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Post by jdfranchise on Jul 3, 2014 7:38:45 GMT -5
Ok guys, we've had a little bit of time to digest everything that's happened, but now it's time to address the elephant in the room. The Gangster From the Mean Streets of West Linn, Oregon. The man with the best pound for pound hair in the business, your favorite villain and mine, Chael P. Sonnen. A little recapping you ask, have no fear, courtesy of our friends at MMAJunkie.com is the latest installment of the Chael Sonnen saga.
mmajunkie.com/2014/06/following-second-failed-drug-test-ufc-and-fox-cut-ties-with-chael-sonnenOk, so this whole situation has been a mess since Wanderlei got removed from the card, then all of a sudden Chael pissed dirty twice in a month. I understand why Fox and UFC did all of this, despite the risk of it hurting pre and post fight shows and the popular UFC Tonight. With Dana still honoring some guys who have failed more than one drug test (here's looking at you Bonner and you Leben here in a couple years) it seems kind of convenient that they are willing to cut ties so easily with Sonnen, despite the fact that he single handedly sold the Silva fights because people were getting tired of seeing Silva fight because of the way he clowned guys. And he was willing to step up on a weeks notice to fight Jones when he knew he had no chance if winning, trying to keep that card in tact. Sure it got him another title shot, but I didn't see anyone else banging down the door and willing to take that fight on a week's notice. And before this mess started Dana even went as far as saying Chael would make a good heir apparent to his job. We can sit here and say Chael is a cheater and a one trick pony, but its hard to deny that he could promote a fight and get you excited for it. And despite his track record with blood and urine tests, he brought it when he was in the cage. So now the questions become what happens to Chael next? Will he look to stay in the announcer/ analyst game in another organization? How will you remember Chael Sonnen and who will the brass replace him with on these broadcasts? For me, Chael was a good fighter overall, not great, but good. Hell of a personality in a sport that doesn't honestly have much aside from your stereotypical arrogant tough guy or the ad nauseam humility. He knew what he doing in terms of pushing the buttons to sell the fight. As far as the analyst job he leaves behind, I see Brian Stann or Dan Hardy sliding into that role since both guys are getting quite comfortable in front of the camera with the commentator gigs both have been doing recently ( Stann working with Anik on the Fox Sports fights that Florian doesn't do and Dan Hardy on Fight Pass). Anyone but Cruz or Bisping, because both guys annoy me. DC is making a title run so I don't think we'll be seeing him on as many. I do however think that Wanderlei isn't going to come away clean from this since it was his avoiding the test in the first place that started the domino effect. Chael is still scheduled to go against Andre Galvao at Metamoris 4. Metamoris is an all submission grappling promtion and Andre Galvao is the 2011 Abu Dhabi Openweight Champion and 2013 Superfight Champion. Thoughts and opinions welcome! |
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Post by Jonathan Karate on Jul 3, 2014 11:19:56 GMT -5
Honestly my love for the UFC has dwindled drastically since last year. It hasn't been that exciting outside of Weidman/Silva but this makes me sad. I love Chael.
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PenguinDeluxe
Main Eventer
20 Refs and Counting
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Post by PenguinDeluxe on Jul 3, 2014 11:47:26 GMT -5
I always thought it sort of interesting that using some type of substance makes one a cheater. I mean, it helps develop the body, but it doesn't give one a distinct advantage or make the person a better fighter. Don't me wrong, I'm not condoning it, just find it interesting.
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Sonnen
Main Eventer
Joined on: Aug 16, 2010 8:42:36 GMT -5
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Post by Sonnen on Jul 3, 2014 14:56:35 GMT -5
Chael Sonnen was one of the better things to happen in MMA, he added life to Anderson Silva's career. - In addition to that he created a lot of buzz, people can dislike him as much as they want, but he is money!
I don't really care about the sport being clean or not, it would be nice, but it's never stopped me from enjoying it before.
Chael P Sonnen, undefeated and undisputed.
Coming to a Bellator PPV near you!
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Post by jdfranchise on Jul 3, 2014 21:37:43 GMT -5
I think honestly the reason that it was easy to get rid of Chael is because now with TRT being banned, Dana is wanting to do this whole " we're not a dirty sport" and the person to make the best example of was the guy that TRT even became part of the conversation because of. This smells like Fox's doing more than Dana's decision because of Dana's former stance with failed tests, which was "take it up with the commission". With UFC being in bed with Fox, they can't afford to lose a potentially lucrative TV deal for a guy that in my eyes was a big reason they got the deal in the first place. Fox wants to push UFC as the representation of modern martial arts, with the virtues of clean living, discipline, and respect that you will find in any dojo you walk into. That's the reason they got rid of the gladiator opening montage, not because of it being out of touch, but part of rebranding process so they could get the deal. In the olden Roman Colosseum days, it was standard practice for combatants to use unfair advantages to win. I know it is different times and different as far as what victory entailed, but anything to market UFC in a way other than human cockfighting or a dirty sport like baseball they are going to do. It's a business and Chael is a smart enough guy to figure that out. And I truly believe that he thought that by retiring after the first failed test that retiring would grant him immunity from punishment and he could just stay with his cushy analyst job. Guess it puts everyone on notice that a failed test will mean stricter penalties.
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Post by rustyy on Jul 4, 2014 17:54:37 GMT -5
Chael is the GOAT, he should go to WWE and commentate or manage someone. He was the best thing to ever happen to UFC as far as I'm concerned.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 0:42:08 GMT -5
Chael is the GOAT, he should go to WWE and commentate or manage someone. He was the best thing to ever happen to UFC as far as I'm concerned. Don't think WWE is gonna hire someone that very publicly just failed 2 drug tests for steroids. |
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Post by rustyy on Jul 7, 2014 0:44:58 GMT -5
Chael is the GOAT, he should go to WWE and commentate or manage someone. He was the best thing to ever happen to UFC as far as I'm concerned. Don't think WWE is gonna hire someone that very publicly just failed 2 drug tests for steroids. Well Orton's failed two, Kurt angle may be coming back after like 4 DUI's and they have a rapist in their hall of fame, not exactly high standards to get in to WWE. Plus he'd bring in a lot of interest and money. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 0:47:30 GMT -5
Don't think WWE is gonna hire someone that very publicly just failed 2 drug tests for steroids. Well Orton's failed two, Kurt angle may be coming back after like 4 DUI's and they have a rapist in their hall of fame, not exactly high standards to get in to WWE. Plus he'd bring in a lot of interest and money. Wait who's the rapist? |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 0:51:55 GMT -5
Well Orton's failed two, Kurt angle may be coming back after like 4 DUI's and they have a rapist in their hall of fame, not exactly high standards to get in to WWE. Plus he'd bring in a lot of interest and money. Wait who's the rapist? I'm guessing Jerry Lawler. |
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Post by Mox on Jul 7, 2014 0:59:22 GMT -5
He was the most exciting fighter I've watched and a grand disappointment. I was legitimately torn up over his second loss to Silva.
He talked big and took it like a man when he lost. That's how I'll remember him.
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Post by rustyy on Jul 7, 2014 1:28:35 GMT -5
I'm guessing Jerry Lawler. I was thinking Mike Tyson. Jerry Lawler is a good one too though. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 16:31:33 GMT -5
I'm guessing Jerry Lawler. I was thinking Mike Tyson. Jerry Lawler is a good one too though. Even so, signing Chael Sonnen would make a complete joke out of their drug testing. All the internet people say it's a joke because AHH CENA ON ROIDS WWE NEVER DRUG TEST HIM but it's a hunch of heresay because noone has proof he's on anything. We have proof Chael is on several different kinds of things and if he didn't fail his first test that would completely ruin WWE's prized drug testing, and ain't no WWE gonna do that. |
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Post by rustyy on Jul 7, 2014 16:38:13 GMT -5
Some of the drugs weren't actually PED's, some were to help fertility (Or something like that, that's what I read online), and only the second drug test was the one that had illegal drugs. I know they won't hire him, but it's fun to think about him coming in and being a manager of some kind. Plus it seems like WWE policy is a joke anyway.
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Post by King Richius on Jul 7, 2014 16:47:27 GMT -5
I don't want to see a PED user participate in the UFC or any other sport. For that I have lost some respect for Chael the fighter. But Chael the announcer is a totally different beast. He was entertaining, informative, and has a natural charisma about him. I really don't care if an analyst/announcer failed some drug tests. He is much better than many other fighters they have on the UFC fight shows on Fox. They need to bring him back.
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Post by sean™ on Jul 29, 2014 19:22:04 GMT -5
He's the middleweight version of Kenny Florian aka a choker. A cheating choker at that.
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Post by rustyy on Jul 31, 2014 1:31:03 GMT -5
He's the middleweight version of Kenny Florian aka a choker. A cheating choker at that. If he didn't have an incompetent ref he'd have beat Jones. |
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Post by SteveHulk on Jul 31, 2014 3:17:17 GMT -5
He's the middleweight version of Kenny Florian aka a choker. A cheating choker at that. If he didn't have an incompetent ref he'd have beat Jones.  how so? |
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Post by rustyy on Jul 31, 2014 3:38:24 GMT -5
If he didn't have an incompetent ref he'd have beat Jones. how so? Broken toe on jones, sonnen wins due to injury. |
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Post by SteveHulk on Jul 31, 2014 3:49:13 GMT -5
how so? Broken toe on jones, sonnen wins due to injury. ...why was the ref incompetent though? That was a very fair stoppage... even Chael admitted so afterwards. And who's to say Jones couldn't/wouldn't have continued had it gone into the second? |
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