• UFC 136

Sonnen not in top shape for Stann showdown

Chael Sonnen admits it is time to give Anderson Silva credit at the top of the UFC middleweight division © Getty Images

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Chael Sonnen has confessed he is not feeling 100 per cent ahead of his UFC 136 clash with Brian Stann.

Sonnen, who has not fought for over a year, makes his Octagon comeback in a huge middleweight collision with Stann. The winner, if triumphant in an eye-catching manner, stands a good chance of booking the next middleweight title shot.

However, Sonnen confesses he is not in top shape just a week out from the fight, although he is not panicking about the situation.

"I think it's just a common thing when you start to wear down," Sonnen said on MMA Junkie. "You can't manufacture it mentally.

"Physically, you go in [and] you try to duplicate it, but it just doesn't happen. And I've felt that. I've felt that in the last 10 weeks. I'm showing up to practice for the same length of time and the same people and coaches. It's different.

"I think it's a good sign. I think you should always be a little run down at some point. For me, it's almost always now. It's just a tough week, and it's not just for me. It's for everybody on the card.

"It's weight-cutting week. It's media week. It's travel week. It's anxiety week; you've got the match coming up. I just think it's part of the process. I'm not overly worked up or disappointed to be run down."

Sonnen has also given some rare praise to Anderson Silva, admitted he cannot argue the champion's unbelievable record. However, Sonnen still insists he is far better than the undefeated [in the UFC] Brazilian.

"It's getting harder and harder to deny he should be shown that appreciation," Sonnen said. "He ducked Okami for years, but he did finally get in there, and he made it look easy.

"If you're asking if I would ever concede that Anderson is better than me, no. I would refer you to the tape [of our UFC 117 fight]. I think that I could come down a lot and still be ahead of him. I also think he ducks and dodges opponents constantly.

"But listen, his wins and losses speak for themselves. And the fact of the matter, whether I like to admit it or not, is that he's done a better job than anybody, has done a better job than me, and he is the champion."

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