Under den första matchen i Bellators Tungviktsturnering kommer Chael Sonnen att möta Quinton ”Rampage” Jackson. Inför matchen, som kommer att ta plats under Bellator 192, deltog Chael Sonnen i organisationens telefonkonferens. Där uttalade han sig bland annat om hur framtidsplanerna ser ut vid en eventuell vinst av hela turneringen.
I definitely would not go anywhere else or use (winning the tournament) as a negotiation tool, I want to make that really clear. I’m completely loyal to Bellator and would not even consider anything else. I’m a traditionalist and a fan first. I really believe that you’ve got to defend (the title). I don’t feel anybody should go out on top. Georges St-Pierre is one of them, but he gave them every chance in the world to beat him. He gave guys rematches, and some guys got three matches. He changed weight, he did everything he could do to get beat and pass that torch. He was just that damn good. And aside from him and Lennox Lewis, I can’t think of anyone that goes out on top. We all – all our careers end the same: Face down and embarrassed. And I think I’m going to follow suit on that. I don’t want to leave anything on the table.
Sonnen uttalar sig även kring det faktum att han är en av de mindre deltagarna i turneringen.
I haven’t thought about it being taxing, but it is a first for me, it increases my anxiety. I lay in bed at night and try to work this match through. I’ve got some teammates I work with that are as big as ‘Rampage’ or bigger, and a lot of my techniques don’t work. I’ll do everything perfect and hit those guys and boom, I just get stopped because of the size. It’s a first for me. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the unknown in the process. I don’t totally know what to make about it. I have had a hard time in practice with some of the stuff that I’ve done and fortunately had those bodies to work with. I might have to go to a Plan B or a Plan C here. I don’t fully know what to make about it.
Om Sonnen fick som han ville skulle även hela turneringen ta plats under en kväll.
I’m a tournament guy. That’s what I grew up doing, four or five guys a day. I love this tournament, I wish it was all in one night, that’s old-school. It’s something better to say than actually do. I couldn’t really see anybody in this tournament fighting three other guys in their tournament in one night. But that is the old-school and it sure would be fun. It’d be a huge accomplishment. I love tournaments. They’re super tough. I love fighting these big name guys.
Chael Sonnen möter Quinton ”Rampage” Jackson på Bellator 192 den 20:e Januari i The Forum, California, USA.
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