• UFC

Sonnen 'isn't very evolved' - Anderson Silva

ESPN staff
July 10, 2011
Anderson Silva is undefeated in the UFC © UFC
Enlarge

Anderson Silva has responded gracefully to Chael Sonnen's catalogue of jibes aimed at Brazil, merely hinting that it is the American, not Brazilians, who is stuck in the past.

Sonnen has been typically mocking, verging on insulting, of the UFC's biggest Brazilian stars, mainly focusing on Wanderlei Silva, Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva himself.

First Sonnen, who fights Brian Stann at UFC 136, labelled Machida a "bum", Wanderlei a "phoney" and claimed champion Anderson "sucks". Then, in a further tongue-in-cheek assault on the South Americans, Sonnen dug deeper into his box of tricks to suggest the Nogueira brothers did not know what a bus was the first time they came to the US, stating that they tried to feed it a carrot.

Silva has never taken well to signs of disrespect, infamously making a show of Demian Maia at UFC 112, but he kept his composure when asked about Sonnen.

"Man, what can I say about him?" Silva said to Graciemag. "All of us, as Brazilians, get upset by his attitude.

"We respect Americans, Japanese; we respect everybody. We have a tradition in this sport dating back many years and it's sad to see people not respecting that.

"But if they don't respect you in one way, they will in another. We'll show our hegemony, our strength and heart in another way.

"Unfortunately, there are people living in the first world who aren't all that evolved. We have to show our intelligence, take in the good and filter out the bad."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices