Sonnen (right) beat Shogun (left) in August last year. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
Always controversial and full of provocations, aimed especially at Brazilian fighters, Chael Sonnen adopted a completely different stance before facing Mauritius Shogun, in August last year. Surprisingly more measured, the North American limited himself to praising the former champion, even after beating him by submission in the first round. Asked about his attitude towards the Curitiba native, Sonnen was full of praise for Shogun and even admitted that he was lucky to win at UFC Fight Night 26.
“I really like Shogun and the whole thing wasn't really about the Brazilian fighters, but about Anderson Silva. I was going after Anderson, I only had one guy in mind. And when that bomb went off, a lot of people got dirty. But it was all directed at Anderson. Here's what we have to understand: I caught him [Shogun], it was luck. I was lucky. If we fought ten more times, I would never catch him like that again. But he never said that. He never came out and said that. He let me have my 15 minutes of fame. He kept quiet and got out. If things had gone the other way and he had beaten me, I would have done the same thing. Say what you want before the fight, but after it's over, accept the result”, said Chael, in a conversation with the press in São Paulo (SP).
At 32, Mauritius Shogun has a record of 22 wins and nine losses. The Curitiba native comes from a defeat to Dan Henderson at UFC Natal, in March this year, and intends to return to the Octagon in September or October. Already Chael Sonnen, 37 years old, has a record of 28 wins, 14 losses and one fight without result. The North American, who is coming off a defeat to Rashad evans, in November last year, faces the Brazilian Vitor belfort at UFC 175, on July 5th. The fight was confirmed after problems with the license to fight were withdrawn from Wanderlei Silva and the removal of the TUF Brasil 3 coach from the card in Las Vegas (USA).
Check out the video interview with Chael Sonnen:
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