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[Doggage]

- SONNEN THROWN OFF BY FILHO'S TACTICS - MMA WEEKLY - Mixed Martial Arts & UFC News, Photos, Rankings & more

by Jeff Cain - MMAWeekly.com

Chael Sonnen traveled to Hollywood, Fla. with the goal of winning the World Extreme Cagefighting middleweight title and avenging a previous loss to Paulo Filho. He avenged the loss, but left the "Sunshine State" without the belt.

Originally scheduled as a five-round title bout, the fight was relegated to a three-round non-title match after Filho failed to make weight. Sonnen was disappointed that his title shot ended when Filho stepped on the scales, but he tried to remain focused on the fight. "It was heartbreaking. It really hurt me alot. And I sort of went through the denial phase to make it through the 24 hours," Sonnen said at the post-fight press conference.

"I even kind of had to lie to myself in order to put it out of my mind. But I worked really hard and I wanted to get that championship," added the 31-year old fighter. "I can't spin it any other way. It really hurt."

After officially weighing in four pounds over the 185-pound limit, Filho allegedly commented that he'd give Sonnen the belt if he lost. He lost, but the belt wasn't handed over. Asked about the situation, Sonnen said, "I did hear that rumor. I heard he said he would surrender it, that he would count this as a championship match. Of course that wouldn't be official, but just something between the two of us. And I would have accepted. I'm that desperate for the championship and to have that goal fulfilled that I would have humbly accepted that belt from him. But no, he didn't offer it to me."

The fight itself was bizarre. Filho never engaged Sonnen and outside of pulling guard a few times, did very little of anything. "Every time I envisioned the match and played it through in my head, the different scenarios, I never once envisioned him not fighting back," said the Team Quest trained Sonnen. "I never envisioned him just laying there. I didn't know what to do."

"It was similar to being at a dance with a partner who doesn't know how to dance. It really threw me off," he added. "There was even a couple of scenarios on his feet where he turned away. I didn't know if it was a vision problem. If he got a little disoriented or if he was baiting me in. I've never seen it. I've never seen it in another fight. I haven't had it done to me in a practice or competition, so I was definitely thrown off. It made me be real cautious. And I regret that a little bit."

[jwistead]

I just watched the WEC card last night. Something I noticed about Filho, it looked like he tried to blow his nose twice *during the fight*. Almost "farmer-style", one finger in one nostril and then blow. I can't remember which round I saw him do it first, but the second time was in the third round, you can actually see him step back and break the action, and he just does something wierd to his nose. You can see Sonnen kind of look at him wierd like "what's this guy doing?" I'm playing the devil's advocate here. I wonder if Filho was sick? Maybe he had the flu or something. I can't imagine anything worse than trying to dehydrate myself/cutting weight while I have the flu, and then turn around and fight the next day.

Just a theory. I only bring it up because I saw it last night, and it looked kind of strange when it happened. I was surprised the announcers didn't say anything. Another explanation might be that Filho was just completely tired and needed more air, it looked like he might have been trying to pry his nose back, open up the air passages a bit (especially when he did it in the third round).

[Supe]

I saw that same thing but immediately thought "Damn, with how worn he looks and he keeps tryin to blow his nose, looks like he was up all night blowin lines" Im sure im WAYYY off base, but that was my initial thought.

[mcptfc2007]

what is going on here surely filho aint keeping the title and it will be handed over 2 sonnen,

does anybody know what the latest is? and what is going 2 happen?

[UFC Fann]

Fuck that Sonnen don't deserve that title either. Title fight or not he made it just as boring. Filho was standing right in front of him and all he threw were bitch jabs. All he was doing was to get a decision victory which I do not appreciate. What was the worse that Filho could do if he tried to throw some real bombs at him? NOTHING!! Good thing they didn't hand Sonnon the title cuz man that was fukin terrible. What a terrible way for both fighters to perform at a co-main event. Doesn't matter anyways, they're going to get rolled through in the UFC .

[0mega1]

fihlo is on drugs, that guy is on meds or something he was out of it.

[da@LARGE]

My heart goes out to Sonnen. Filho looked like he didn't want to be there, and how are you supposed to fight a guy who doesn't want to fight. I think Sonnen realized that if he came at Filho aggressively, then it would make him look bad.

Instead, he continually tried to encourage Filho to do something by peppering him with jabs and leg kicks. It was a sad fight to watch.

[Palma]

Originally Posted by da@LARGE

My heart goes out to Sonnen. Filho looked like he didn't want to be there, and how are you supposed to fight a guy who doesn't want to fight. I think Sonnen realized that if he came at Filho aggressively, then it would make him look bad.

Instead, he continually tried to encourage Filho to do something by peppering him with jabs and leg kicks. It was a sad fight to watch.

He didn;t fight aggressively because he didn't want to lose again. He wasn't trying to encourage Filho to so something.... peppering was all he was willing to do, because if he stood in the pocket and traded it would have opened him up for a takedown and game over for Chael.

Chael won this won Sylvia style... like a chicken shit who wanted the win more then he wanted the fight.

[Nothing Ninja]

Sonnen didn't do much either - all around a boring ass fight. It looked like a spar session to me - no power being thrown, no agressor, just BS.

[Noise Chopped]

Um, yea - SONNEN WAS IN THAT FIGHT TOO. He's in part to blame, as well.

And the title doesn't mean anything, guys. Who cares who gets it. Isn't Zuffa doing away with it soon, anyway? Title, title, title - Who cares. Doesn't mean anything. Especially after that performance (by BOTH fighters).