Props: UFC 117 post-fight press conference
Quoteworthy:
"I'm devastated. I came in second [place]. I worked hard, did what I could do and all that other nice stuff. But at the end of the day, you either get your hand raised or you don't. And I didn't. That's it. I have to live with it. I'm devastated.... Fighting Anderson Silva is like eating Chinese food -- in 20 minutes I'm going to want to do it again.... I'm not going to apologize for anything, I'm not backing off my stance. And if I ever did, I would send myself a pink slip and move on in life. I have one goal: Become a world champion. And I am not backing off that goal because of tonight's decision.... I'm not Dog the Bounty Hunter -- I don't issue apologies. You're not going to be the first one to get one out of me.... I can't sugar coat it -- my heart is broken. I wrestled for a world championship, I came in second. I fought in the WEC for a world championship, I came in second. Now I'm in the UFC, and again, I'm a runner up. It hurts really bad. I just can't put it any other way.... He hit me hard. Right off the bat, he kicked me in the stomach. I've never been kicked like that. But I don't allow myself to be hurt -- I'll walk through anything he gives, and at the end of the night, go get stitched up.... Look, he's a good fighter and he found a way to win. That's what champions do.... I'm never going to change. I'm always going to go after number one, whoever it is. If it's Anderson, or I've got to go up to the guys at 205, or I have to go on a diet and go after guys like Jose Aldo, it doesn't matter, I'll do it. If you've got the belt, I'm coming after you.... Here's the truth: If the commissioner would sanction it, and Dana [White] would move, I would fight him again right now.... He won tonight, he is the better guy. That's it."
Chael Sonnen makes no excuses for his stunning submission loss to middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 117 last night (Aug. 7), admitting that "The Spider" is indeed the better fighter after pulling off a dramatic come-from-behind fifth round victory. Sonnen battered the Brazilian for nearly 25 minutes, but with less than two minutes to go in a fight that he was clearly winning, he got caught in a tight triangle choke. He did all he could to escape, but he just couldn't wiggle himself free. So close, yet so far away. That appears to be a recurring theme throughout his competitive career, coming in second place when it matters most. Is Sonnen destined to be runner up again if and when he gets another opportunity, or did he demonstrate last night that it's only a matter of time before he can call himself a world champion? Sound off, Maniacs.