Exactly Stephen. As for the sponsor threatening to end ties with Okami, well, that's just business and they have the right to do so.
I called this a long time ago. I don't think anything would've happened in the way of physical harm, but his presence would definitely become a distraction to Okami at the worst time to be distracted. People will be throwing things at him. Okami doesn't need that distraction. Besides, he really doesn't need Sonnen to corner him, IMO. Having Sonnen in his corner wouldn't be an advantage IMO. Okami is better off not having him in his corner. But I knew with all the trash talk, Sonnen would have to make the choice to stay away. Smart choice on his part. At least for the sake of his friend.
Dana White just said he thought it was a really good idea for Chael to stay away.
He's one man. He doesn't make anyone look like anything, except himself.
And let's be honest, Dana LOVES the way he talks, and wishes more fighters
would garner the attention that Sonnen does for the UFC.
It's kind of what Taylor said, he's a real world troll, who backs his words up.
Look at all the attention he can get in a Jiu-Jitsu forum, when he is constantly
bashing Jiu-Jitsu.
Let's have some perspective on the manner. A whole goddamned country
hates one man? That's a sad, sad day when a country relinquishes all its
power to one man's words. He got the better of them, it's too bad.
I disagree. He's getting a taste of his own medicine in that he is being attacked in irrational and unnecessary ways that do not relate to actual fighting. Okami's group asking him not to come is a byproduct of his actions - it was not his corner, but rather his Brazilian sponsor, who asked him not to come, because it would be bad PR. That is not even an attack, it's basic marketing. You don't put Hitler on a poster for Hebrew school; he should have kept his mouth shut, and this time it cost his friend. I don't see how these two things are mutually exclusive.
As far as Brazil as a country, I don't think it is feeling threatened, so much as it is feeling hatred. It's not like they said, "If Chael shows up, he will help Okami win, and give insulting interviews, so let's kick him out." Instead, it was more like, "This guy insulted my people and my family, so if I see him I'll freaking kill him." And I do believe that a fighter can still be a coward. There are different types of cowardice. Some people learn to ignore, handle, or even enjoy physical pain or even emotional beatings. Wrestlers are especially known for demonstrating this mentality. It's a core part of their culture. I think he is a coward because he shows it outside of the ring, when he is not doing what he is best at and most comfortable doing. He deflects actual interview questions that could penetrate who he is as a human being, instead answering with BS hype and reactionary comments every time. He refuses to verbally confront Brazilians in any way that allows them an even playing field to fight back, or to make rational comments. He just throws insults around that are way beyond any acceptable line, by anyone's standards. Then, he retreats from Brazil and abandons his friend and teammate, claiming fear of arrest or murder? As if they are actually going to go after him and risk never having another UFC event again. That's like Anderson backing out of their fight because Chael said he was planning on crippling him. Come on, that's a BS threat being used as a BS excuse, and we all know it.
Finally, I just want to say that I never claimed Chael wasn't, bigger, stronger, tougher, or better trained than me. I would never step into the ring with Anderson, and I'm not stupid enough to, because I am not an elite professional MMA fighter. Chael is. But either way, I believe that there are a million reasons he could have taken that fight (money, spotlight, ego, etc), and they don't mean that he is not a coward in most other ways. If we are comparing Chael to me, and focusing on cowardice, I think this is a better analogy: I am no soldier, but if you were in a war-zone (where the ability to fight Anderson matters less than intelligence, poise, morality, and bravery), you'd be way better off having me at your side than that guy. The guy is a self-centered douche-bag who needs to get his rematch, so that we can see a healthy Anderson wipe the freaking floors with him.
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