UFC: Chael Sonnen comes clean about Anderson Silva
UFC middleweight fighter Chael Sonnen was quite honest and forthright with me recently on a conference call for UFC 136.
MMA fans have heard Sonnen's opinion about the night he fought UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and how he beat him for four rounds, yet Silva walked out the cage with the belt.
I was straight to the point with Sonnen and we had the following exchange:
MMA Stomping Grounds: Do you really believe that Anderson Silva isn’t the best 185 lbs. fighter in the world?
Chael Sonnen: "It's getting harder and harder to deny that he should be shown that appreciation. He ducked Okami for years but he did finally get in there and he made it look easy. So, I think you've got to look at that. If you're asking if I would ever concede that Anderson's better than me? No. I would simply refer you to the tape. I think [our] skills are vastly different. I think I could come down a lot and still be ahead of him. I also think he ducks and dodges opponents constantly - but listen, his wins and losses speak for themselves and the fact of the matter, whether I'd like to admit it or not, is he's done a better job than anybody, he's done a better job than me and he is the champion. That doesn't mean that I'm gonna quit poking my finger in his chest but at some point I think fairness needs to kick in, too, and I think you need to look at what he's done and tip your hat to him a little bit."
MMA Stomping Grounds: Chael thanks for your honesty and good luck man.
Chael Sonnen: I appreciate that.
Let's review Sonnen's statement: "If you're asking if I would ever concede that Anderson's better than me? No. I would simply refer you to the tape."
What Chael Sonnen has failed to take ownership of or mention at media events is the fact that he cheated. If he would have won the UFC middleweight title that night, it would have been one of the sports biggest black eyes. The UFC's newly crowned champion would have had his belt stripped eventually because he was found to have an elevated testosterone level.
In layman’s terms, he got caught cheating.
It was elevated testosterone levels that lead to the release of Nate Marquardt from the UFC prior to his fight with Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4.
Back in July 2007, UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk successfully defended his title against Hermes Franca at UFC 73. After the fight, the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) announced that Sherk had tested positive for Nandrolone, a banned steroid, in a urine test the day prior to the fight.
The UFC officially stripped Sherk of his Lightweight Championship.
Now that Sonnen has finally come clean and told the truth about Anderson Silva's dominance of the middleweight division, we now ask that he stay clean and drug free.
Sonnen will be facing Brian Stann, the former Navy football player, on Saturday, October 8 at UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard 3 for a likely rematch against the champion.
In your opinion, is Chael Sonnen the second-best middleweight in the UFC?
Kevin Richardson has been a fan of mixed martial arts competition ever since UFC 3, when 600-pound sumo wrestler Emmanuel Yarborough was beaten by Keith Hackney. Kevin will cover the world of MMA — in Baltimore, nationally and internationally. He plans to take readers into the locker rooms and MMA schools, where they'll hear from local fighters and trainers. If you have a news tip or suggestions for the blog, please 
Comments
his testosterone was slightly elevated compared to an average man, he was sick before the fight week with his testosterone levels down so he took a testosterone boost, with him being sick his testosterone level was only 1/10 higher, i wouldn't really call it cheating if you take a deep look at the facts, if they fight again anderson silva will probably get beat up
Dave,
You can say the same thing about Nate Marquardt levels as well. But, he was released from the UFC because of it. It's comes a time when fighters need to stop using drugs. He's a young man and he was using it because it gave him an edge over his opponent. It's that plain and simple.
-Kevin
Posted by: dave | October 5, 2011 3:23 PM
Cool to see Chael has a modest bone in his body. Was wondering if I'd ever see the day he'd just admit Anderson's the sh@#. I mean, I don't like Anderson as a public figure, but it can't be argued in the octagon he's a monster.
-NinjaGirl
I agree Ninja Girl
-Kevin
Posted by: Ninja Girl Rachel | October 5, 2011 3:30 PM
The ONLY reason he thinks he's bettter than Anderson is because he has better wrestling. Silva by far is the better mmartist. But, chaels wrestling could very well win the rematch-but my guess-Silva KO rd2
Posted by: David | October 5, 2011 4:04 PM
The only reason Sonnen isn't talking trash now is because of his future Political plans. Talking trash to/about a "war hero" will come back on him. Even his ego knows better than to put that out. I do hope he wins, so Anderson can throw him a 2nd Rd k/o & send him off to Politics, where his mouth might do some good (we DO like him after all)..,
Posted by: skakagrachi | October 5, 2011 5:01 PM
Silva destroys Sonnen in a rematch.
Posted by: Jason Taylor | October 5, 2011 6:41 PM
may i just say that although i get a chuckle out of the ridiculous things Mr. Sonnen spouts the fact remains that he has, lets say a tendency to cheat. if i was a police officer i would say he has "previous". he behaved fraudulently in his other profession (real estate) and i believe he's not a "clean" athelete due to his failed tests. some people will do/say anything to give themselves an advantage i believe Mr Sonne to be this type of person, finally can i say that it is not a defence to say that he was only 1/10th over the limit, that is 10% for those without a brain, can you imagine if a formula 1 car had an extra 10% over the rest of the field or if usain bolt had another 10% to his abilities by taking a substance. when talking about elite athletes 10% is a HUGE increase. also i notice that he's been decidedly quiet in the run up to this fight, most liekly because his borderline racism wouldn't work on a fellow american and one who is thought of a a hero by the avergae american fan. sonnen only saves the pre fight insults for foreigners so he can drum up a bit of USA chanting and general xenophobia, one of his more dispicable traits i feel . rant over : )
Alan,
Awesome comment!
-Kevin
Posted by: alan d | October 5, 2011 6:49 PM
You didn't do this interview, MMAJunkie did. Why are you taking credit, posing like you did it?
Jake,
I wish you would have left your email address, because I could have send you the audio of ME ASKING Chael Sonnen the question.
Check out the following link. Move the playhead to 39:36 it's the conference person introducing yours truly. Listen for my second question to Chael.
http://bjpenn.com/news/2011/09/30/ufc-136-media-conference-call-audio-5566.html
Every top MMA writer and blogger was on the conference call, BUT IT WAS ME AND ONLY ME THAT ASKED THIS QUESTION. They all use Sonnen's comment in there blogs.
I don't need to lie about asking a question. I but my name out there because I can prove it with the recorded audio. Your apology accepted!
-Kevin
Posted by: Jake | October 6, 2011 9:46 AM
I dont get it. Has everyone overlooked the fact that Sonnen TAPPED?? So what if he hit him more, he gave up! He wanted out of the fight and he tapped, why doesn't anyone bring that up?
Posted by: Zubair | October 8, 2011 3:20 PM
Looks like Chael is back to being Chael. I guess to some people he is good for entertainment. He just called out Silva with a "if you lose, you leave" match. I guess if MMA doesn't work out, he can head over to WWE.
Posted by: Phi | October 10, 2011 11:14 AM