(Video courtesy ESPN)
Rather than sit through Franklin McNeil pretending he knows what he’s talking about for 30 minutes during the above video of last night’s episode of MMA Live, fast forward to the 10:14 mark and watch Chael Sonnen take the boxing analyst-turned-on-air MMA Wikipedia fact reader to task for his biased and bad question.
Sonnen’s verbal mastery was on point from his opening reply, when asked if his "trash talk" is real or if he’s just saying what he has to try to get into Anderson Silva‘s head prior to their rapidly approaching UFC 117 showdown.
"First off, I haven’t talked any trash about [Anderson]. I haven’t said anything I’ve apologized for and I certainly haven’t said anything that wasn’t true. And secondly, who cares about Anderson’s head? He pretends he doesn’t understand anyway. I don’t care about Anderson’s head."
His antics have obviously struck a nerve with McNeil, who seems to have a personal affinity for "The Spider."
"Chael, Anderson Silva is considered one of the nicest guys in the UFC," Franklin stated, quoting the third point from Anderson’s Wiki page. "What is it about him that gets under your skin?"Franklin inquired.
Apparently familiar with his work, Chael called him on his question, much like he did the questions sent to him by pseudo-MMA reporter Jon Lane.
"That’s interesting that you say that. Have you spoken to him? Because apparently he doesn’t understand the media, so I find it very interesting you guys like to come out and say he’s a really nice guy. It makes me wonder which one of you really knows him," Sonnen pointed out. "I haven’t got personal on Anderson Silva. I do know him, personally. I certainly wouldn’t consider him a nice guy. Professionally…He’s not a nice guy professionally, either, so I always find it odd when you media come out and say that when he refuses to speak with any of you."
Chael was much more cordial to former WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres.
"Miguel. What’s happening buddy?" he asked Torres.
"What’s goin’ on brother? Strategy-wise going in to this fight. How do you see yourself winning against Anderson? Do you see yourself grinding out a decision, or do you see yourself putting him away?" Torres asked.
Pulling off his heel mask halfway for a moment, Sonnen gave Silva props before going back to McNeil’s question.
"I haven’t thought about it. You always plan for the worst, which in this case would be a 25-minute fight. That’s what I focus on. That’s the hardest thing to do is to stay in there and work hard for the full duration of the fight, so that’s what you’ve got to plan for," Sonnen explained. "On the other side of it, if those openings present themselves, you look for the finish. At the end of the day it’s just going to be a tough and gritty fight. He’s a really good fighter. All the things I want to say about him, I can’t take that from him. He is a really good fighter. All of this ‘He’s a nice guy,’ and ‘He’s a classy guy,’ I really don’t know why you guys keep making that stuff up about him. Tell the truth about him like I do."
fair enough?
LULE