Chael Sonnen Doesn't "Manufacture Conflict" or Create Fake Drama To Sell Fights

Recently, Chael Sonnen has been grilled by fans and the media for starting random feuds with legendary fighters and the country of Brazil, but this couldn't be further from the truth, according to Sonnen.

"I don't manufacture conflict. If I don't mean it, I won't say it," Sonnen told Greg Savage of Sherdog.com on an episode of Fight Week.

"If I don't have a problem, I don't manufacture one. I know some guys that I've been on the docket with that I just don't like, and I let that be known, but there's also some guys that I really do like that I had to match up with from Okami to Marquardt to Brian Stann."

These statements definitely fall on the other end of the spectrum in regards to the beliefs of some of the sport's most avid followers, who are convinced Sonnen uses broadcast time and media outlets like Twitter for self promotion.

Despite the opinions of the general public and his peers, Sonnen admits that everything he says is his legitimate feelings. There are no smoke and mirrors when it comes to his personality. What you see is what you get.

Some may argue that Sonnen's personality changed as he finally started to get a taste of the bright UFC spotlight, but how can anyone be sure?

Sonnen has never really been apart of the major spotlight as he is now. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the sport, everyone is getting to know Chael Sonnen at the same time. He wasn't getting any face time in the WEC or Bodog.

Now, he's posted in multiple tabloids and doing interviews on ESPN.

"I'm not in on the selling of things. There's a few guys that are. They're in on the pay-per-view. You got a guy like Brock Lesnar or Quinton Jackson. There's a few guys who actually have an interest in selling a match," Sonnen said.

"I don't like that. I don't even like the concept. I feel it's dishonest. I feel that if you're trying to get somebody to purchase something from you, even if it's a fight, and you misrepresented why it is you're fighting or what the concept is, I just find that dishonest."

An example would be Josh Koscheck's antics on the "Ultimate Fighter" Season 12. He coached opposite of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and did everything in his ability to throw the French Canadian off his game.

The mockery and trash talking reached an all-time high, but after St-Pierre soundly defeated Koscheck at UFC 124, the proposed blonde headed villain backed down from his cruel words and admitted they were only said to hype the fight.

"The interesting part is the competition itself as opposed to the build up before it," Sonnen stated. "I find it frustrating when a guy grabs a microphone and says, 'I did all this to sell a fight.' I find it confusing at times when even a UFC announcer partway through an event that I paid 50 dollars for says, 'All of that build up wasn't real. That was just to create money.' Well, then give me my money back because you lied to me."

Before meeting up with Silva for the middleweight title at UFC 117, Sonnen unloaded on the Brazilian with some well-publicized trash talk. The bout gained notoriety because of the talk, but the vast majority tuned in to see Silva dominate and shut the Oregon native's mouth.

Surely, Sonnen didn't actually believe the things he was saying.

By the end of the night, fans picked their jaws off the floor and realized that Sonnen did truly believe in everything he said. No fighter had ever given Silva the beating Sonnen did that night.

Silva was able to muster up some last round heroics to retain his world title, but Sonnen unveiled the truth behind the madness. His comments are often outlandish and can at times come off as disingenuous, but that's the real Chael Sonnen.

You can either love him or hate him.