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Chael Sonnen is a man of many faces. To some, he's the trash talking gangster from the mean streets of West Linn, Oregon. To others, he's the man who has created a real life story line with the entire country of Brazil. However, to a lucky few, Sonnen is seen as much more than just a persona. To them, Sonnen is viewed as a genuine individual who is willing to share his experiences to ensure that the younger generation will dedicate themselves to a sport that he loves dearly.
In some recently uncovered footage from the MMA Fan Fest, a clinic held the night before the Journeymen Duals, Flo Wrestling caught Chael Sonnen speaking to the wrestlers about intensity. In an incredibly passionate 90 seconds, Chael is able to convey a principal that is a cornerstone for all competition.
And if you're in a match and the guy gets intense, you get him back right then. As hard or harder right now. He'll stop doing it. One up him. If he slaps, you punch him. If he punches, you kick him. If he kicks, you stab. If he stabs, you shoot. If he shoots, you go kill his family, okay? You guys get the point there? One up him and you do it right then. Don't let him push you around. It's a mindset. Of course I'm not talking about hurting the guy. But what I'm talking about is you got a match and we gotta do it right now. You can't go 'oh this guy slapped me on Tuesday so on Friday I'm gonna get even with him'. He clubs you, you club right back
There will be some that will take his speech out of context to further an agenda or make a point about violence in MMA breeding more violence. To those people: raspberries. Chael Sonnen is a bright spot of personality in an otherwise dry sport. Whether it's the over-the-top promos targeting the Nogueiras and Anderson Silva or it's a speech with a group of young athletes, Sonnen can captivate an audience.
Video and full transcript after the jump...
Guys! One thing on intensity and I hope that we're all old enough that I can tell this without people taking it for something that it's not. But when we're being intense -- when we're out there competing -- wrestling, fighting, MMA. Whatever it is, I need to match my partner's intensity. I can't come in and let him bully me. I can't come in and let him pick on me. For some of you younger guys, eventually you'll be be getting into high school as freshmen and these older guys are gonna push you around a little bit. Then you'll go back and do it to the next group. Just the way it works. You get to college and it's intimidating because their intensity is a little different. You gotta match them. They go first, you match them instantly. If a guy clubs you, you club him as hard or harder and you do it right then. You don't wait a minute and come back with him. He clubs you, you club him right then. He will stop doing it. He'll stop doing it. And if you're in a match and the guy gets intense, you get him back right then. As hard or harder right now. He'll stop doing it. One up him. If he slaps, you punch him. If he punches, you kick him. If he kicks, you stab. If he stabs, you shoot. If he shoots, you go kill his family, okay? You guys get the point there? One up him and you do it right then. Don't let him push you around. It's a mindset. Of course I'm not talking about hurting the guy. But what I'm talking about is you got a match and we gotta do it right now. You can't go 'oh this guy slapped me on Tuesday so on Friday I'm gonna get even with him'. He clubs you, you club right back. And that will keep everything level and up everyone's intensity.
2 recs | 48 comments
I’d show this this to folks who think all Chael ever does is cut pro wrestling promos, and he can’t really talk (that, and all of his analyst work). The dude is charismatic, even when he’s not talking about patting Anderson Silva’s old lady on the rear.
Also…
This.
Kaleb Kelchner - January 13, 2012
I’d say he’s more charismatic when he’s not cutting a promo. I usually zone out when I sense that someone’s going into a prepackaged promotional speech (that doesn’t apply only to Sonnen). The Sonnen on display in this video I’d be willing to at least hear out.
Simen - January 13, 2012
same here...
Im usually rolling my eyes a few times every PPV.
I_Mad - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Hmm
“As hard or harder right now. He’ll stop doing it. One up him. If he slaps, you punch him. If he punches, you kick him. If he kicks, you stab. If he stabs, you shoot. If he shoots, you go kill his family”
what about when he submits you and you tap? how do you get him back then Chael?
nickrodamous - January 13, 2012
insult his country?
elmojo - January 13, 2012
Do what chael is doing and try to get a rematch
rockied - January 13, 2012 via mobile
How funny.
Would it be if Munoz upsets him. Could you imagine there goes the rematch and then we get Munoz Silva in Brazil hahah
nickrodamous - January 13, 2012
Will still be a great fight.
What’s your point or do you even have one?
Riley_96 - January 13, 2012
what I think he meant to say was...
hope that makes it a little more clear
tigerlee - January 13, 2012
exactly. his point is as clear as can be.
phantom5691 - January 13, 2012
This is actually a terrible line
Raspberries all you want, that’s encouraging bullying. That’s really not a good thing to be saying.
Cory Braiterman - January 13, 2012
He's not talkin about bullying. He's talking about pushing you to make you better.
Matthew Roth - January 13, 2012
you're right
I re-read that again and realized that he specifically did say “when competing”, not in regular life.
Cory Braiterman - January 13, 2012
All great wrestling programs implement this sort of cycle. The proof is in the pudding.
Machiel Van - January 13, 2012
damn your rationality
i refuse to believe that and stand my ground in interpreting what he said as encouraging bullying and murder, I mean the guy is a convicted felon and obvious PED abuser (lalalalala i cant hear you about TRT or hendo or couture lalalalalalalala)
Rob Young - January 13, 2012
Couldn't have sait it better myself, Sunshine.
That’s the West Linn way …
KJ Gould - January 13, 2012
Do you mean quiet and bucolic?
tigerlee - January 13, 2012
sl
Steve4192 - January 14, 2012
I’m sure he needed you to tell me, it’s officially Volkmanized
tigerlee - January 14, 2012
Is that Dennis Bermudez standing next to him?
Also, I love the speech, and I think he’s hit on a fundamental principal of all contact sports. You cannot let people think they can fuck with you, even for a second, or they will work that advantage forever. I’m with Roth. If you’re going to compete out there in the big bad world, this is something you need to hear.
Dave Strummer - January 13, 2012
Definitely Bermudez. Thanks for confirming.
GreyedOut - January 13, 2012
Bright spot?
Great advice for the kids Chael. Chael Sonnen is not a good person. He’s a habitual cheater. Why anyone would want his advice is beyond me. He should just say:
warren305 - January 13, 2012
Who cares if chael is a good person? He’s one of the few characters in mma.
rockied - January 13, 2012 via mobile
Please read:
There will be some that will take his speech out of context to further an agenda or make a point about violence in MMA breeding more violence. To those people: raspberries.
Matthew Roth - January 13, 2012
He said it, not me
Someone does something to you, don’t think, just react, but react worse.
Thats a terrible message.
warren305 - January 13, 2012
Maybe that’s a terrible message for someone who is too simple to realize he’s talking to wrestlers about competition, not everyday life. Also, if you watch the video, they all chuckle and realize he’s just trying to make a point.
It’s not complicated.
Kaleb Kelchner - January 13, 2012
Chael hate blinds people and common sense goes out the window.
Riley_96 - January 13, 2012
With that can kind of mindset it's easy to see why he morally doesn't have a problem with taking steroids.
Thank god some people in MMA do.
Bill P. - January 13, 2012
Thank you
Nothing about doing the right thing, not stooping to the bad guy’s level, staying true to oneself, etc etc..
Nope, if he cheats, you cheat harder. There is nothing positive about this statement.
warren305 - January 13, 2012
...
Wow. I was told worse on my pee wee football team.
This is for you
DayGeaux - January 13, 2012
To be fair he did start off his speech by saying, "I hope that we're all old enough that I can tell this without people taking it for something that it's not."
jammushi - January 13, 2012
Oh my goodness, take it in context guy.
Or, there will be some that will take his speech out of context to further an agenda that Chael Sonnen is a bad person. He’s talking about one upping intensity within sport.
T.C. Engel - January 13, 2012
right on!
he is on the mark with this comment on intensity. not many understand this concept. and even if you do, it is difficult to execute this mindset after getting hammered. champions can do it, though! good read…
razyrsharpe - January 13, 2012
steroids change mindset
his increased aggressiveness and confidence can be attributed to steroid use
Marc Gunn - January 13, 2012
...jesus christ.
Matthew Roth - January 13, 2012
yes?
can’t talk I’m spinning right now, catch ya later Roth
tigerlee - January 13, 2012
...
Steroids ≠ Testosterone Replacement therapy
Sonnenmeister - January 13, 2012
Not at all
Chris Barton - January 13, 2012
Anyone else...
Catch the Casino reference?
Chael
bq. If he slaps, you punch him. If he punches, you kick him. If he kicks, you stab. If he stabs, you shoot. If he shoots, you go kill his family, okay?
vs. Casino
bq. No matter how big a guy might be, Nicky would take him on. You beat Nicky with fists, he comes back with a bat. You beat him with a knife, he comes back with a gun. And if you beat him with a gun, you better kill him, because he’ll keep comin’ back and back until one of you is dead.
Tsubame - January 13, 2012
Any idiot can understand Chael's message
The guy is simply saying that you should match or exceed your opponent’s intensity. Thats it. So for the idiots who have a gun and think Chael said to go out and shoot someone. Please lower the weapon, read the speech again.
Albino Garcia - January 13, 2012
Love Sonnen
He makes this sport that much more interesting
rolandd - January 13, 2012
Really
LoBoTrOn - January 13, 2012
Yeah Really
Rob Young - January 13, 2012
Really really?
tigerlee - January 13, 2012
Watch the other videos too
If you follow the link to the video, there’s four more clips, three of them with Chael talking to the group that are also really great.
Listening to all of them really give you an insight into Chael’s thinking beyond the trash talk. It makes me sad that he missed out on coaching TUF.
bobbobson - January 13, 2012
From the rest of the videos
He sounds like he could be a coach who actually talks with his team, and knows how to support the fighters emotionally.
All this from Mr Fraudulent Racist Cheating Pro-Wrestling dirtbag himself.
cue Cult of Personality
GreyedOut - January 13, 2012
The more I see of Chael Sonnen the person, the more pissed I am at MMA fans. I don’t understand how anyone could prefer his pro wrestling schtick to his regular personality.
crazybones - January 13, 2012
Something Bruce Lee used to say
“Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life”
MaximumWatermelon - January 14, 2012
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