The Most Interesting Man in the UFC

Chael Sonnen is crafty, unpredictable and mean. He's also one hell of a fighter

image via vancouversun.com

By Jody White

“I don’t do game plans,” explained Chael Sonnen to a group of reporters in 2011.  “Two half naked men are going to get into a steel cage and fight for the applause of a drunken, rowdy crowd in Houston, Texas on a Saturday night. We don’t need to plan for this.”

The UFC Middleweight contender is perhaps the most multifaceted and complex athlete in the organization today.  Despite repeated claims that he “doesn’t do trash talk”, few fighters alive today can hope to match his ability to exploit 30 seconds of camera time.  At turns snide, inflammatory and nonplussed, he revels in personal attacks (mostly at the expense of Brazilians, and Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva in particular), only to walk his statements back moments later by striking a conciliatory tone. For others, (namely fellow Americans) his praise and adulation is effusive. He’s a big draw at all the UFC press events because no one knows what he’ll say next, and the media loves him for it.  (Check out his top 25 most ridiculous statements HERE).

Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of outlandish trash talk in the UFC. What sets Sonnen apart from the competition is the conviction with which he spins his yarns. He has repeatedly told the tale of the Nogueira Brothers mistaking a bus for a donkey (and trying to feed it carrots), and claims he had no idea there were computers in Brazil (otherwise he wouldn’t have used a blog to insult the entire country).

However, Sonnen is no joke inside the Octagon. While his record is less than stellar (26-11-1), he has faced some of the toughest guys in the UFC over the past few years and is currently ranked as the #2 Middleweight in the world.  Only 18 months ago he laid an unprecedented beating on Anderson Silva for five rounds before falling prey to one of Silva’s treacherous submissions in the dying moments of the fight, in this case a combination triangle/arm bar. Even Sonnen's detractors (which are legion) grudgingly acknowledged Sonnen’s ability to back up his talk that night.

At UFC on FOX 2 tonight in Chicago, Sonnen faces a trash talker of vastly inferior vintage in Michael Bisping, who recently embarrassed Jason “Mayhem” Miller by besting him in every way imaginable. Bisping is a fast,  technical striker who never lacks for conditioning. But Sonnen (who is a highly respected wrestler) will be too strong and aggressive for him to handle. Bisping’s startlingly adept defensive ground game will be of little use against a guy who has no intention of submitting him. 

Sonnen will take him down repeatedly and pound him until the ref stops the fight. 
Prediction:  Sonnen, 3rd round, TKO

Paqman&Bull are pleased to welcome special guest correspondent Jody White on board to share his insight and musings on all things MMA. We also asked him to shave, but he just wouldn't listen to us.