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Chael Sonnen: ‘I’d Give Everything to Be World Champion for One Night’

Chael Sonnen’s much anticipated championship showdown with Anderson Silva is no joking matter.Despite all the pre-fight trash talk, Sonnen is taking Silva very seriously. Second chances don’t come around often in life, and Sonnen doesn’t plan on wastin…

Chael Sonnen’s much anticipated championship showdown with Anderson Silva is no joking matter.

Despite all the pre-fight trash talk, Sonnen is taking Silva very seriously. Second chances don’t come around often in life, and Sonnen doesn’t plan on wasting his at UFC 148 on Saturday night.

In an episode of “UFC Primetime,” the self-proclaimed “Oregon Gangster” was shed in an entirely different light. Fans no longer saw the jokester cutting WWE-like promos and dropping memorable one-liners.

The world got a glimpse of the real Chael Sonnen, a man who has dedicated his entire life to being a world champion.

I’ve been paying the price since I was nine years old when I started. I’ve sacrificed everything, and I would give everything I’ve got, everything, I’d give it all back, to be world champion for one night.

To most people, Silva is unstoppable at 185 pounds. The reigning middleweight champ has dominated his division for nearly six years.

Perhaps it was Sonnen’s unwavering mindset that allowed him to find success where others couldn’t at UFC 117. He came within two minutes of his dream becoming a reality, but Silva was able to rally in the final round, latch on a triangle choke and the rest is history.

When the rest of the world looks at Silva, they see an image of greatness that may never be toppled, but at UFC 148, Sonnen will be looking to fight the body, not the hype.

I hear all sorts of hype about who’s great or who’s the best. The reason that stuff just doesn’t work is I see those reputations get shattered here. I watched champions, I watched Olympians, I watched gold medalists break and become cowards in a practice room. So many people can’t understand why I’m not buying into the hype, but I’m not fighting the hype. I’m fighting the body. How hard can he push? How hard can I push? How bad does he want it? How bad do I want it?

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Chael Sonnen Says He Needs TRT or He’ll Die

Chael Sonnen’s use of TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) has been well-documented. However, the Oregon native states that he has two choices—he either employs TRT or dies. In a recent interview with the LA Times (h/t Fightersonlymag.com…

Chael Sonnen’s use of TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) has been well-documented. However, the Oregon native states that he has two choices—he either employs TRT or dies.

In a recent interview with the LA Times (h/t Fightersonlymag.com), this is what Sonnen had to say on the subject.

You won a therapeutic use exemption from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for this fight, acknowledging you need two injections a week of testosterone for medical reasons (hypogonadism). Can you explain this?

I don’t have an option. I either take this medicine or die. I’m not asking if I can take it. It’s up to them to let me take it. It’s a substance that’s often abused, and I deal with taking it in shame. But a blood test can clear you, and show I take the appropriate amount. I’m paying for the tests. I’ve taken four so far. And they’ll do a day-before and morning-after test as well.

Preceding his loss to Anderson Silva back at UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) 117, it was revealed Sonnen had an overly high level of T/E (Testosterone/Epitestosterone) in his urine sample—16-9:1. The allowed ratio by NSAC (Nevada State Athletic Commission) is 6-1, which means he was nearly three-times over said ratio.

For the aforementioned infraction, the Oregon native was subsequently incurred with a 12-month suspension (later reduced to six-months on appeal).

That said, the debate rages on as to whether a fighter utilizing TRT gives them an added advantage.

Apropos Sonnen’s case, some sections of the MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) community believe TRT was the reason he had such a thoroughgoing edge over Silva in their championship bout back in August of 2010.

As Sonnen has alluded to his continued use of TRT, the assumption is, it must’ve been in play (presumably at the allowed ratio of 6-1 or less) during his last two outings against Brian Stann and Michael Bisping.

Still, with NSAC giving a therapeutic use exemption for his UFC 148 encounter with Silva, it’s safe to say that thus far Sonnen hasn’t broken any rules.

UFC 148 is scheduled for July 7, 2012, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

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UFC: Chael Sonnen "Tramautized by Brazilians’ Ground Game"

UFC middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen doesn’t have a lot of friends in arch nemesis Anderson Silva’s Black House MMA camp, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is no exception.”[Vinny Magalhaes] is a very good Jiu-Jitsu guy and has got to improve …

UFC middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen doesn’t have a lot of friends in arch nemesis Anderson Silva‘s Black House MMA camp, and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is no exception.

“[Vinny Magalhaes] is a very good Jiu-Jitsu guy and has got to improve [Sonnen’s] triangles. He was submitted by Demian, Sobral, Paulo, Anderson, Jeremy Horn… I guess he says bad things about Jiu-Jitsu and Brazil because of that: he’s traumatized by Brazilians’ ground game,” Nogueira said in an interview with TATAME.

Magalhaes, a world-renowned BJJ champion before entering MMA, announced back in April that he would be heading to Sonnen’s home state of Oregon to improve the America’s Jiu-Jitsu game.

“Minotauro” also refers to several submission losses in Sonnen’s career, including Demian Maia, Renato Sobral, Paulo Filho, Anderson Silva and Jeremy Horn.

In their meeting at UFC 117, Sonnen controlled Silva, the reigning UFC middleweight champion, for roughly 23 minutes before succumbing to a triangle choke.

In 11 career losses, Sonnen has been submitted eight times.

“Big Nog” actually admits that he thinks “Uncle Chael” has legitimate skills on the ground, but he still does not appreciate the former collegiate All-American wrestler’s attitude.

“He’s good on the ground, knows [how] to defend himself and Jiu-Jitsu. He trains with Brazilians. How did he learn that? Were he born with natural Jiu-Jitsu skills? He says bad things about Brazil and Jiu-Jitsu but trains it”, Nogueira said on the same interview.

Nogueira, who gave Anderson Silva his black belt in BJJ, made it clear in the same interview that he is fed up with Sonnen’s personal attacks against Brazil and Silva.

“He’s a guy who says bad things about countries, the athlete, Anderson’s wife, the way he dresses… He gets into things that doesn’t matter”, he said.

The former PRIDE star also said that if Silva makes good on his promise to knock out all of Sonnen’s teeth on Saturday, he would like to take one home as a souvenir.

Nogueira was scheduled to face Cheick Kongo at UFC 149 later this month, but remains on the shelf following a brutal broken arm at the hands of Frank Mir at UFC 140.

Sonnen and Silva have their long-awaited rematch at UFC 148 this Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Gallery: 11 GIFs of Cung Le Being Awesome

Alright, so Cung Le‘s UFC debut against Wanderlei Silva last November didn’t turn out the way many of us thought it would. (Getting your ass kicked by King Mo on a daily basis isn’t the best way to prepare for a fight, it turns out.) Nevertheless, the former Strikeforce middleweight champ is returning to the Octagon for redemption at UFC 148 on July 7th, where he’ll be facing former contender Patrick Cote. In honor of the upcoming bout, here are 11 GIFs of Cung Le doing what he does best — throwing wild spinning shit and tossing people on their asses. Check ’em out below, and let us know how you think Le vs. Cote will shake out…

Alright, so Cung Le‘s UFC debut against Wanderlei Silva last November didn’t turn out the way many of us thought it would. (Getting your ass kicked by King Mo on a daily basis isn’t the best way to prepare for a fight, it turns out.) Nevertheless, the former Strikeforce middleweight champ is returning to the Octagon for redemption at UFC 148 on July 7th, where he’ll be facing former contender Patrick Cote. In honor of the upcoming bout, here are 11 GIFs of Cung Le doing what he does best — throwing wild spinning shit and tossing people on their asses. Check ‘em out below, and let us know how you think Le vs. Cote will shake out…

Chael Sonnen Says Anderson Silva and Mike Tyson are Bullies

Chael Sonnen pulled no punches when he said perennial UFC 185-pound titlist Anderson Silva and the former “Baddest Man on the Planet” Mike Tyson were nothing short of bullies. Furthermore, “Uncle Chael” intimated that if he were…

Chael Sonnen pulled no punches when he said perennial UFC 185-pound titlist Anderson Silva and the former “Baddest Man on the Planet” Mike Tyson were nothing short of bullies.

Furthermore, “Uncle Chael” intimated that if he were ever to attain the status of champion, he wouldn’t want to be a fake champion like Tyson nor have the comfort of protection, which he believes the erstwhile undisputed heavyweight titlist was afforded throughout his career.

From Sonnen, originally reported by the LA Times (h/t MMAMania.com).

I don’t want to be protected and remembered as a fake champion like Mike Tyson, who was called the best, even though he couldn’t beat either Evander Holyfield or Lennox Lewis. I don’t want to be the chosen child. I don’t need my name in lights. I need a competition. If there’s one thing I don’t like in life, it’s bullies. I was picked on as a kid. The UFC can give me anyone they want. I will stand or fail on my own … If I was a bully or a coward, I could’ve been undefeated. I fought the No. 1 guy in the world six times. I’ve fought 14 guys in the top 10, and beat 12 of them. If you want to take an easy path, you can. They do that in boxing, which is a phony sport, because they keep the best guys away from each other. I’m not a bully who picks on people I know I can beat, like Anderson has done.

In the most eagerly anticipated fight in the history of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). The main event of UFC 148 will see the ex-realtor once again vie for “The Spider’s” coveted championship belt.

Their first encounter was back at UFC 117, where Sonnen, for almost the entirety of the bout, gave the Brazilian native all he could handle and more.

However, three-minutes into the fifth and final round, Silva locked in a triangle armbar, forcing Sonnen to tap and thus leaving his hopes of UFC glory in tatters.

It was a dead-cert that if Sonnen (27-11- MMA, 6-4 UFC) had been phlegmatic in those few minutes, he would’ve usurped the crown from Silva’s grasp.

That said, on July 7, at the MGM Grand Las Vegas Nev., the opportunity presents itself once again for the loquacious one.

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

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UFC 148: Chael Sonnen Compares Anderson Silva to ‘Wimp’, Mike Tyson

Arguably the biggest rematch in UFC history will take place this Saturday night at UFC 148 as Chael Sonnen challenges Anderson SIlva for the UFC Middleweight Championship. Sonnen gave Silva everything he could handle for four-and-a-half rounds bef…

After that fight, we learned Silva entered the fight with a rib injury, and Sonnen entered the fight with illegally high levels of testosterone. How much of that factored into the fight? We don’t know, but we’ll get a better idea after Saturday’s fight.

No one hypes a fight like Chael Sonnen. Last week on 750AM The Game, he was at it again. When asked for his thoughts on Anderson Silva, Sonnen compared the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter to Mike Tyson:

Yeah he’s just a person. You hear those things, but they told us that about Mike Tyson, too, and what a wimp that guy turned out to be when he finally got some real competition. He’s kind of like the Mike Tyson of our era, where they say certain things but at the end of the day, when they lock that cage door, he’s not going to have a friend and he’s not going to have a two-by-four and I’m sure he could use either one when I get my hands on him.

When asked how difficult it was to get a rematch, Sonnen again compared Silva to Tyson:

It was very hard to get the initial match. I’ve been calling this guy out for six years. They told us for years when I was growing up that Mike Tyson was the best in the world. The truth was he wasn’t even the best in the country. He never made a world or Olympic team and he could never beat Evander Holyfield who lived two states over. They just kept him away from him and lied to the entire planet and told them he was the best when he wasn’t. It’s a lot like that with Anderson. I’ve been telling him for six years I’m the best, but he’s got to hold onto the championship. They kept putting obstacles in front of me and I kept having to go through them. That’s just the way it goes. I’m not complaining about that, but that’s been my path to him, and he ducked and dodged as best he could, but he’s narrowed down now.

It’s hard to say how much of that is hyping the fight, and how much of that Sonnen actually believes. To say Silva hasn’t fought the best in the world is crazy. Since winning the title from Rich Franklin in 2006, Silva’s defeated the likes of Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin (again), Demian Maia (who defeated Sonnen at UFC 95), Chael Sonnen, Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami. Silva even moved up to Light Heavyweight and knocked out former Light Heavyweight champ Forrest Griffin.

To say Silva hasn’t fought the best in the world is just wrong. But that’s Sonnen. Sure, he’s hyping the fight. That’s part of it, but you know part of him actually believes what he’s saying.

Saturday night, Silva will have another opportunity to shut Sonnen up. If Sonnen pulls off the victory, just imagine the things he’ll say.

Follow Brian on Twitter @coldy4goldy.

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