B/R Exclusive: Chael Sonnen on Anderson Silva, Matt Lindland and Ed Soares

Anderson Silva believes Chael Sonnen has gone too far.

In hyping up a potential monster rematch between the two for the UFC middleweight title, the always-outspoken Sonnen made a quick-witted comment about Silva’s wife.

Sonnen’s comment-in-jest alluded that Silva’s wife should fix him a steak, medium rare like he likes it.

Apparently, that was the last straw for Silva. Silva has finally grown tired of Sonnen’s verbal jabs and believes even mentioning the champion’s wife was well past the line of good taste.

Publicly, Silva’s manager Ed Soares said that the champion wants no parts of any event that will make Sonnen money—even if it means costing himself money.

However, according to Sonnen, that is not the case. Sonnen believes Silva is just looking for a way out of the fight.

“He’s a fake, and a phony,” Sonnen told Bleacher Report in a recent interview. “He always has been. I don’t get it.”

Sonnen believes Silva’s entire training camp is also to blame.

“Listen, are you fighters or aren’t you? The Blackhouse have so many excuses. They just should just be called Team Backout.”

Comments like those have taken Sonnen from being just another middleweight contender to the man that most fans want to see get the next title shot.

What should not be forgotten though is that Sonnen has been on impressive streak—winning four of his last five fights. Besides the Silva loss, Sonnen defeated highly ranked middleweights Brian Stann, Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami and Dan Miller.

But when the entertaining Sonnen took to the airwaves to go after Silva, people took notice, and the former amateur wrestling star has not stopped since.

“I don’t get tired of talking about him, but he’s a nuisance,” Sonnen said. “He’s a big nuisance.”

Recently, Sonnen took the hype machine to levels that could even make Vince McMahon jealous.

After his impressive victory over former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann, Sonnen unfurled the following statement during the televised broadcast:

"

Anderson Silva—you absolutely suck. Super bowl weekend. The biggest rematch in the history of the business. I’m calling you out Silva, but we’re upping the stakes. I beat you? You leave the division. You beat me? I will leave the UFC forever.

"

One person who did pay attention was Sonnen’s longtime trainer, Matt Lindland.

“I think the challenge was brilliantly timed,” Lindland said. “I don’t think it was anything spectacular. I think I used that same tactic in the fourth grade. You suck. C’mon.  The timing was key. Timing is everything.”

“Does he really believe Anderson Silva sucks? No. He’s an incredible fighter, but Chael knows he can beat him. I know that as well. I can train Chael to beat him.”

Sonnen defended his “loser leave town” challenge very simply.

“I’m picking a fight,” Sonnen said.

The middleweight contender was even more surprised by the champion’s response-or lack thereof.

“He disrespected his entire culture,” Sonnen said. “His culture is not one that sits in your chair like a little fruity boy if you’re called out. His culture steps forward and takes a fight.”

Sonnen was not done yet.

“He not only embarrassed himself but insulted his entire heritage, and that stunned me. One thing I know about a Brazilian—if you challenge a Brazilian to a fight, you will be fighting him. For him to sit in his chair an do nothing was shameful to his people.”

Silva’s English mouthpiece, manager Ed Soares, is also publicly upset with Sonnen’s brash insults, and the feelings of discontent are apparently mutual.

“They got this guy Ed Soares who just takes everybody’s money,” Sonnen said. “He doesn’t have the cage door locked him.”

By communicating with the UFC fans, Sonnen has achieved a much higher level of popularity. He wishes Silva’s manager would learn how to do the same.

“He doesn’t understand PR,” Sonnen said about Soares. “He goes to the media and makes his guys look like fools. He’s good at ducking and dodging.

“He’s told his guys, ‘don’t talk to anyone-pretend you don’t speak English’. Let me do all the bidding for you. He gets them the easiest fights that he can, and they move up the ladder. It’s one way to do business, but at the end of the day, they’re all phonies.”

As for Silva’s non-response to Sonnen’s challenge, the champion’s no comment will likely not make a difference. UFC President Dana White has said that Sonnen will be Silva’s next opponent.

The fight is one that the fans want to see which means it is the right thing for business.

However, should Silva still not sign for the rematch, Sonnen will be prepared.

“There’s another challenge against Anderson Silva coming down the pike,” Sonnen said, “but he should have accepted the first one. The first one was a lot nicer than the second one will be.”