All things MMA continue to grow as the year comes closer to an end. The UFC seems to be on every second television channel that I come across now and all of the mainstream health magazines have jumped on board wholeheartedly and every month I see another black and white GSP cover on the newstands.
The local fight scene is still slowly building up with more and more international fighters taking the trip Down Under to have a swing at our homegrown talent.
The recently planned expansion to Japan has left us Aussie fans without our beloved February date, but I have it from the UFC themselves that they are most definitely looking for an Australian show in 2012, so stay tuned for more details in the future.
Without doubt though, the talk of the town has been Chael Sonnen. There can be no question to this man’s talent in the cage and now his mic skills have essentially landed him another shot at the title.
Following his call-out of Anderson Silva after his victory at UFC 136 over Brian Stann, debate raged far and wide as to whether his trash talk was a positive or negative move for the sport.
On one hand, people believe that his dramatic trash talk and villain-esque caricature creates hype for the sport and brings in interest from new fans.
Others, probably including myself, feel that although Sonnen is surely a proven fighter, this time he possibly went a little far. While some were cheering and riding the wave of hysteria I for one was cringing at his cheesy and adolescent, “Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck!”
Are you kidding me? That is your call out? Telling the by-the-numbers greatest fighter that has ever graced the UFC that he ‘sucks’? Then I felt it went even further into contrived pro wrestling ranting as Sonnen essentially proposed a ‘retirement’ match ala WWE.
I have no problem with Sonnen and his words, but I think this scripted nonsense lends nothing to the sport. It may well bring a huge pay-per-view. But I believe long term MMA fans are won by seeing fighters with heart, respect shown after the bell and world class production. They’re the things that seem to win fans over who have distaste for the sport.
Whichever side of the fence you fall, it obviously did the job for Sonnen, his comments seemingly eclipsing the stunning main event and even Dana White conceded “it would be pretty fuckin’ stupid if I don’t make that fight”
