Dear Chael Sonnen,
I’m sorry. I take it all back.
They say it takes a big, strong, good looking, intelligent and humble man to admit when they are wrong…and luckily, I am that man.
I said you had no chance. I said Nate Marquardt was going to walk through you like a hot knife through Land o’ Lakes. I said I thought it was silly that Nate even had to fight you in order to earn a shot against Anderson Silva.
I was wrong.
I watched you put on an absolute clinic that Saturday night in Las Vegas against Nate. You took him down. You negated his stand up. You negated his jiu jitsu with your fists. You also did what I thought no one was going to be able to do. You brought that crowd to life. A crowd that had been dead since 4:30 that afternoon.
Chael Sonnen brought the crowd to their feet. The only time I thought you could bring a crowd to their feet is if you were walking a soon to be bride down the aisle.
But on to a more serious note.
We need you, Chael. The middleweight title picture needs you. Hell, I need you.
Your proverbial iron is hot, and the middleweight belt is wrinkled.
With Vitor having to pull out, and Anderson without an opponent currently, there was only one man that I thought could step in.
Chael Sonnen.
I know you’re tired. I know you’re hurt. I know you’re cut. I know you were getting last second jiu jitsu tips the day before the fight.
But I also know that there is no one who is going to step in, open their mouth, and make people care about this fight. You can, Chael. You can. These other guys they want to fill in? They won’t bring what you can bring. They don’t have your sharp wit or your way with words.
They aren’t you, Chael.
Picture it now. The bruised and beaten underdog. Little time to rest. Travels to a foreign country to battle an unbeatable opponent. Sounds a lot like that epic, inspirational sports movie…yep, Beerfest.
Chael, as I write this, I’ve gotten some shocking news. Demian Maia has taken your shot.
Demian was absolutely knocked into next year by Nate Marquardt. By my MMA math, that pretty much makes you the champ already. So don’t worry buddy, rest up. Your shot is coming, and I’ll be right there leading the charge.
It’s gonna be the summer of Sonnen, baby…and I’ve got the tanning lotion.