Aug
06
2010
0

Sonnen vs Silva: Anything Can Happen Once the Cage Door Closes

Anderson Silva vs. Chael SonnenThe Black Sheep

Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva, hmm… This is getting interesting.

We have all listened to the conference calls, seen the interviews, and watched yesterday’s pre-fight press conference.

Chael and Anderson; answering questions from the media. Chael spouting all kinds of craziness… Him going on and on about how he’s planning to ‘drive Anderson’s head into the mat’ and ‘put an end to The Spider’s career’. Oh, and what about how Portuguese may as well be ‘Pig Latin’?

Then we have Anderson, with his single answers and awkward phrases: ‘Yes’, ‘No’, ‘Steven Seagal’, and ‘Even a parrot can talk’… Ha, Ha, Ha! A Portuguese interpreter wasn’t really needed! We know Anderson understands English. Chael is probably right. Anderson is just playing us by pretending he can’t speak or understand ‘our’ language!

Chael Sonnen the 33 year old mixed martial arts stud, with a professional MMA record of 24-10-1 fighting the great Anderson Silva with a record of 26-4-0. Before this fight, I really hadn’t thought too much about Chael. I recalled his career as unremarkable in my mind – tattered with an abundance of unanimous decision victories spanning from runs in the WEC, UFC, and the now defunct Bodog Fight organization. I wasn’t soooo impressed. Yawn! Yawn! But, that was just me.

My opinion was that Sonnen had been picked by the UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to go up against Anderson purely for hype value… And what hype he has created! Everybody loves a good ‘Trash Talker’, right?

If you’ve read my words before then you know that I tend to be a bit outspoken when it comes to fighters whom I really like and fighters whom I really dislike.
Anderson Silva is at the top of my list of fighters whom I really, really, like.

I was captivated by his fighting style during his time in Pride FC and became even more excited when he was acquired by the holy grail of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

As it comes time to write this particular article, I am torn. I wonder: Do I write a typical article praising Anderson Silva, highlighting his athleticism and unbelievable abilities? Should I go on and on about how Silva will totally humiliate Chael Sonnen, by making him look like a 5th grade school boy fighting in a cage against ‘The sleek Brazilian jaguar’? Or do I write a piece about Chael Sonnen and how he has made it this far, finally earning his chance to compete against the champion, and his big dreams of taking the UFC Middle Weight belt?

A funny memory comes to my mind as I am writing. I remember a ‘similar’ feud that played out almost 30 years ago. It was April 5, 1982. The location was Memphis’ Mid-South Coliseum. Comedian Andy Kaufman had declared himself the “Inter-Gender Wrestling Champion of the World”. Since he had wrestled and beaten many large statured women, Kaufman decided to challenge Pro Wrestler Jerry “The King” Lawler to a live wrestling match. Kaufman felt he could win a match against Lawler even though it was obvious that Jerry Lawler had a considerable weight advantage over Kaufman. The match gained national attention. All the news outlets were talking about how ‘crazy Kaufman was’…

Ok, so… Haven’t we all been told the story of the Little Engine That Could? And what about the ant that moved the rubber tree plant? These stories have comforted us through our childhood and helped us to reach our goals and achieve anything as long as we’ve believed in ourselves.

But, I think of Chael Sonnen and I have to wonder; does Sonnen really believe this schmack that he’s talking? Or is he one of those kids who has been taught to believe in himself so strongly that he must ‘talk the talk’?

Everything Sonnen says about Anderson Silva is said with a straight face and with great confidence. Would you expect any less? It takes a pretty strong mind and body to challenge the best pound for pound athlete and fighter in the sport of MMA. Plus, the mental preparedness that one must achieve in order to compete at any level of mixed martial arts is a feat in itself.

I can’t help but think that Sonnen is taking this just a bit overboard. I’d really hate for him to end up like Andy Kaufman.

You know, when it was all said and done we found out that Kaufman’s problem was that he really didn’t know how to separate his real life from make believe.

Some say Kaufman truly believed that he could beat Jerry Lawler. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out that way at all.

But don’t feel bad for Andy Kaufman – he actually won that wrestling match against Lawler!!!

Jerry Lawler piledrived Kaufman (not once, but twice) into the canvas and broke his neck. Lawler was disqualified and Kaufman won by decision.

I need not end this article by saying who I’m predicting will win the fight between Sonnen vs Silva. I think that can go without saying.

I will say this though, this clearly is not the WWF. This is the UFC! And as we all know, “In the UFC, anything can happen once that cage door closes.”

Good Luck, Chael.

What Do You Think of This Fight/Event?