Outspoken UFC Legend Chael Sonnen Reveals the Only Time He “Felt Terrible” Trash Talking His Opponent

Trash-talking is an integral part of the UFC. Fighters use trash talk to intimidate their opponents and create hype and excitement for the fight. There have been fighters in the past that were known for their trash-talk as much as they were known for their fighting spirit. Among the current crop of fighters, Conor McGregor and Colby Covington are considered the greatest exponents of the art. There is one fighter however who is considered the best at trash-talking in the MMA world.

Chael Sonnen may not have been a world champion, but he has won many battles in the trash-talking game. The fierce warrior is known for his bespoke attitude even today. Despite his love for talking, In a recent interview with True Geordie on YouTube, Sonnen remembered the one time he felt bad after trash-talking against a fighter.

Chael Sonnen made Paulo Filho sad

Talking about the time when he was new to MMA, Chael Sonnen remembered the lead-up to his fight against a Brazilian middleweight fighter Paulo Filho. Sonnen recalled how a gimmick he played to spice up his fight got the Brazilian fighter upset and that made Sonnen feel bad about his act.

Read More: Chael Sonnen Speaks Out on ‘Terrified’ Mike Tyson’s Unsettling Behavior – “What Is the Matter With This Guy?”

Sonnen recalled, “I came at it pretty hard and my big line was that I had a picture of him and I put it in my shoe so that every time I take a step I walked right on his face and that was it, but at that time that was like the worse, that was the dirtiest thing that had ever been said and I saw Paulo Filho’s eyes after they played that for him, he looked sad, he looked like that hurt his feelings and I felt terrible.

Paulo Filho defended his title

While we don’t know Filho’s side of the story yet, it seems the Brazilian took Sonnen’s comments to heart. In 2007 Chael Sonnen and Paulo Filho fought in the WEC. Filho was defending his title while Sonnen had just entered the game. Filho submitted Chael Sonnen in the second round.

Ultimately, trash-talking can add to the excitement of a fight, but it should be done respectfully and professionally. Fighters should avoid crossing the line into offensive or disrespectful behavior, and they should always remember that they are representing themselves and the sport of mixed martial arts.

Watch This Story: Conor McGregor Fires back at cheating accusations