Chael Sonnen har gjort sig känd för att driva med den forne mellanviktsmästaren Anderson Silva och rivaliteten mellan de två har vid otaliga tillfällen hettats upp rejält. Nu berömmer dock Chael istället den forne mästaren som för tillfället återhämtar sig från ett benbrott som han fick i samband med matchen mot Chris Weidman under UFC 168 förra året.
I don’t want to give excuses about that. I’m a grown man and I know how to choose my words and I assume responsibility for what I say. I was very envious of where Anderson was. I didn’t think he was the best and I wanted to fight and beat him. I wanted to everybody know that. I wanted to win in a fashion that it was not even going to be close. I to came find out that he is a very nice guy. I also met his family. But the person and the fighter are two different things. He is a very pleasant guy, I wish him a wonderful life and I know he loves his children and his wife.
Han berättar också om andra brasilianska fighters han vill möta. En match mellan Sonnen och Wanderlei Silva är planerad för UFC ”Fight Night” den 31:a maj om den sistnämnde kommer att kunna skriva på för den.
I want to have a third fight. I still want to beat him for some source of competition. I also want to face Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. I don’t wish them a bad life but in a fight I can’t step back and I have to punch their faces. There is a expression in America that says: if want to make an omelet, you have to break a few eggs.
Han råder även Anderson Silva att avsluta sin MMA-karriär:
I hope that Anderson retires because there is nothing left to him achieve. He made money enough to sustain a lot of generations of his family. I hope Anderson look back and be proud of his career and understand that we all see him as great champion. I hope that he can understand that but I’m worried that he doesn’t. Fighters in particular always stay in this sport too long, the same happens to me, it is hard to leave the Octagon because fighting is fun and is the only thing that we do.
