UFC
Anderson Silva out to gain respect for Brazil from Chael Sonnen at UFC 148
May 23, 2012 - 7:45:57 PM Anderson Silva out to gain respect for Brazil from Chael Sonnen at UFC 148

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva has taken personal offense to the many random musings of his July 7 challenger Chael Sonnen, to the point where he's expressed some vehement feelings of hatred towards his Oregonian opponent.

In a new interview with Tatame.com, the Champion said that his motivation into the rematch with Sonnen is simple victory. Victory is all he is looking for to reign above Sonnen and his trash talk.

"We always train a lot and we're always focused on getting this job done," Silva said. "Everyone is involved with this and we're working hard to get there as do what we always do. [Sonnen] has been saying bulls***. He disrespected a nation, not only me, but he disrespected UFC fans, moms who watch the UFC, dad and kids who are fans of the sport."

"Winning is enough for us. It's like a slap on the face. Winning is enough to show that Brazil deserves to be respected because we have a history on the sport, that started a long time ago with the Gracie family and great athletes kept it going, like Pedro Rizzo, Rodrigo Nogueira, Marco Ruas, Andre Pederneiras and others. That must be respected."

Penick's Analysis: Sonnen's trash talk continues because it accomplishes what he sets out to accomplish. He gets a rise out of Silva, and out of other Brazilian fighters, so he ramps up the talk further. Silva's approaching this as if a full on beating will put an end to it, though that's likely not the case. Still, the most important thing for him come July 7 is simply to win the fight, and if he does that no amount of trash talking from Sonnen is going to mean a thing.