Tag: UFC 148

Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen: Spider’s Motivation Bad News for The Foreman

You won’t like Anderson Silva when he’s angry.And with just a week-and-a-half until Chael Sonnen and Silva square off at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, that’s exactly what The People’s Champ has done. Via ESPN:
“What I’m going to do inside the Octagon is s…

You won’t like Anderson Silva when he’s angry.

And with just a week-and-a-half until Chael Sonnen and Silva square off at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, that’s exactly what The People’s Champ has done. 

Via ESPN:

“What I’m going to do inside the Octagon is something that’s going to change the image of the sport,” Silva said through a translator. “I’m going to make sure every one of his teeth are broken, his arms are broken, his legs are broken.

“He’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee that.”

Now, those are certainly some graphic comments, but this is a guy who fights for living. Just like all boxers, wrestlers and UFC fighters, he is going to talk a lot of smack before the fight.

Some of it might end up true, some of it might not. That’s just the nature of the sport and the people who participate in it.

At least, that’s how you would expect to respond to those comments.

But Anderson “Spiderman” Silva is different.

Just out curiosity, I decided to look back to see what kind of things he was saying before he fought Sonnen the first time around, which was back in August of 2010. What I found was interesting to say the least.

Via Sherdog:

“I’m relaxed for this fight. I’m used to fighting idiots like him that are talking about me. It’s a constant battle. I’ve fought idiots all over the world. Some have respected me. Some haven’t,” he said. “I can’t tell you who’s gonna win Saturday night. We’ll see how he’s acting tomorrow at the weigh-ins. That’s when it’s gonna start, and we’ll see how it goes.”

For context, the above quote from two days before the 2010 fight was in response to Sonnen dropping a bunch of smack talk, one-liners, etc., which is similar to the present-day conditions. 

But as you can see, Silva’s response is quite a bit different this time around. 

What you heard and read from Silva back in 2010 is what you usually hear and read from him. He shrugs everything off, laughs at the smack talk and simply goes out and dominates. That’s why he’s the best in the world. 

Now that Sonnen has actually made him mad and elicited an incredibly violent response, watch out. The beast has been awaken from his slumber and that’s not good news for the 35-year-old American.

If Sonnen had to submit in the fifth round against a “relaxed,” unprepared Silva back in 2010—even if he controlled most of the fight—I truly fear for his teeth, arms and legs against a pumped-up, motivated Silva. 

 

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Silva vs. Sonnen II: UFC 148 Extended Preview Video

MMA is one of those sports that’s so raw, so emotional and so in the moment that it’s easy to get caught up in a fight as it’s taking place and to not only think that it’s the greatest fight ever, but also to openly voice that o…

MMA is one of those sports that’s so raw, so emotional and so in the moment that it’s easy to get caught up in a fight as it’s taking place and to not only think that it’s the greatest fight ever, but also to openly voice that opinion to anyone within earshot.

With that in mind, when you start hearing things like “most anticipated fight ever,” “biggest rematch in the history of the sport,” “biggest sporting event of the summer,” you could be excused if you took these descriptions with a grain of salt.

Some have used those phrases to describe the upcoming July 7 fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, and for once, most of the above descriptions seem to be right on the money, with the possible exception of “biggest sporting event of the summer.”  That one may be a stretch if you step out of the MMA bubble.

The first time these two met, it looked like Sonnen was going to head back to West Linn, Oregon with 12 pounds of UFC gold strapped over his shoulder.

However, that was not meant to be.  With time ticking down, Silva slapped on a triangle choke/armbar and forced the tap from Sonnen.  The UFC middleweight belt remained around the waist of the man many see as the greatest MMA fighter ever.

We are now left to sit and watch the calendar, crossing off the days until UFC 148 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV.  Until then, we have this extended preview of the upcoming fight card to whet our appetites and make us anticipate this fight even more, if that’s even possible.

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Chael Sonnen Not Fazed, Continues to Make Jokes About Anderson Silva’s Wife

Much has been made of Anderson Silva’s newfound bravado, but as usual, Chael Sonnen is not impressed.The self-proclaimed “Oregon Gangster” didn’t back down in his response to threats made by Silva at the UFC 148 media conference call on Monday.In fact,…

Much has been made of Anderson Silva‘s newfound bravado, but as usual, Chael Sonnen is not impressed.

The self-proclaimed “Oregon Gangster” didn’t back down in his response to threats made by Silva at the UFC 148 media conference call on Monday.

In fact, Sonnen only continued to make snide remarks about Silva and his family.

“All that happened was Anderson found himself in a fight for the first time,” Sonnen said at the conference call. “His skills are amateur. If you walk into a fight with your fists down, that’s amateur. I treated him like an amateur the first time, and I’ll treat him like an amateur this time.”

“The stakes are pretty high on this one. It’s not like I’m trying to score points on the guy. He’s trying to do damage to me…I’ve got two words for Anderson Silva: medium rare.”

The “medium rare” remark stems from a comment Sonnen made about Silva’s wife last October.

There has never been this much personal animosity between two opponents in MMA history. The Silva vs. Sonnen rematch is already being billed as one of the most anticipated fights of all time.

Silva has remained relatively quiet while Sonnen has insulted virtually everything he cares about for over two years.

At the conference call, “The Spider” finally opened the lid on years of built up anger and frustration.

“What I’m going to do inside the Octagon is something that’s going to change the image of the sport. I’m going to beat his ass like he’s never been beaten before. I’m going to make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, his arms are broke, his legs are broke, he’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee that.”

When these two finally step into the Octagon on July 7, the UFC may never be the same again.

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UFC 148: Why a Fired Up Anderson Silva Will Be a Huge Problem for Chael Sonnen

Ever hear the phrase “don’t poke the bear?”  Well in Chael Sonnen’s case, maybe it should be changed to “don’t piss off the Spider.”At yesterday’s UFC 148 media conference call, an amped-up Anderson Silva finally unleashed his anger (via MMA Weekl…

Ever hear the phrase “don’t poke the bear?”  Well in Chael Sonnen’s case, maybe it should be changed to “don’t piss off the Spider.”

At yesterday’s UFC 148 media conference call, an amped-up Anderson Silva finally unleashed his anger (via MMA Weekly) against his outspoken nemesis in a vitriolic tirade that no one on the call could have expected.

The usually soft-spoken and respectful middleweight champ fired back at Sonnen’s years of bashing, calling him a criminal and saying through his interpreter and manager Ed Soares that the top contender has no business being in the UFC.  Silva went on to say:

“No more sh** talking from him.  Chael Sonnen’s going to get his ass kicked like he’s never gotten his ass kicked before.  What I’m going to do inside the Octagon is something that’s going to change the image of the sport, I’m sorry.  I’m going to beat his ass like he’s never been beaten before.  This is going to be violent and I am sorry.  I’m going to make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, that his arms are broken and his legs are broken.  He’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself.  I can guarantee that.  He will need a plastic surgeon afterwards.”

While Sonnen claims he’s not worried about Silva’s “amateur” level skills, after this emotional outburst, the Oregon native definitely should be.  The pound-for-pound king has historically been at his best when his heart is in the fight, and if this call is any indication, we may just see the best Anderson Silva to date. 

Let’s face it, throughout his career, Silva has basically had an easy time dispatching his opponents, even against highly ranked former MMA champs such as Dan Henderson and Forrest Griffin.  

It’s not that “the Spider” has faced terrible competition, but his skills are just on a higher level than almost every other fighter in the sport.

Because of this disparity, it is understandable that the reigning middleweight title holder would be unmotivated when forced to face the likes of a Demian Maia or a Thales Leites.  Matchups like these just don’t excite Silva and bring out his inner clown.

But when the champ feels he has been disrespected, the true Anderson Silva is unleashed.  Sonnen’s biggest mistake was stoking the flames of Silva’s warrior spirit, forcing “the Spider” to react in the only way he knows how—violently.  

One of the best examples of this from Silva’s past came during his bout with Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.

Silva and Belfort have a well documented history together, first as friends during their old training days.  This amicable relationship, however, turned sour when “the Phenom” dared to challenge the champ for his belt.

MMAFighting.com’s Mike Chiapetta wrote a fantastic article last year detailing their feud leading into UFC 126.  In the piece, Chiapetta says that Silva felt betrayed by Belfort’s willingness to fight him, considering that the middleweight king had dropped everything to comfort his former friend after the tragedy surrounding his sister’s disappearance and death.

Fernando Kallas, the UFC’s Brazilian play-by-play announcer, stated in the story that Silva took things very personally and was more than motivated to take Belfort on.

“Anderson works like Chute Boxe,” Kallas said.  “He needs to feel excited for the fight.  He needs to have an enemy.  Anderson feels betrayed.  He helped [Vitor] out and he was surprised that Vitor would fight him.”

Kallas went on to say that Silva was so fired up for the bout that the champ told him, “If I have the opportunity, I’m going to hurt Vitor.  I’m going to hurt him really bad.”

And, as we all know, that anger with Belfort culminated in a brutal first-round front-kick knockout, a devastating finish that had never been seen inside the Octagon before.

When Silva says he’ll change the image of the sport when he dismantles Sonnen at UFC 148, I honestly think it will happen.

Since 2010, Sonnen has done everything in his power to provoke Silva and, in the process, made things very personal.  If it was just the usual smack talk fighters throw around, I doubt Silva would even bat an eye, but Sonnen crossed the line by bashing Silva’s family, friends and country.

Silva is sick of it.

He wants to shut Sonnen up and hand him the worst beating of his life.  Silva’s otherworldly skill set and utter passion to put on the best performance of his life is a scary combination that should have no other outcome than a devastating finish.

Like Bruce Banner from The Incredible Hulk, you won’t like Anderson Silva when he’s angry.

 

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UFC 148: Anderson Silva’s Words Add More Intrigue to Chael Sonnen Super Fight

With the hype already through the roof for the rematch between legendary middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, the usually smooth-talking Silva has lost his cool.On a recent conference call with the media, Silva launched int…

With the hype already through the roof for the rematch between legendary middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen at UFC 148, the usually smooth-talking Silva has lost his cool.

On a recent conference call with the media, Silva launched into an anger-fueled tirade about his opponent and what he planned to do about it. In so many words, Silva has promised an interesting fight.

It is common knowledge now that Sonnen has become quite the trash talker over the last few years, but Silva’s angry words are what happens when a fighter allows months of verbal abuse to get to him.

That has been Sonnen’s plan all along—get the Spider off his game.

The normally calm Silva lost his cool in a way that had many MMA writers absolutely stunned, courtesy Yahoo! Sports via MMA Weekly:

Right now, I’m focused on what’s going to happen in the next few weeks and right now the playtime is over. I’m going to beat Chael’s ass like it’s never been beat before. The joke is over, there’s no more talking, I know he’s on the line listening and the game’s over. I’m going to beat his ass out of the UFC. He’s never going to want to fight again after I’m done with him…What I’m going to do inside the Octagon is something that’s going to change the image of the sport. I’m going to beat his ass like he’s never been beaten before. I’m going to make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, his arms are broke, his legs are broke, he’s not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself. I can guarantee that.

To borrow a catchphrase from professional wrestler Daniel Bryan, Yes! Yes! Yes!

While any real MMA fan was already 100 percent behind this rematch, the talk from Silva has cemented this as one of the biggest fights in the company’s history. Not only is he the longest reigning champion and current holder of the longest winning streak in the UFC, Silva has been one of the most polarizing stars of the sport in the last 10 years.

Adding in the new element of the serious trash talking proves the Spider is ready to make his mark on the sport of MMA all over again.

For as good as we all thought Sonnen’s trash talking was coming into this battle, Silva attacked his opponent all guns blasting, and it’s fantastic.

The best part of all the banter is that it all feels genuine and that Silva and Sonnen really hate each other. Last time I checked, that’s how fighting was supposed to be.

All of the verbal exchanges between these two elite fighters will lead to one of the most anticipated weigh-ins in UFC history, possibly resulting in some pre-fight confrontations.

When Sonnen finally does meet Silva in the middle of that Octagon, this will be a war.

 

Check back for more on Mixed Martial Arts as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s UFC page or listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics.

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Anderson Silva: Why Chael Sonnen Will Be His Last Opponent in the UFC

The conclusion of the Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen rivalry will likely close the curtain on perhaps the greatest career in MMA history.Depending on the outcome, UFC 148 could be the last time “The Spider” steps foot in the Octagon.At 37 years of age…

The conclusion of the Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen rivalry will likely close the curtain on perhaps the greatest career in MMA history.

Depending on the outcome, UFC 148 could be the last time “The Spider” steps foot in the Octagon.

At 37 years of age, Silva has achieved more than any fighter in UFC history. He is the reigning middleweight champion and top pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Unfortunately, Father Time is always at the door knocking, and Silva will soon have no choice but to answer.

In December 2011, UFC President Dana White pondered whether Silva would be done after a couple of more title defenses.

“He’s probably the greatest fighter in history,” White said in an interview with AFLA. “I think he has two more title defenses and [don’t] know what’s next, if he will retire.”

White continues:

Age is [expletive] man. It’s the only thing you cannot cheat. The fighters who become champions never finish their careers at that height. Anderson may have the ability to do this. The problem is that you never know when time will end for you. You are king of the world, get in there one day is half a second slower than before, and only you will know right away.

Silva has already been dealing with persistent, nagging injuries. Last November, he was diagnosed with bursitis in his shoulder, which has kept him sidelined for nearly a year.

Ed Soares, Silva’s manager, even admitted Silva’s retirement could be sooner than people think.

“We should recognize that Anderson has around four fights left in his career,” Soares told SporTV back in October 2011. “Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre.”

Silva’s bout against Sonnen won’t just be the biggest of his career, but it is already being billed by some as the biggest fight in UFC history.

What better way to end a career than successfully defending the UFC title against your biggest nemesis in arguably the most anticipated fight of all time?

After Sonnen, the only thing left for Silva is a bunch of rematches. Sure, there will always be new contenders.

Hector Lombard, Alan Belcher, Mark Munoz and Michael Bisping top off the newest batch of contenders at 185 pounds, but are these bouts truly worth Silva sticking around a little longer?

There has been talk about a super fight with welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre, but the chances of such a bout coming together seems astronomical, considering St-Pierre’s knee injury and the continued growth of the 170-pound division.

Outside of questions pushed his way from fans and media, St-Pierre has never expressed any real interest in moving up in weight.

There is also the notion that Silva will one day jump up to the light heavyweight division and challenge UFC champion Jon “Bones” Jones, an idea that was quickly debunked in Silva’s February interview with UOL Esportes.

I don’t plan on moving up in weight anymore. [Jon Jones] is in a different weight [class]. I train with bigger guys, such as Lyoto Machida and Big Nog and I know how complicated it is. Every time I see Jones, I tell him to keep focus, because if he does that, there’s no opponent for him. He’s better than everyone. He’d have a lot of advantages [over me]. He’s much younger and it wouldn’t be something interesting [for me].

If Sonnen wins, there is reason to believe Silva would seek out an immediate rematch. There is just too much animosity and money to be made to pass on a potential rubber match.

Fans should really soak up and appreciate every moment heading into UFC 148. Silva is a once in a lifetime talent who will be talked about for generations to come.

As with all great things, they must come to an end at some point or another.

At UFC 148, “The Spider” prepares to spin his final web.

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