C. Sonnen (photo) faces Wand on July 5th, at UFC 175. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Since the sixth chapter of TUF Brasil 3, in which the fight between Wanderlei Silva e Chael Sonnen, different opinions were expressed about the episode. Comments came from fans, journalists, personalities, president Dana White, Wanderlei and even Vitor belfort. But Sonnen himself had said little about the case. After the end of the program's airing and on the eve of the TUF Brasil 3 Final, an event that defines the champions of the reality show this Saturday (31), the North American presented his version of the confusion and blamed his rival's behavior for reaching the actually saw it.
“I think it was wrong. I think we are both adults, particularly in a leadership position. And that was wrong. But I feel like I've exhausted all options. I even argued with him, I asked him: 'Stop!'. And that's what happens to every bully. That's what happened with Wanderlei. He saw that I didn't want to fight with him and that encouraged him to keep trying to provoke a fight”, said Sonnen, in an interview with the British program “UFC beyond the octagon”. The North American also complained that his rival's acts of intimidation always started when he was in a group. “I said: 'Wanderlei, it doesn't work that way!' I've been trying to fight you one on one for years and you decide to use this gang mentality against me? I don't understand. Why don’t we enter the octagon?” he said.
When asked, Sonnen did not hesitate to point out Wanderlei's push when choosing teams during TUF as the starting point for all the confusion that unfolded afterwards. “Yes (he made a mistake). You see, there is definitely an underlying rule in the agreement between the two of us to be technical. We'll practice the program and maybe some teasing here and there, but we won't touch each other. On the first day, he already broke this rule. Most people will tell you, 'Let the other guy throw the first punch. Go ahead and defend yourself, but make sure it was the other guy who started it.' My father doesn't believe that. My father taught me that the fight starts as soon as the other guy gets into a fighting stance. Wanderlei Silva got into combat stance and I broke that rule. I broke my father's rule, I let him get too close and I didn't make that mistake a second time”, he analyzed.
Finally, Chael guaranteed his presence at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium, in São Paulo (SP), next Saturday (31), to support his team's fighters in the TUF Brasil 3 Finale, but he didn't miss the chance to poke Wanderlei Silva. “I will be in Brazil on Saturday to watch my athletes fight. They don't know, it's a surprise. You can go ahead and tell them, they will know now. But I'll be there and I don't know if Wanderlei will go. If you really want to know what I think: I don't think Wanderlei will show up on July 5th (at UFC 175, when the fight between them takes place), but I'm going to enter that octagon and I'm going to fight someone”, he teased. .
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