Sonnen will have in the back of his mind that lingering doubt of 'Hell, what do I have to do to beat this guy?'
After all the trash talk from Sonnen the pressure on him to win this Saturday is immense. If Anderson destroys him he will be a laughing stalk to the mma world.
Oh yeah he does. He cares DEEPLY about winning this fight. He's been a serious athlete his whole life, and this one fight is for his athletic legacy. :hat
Of course He wants to win but really, the guy dont give a damn and would be talking **** back to his routine in two days if he loses. This aint the Olympics or the World championships. Hes too far removed from serious competition and the training that goes with it. This is WWE to him.
It as much to do with how you handle pressure as how much you have on you. Some people can cope with enormous pressure. Others buckle under virtually no pressure at all.
Sonnen would look like an ass if he does indeed not leave the ufc after this. However, we don't know that it may be his plan to retire if he losses.
The interesting thing is that they are both under WAY more pressure than either of them has ever faced before in their careers. Anderson's legacy is secure no matter what. But he has his entire country demanding and expecting that he shut this ****ing guy's mouth with authority. And Chael is basically going all-in with his MMA legacy on this fight. Will he be remembered as a UFC Champion, the only man who could even compete with the legendary Anderson Silva, let alone dethrone him? Or will he be remembered as a polarizing character who talked a great game and gave the UFC GOAT his toughest fight and most epic rivalry, but became a two-time loser when it was all said and done? :think :hat
Chael has no legacy. Unless you consider being submitted a legacy. That's what he's done his entire career. There is no outside pressure on him to win. The pressure he puts on himself, who knows? When it comes to pressures outside of one's own mind, ANderson Silva has the weight of being an ATG, an entire country, and most of the world sitting on his shoulders.
They are both under a lot Sonnen is in vs the best guy in the world a man who is capable of ending a fight at any time in his back yard with a crazy fan base Also there is a lot of pressure with rematches,,,Sonnen may think he is superior since he was way ahead his strategy could be based on the same fight playing out and that may not be the case theres lots of pressure about going into a fight that you had in the bag and lost Silva- he is in his back yard his legacy is at stake the guy controlled you in fight 1 theres lots to not like Silva though loses pressure since he won the first fight and is capable of doing it again also from a fan perspective Silva is aging and typically when an older fighter is in vs a younger tough guy who gave him hell a loss isnt derailing