Going to UFC 117, middleweight contender Chael Sonnen threw verbal slurs and ranted disrespect over the middleweight champion and his 11 consecutive wins, 6 of them title defenses. On these Silva has saved himself targeted on what’s popping out of the octagon battle, and by no means actually on the phrase conflict being imposed by Sonnen.
However within the prefight interview with Silva, he mentioned, answering to Sonnen’s critic of not with the ability to battle a real wrestler, “Chael’s saying I’ve by no means fought a wrestler,” Silva says. “In my view, Dan Henderson is likely one of the finest wrestlers in MMA.” Dan Henderson is a Greco-Roman wrestling Olympian and NCAA I division wrestler.
Silva talking in his traditional respectful method, “for my part, Dan Henderson is likely one of the finest wrestlers in MMA.” Silva received through rear bare choke.
That is in all probability all he must say, however with phrases a lot fewer than Sonnen’s rants, it tells a whole lot of Silva’s benefit on this battle. Chael fights with 3 consecutive wins on his again. He was additionally the WEC middleweight champ earlier than it obtained dissolved and despatched Sonnen packing in direction of UFC, the place Demian Maia, a man Silva toyed, was ready to offer him a triangle choke.
There are spectacular wins in Sonnen’s resume, however with the pound for pound finest fighter on this planet, he won’t simply truthful in addition to many UFC fighters Silva fought, particularly Dan Henderson.
Even in phrase conflict, Silva confirmed he can beat Chael’s raps. And so far as UFC betting is anxious, Silva is aware of nobody wins through a microphone.