option for the next championship fight. Aside from perhaps Mark Munoz and Michael Bisping, Anderson Silva has completely cleaned out the division, and a fight with Sonnen is one of the few remaining compelling matchups the UFC can make.
With a successful show in Texas, MMA Junkie reports that UFC President Dana White has been in talks with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in regards to putting on an event at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The 80,000 seat stadium would easily surpass the 55,724 record at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, but the UFC hasn’t exactly proven to have that kind of drawing power—at least not in Texas.
It would also make sense to host another event in Brazil, given the demand for seats at UFC 134 and the hatred for ChaelSonnen. The last event in Rio deJaneiro was in an arena that held a mere 14,000 seats, although there are several stadiums in Brazil that hold well over 60,000.
Finally, if the UFC wanted to truly make an impact in Japan, it certainly could go for Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. The stadium has hosted several FIFA World Cup games and has a total of 72,327 seats. The Saitama Super Arena is set to hold the UFC’s next trip to Japan on February 26, 2012, and has a reported capacity of 37,000.
Either way, Silva vs. Sonnen II is certainly going to be a major event. Particularly with Sonnen‘s post-fight hype at UFC 136, the pay-per-view buy rate is likely to be in the top 10 for the organization.
Forty-eight hours ago, two men entered, and later left a sold-out Toyota Center in Houston, Texas with championship gold around their waists.