During the premiere edition of his new “You’re Welcome” podcast, former UFC title contender Chael Sonnen spoke with veteran MMA journalist about the subject of fighters promoting themselves and their fights more effectively.
As the discussion rolled on, a few examples started coming into play, such as “The Notorious” Conor McGregor and Raphael Assuncao.
The two are the perfect examples, as right now we’re in the middle of watching Assuncao riding a 7-0 winning streak, including a win over the current champion, get passed over for the next title shot by McGregor, who is rumored to be fighting the winner of the next UFC Featherweight Championship match between Jose Aldo and Chad Mendes.
Regarding Assuncao, “The American Gangster” offered the following comment:
“I watched [Raphael] Assuncao – I know Assuncao, he’s a very nice guy and one heck of a fighter – they give him an interview the other day, it was so bad. He’s smiling there with a boyish grin. When they say, ‘Will this [win] get you the attention and the nod?’ he says, ‘I hope so.’ What kind of a way to go through life is that? Hope is not a plan. If you want something you go out and demand it. If you want something go out and claim it, say that it’s yours!”
On the flip-side of that coin, however, Sonnen applauded McGregor for his approach at trying to secure the next title shot.
“Conor McGregor showed up recently with a belt (on the UFC 178 post-fight show on FOX following his win over Dustin Poirier) and a lot of people are saying, ‘That was ridiculous.’ Well, a lot of other people thought he was the champ. A lot of people didn’t know he was just showing up with the belt, a lot of people were just tuning in. When a little old lady from Iowa turns on her TV and sees this Irishman and a twelve-pound gold belt, she’s going to assume he’s the champion. Good for Conor and bad for everybody else.”
You can check out the debut edition of Sonnen’s “You’re Welcome” podcast, which is available right now, at PodcastOne.com. New episodes of the show will drop each Wednesday at the Podcast One website.
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