Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann

[PunisherIND]

Middleweights Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann targeted for UFC 136 in Houston. Verbal agreements are in place for the bout, though contracts haven't been signed.



I wonder if this will be 3 or 5 rounds. There's no way this can be a main event, is there?

I would favor Sonnen to win a 3 round decision, but if its 5 rounds it could get interesting in the later rounds.

[Ladle]

Absolutely peculiar matchmaking. Sonnen wins every round, regardless of whether it's a main event. Only interesting thing about this fight will be seeing which angle Sonnen takes in the trash talking.

Honestly, they should have given Stann Munoz if they wanted to carry on legitimizing him as a force at 185. That's a winnable fight for him.

[GunShard]

I thought Sonnen was in prison.

[Hannibal]

Wasn't he slated to fight machida?

[Nick The Greek]

Sonnen via decision. Round starts, takedown, hold for 5 minutes, rinse, repeat. Hopefully the odds open close due to Sonnen's time off and Stann being on a streak right now.

[capone1899]

Wasn't he slated to fight machida?

That was just a rumor


3 rounds or 5 Sonnen wins

[Hannibal]

anyone think sonnen will come out at better than -300?

[Ladle]

anyone think sonnen will come out at better than -300?

Maybe in the -250 region, given Stann's recent success and hype. Unless the line is really good, I'll wait for the Sonnen by decision line.

[rocky mattioli]

Absolutely peculiar matchmaking. Sonnen wins every round, regardless of whether it's a main event. Only interesting thing about this fight will be seeing which angle Sonnen takes in the trash talking.

Honestly, they should have given Stann Munoz if they wanted to carry on legitimizing him as a force at 185. That's a winnable fight for him.

spot on...bad match-up for stann...

[cheeese]

Why would Stann agree to this?

[Hannibal]

Its not peculiar at all.. its genius for the reasons you listed

They take a popular and likeable all american hero, who the audience (not as dumb as you think) all know will never be a champion, and feed him to a shit talking contender. The result is that they will have created the ultimate heel in Sonnen, who will be more popular and controversial than ever, and create the biggest PPV buy ever for a title fight that was already going to get huge buys.

[Hannibal]

Why risk Sonnen losing to a real contender? He's already got hype from his last performance against Silva to justify a rematch. However, it has been a long time since he's been in action. A tune up fight like Stann will be a perfect reminder for the fans.

[Beelzebubzy]

http://www.ufc.com/media/SUB-of-the-week-stann-massenzio?changeRegion=8

[TrajaD]

lol bring machida

[terpkeg]

Have to consider the lay off coupled with lack of PED's or testosterone supplements, but at first glance have to think Sonnen puts Stann on back and beats him up for 3 rounds.

[sportsfanatic]

horrible fight style matchup for stann. sonnen by decision.

[sportsfanatic]

Wasn't he slated to fight machida?

i was hoping to get machida at anything close to good odds vs sonnen. there goes that plan.

[iQon]

I kinda wanted to see Wanderlei or Machida get a crack at Sonnen. He called Lyoto a "tune up fight" And Wanderlei just doesn't like Chael.

[sportsfanatic]

I kinda wanted to see Wanderlei or Machida get a crack at Sonnen. He called Lyoto a "tune up fight" And Wanderlei just doesn't like Chael.

sonnen would beat wanderlei. machida is probably the worst stylistic matchup for sonnen. great take-down defense and great stand-up.

[bogbat]

Have to consider the lay off coupled with lack of PED's or testosterone supplements, but at first glance have to think Sonnen puts Stann on back and beats him up for 3 rounds.

Does this man look like he's lacking in the testosterone department?

[GoldRush7]

it will be interesting to see what sonnen has to say about stann

[Varker]

Sonnen looks like he doubled his steroid intake...

[jin2daj]

sonnen was outstriking silva, he is going to murder stann.

[sirchadwick1]

The layoff could only give Sonnen more time to pump himself full of PED's just in time to ease his way off of them and prevent getting caught. I think he wins this by 3 rd dec.

[thesox0311]

Chael via Wrestle F*uck.... i love Stann, and think he can stand and bang with anyone, but this will be Chael on top for 15 minutes with that vicous ground and pound in the guard. Stann doesnt work great off his back either, i think this is an easy win for chael to set up Silva v. Sonnen rematch. Which i also like Sonnen in.

[Vaughany]

Stann via sloppy triangle 3rd round a la massenzio!...............i jest

[Pin2Win]

I don't like this fight... Big fans of both fighters!

[JoshB]

fuk i wanted to see him take on Machida

[Ladle]

Its not peculiar at all.. its genius for the reasons you listed

They take a popular and likeable all american hero, who the audience (not as dumb as you think) all know will never be a champion, and feed him to a shit talking contender. The result is that they will have created the ultimate heel in Sonnen, who will be more popular and controversial than ever, and create the biggest PPV buy ever for a title fight that was already going to get huge buys.

So you're suggesting they're intentionally using Stann as fodder to legitimize Sonnen as the ultimate heel (even though the world and its dog is already aware of Sonnen's status as the ultimate heel)?

Nope, I don't buy it. Plain and simple shitty matchmaking if they planned on turning Stann into a legitimate draw, because he's got absolutely nothing for Sonnen. Munoz/Stann is a much better match-up on the basis that Stann would have probably knocked Munoz's head off and ended up looking like a million bucks.

[Hannibal]

And you're suggesting there is not a single reason that this matchup is beneficial to the sport or the company....rather that joe silva is just bad at his job.

As a hardcore fan, you know who and what Sonnen is. My friends that go to bars to watch the popular UFCs...they barely know who sonnen is, and if they knew anything, they already forgot.

[Ladle]

And you're suggesting there is not a single reason that this matchup is beneficial to the sport or the company....rather that joe silva is just bad at his job.

Didn't say that. Since when does one instance of poor matchmaking make you bad matchmaker?

What I'm actually suggesting is that it's a bad idea to use Stann as fodder for a guy who already has a very credible case for a title shot. If the UFC were keen on turning Stann into some kind of draw at 185 - which they seemed to be - then Mark Munoz is easily the best opponent for him right now. Sonnen is just going to expose Stann as deficient repeatedly and successively.

As a hardcore fan, you know who and what Sonnen is. My friends that go to bars to watch the popular UFCs...they barely know who sonnen is, and if they knew anything, they already forgot.

People who are so apathetic that they "already forgot" that Sonnen dominated the current champion for four and a half rounds, will probably be equally as apathetic a few months after Sonnen has laid on Stann for three rounds.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

epic 20 min interview with Sonnen before UFC 132, he goes off on a ton of people

http://www.mmafighting.com/video/chael-sonnen-backstage/

[Hannibal]

Sonnen won't just lay on him. He will beat his ass for 3 rounds.

What the casual fans won't forget though...is Sonnen calling an american hero a fraud or whatever else he comes up with.

[aznufcguy]

Sonnen wins this one easily. Putting against the best wrestler in the division is asking him to lose. Better off having him fight Bisping, Munoz, or even a Damian Maia.

[urge2kill]

Bodog opened sonnen at -210