Posts Tagged ‘sonnen gracie’

MMA legend Renzo Gracie surprised #1 UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen with a call a few weeks ago. Sonnen told Ariel Helwani at the UFC 148 open workout that it made him change his ways heading into the fight with Anderson Silva at UFC 148 Saturday. According to a Twitter exchange with Helwani Gracie detailed his conversation with Sonnen.

“I just told him that if he kept that trash talking he would be taking the greatness of the task that he had ahead of him,” Gracie said. “He is fighting one of the best fighters of our generation, and people would lose the chance to know the real Sonnen, a great athlete who I saw young fighting hard back in the Japan days, building his career as a fierce fighter, a career that ended up turning him into one of the amazing people that populate our great sport.

“I just asked him to behave with the greatness of a champion. Many fighters dream with that opportunity, to fight the best and test themselves in the toughest sport that existed. Be great, be bold, be fair, and above all, be honest. Some will love you, others will hate you, but they will know who you really are. Fight this fight in a way that will be unforgettable to those who had the privilege to watch. I won’t miss a second of this great match.”

It looks like Sonnen has taken the advice since he seems to have shown a little more respect to Silva in recent weeks.