Tag: UFC 148

Anderson Silva Upset at Las Vegas Venue, but Says He’ll Beat Sonnen Wherever

Undisputed UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) middleweight titlist Anderson Silva, was none too pleased when UFC President Dana White informed him that his highly anticipated rematch with arch-nemesis Chael Sonnen would have to be moved from the orig…

Undisputed UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) middleweight titlist Anderson Silva, was none too pleased when UFC President Dana White informed him that his highly anticipated rematch with arch-nemesis Chael Sonnen would have to be moved from the original location of Rio, Brazil, to the MGM Grand, Las Vegas Nev.

However, he says he’ll beat Sonnen wherever the fight takes place.

For 75 minutes, the Zuffa-based promotions head-honcho White, did his best to persuade “The Spider,” that as Rio de Janeiro was a non-starter due to conflicting interests, Sin City would be the next best place to hold MMA’s (Mixed Martial Arts) ultimate grudge match.

White stated that because of events happening on June 23, the same day as the proposed UFC 147 show, Rio wouldn’t have the basic structures requisite for the event to take place.

Original quotes reported by Fightersonlymag.com: “There wouldn‘t have been enough hotel rooms.”

Initially, Silva was obdurate on his stance that the fight should transpire in Brazil—his reasons—Sonnen had disrespected not only him and his countrymen, but also his family.

“He deserves to taught a lesson here, I owe this to my people”, Silva said.

However, White wasn’t budging either.

“If there is no way how to make the event in a stadium, it has to be in Las Vegas,” White said.

Though once White had sold him the idea of the benefits regarding the fight (UFC 148) taking place in the United States on Independence weekend (July 7), as well as ensuring Silva garnered a respectable percentage of the pay-per-view revenue, it was nearly a done deal.

Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) had one last question to ask the UFC supremo, before the deal was officially sealed.

“Okay, so tell me – what do you want from me?”

“I want you go to Las Vegas and perform well, make it a great fight,” White replied. Silva’s response was:“If it has to be like this, I will beat this guy wherever. He deserves a lesson.”

With an affirmative from the UFC’s most successful combatant, White was ecstatic.

Silva was the “perfect UFC ambassador in Brazil” and “is the best fighter ever made in MMA—today everybody talks about Jon Jones but for me you are the best by far,” White said.

 

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

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Chael Sonnen Gets Brazilian Treatment: Shock Pen Prank and Aggressive Reporters

Chael Sonnen was the recipient of a shock pen prank whilst being hounded by aggressive reporters on his recent trip to Brazil to promote his upcoming UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) 148 title rematch against Anderson “The Spider” Silva…

Chael Sonnen was the recipient of a shock pen prank whilst being hounded by aggressive reporters on his recent trip to Brazil to promote his upcoming UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) 148 title rematch against Anderson “The Spider” Silva.

UFC President Dana White, who was also in tow, witnessed firsthand the Sonnen drama unfold, and this is his take on the scenes which could be scripted for a Hollywood movie.

Original quotes reported by MMAMania.com:

We had proper security with us. We had like seven guys with us. These are guys that mapped out the whole route. We literally landed at the airport in Rio, a shuttle took us through customs, jumped on helicopters and the helicopters took us right to the hotel. I came through the front door. We put him (Sonnen) through a side door. We had him in a holding room. We went down to the press conference and he had a scrum. The reporters were getting really aggressive with him at the scrum. Somebody got him with shock pen and all kinds of stuff like that. He went out the side door. I went out the front door. Helicopters took us back. We got on a plane and got him out of there. I wanted to make sure we got in and out and got him safe. I’m still getting texts, ‘Did you and Sonnen get out of Brazil alive last night? I haven’t heard from you. Give me an update.’ I made him (Sonnen) ride in a different car than me.

Prior to and after his first unsuccessful tilt at Silva’s middleweight crown back at UFC 117, Sonnen, the 35-year-old Oregon native has been nothing short of a continuous thorn in the Brazilian’s side—he’s called him out on numerous occasions and questioned his manliness and to boot took a swipe at his family.

Furthermore, the former NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I standout has disrespected the Brazilian denizens as well as some of its most famous MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) exports—The Nogueira brothers—Antonio Rodrigo and Antonio Rogério, Wanderlei Silva, Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort and Jose Aldo.

Whether it’s divine intervention that the original event—UFC 147 in Brazil—has been moved to UFC 148 in Las Vegas is anyone’s guess. Still, on July 7 Sonnen (27-11 record in the MMA, 6-4 in the UFC ) will be vying for UFC gold against a man who has the hopes of Brazil resting firmly on his shoulders.

 

For additional information, follow Nedu Obi on Twitter.

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Sonnen Blasts Silva: ‘I Insulted Your Family and You Didn’t Do a Damn Thing’

It’s easy to see the ongoing feud between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva is becoming a little too personal for comfort.At the press conference for UFC 148, Sonnen didn’t back down from any of the previous remarks he’s made about Silva.In front of the …

It’s easy to see the ongoing feud between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva is becoming a little too personal for comfort.

At the press conference for UFC 148, Sonnen didn’t back down from any of the previous remarks he’s made about Silva.

In front of the Brazilian media, the self-proclaimed “People’s Champ” blasted the reigning middleweight champion in one of the most tense press conference moments in UFC history.

“I don’t know man. This guy says the craziest things. He is surrounded by such “yes” men and it’s unbelievable that he actually thinks like that. He talks about his legacy. He is so close to the trees that he can’t see the forest.

Come to America and ask people what they think of him. I mean, this guy is the real deal, wow, he became the number one contender when he beat up the great Chris Leben. He then defended his belt against the great Patrick Cote and the amazing Thales Leites. What a star this guy is.

What about the fact that I called him out for six years. ‘He disrespected my family.’ Yes, I did, and what did you do about it? You didn’t do a damn thing, and you’re not going to do anything on July 7th.

Get your excuses ready now, Anderson. I told everybody the first time I fought him that our skills are not even close. I will destroy him, and I’m going to tell you again now, our skills are not even close. So go to your Ed Soares school of excuse making and get them handy because you are going to need them on July 7th.”

The rematch between Silva and Sonnen was originally slated to take place at UFC 147 in Brazil, but due to scheduling conflicts, it was moved back as the UFC 148 headliner in Las Vegas.

Throughout MMA history, we have all witnessed some pretty significant rivalries, but none have reached the personal depth of Silva and Sonnen.

There has always been an invisible line that fighters tend to never cross, but when it comes to Silva, Sonnen has consistently stomped all over the line.

As this bout inches closer, emotions will surely be running at an all-time high.

The emotions run a little deeper when a person’s family is involved, but this could all be a tactic by Sonnen in hopes of throwing Silva off his game.

Has Sonnen gone too far, or is he right in calling out the often dormant Silva?

 

Looking for some more MMA news, and perhaps a couple of laughs? Follow me on Twitter @JordyMcElroy.

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Photo of the Day — ‘UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2? Poster


(Click for full-size version.)

“Two grudges will end” at UFC 148, you guys. After the main event, Chael Sonnen is going to pull Anderson Silva aside and personally apologize for that wife-groping steak-cooking stuff, in addition to his general lambasting of the Brazilian people, and Silva will be like, “I understand about the trash-talk, baby bubba, but we’re still friends.” And then Urijah Faber will catch up to Dominick Cruz backstage and explain that when Cruz signed his name over Faber’s face on a poster five years ago, it didn’t really bother him, because really, who would actually hold a grudge over something like that, you know? And then they’ll hug. And hug. And keep hugging. These are things that will happen.


(Click for full-size version.)

“Two grudges will end” at UFC 148, you guys. After the main event, Chael Sonnen is going to pull Anderson Silva aside and personally apologize for that wife-groping steak-cooking stuff, in addition to his general lambasting of the Brazilian people, and Silva will be like, “I understand about the trash-talk, baby bubba, but we’re still friends.” And then Urijah Faber will catch up to Dominick Cruz backstage and explain that when Cruz signed his name over Faber’s face on a poster five years ago, it didn’t really bother him, because really, who would actually hold a grudge over something like that, you know? And then they’ll hug. And hug. And keep hugging. These are things that will happen.

10 Reasons Anderson Silva Will Easily Dispatch Chael Sonnen

UFC 148 is set to be the biggest card of the year and possibly the biggest card since UFC 100.Dana White announced yesterday at a special press conference that the long-awaited rematch between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen w…

UFC 148 is set to be the biggest card of the year and possibly the biggest card since UFC 100.

Dana White announced yesterday at a special press conference that the long-awaited rematch between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen was moving from UFC 147 to headline the Vegas card on July 4th weekend.

At UFC 117, Sonnen nearly accomplished what no other man has been close to doing inside the Octagon, defeat Silva. When they meet at the MGM Grand Garden Arena do not expect the same performance.

Anderson Silva will dominate this fight, and here are 10 reasons why…

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UFC 148: Anderson Silva Says Chael Sonnen ‘Doesn’t Know How to Respect People’

About as shocking as the Nevada State Athletic Commission refusing to license UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva still doesn’t find the humor in his arch rival Chael Sonnen’s antics.”When I started training marti…

About as shocking as the Nevada State Athletic Commission refusing to license UFC heavyweight Alistair Overeem, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva still doesn’t find the humor in his arch rival Chael Sonnen’s antics.

“When I started training martial arts I learned about respect,” he said. “Sonnen doesn’t know martial arts. He’s a wrestler, he doesn’t know how to respect people. Some say he’s promoting the fight, but he disrespected my country, my family and fans.”

At the UFC 147 fight presser in Rio de Janeiro Brazil Tuesday morning, Sonnen made plenty of his signature wise cracks.

However, he really seemed to get under “The Spider’s” skin when he put on a pair of funny-face glasses that came equipped with fake eyebrows, a fake nose and a fake mustache.

Sonnen stated he wore the comedic get up order to sneak into Brazil and was mistaken for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the process. 

For those who missed it, UFC President Dana White announced that the epic rematch between Sonnen and Silva has been moved to UFC 148 in Las Vegas.

Reports last week indicated the fight would likely be moved from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Las Vegas since Rio de Janeiro would be hosting a United Nations conference the same week as UFC 147, which is still scheduled for June 23, but will now face a venue change. 

For those interested in seeing Uncle Chael’s other shenanigans from the fight presser, video footage and quotes can be found here. 

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