Which of these statements regarding Chael Sonnen is closest to the truth?

Discussion in 'MMA Forum' started by Kittikasem, Jul 9, 2012.


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  1. Kittikasem

    Kittikasem Guest

    1

    Chael Sonnen is still far and away the number 2 middleweight in the world. He is the best wrestler in his division and one of the very best takedown and top control artists on the planet. He has good boxing and a strong chin, and the way he dominated very good middleweights like Okami, Marquardt and Stann shows that he is an excellent MMA fighter. He probably still has more of a chance of beating Anderson Silva than anyone else at 185, and if AS retires soon Chael could easily become his successor as dominant champion. Although he has had a weakness for getting submitted in his career, the rest of his game is strong and if he can eradicate that through BJJ training in the twilight of his career, he could yet become a genuinely great middleweight.



    2

    Chael Sonnen is a crude and overrated fighter who has became highly overrated due to three things: the first being his huge mouth and neverending media soundbites, the second being his past cheating and present twisting of the rules with regard to juicing, and the third being one single performance aided by a ridiculous testosterone ratio and an allegedly injured and complacent Anderson Silva. Sonnen is a one-trick pony; when his takedown-and-top-control trick works he looks good (Okami, Marquardt, Stann), but when it doesn't work so well he looks very beatable (Bisping, Silva II, Maia). His propensity to get submitted, his catalogue of career losses, lack of title wins, and current bleak UFC prospects mean he will always be remembered as a decent contender who never became a great middleweight.
     
    Kittikasem, Jul 9, 2012
    Kittikasem, Jul 9, 2012
    #1
  2. Stoo

    Stoo Obsessed with Boxing banned

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    Agree with most of 2, but I'll give him his due as a wrestler so Ive amened the parts of 1 that I agree with, in bold

     
    Stoo, Jul 9, 2012
    Stoo, Jul 9, 2012
    #2
  3. thewinfella

    thewinfella The Golden Boy Full Member

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    This guy (Kittikasem) reminds me of my arch nemesis , Mr " Popkins " himself

    Popkins is that you ???? :yep
     
    thewinfella, Jul 9, 2012
    thewinfella, Jul 9, 2012
    #3
  4. Primate

    Primate Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yeah, pretty much.
     
    Primate, Jul 9, 2012
    Primate, Jul 9, 2012
    #4
  5. thewinfella

    thewinfella The Golden Boy Full Member

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    Sonnen certainly ranks inside the top 5 MW's in the world , his style is suited to fighting most fighters effectively but not all , hence the in different performances

    In the last 12-18 months he's looked the best he's ever looked in a somewhat up and down career (at the top level) , he's a massive threat to anybody in the division , specially those with no TDD (Belfort) , dominant wrestler / pressure fighter , effective walk forward pressuring style with a good engine and a good solid chin , he's a force in the division no doubt :deal
     
    thewinfella, Jul 9, 2012
    thewinfella, Jul 9, 2012
    #5
  6. Lucky Rutledge

    Lucky Rutledge Edward Teach Belt Full Member

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    2 He's a gatekeeper in any other division in the sport.
     
    Lucky Rutledge, Jul 9, 2012
    Lucky Rutledge, Jul 9, 2012
    #6
  7. Vic-JofreBRASIL

    Vic-JofreBRASIL Obsessed with Boxing

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    :deal
     
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Jul 9, 2012
    Vic-JofreBRASIL, Jul 9, 2012
    #7
  8. thewinfella

    thewinfella The Golden Boy Full Member

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    What an idiotic statement !!!!!

    A fighter with Sonnen's credentials is not and never will be a gate keeper , yes he's lost a sizeable number of fights compared to other (considered to be) top level fighters , or border line elite , not that I'm saying Sonnen is elite but you understand my direction ??

    The guy has a skill set that is effective in MMA , yes he's a **** , and is riding the crest of a wave from his first fight with Silva coupled with Juicing issue's that maybe he should never have been on , but this guy is not a chump when you break down his game , not at all , he's a handful for anybody
     
    thewinfella, Jul 9, 2012
    thewinfella, Jul 9, 2012
    #8
  9. davidwatts

    davidwatts Guest

    he isn't a number 2. imo bisping is higher up the league table.
     
    davidwatts, Jul 9, 2012
    davidwatts, Jul 9, 2012
    #9
  10. Beouche

    Beouche Juan Manuel Marquez Full Member

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    3. On roids hes a monster. Off roids, hes an average - strong journeyman


    Im pickin option 3
     
    Beouche, Jul 9, 2012
    Beouche, Jul 9, 2012
    #10
  11. Wilhelm

    Wilhelm Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It's a mix of the two, but it's closer to 2 than 1. I don't agree that he's a good boxer but when he can't get his top game going he's not much. I thought he easily lost to Bisping. He'll beat plenty of guys out there but maybe not the best which is why I think calling him a gatekeeper is exactly the right word.
     
    Wilhelm, Jul 9, 2012
    Wilhelm, Jul 9, 2012
    #11
  12. codeman99998

    codeman99998 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I think it is closer to 1 than 2, but definitely a bit of both. I think anyone who calls him a journeyman has their heads up their asses. He is the best wrestler in the division and is very very hard to stop with strikes. His standup is average, but made much better by the threat of his strong wrestling. Against guys who CAN stop his shot he looks average, but that is a very very small number of guys. Obviously he has an achilles heel in his triangle defense and he needs to continue to work on that. Top 5 MW without a doubt and major trouble for anyone in the division.
     
    codeman99998, Jul 9, 2012
    codeman99998, Jul 9, 2012
    #12
  13. The Spider

    The Spider Guest

    Part 2 isn't too far from accurate.

    Didn't even read Part 1 :lol:
     
    The Spider, Jul 9, 2012
    The Spider, Jul 9, 2012
    #13
  14. rusty nails

    rusty nails Tszyu for PM!! Full Member

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    2 is pretty much it
     
    rusty nails, Jul 9, 2012
    rusty nails, Jul 9, 2012
    #14
  15. Ne5ville14

    Ne5ville14 Rationalist by default... Full Member

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    :deal
     
    Ne5ville14, Jul 9, 2012
    Ne5ville14, Jul 9, 2012
    #15
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