Lyoto Machida has been rather mollified in the build-up to his Manhattan MMA battle with Chael Sonnen. In fact, where is the real Chael Sonnen ? Could the real Chael Sonnen stand up ?
What happened to the original bad guy, the self-styled ‘American gangster’?
There is the widespread expectation borne of years of suffering, by both his aficionados and his detractors, and indeed his opponents, that Sonnen talks too much.
Ask Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, Wanderlei Silva, et al… but in the built up to this contest, the rapping terror has been absent. Not any more. Almost as if Sonnen is a new man.
Perhaps the denouement on Friday night’s fight at The Garden against ‘The Dragon’ will prove different. Sonnen appears – almost – to have taken a vow of silence.
There has been the odd enforced social media film, but for the most part, Chael has stayed schtum. Surely it must be a tactic ? Or has he really just run out of words ?
Not that Machida minds as Bellator return to Madison Square Garden for the second time. “He used to talk much more, now he’s kind of quiet. Maybe he’s waiting for something,” offered Machida to The Telegraph in a typically present, thoughtful interview.
“But he hasn’t said too much, and I respect that. Actually, I like the way he’s promoting the fight. Respect the difference between the way fighters fight. Some like to talk, some don’t. I like to give out more respect, more discipline and more control.”
But the iconic venue does inspire Brazilian Machida. “Of course, it’s a dream come to true to have a fight in Madison Square Garden. I’ve just been there once when my brother (Chinzo) fought there. Now I have a chance to have a fight. Everybody wants to fight there.”
There was high drama there 13 days ago when British heavyweight and favourite Anthony Joshua brought the strains of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’ crashing down when he was stopped and knocked down four times in the process by Mexican-American Andy Ruiz.
Machida witnessed it. “It’s hard to say, but it was a great between Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz. It was a very good fight, a very good surprise. It’s hard to say if we’ll create the same drama there, but what I can say is I’ll do my best. I’m prepared for this fight.”
Within the narrative sits MMA legend Randy Couture, and a revenge of sorts for Sonnen, who counts Couture as his greatest mentor, and a man he admits he never, ever, got the better of while training together. Machida knocked Couture’s teeth out – literally – in his final fight in the combat arena in Toronto eight years ago with a crane kick, and Sonnen has mentioned that contest with me in passing.
“I don’t think about that. It’s something that doesn’t make me worry. I respect his opinion. I want to be there and try to finish the fight, for the fans,” said Machida. “Give my best. The most important take away was the camp that I had was a good camp. I don’t put focus on anything else.”
This Article First Appeared On The Telegraph