Chael Sonnen has passed through controversies with some of the best brazilian MMA fighters but not with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Asked why by Brazilian media during TUF Brazil 3 Finale, he said that nothing was personal with Brazil and Shogun was too nice for Sonnen trash talk him. “The American Gangster” also understands that he got lucky when beat the former UFC light heavyweight champion, at UFC Fight Night 26, last August.
Here is what you have to understand. I caught him, I got lucky. That was a lucky move. If we would fight ten more times, I would never catch that move again. But he has never said that. He let me have my 15 minutes of fame. He shut his mouth and walked out. I would do the same thing. But very few guys follow that code. Say what you want before the fight, but when it’s done, you accept the result. You let the other guy be happy, if he gets his hand raised, he gets his hand raised. Until this day, ‘Shogun’ has never said ‘that was lucky’ or ‘give me a rematch’ or ‘I didn’t feel good’. So, I’ll say for him. It was lucky and I don’t think that was the best ‘Shogun’.
Sonnen will fight Vitor Belfort – if NSAC gives The Phenom a license – on July 5, at UFC 175, for the next title shot at the middleweight division. “Shogun” lost last time he fought, against Dan Henderson by TKO, at UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2, on March 23.