Not lost in the translation were the words of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva as he released a barrage of fighting words to his next opponent, Chael Sonnen. Speaking through a translator, the Portuguese-speaking Silva went on a trash-talking tirade.
Most mixed martial arts fans had planned to tune into the rematch of Silva vs. Sonnen II at UFC 148 from Las Vegas on July 7. But this fight just got a lot more interesting with Silva's smack talk.
“Right now, play time is over. I’m gonna beat Chael like he’s never been beaten before. This joke is over”, Silva said. “I know he’s on the line listening. I’m going to beat his [behind] out of the UFC. He’s never gonna want to fight again after I’m done with him.”
MMA fans have a love or hate relationship with Chael Sonnen, but whether you like him or not, you have to enjoy him on the microphone. He is, by far, the best trash-talker in MMA. So it came as a surprise to him and all the media on the conference call that [Sonnen] wasn’t prepared to respond to Silva’s war of words.
Sonnen’s best line back was: “He thinks he’s gonna break my face? Tell him I’ve got two words for him, ‘Medium rare.’”
Silva also got personal.
“Chael is a criminal,” he said, referring to Sonnen pleading guilty to money laundering in 2011. “He doesn't deserve to be in the Octagon. When the time is right, I'm going to break his face and break every one of his teeth in his mouth.”
This bout has turned into a classic pro wrestling match, pitting the baby face (good guy) against the heel (bad guy).
Next stop, the steel cage at UFC 148.
