It was time for a sit-down. So we met on his turf. Parking lot. West Linn's Mean Street Pizza parlor.
Man to man.
Columnist to Ultimate Fighting Championship contender.
One of the pastors at my church heard I was going to meet with Chael Sonnen after the guy blew up at me last week for asking him tough questions, and the pastor asked, "You need me to come as back-up?"
Sonnen will fight Anderson Silva for the middleweight UFC championship on Saturday. He nearly beat Silva two years ago, dominating until Silva locked in a late triangle arm bar and Sonnen tapped out. I'd never met Sonnen in person, but our radio interview went sideways when I asked him if a couple of mistakes in his past really were behind him. He started to answer, then called me unprofessional, asked "Do you beat your wife?" and hung up.
Now, it was Sunday night and I was pulling into the parking lot for a meeting, wondering if I should have brought the pastor or a two-by-four. A friend told me to wear a mouth guard and keep my hands up. My wife told me, "Be careful, and call me when the meeting is over." And given that Sonnen was locked into fight mode, I was either walking into an ambush or about to meet a much-different Sonnen.
I didn't see Sonnen coming. But I heard him. I'd just pulled into the parking lot, and I heard a rumble that made me wonder if the National Guard was performing tank maneuvers. I looked up and saw Sonnen behind the wheel of a Ford pickup that had an extended bed and a king cab. The rig was so big he had to perform a five-point turn to get it between the lines of the parking space.
When Sonnen stepped out, I put my hands up.
Sonnen laughed and said, "I'm sorry for hanging up. I could have handled that interview much better."
Sonnen is part owner of the pizza parlor. His business partner, Lee Gamble, runs the place on a daily basis. When we stepped inside, Sonnen hopped behind the counter, where a surprised employee who hadn't met him was informed, "I'm the other owner."
"Oh, OK," she said to the stranger now handling pizza pans.
Sonnen and I eventually talked over a slice of pepperoni. I ate. He watched, in part because we were then six days from his bout and he was still 22 pounds heavier than he'd need to be by Friday's weigh-ins. "I'm sure (Silva) is in the same spot," he said.
Given that Sonnen has been doing rounds of media interviews, often in his typical over-the-top fashion, I was surprised by what came next.
silva sonnen.JPGView full sizeFile/2010Anderson Silva (left) and Chael Sonnen
Said Sonnen: "I'm not that excited about the fight. People want me to be all jazzed up, and excited, and I give them what they want to hear, but I'm just not. I love doing what I do, and I'm excited about the process, but I'm not excited about getting in there and beating someone up or getting beat up."
He stopped being Sonnen, UFC villain, and instead got real for a while. He talked about the pizza business. He talked about politics. And he talked about how terribly embarrassed he was by testing positive for high levels of testosterone after the Silva fight in 2010, and a guilty plea the next year for money laundering in connection with a mortgage-fraud investigation.
Sonnen's six-month suspension for elevated testosterone levels embarrassed him within his sport and has become running fodder for his critics. Sonnen, and other UFC fighters, are often allowed to use testosterone in preparation for fights. It's not widely known, but it's true. Sonnen has been diagnosed with low levels, and receives testosterone-therapy. The issue in 2010 was that Sonnen didn't inform the California State Athletic Commission of his injections in writing before the bout and when his elevated levels were detected in a post-fight drug test, he was flagged.
"We screwed up the disclosure part of it," he said.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously last week to grant Sonnen a conditional therapeutic-use exemption for testosterone replacement therapy for Saturday's fight. But he figures, "People are never going know I was doing something that was allowed in the first place because when you Google me, it's all that comes up."
The money-laundering charge hit Sonnen harder.
"That word -- fraud," Sonnen said. "I hate that word. It hurts when I see that word or hear it. Everyone knows what fraud is. Nobody knows what money laundering is. I pleaded guilty to money laundering for a real estate transaction that was five years old. I was wrong for what I did. No excuses. I was ignorant. Totally my fault. I tried to get a real estate deal done and didn't know that what I was doing inside of the transaction was wrong until they came to me and asked me about it."
Sonnen lost his real estate license. He was ordered to pay a fine. The story made national headlines, was reported on MMA blogs and still is a big part of his story. So much so that when I originally asked him about his past, he blew his cool.
Said Sonnen: "It's humiliating for something like that to happen, and when people keep bringing it up and bringing it up in every interview that I do, I eventually just think, doesn't a guy get to move on?"
Sonnen does.
I told Sonnen that I have an obligation to ask the tough questions, even if they're difficult for him to hear. That our mutual credibility -- his as a competitor and mine as a journalist -- rests in that honest exchange. I'm asking the questions that his public might ask, and in fact, that's my duty.
Yeah, he moves on. Sonnen moves on when he arranges a sit down after an interview gone sideways. When he stops playing the role of "Chael being Chael," and instead gets real about what bothers him. He's human. We love to forgive. We're a species rooted in second, and third, chances. Sonnen, and the rest of us, move on all the time. We re-invent ourselves, knowing that the most valuable luxury we have is opportunity.
Sonnen has the chance to either change his perception or reaffirm it. Up to him. Always was.
Sonnen moves on Saturday in Las Vegas with his rematch with Silva. The UFC world is watching, wondering whether Sonnen can finish the upset he let slip through his fingers in their first fight. Also, he moves on with a sit-down like the one he did with me. Our conversation, all on the record, was the most refreshing bit of Sonnen that I've seen or heard anywhere.
Sonnen compares Silva's run of dominance in the middleweight division to boxing's Mike Tyson, who Sonnen said was ushered toward a series of winnable fights. It was difficult, Sonnen said, to put together a rematch with Silva.
Mean Street Pizza is throwing a UFC viewing party for Sonnen's fight. Our sit-down moved from the pizza place to the parking lot that will be filled by fight-time with his most loyal fans. Turns out, I didn't need backup. Several passersby saw us talking, stopped and interrupted with, "Good luck with the fight, Chael."
I never thought they were talking about anyone but Silva.
"I should have just told you everything I told you right now when you originally asked about it," he said. "It's all behind me, yes. All of that stuff. I'm just focused on fighting Anderson (Silva) and making pizzas now."
Then, Sonnen climbed in his truck and rumbled out of the parking lot, moving on toward a date with Silva.
-- John Canzano
I have learned from poker that being at the table is not a grind, the grind is living and poker is how I pass the time
1
Stim_Abuser United States. Jul 06 2012 16:59. Posts 7499
Daut, pretty surprised you think Chael has a ~10% chance to sub Silva. Chael only really attempts a couple of submissions, mainly ones that don't really jeopardize position too much. In fact I think I've only ever seen him go for arm triangles. Arm triangles are pretty hard to get on legit black belts as the defense is pretty easy and it's not really a sub you can just catch. It's a slow sub that's gotta be set up. I mean even when arm triangles seem like they're really close, they're still really hard to finish if the guy is defending right.
I'd have it more like Chael 30-35% decision, 2% tko 3% sub.
Not sure how to think of this weight cut thing. As posted earlier in this thread Chael apparently had a tough cut vs Bisping, which is a fight he looked pretty shitty in. But I'd think Chael would be too smart to make that mistake again, also he has dolce on his side. Dunno, hard to tell.
Hey Im slinging mad volume and fat stackin benjies I dont got time for spellin n shit - skinny pete
3
PuertoRican United States. Jul 06 2012 17:17. Posts 13257
On July 06 2012 15:59 Stim_Abuser wrote:
Daut, pretty surprised you think Chael has a ~10% chance to sub Silva. Chael only really attempts a couple of submissions, mainly ones that don't really jeopardize position too much. In fact I think I've only ever seen him go for arm triangles. Arm triangles are pretty hard to get on legit black belts as the defense is pretty easy and it's not really a sub you can just catch. It's a slow sub that's gotta be set up. I mean even when arm triangles seem like they're really close, they're still really hard to finish if the guy is defending right.
I'd have it more like Chael 30-35% decision, 2% tko 3% sub.
Not sure how to think of this weight cut thing. As posted earlier in this thread Chael apparently had a tough cut vs Bisping, which is a fight he looked pretty shitty in. But I'd think Chael would be too smart to make that mistake again, also he has dolce on his side. Dunno, hard to tell.
2% chance for tko? Its a five round fight and he caught him plenty last time and ground and pound often end in tko's which is what he needs to do to win this fight. Id say its near the % of a decision although people would be shocked
f u bw rock
1
Stim_Abuser United States. Jul 06 2012 17:44. Posts 7499
On July 06 2012 15:59 Stim_Abuser wrote:
Daut, pretty surprised you think Chael has a ~10% chance to sub Silva. Chael only really attempts a couple of submissions, mainly ones that don't really jeopardize position too much. In fact I think I've only ever seen him go for arm triangles. Arm triangles are pretty hard to get on legit black belts as the defense is pretty easy and it's not really a sub you can just catch. It's a slow sub that's gotta be set up. I mean even when arm triangles seem like they're really close, they're still really hard to finish if the guy is defending right.
I'd have it more like Chael 30-35% decision, 2% tko 3% sub.
Not sure how to think of this weight cut thing. As posted earlier in this thread Chael apparently had a tough cut vs Bisping, which is a fight he looked pretty shitty in. But I'd think Chael would be too smart to make that mistake again, also he has dolce on his side. Dunno, hard to tell.
2% chance for tko? Its a five round fight and he caught him plenty last time and ground and pound often end in tko's which is what he needs to do to win this fight. Id say its near the % of a decision although people would be shocked
Silva has an epic chin, and Chael doesn't really hit that hard. He caught Silva plenty last time but Silva was never really hurt.
Hey Im slinging mad volume and fat stackin benjies I dont got time for spellin n shit - skinny pete
The qualities of Bruce Lee and his teachings transcend time. His body was a temple, his mind was brilliand and he was just so goddamn intense.
If he was somehow resurrected and given sufficient time to prepare he would be like water and find a way.
On July 06 2012 15:59 Stim_Abuser wrote:
Daut, pretty surprised you think Chael has a ~10% chance to sub Silva. Chael only really attempts a couple of submissions, mainly ones that don't really jeopardize position too much. In fact I think I've only ever seen him go for arm triangles. Arm triangles are pretty hard to get on legit black belts as the defense is pretty easy and it's not really a sub you can just catch. It's a slow sub that's gotta be set up. I mean even when arm triangles seem like they're really close, they're still really hard to finish if the guy is defending right.
I'd have it more like Chael 30-35% decision, 2% tko 3% sub.
Not sure how to think of this weight cut thing. As posted earlier in this thread Chael apparently had a tough cut vs Bisping, which is a fight he looked pretty shitty in. But I'd think Chael would be too smart to make that mistake again, also he has dolce on his side. Dunno, hard to tell.
2% chance for tko? Its a five round fight and he caught him plenty last time and ground and pound often end in tko's which is what he needs to do to win this fight. Id say its near the % of a decision although people would be shocked
Silva has an epic chin, and Chael doesn't really hit that hard. He caught Silva plenty last time but Silva was never really hurt.
- Anderson and Chael stood toe-to-toe, and Anderson hit Chael in the jaw area with his shoulder, like how people sometimes do in the clinch.
- Little girl boo's Anderson with two thumbs down, as he walks out.
- Chael weighed in at 185, Anderson weighed in at 184. The title is 100% on the line now.
- Apparently, Anderson doesn't hespect Shael, because Shael doesn't hespect nothing.
- Tito made a special t-shirt that said "Thanks for everything, UFC", or something similar to that.
- Tito remembered to put his shoes on before standing toe-to-toe with Forrest, so that he can tower over Forrest and have that mental edge.
- Cody McKenzie came out acting like a Diaz brother, acting hard and giving his best mean mug, which looked like he just smelled a dirty diaper.
- Mike Easton came out with a 70% chubby.
- Everyone made weight.
Anderson Silva (184) vs. Chael Sonnen (185)
Forrest Griffin (204) vs. Tito Ortiz (204)
Patrick Cote (185) vs. Cung Le (185)
Dong Hyun Kim (170) vs. Demian Maia (170)
Mike Easton (135) vs. Ivan Menjivar (136)
Chad Mendes (146) vs. Cody McKenzie (145)
Habib Nurmagomedov (155) vs. Gleison Tibau (155)
Riki Fukuda (185) vs. Constantinos Philippou (186)
Fabricio Camoes (156) vs. Melvin Guillard (155)
John Alessio (156) vs. Shane Roller (155)
Rafaello Oliveira (156) vs. Yoislandy Izquierdo (156)
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Payouts
Ortiz is set to take home a flat $250,000 in his retirement fight. Rubber-match opponent Forrest Griffin, meanwhile, earns $125,000 to show and will earn an extra $150,000 as a win bonus if victorious.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the payouts with Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer.
UFC 148 headliner and middleweight champ Anderson Silva, meanwhile, will take home a flat $200,000 win or lose. His opponent, Chael Sonnen, banks $50,000 to show and an additional $50,000 as a win bonus if victorious.
Additional disclosed salaries include Cung Le, who is set to earn a flat $150,000 for his main-card bout against Patrick Cote, who earns $21,000 to show and $21,000 to win.
actually in the Press conference a few days ago he said no matter how much disrespect Chael has for him/his country, he was taught to respect everyone, after saying that he says no matter what chael does he must respect him from his teachings.
I have learned from poker that being at the table is not a grind, the grind is living and poker is how I pass the time
hihihihi never liked anderson silva this much since Pride, since like, ever in his career.
feels good to root for the obvious once in a fight and feel pretty damn smart about it.
3
PuertoRican United States. Jul 06 2012 21:41. Posts 13257
On July 06 2012 20:10 Highcard wrote:
actually in the Press conference a few days ago he said no matter how much disrespect Chael has for him/his country, he was taught to respect everyone, after saying that he says no matter what chael does he must respect him from his teachings.
Anderson did a Dana White and changed what he said.
In the pr-fight press conference, Anderson said he has respect no matter what. Today, during the weigh-ins, Anderson said he has no respect for Chael.
Ortiz is set to take home a flat $250,000 in his retirement fight. Rubber-match opponent Forrest Griffin, meanwhile, earns $125,000 to show and will earn an extra $150,000 as a win bonus if victorious.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the payouts with Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer.
UFC 148 headliner and middleweight champ Anderson Silva, meanwhile, will take home a flat $200,000 win or lose. His opponent, Chael Sonnen, banks $50,000 to show and an additional $50,000 as a win bonus if victorious.
Additional disclosed salaries include Cung Le, who is set to earn a flat $150,000 for his main-card bout against Patrick Cote, who earns $21,000 to show and $21,000 to win.
is this right? how can forrest griffin makes more money than chael sonnen?
3
PuertoRican United States. Jul 06 2012 22:24. Posts 13257
Ortiz is set to take home a flat $250,000 in his retirement fight. Rubber-match opponent Forrest Griffin, meanwhile, earns $125,000 to show and will earn an extra $150,000 as a win bonus if victorious.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed the payouts with Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer.
UFC 148 headliner and middleweight champ Anderson Silva, meanwhile, will take home a flat $200,000 win or lose. His opponent, Chael Sonnen, banks $50,000 to show and an additional $50,000 as a win bonus if victorious.
Additional disclosed salaries include Cung Le, who is set to earn a flat $150,000 for his main-card bout against Patrick Cote, who earns $21,000 to show and $21,000 to win.
is this right? how can forrest griffin makes more money than chael sonnen?
Forrest Griffin
- Fighting in the UFC for 7 years.
- 9-5 record in the UFC.
- Won "The Ultimate Fighter" season 1, which put the UFC on the map due to the unforgettable brawl vs. Stephan Bonner.
- Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion.
- He'll fight anyone, even as a replacement, which Dana loves.
- His last 7 fights in a row have all been against top 10 guys: Shogun (2 times), Rampage, Rashad, Anderson Silva, Tito, and Franklin.
- He won "Fight Of The Year" in 2005, 2006, and 2008.
- He won "Upset Of The Year" in 2007, when he beat Shogun via RnC.
- He won "Fight Of The Night" 3 times, "Submission Of The Night" 1 time.
Chael Sonnen
- He fought in the UFC for 8 months between 2005-2006. He's been in the UFC for the past 3.5 years.
- 6-4 record in the UFC.
- He won "Fight Of The Night" 2 times.
- He won "Fight Of The Year" in 2010.
- Failed post-fight drug test 1 time.
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