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[Doggage]

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The whole MMA world is well aware by now of WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho coming in an astonishing seven pounds overweight at Tuesday's weigh-in, and his lackluster bout with Chael Sonnen at WEC 36.

Because of Filho's issues with weight, the bout was knocked from its championship perch into a plain old three-round fight. Still, Filho reportedly put his belt - if not his official standing as champion - on the line against Sonnen.

After the weigh-ins, when the bout was re-negotiated as a three-rounder, Sonnen's trainer, Matt Lindland, told MMAWeekly.com, "(Filho's) cornermen told us that they would walk across the cage and hand Chael the belt if he wins. When Chael whoops his ass, I expect them to live up to their word."

Well, Sonnen didn't exactly whoop Filho's ass, as it were, but he did walk away from the bout with a unanimous decision victory. In the cage on Wednesday night, however, no one walked over to Sonnen to hand him the belt.

On his way out of the competition area, Lindland told MMAWeekly.com that Filho's corner said that they would hand the belt over in the dressing room.

Then came the post-fight press conference. What say Lindland and Sonnen? "No belt, yet."

Later that night, Sonnen was walking around the Hard Rock complex... no belt.

Contacted by MMAWeekly.com on Friday via text message to see if he ever received the belt, Sonnen responded, "No. His manager did call and said that it's in the mail."

Now that's a new one...

[TN94z]

i understand the whole principal about the whole situation, but it won't be official so who cares? I mean Sonnen can't officially point to the belt and say he's the champ. Technically he is the champ and can say that he is, but officially he was just screwed.

[BUKKAKALYPSE]

in the mail!? lolz this is just brutal. hope he sends a card and some chocolates too

[classicironman]

if the challenger doesnt make weight he looses the chance at the title so i think its only fair since filho didnt make weight he should give up the belt and since sonnen won he should get it. he did what he was supposed to do.

[jcmichaels42]

It doesn't really matter anyway. The Middleweight division in the WEC is dead anyway, and I doubt the UFC will do any kind of "unification" fight if Chael Sonnen is the champ. And definitely not with Filho since he won't fight Silva.

[Doggage]

I just think it's shitty to say you would give the belt away IN the ring after the fight so the audience can see. Then, according to this article, say you would do it in the dressing room so Sonnen could at least bring it to the post fight press conference. Only to then simply mail it and be as discreet as possible.

[UFC Fann]

He doesn't deserve the belt anyways, he couldn't even knock out a out of shape Filho. Even Frank Mir was like wtf is Sonnen doing.

[Diegonightmare]

Originally Posted by UFC Fann

He doesn't deserve the belt anyways, he couldn't even knock out a out of shape Filho.

You only have to defeat the champion to earn the belt. It's not required to knock him out, or even finish him at all. He dominated him for 15 minutes. He does deserve the belt.

[0mega1]

Originally Posted by Diegonightmare

You only have to defeat the champion to earn the belt. It's not required to knock him out, or even finish him at all. He dominated him for 15 minutes. He does deserve the belt.

i agree! sonnen looked like shit but fihlo (the champ) looked even worse

[lwbrewer]

Sonnen had little armbars floating in his head the whole match. It takes two too fight and Filho wasn't fighting. Sonnen would of been stuiped to go to the ground with him if he didn't need to. I can see were Filho tactics would mess with Sonnens head and cause a lack luster fight as it was.