I don't mind a little trash-talking before a fight, but there are limits. You don't threaten to eat your opponent's children a la Mike Tyson, and you don't make any remarks about your opponent's wife. If you do either of those things, you deserve to get wrecked in the ring.
That's exactly what happened to Chael Sonnen on Saturday night at UFC 148. Despite all his prefight bravado, Silva wrecked him. There was no second-guessing a lucky break or judges' scorecards. Silva beat Sonnen so badly, the referee had to step in and save him as he cowered against the cage in the second round.
Sonnen came out at the bell looking as though he were shaking with rage and he fought that way too. He took Silva to the ground early and kept him there in the first round. Despite his manic energy, Sonnen could not really inflict any damage on Silva.
Silva showed calm and ring-poise while fighting from his back. His defense seemed to frustrate Sonnen and make him angrier still.
In the second round, Sonnen's lack of control showed and cost him the fight. He came after Silva aggressively, but could not finish another take-down. Unable to take Silva off his feet again, Sonnen tried to unleash all of his pent-up fury in one spinning backfist. It was telegraphed and wild. Silva saw it coming and easily ducked out of the way.
Sonnen threw it so hard with such little control that he lost his balance and fell down. Silva cam after him hard, scoring a knee to the face and following it up it up with punches. Sonnen's nose looked badly broken. Sonnen's will to fight looked just as badly broken. He looked like a schoolyard bully who doesn't know what to do when someone hits him.
His face looked like a mask of fear as he waited for Silva to strike again. Silva did strike again and again, until the referee stepped in to protect the defenseless Sonnen.
Having been in the ring a few times as an amateur kick-boxer, I don't like to see anyone get hurt in a match, even idiots, but I am glad that Chael Sonnen was beaten and beaten up in this fight. Sonnen crossed the line with his words before the fight. He'll survive his face being battered, and perhaps he'll learn something about balance, both inside the ring and out.
That's exactly what happened to Chael Sonnen on Saturday night at UFC 148. Despite all his prefight bravado, Silva wrecked him. There was no second-guessing a lucky break or judges' scorecards. Silva beat Sonnen so badly, the referee had to step in and save him as he cowered against the cage in the second round.
Sonnen came out at the bell looking as though he were shaking with rage and he fought that way too. He took Silva to the ground early and kept him there in the first round. Despite his manic energy, Sonnen could not really inflict any damage on Silva.
Silva showed calm and ring-poise while fighting from his back. His defense seemed to frustrate Sonnen and make him angrier still.
In the second round, Sonnen's lack of control showed and cost him the fight. He came after Silva aggressively, but could not finish another take-down. Unable to take Silva off his feet again, Sonnen tried to unleash all of his pent-up fury in one spinning backfist. It was telegraphed and wild. Silva saw it coming and easily ducked out of the way.
Sonnen threw it so hard with such little control that he lost his balance and fell down. Silva cam after him hard, scoring a knee to the face and following it up it up with punches. Sonnen's nose looked badly broken. Sonnen's will to fight looked just as badly broken. He looked like a schoolyard bully who doesn't know what to do when someone hits him.
His face looked like a mask of fear as he waited for Silva to strike again. Silva did strike again and again, until the referee stepped in to protect the defenseless Sonnen.
Having been in the ring a few times as an amateur kick-boxer, I don't like to see anyone get hurt in a match, even idiots, but I am glad that Chael Sonnen was beaten and beaten up in this fight. Sonnen crossed the line with his words before the fight. He'll survive his face being battered, and perhaps he'll learn something about balance, both inside the ring and out.
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