KIDWCKED
08-09-2010, 11:55 PM
c/p from espn by Jake Rossen.
Someday, in his advanced age, Chael Sonnen will be pursuing a career in politics, real estate or possibly as a carnival barker. To entertain associates, he'll tell the story of how he once beat Anderson Silva, pound-for-pound the greatest fighter ever. Basically.
If Sonnen had kept his composure for just two more minutes Saturday, he would have been able to forget about the qualifiers and show off a belt. Instead, he fell victim to his regular vice: blissful misunderstanding of submission defense. He became so preoccupied delivering the last of CompuStrike's 289 counted total blows to Silva's head that he didn't notice Silva's long legs wrapping a noose around his neck. Two seconds of distraction amounts to 50 years of regret.
Sonnen will get plenty of notices for his performance, and he should; Silva will get plenty of flak for his, and it's a shame. Sonnen had the ability and attitude to completely shut down Silva, forcing him to find a way other than strikes to end the fight in his favor. Anderson took that and ran with it. It was more impressive than if Silva had blown him out in the opening minutes because Sonnen was able to display exactly how formidable a threat he was. It's a win with context.
Sonnen lost as respectably as you can. But it's still a loss. He had an advantage for 23 minutes and couldn't finish the fight. When Silva had the advantage for 10 seconds, he could. Who's the better fighter?
Someday, in his advanced age, Chael Sonnen will be pursuing a career in politics, real estate or possibly as a carnival barker. To entertain associates, he'll tell the story of how he once beat Anderson Silva, pound-for-pound the greatest fighter ever. Basically.
If Sonnen had kept his composure for just two more minutes Saturday, he would have been able to forget about the qualifiers and show off a belt. Instead, he fell victim to his regular vice: blissful misunderstanding of submission defense. He became so preoccupied delivering the last of CompuStrike's 289 counted total blows to Silva's head that he didn't notice Silva's long legs wrapping a noose around his neck. Two seconds of distraction amounts to 50 years of regret.
Sonnen will get plenty of notices for his performance, and he should; Silva will get plenty of flak for his, and it's a shame. Sonnen had the ability and attitude to completely shut down Silva, forcing him to find a way other than strikes to end the fight in his favor. Anderson took that and ran with it. It was more impressive than if Silva had blown him out in the opening minutes because Sonnen was able to display exactly how formidable a threat he was. It's a win with context.
Sonnen lost as respectably as you can. But it's still a loss. He had an advantage for 23 minutes and couldn't finish the fight. When Silva had the advantage for 10 seconds, he could. Who's the better fighter?