The True Chael Sonnen

Chael Sonnen is one of my favorite fighters. Unfortunately, this is not an opinion shared by many. Due to his constant trash talking, relentless hatred of Brazil, and recent title shot losses, Chael has made more enemies in this business than friends. I'll admit, these are easy reasons to hate Sonnen, but if you dig deeper, you begin to realize that he's not the self-proclaimed "bad guy" that everyone thinks he is.

For one, the trash talking is clearly an act. Anyone with half a brain can see that it's a character he plays, and the real Chael Sonnen is as humble as they come. I strongly suggest you check out his appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast. When he's not in character, he's pretty damn likable. That being said, I think he's pretty damn likable when he's in character too, but that's just me.

Even Chael haters would be hard pressed to claim that Sonnen isn't talented. Aside from being completely outmatched by the young phenom, Jon "Bones" Jones, Sonnen has been a nightmare opponent for everyone he's faced. Even Anderson Silva, a fighter who many consider to be the greatest of all time, struggled immensely at the hands of the famed takedown/ground and pound prestige of Mr. Sonnen.

After two consecutive losses, Sonnen has picked a new verbal target. This time, he has taken to twitter to call out Wanderlei Silva.

2 reasons the fight makes sense:-I want an easy fight;-Wanderlei is broke
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) May 6, 2013

Well, I can't argue with Sonnen on this one. He may have gotten in over his head with Jones, a physical and emotional beating that he readily acknowledged after the fight was over, but Wanderlei is a decidingly easier opponent. If Anderson Silva couldn't stop Chael's takedown, I don't see how Wanderlei would be able to do any better.

Plus, while 'broke' may be a bit of an overstatement, it's true that Wanderlei is a shadow of his former self. I don't see how Silva could win this one. And as a Sonnen fan, I hope that Silva accepts the fight.

What started as a vague call-out via twitter, has recently gotten some more concrete specifications. Sonnen (@sonnench) has changed his twitter background to a mock flyer for the debut of UFC on Fox Sports, set to air August 17th. The card, which already features a highly anticipated bout between Thiago Alves vs. Matt Brown, is promised to be the strongest television fight card the company has ever put on, according to UFC President Dana White. You can view the mock flyer at the top of this post.

Love him or hate him, Chael Sonnen brings in some pretty big numbers in the ratings department. A fight between him and Wanderlei Silva would be an excellent way to kick off the UFC on the new Fox Sports network. Chael gave him 24 hours notice, 19 hours ago. Something tells me Wanderlei won't make the deadline. I'm also fairly confident that Chael will give him an extension. We'll just have to wait and see.

Wand- you have 24 hours to accept. If you do, I will donate 10% of my purse to help schools in your hometown of Curitiba .. I mean, VEGAS.
— chael sonnen (@sonnench) May 9, 2013

Live Chat with Luke Thomas

On an off-week for the UFC, Luke Thomas, the Senior Editor over at MMAFighting.com, takes to Google+ to live chat with fans and answer a ton of questions ranging from the retirement of UFC Heavyweight Shane Carwin to the new Spike TV Fight Master reality show. I thoroughly enjoyed this video, but it's worth noting that this is definitely not for the fair weather MMA fans. It's one and a half hours of dense MMA news; no video clips, still images, or anything of the sort. It's straight dialogue.

The cool part about doing it live, however, is that fans get to ask questions in the comment section. Based on the number of 'thumbs-up' recommendations by readers, the most highly suggested questions dictate the answers Thomas gives on the show. This was really cool and is definitely something to look forward to in the future. Ah, technology.

Check it out below!

The MMA Hour (5/6/13)

While the popularity of MMA is growing exponentially, the sports world remains, in large part, behind the curve. I imagine it's only a matter of time before ESPN and other major media outlets begin launching full fledged MMA analysis shows. Until that time, however, the only place to get great MMA news coverage is via independent broadcasts, podcasting, and, of course, The MMA Hour. Check out the first episode in the brand new studio where host Ariel Helwani talks new-format jujitsu, the rising UFC Women's division, and UFC on FX 8 in addition to a number of other topics with a variety of awesome guests. Check it out, in full, below.

Epicly Later'd: Eric Koston

We posted about HBO's VICE last night, and if you read the post (which I hope you did), then you know the television show simply serves as an extension of "one of the most popular multimedia, multi-platform news outlet in the world." While they are most famous for their international news stories as of late, the featured stories on their site cover a much wider spectrum. A perfect example of such, is their six part series on professional skateboarder, Eric Koston.

While I outgrew skateboarding over the years, I can easily recall being fascinated by the culture, the required-skillset, and the sheer athleticism. However, even if your knowledge of skateboarding is strictly peripheral, there's a good chance you've heard of Eric Koston. Koston is one of the true icons of the skateboarding world, and the embodiment of the new-age skaters that took the torch from the Rodney Mullens and Tony Hawks of the world and paved the way for the Chris Coles and Ryan Shecklers. To be honest, I almost feel guilty saying he paved the way for these skaters as he still competes against them to this day.

The storied career of one of the most celebrated skaters in the history of the sport is one that should be showcased properly. Who better to capture the full story than VICE? In the interest of length, I'll include only the first part below, but beyond that, you should look up the five corresponding parts on your own. Whether you're a Koston fan or not, you should definitely check out this video series. At it's very core, it's a compelling story. That should be enough for an hour of your time.

Vick vs. McCoy

Is the fact that Michael Vick beat LeSean McCoy in a race today more of a win for Vick or a loss for McCoy? To be honest with you, I'm torn on this one. As a Dallas Cowboys fan (I know everybody hates the Cowboys so save your ridicule), I want the Eagles to lose at everything. It is for this reason that I'm leaning towards it being a loss for McCoy. On the other hand, I have to give some props to Vick, because I would never have picked him in a race over LeSean, who has proven to be one of the more dominant running backs in the National Football League. On the other other hand, Michael Vick beats dogs. DOGS! I don't care how many years go by, that is one of those unforgivable crimes. I've never even had a dog, but I simply can't imagine hitting one. Sickening.

Final Decision: Loss for LeSean McCoy. He's got 10 years on you LeSean! You should smoke him!

Boston Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs Playoff Series Preview

Tonight marks the first game of the postseason for the Boston Bruins, and Bs fans everywhere are gearing up for a long, grueling series with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Bruins, who started the season with an impressive 19-4-3 record, saw a fairly severe collapse as the regular season came to a close. After March 16th, the Bruins posted an overall record of 9-13, finishing their last ten games with a record of three wins and seven losses.

The 2013 season has truly been a tale of two teams in Boston. When the Bruins are hot, there are very few teams that can match their offensive and defensive ability. When they're cold, they can make push overs look like the greatest teams in the league. That being said, the Maple Leafs are anything but push overs. With one of the best penalty kills in the NHL, the Bruins struggling power play is in for a steep challenge. Will the Bruins be able to right the ship and pull out a big series win against their fellow 'original six' member? Here are the keys to tonight's game:

1. Turn up the toughness:

The Boston Bruins are historically famous for their unrelenting toughness on the ice. One of the main reasons the Bruins have been such an streaky team this year is their apparent lack of hustle and physicality. The Bruins need to establish a clear and consistent physical presence on the forecheck and in their own defensive zone in order to gain an edge against a talented Toronto squad.

2. Production from the 2nd line:

The Bruins' second line has serious potential for post season greatness. With the superstar veteran/team leader in Patrice Bergeron at center and two of the more promising youngsters in Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin on the wings, this line combines speed and finesse with a undeniable passion for winning. In the NHL playoffs, where hustle outweighs all else, these will be the line to watch in this series. Mark my words.

3. Tuuuuuuuukka Rask:

Tuukka Rask has been a consistent dominating force in the net for Boston. With an impressive 2.0 goals against average, Rask has been doing all the right things for the Bruins this year. He needs to carry these numbers into the post season in order to take some of the pressure off of the Bruins scorers.

Enosch Off The Hook

According to reports, prosecutors have dropped their case against UConn's 7'1" center Enosch Wolf. Wolf was arrested in February for a confrontation with a female UConn student. The incident began when Enosch refused to leave an on-campus apartment, leading to a physical altercation with the young woman. The list of charges included third-degree burglary, criminal trespassing, and disorderly conduct.

Wolf was sentenced to personal counseling while he awaited a secondary sentencing. According to Wolf's attorney, the results of the counseling were satisfying enough for prosecutors to drop all charges against the German big man. He still remains suspended from the UConn team, however I expect that suspension to be lifted soon as well.

While there will no doubt be some people who disagree with the decision to let Enosch off the hook, the fact of the matter is that we don't know what happened in that dorm room. All we can do is trust that the United States court system did its job and gave Wolf a punishment that fit the crime.

From a basketball standpoint, this is all good news for the Huskies. Enosch started to emerge as a reliable option in the front court before his season was cut short. After signing 6'11" Amida Brimah, the return of Wolf should give UConn a very intimidating front court next season.

Enosch has decided to continue with personal counseling on his own. He has also decided that he is going to focus on Final Exams, which are coming up in just two weeks. Unfortunately, that also means UConn's famed Spring Weekend is coming up in a few days. As a UConn fan, I really hope I don't come across Enosch doing anything he shouldn't be doing. Fingers crossed!