Chael Sonnen took offense at something that was said--or maybe several things that were said--and lashed out at Kenny Rice, host of HDNet's "Inside MMA". Middleweight Michael Bisping said that fighting Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox 2 is the fight that he wanted--even if it is on short notice.
I watched Monday night's edition of "Inside MMA" to find out what rubbed Sonnen the wrong way.
The Facebook Poll: Which fighter do you love to hate the most?
Kenny Rice presented info from a Facebook poll conducted on the HDNet fan page, and reported that Chael Sonnen received the highest percentage of votes for being the fighter who fans love to hate the most--with 42% of the vote.
Second place went to Nick Diaz with 28% of the votes. Bisping laughed at being 3rd with 21% of the votes.
I looked, but I couldn't find the poll on the HDNet's Facebook page. Maybe I didn't look in the right place. The fan page doesn't appear to get the level of traffic that might indicate a lot of responses went into determining the percentages.
Bisping: "I'll call you the Greatest, if you beat me"
Near the end of the show, Kenny Rice asked Michael Bisping a Facebook fan question (shown on TV screen), "Bisping, Would you bet Chael that the loser publicly addesses the winner as "the Greatest Ever" whenever someone asks them about the fight? Or at least for a month? - Marc Kaplan
Bisping responded, addressing Sonnen, "Fine, I'll call you the Greatest, if you beat me. And that's a big if."
But first, here's what Michael Bisping had to say about Chael's testosterone replacement therapy.
Michael Bisping
Ariel Helwani interviewed Bisping for an MMAFighting video: "I've never taken a steroid in my life. I've never failed a steroid test. You hear all these people talking about testosterone replacement therapy. If you've got to get your testosterone replaced, I think you're in the wrong sport. Alpha males don't have low testosterone. I know I certainly don't. I think that's why we get into an octagon or a cage and fight because we're alpha males. If you have low levels of testosterone, you're probably walking around carrying a purse and wearing a dress.
I'm a professional fighter and I monitor what I put in my body, but I'm not anal about it. I get drug tested every single fight and I've never failed a drug test. I use Tylenol. I use protein powder. I use this and that, but I've never failed a drug test because I don't stick needles in my (rear end)."
On being the underdog going into this fight with Chael Sonnen: "Chael is a tough fighter. He is susceptible to submissions. He's not the Muhammad Ali of mixed martial arts. People want to see a rematch between Chael and Anderson. He deserves it. But he has to beat me first. I'm not rolling over for anyone. If he thinks he'll steamroll right through me, with ease, then he's a fool."
Bisping revealed that he is working with a sports psychologist, Brian Cain, who works with GSP too. He said he found working with a mind coach, "Enlightening, very interesting."
Chael Sonnen
Bisping is focused on derailing Sonnen and making him wait in line to fight current champion, Anderson Silva. Sonnen is focused on--Kenny Rice?
In another one of Ariel Helwani's entertaining video interviews for MMAFighting, Chael Sonnen, who usually unleashes venom on his opponents, went after HDNet's Kenny Rice instead. Kenny is Bas Rutten's partner on the "Inside MMA" show that airs on Mondays at 8 pm EST.
Sonnen said that he isn't interested in trash-talking Bisping. He also said he was tired of the media expecting him to trash talk, as if it were some kind of act that he does.
Ariel mentioned Michael Bisping's recent interview on "Inside MMA". Personal anatomy was discussed relating back to the need for testosterone.
Chael started going off, saying, "That's such an awful show...You're a liar, Kenny Rice. I wish he was here right now, I'd show you a work out...If someone called me a liar, I would sue them. Unless you really are a liar, Kenny."
Chael said no one watches the show--except maybe six people. He slammed Mark Cuban, the man who started HDNet saying that he uses the station as a "tax write-off".
Sonnen finished with, "I'm the man with the biggest arms. I'm the man with the greatest charm. I'm the man who came to Chicago to do Bisping, a lot of harm."
Quit bashing Kenny
Make that seven viewers because I watch the show too. I like the format with fighters and interviews and Kruck's Korner, etc. In some kind of back-handed way, maybe "Inside MMA" will get new viewers because Chael is bringing attention to them.
During the show, Kenny announced that HDNet will merge with other groups and change their name in the summer to AXS TV (access). Kenny said the change will result in more MMA events on the channel. With the change, HDNet will reach about as many households as Fuel TV (approximately 35 million) according to information on their website.
Source:
MMA Fighting video interviews by Ariel Helwani with Chael Sonnen and Michael Bisping (see video links above)
HDNet "Inside MMA" telecast January 23, 2012
HDNet.com
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Cheryl Ragsdale started out boxing and has added kicks and BJJ so she can practice MMA. She trains with Keith Florian and UFC Fighter Kenny Florian at Florian Martial Arts - follow @thatgirlisfunny