(Either on his way to corner a fighter or commit a break-in. You just never know.)
All day long I’ve been waiting to hear details on exactly what combination of prescription drugs, nachos, and crippling depression was responsible for Paulo Filho showing up seven pounds overweight and then fighting like a bored schizophrenic at last night’s WEC. Judging by his remarks to Tatame, however, it sounds as if Filho is going to try and play this one off as nothing more than a bad night after a bad training camp:
“What can I do, it’s sad… The fact is that I have no excuses, he (Sonnen) went there and did his job to neutralize me and that’s what happened, he did the right job and he has all merits… It was good to give me a new spirit.”
A new spirit? I guess that’s a start. The old one looked pretty worn out, if not non-existent. As far as how he’s planning to turn things around, Filho seems to think the answer consists of moving to Los Angeles and eventually going up a weight class.
“Here will be good, everybody is coming here and that’s because it works. At Brazil we hadn’t a good training camp, and here I believe we’ll have a high level training. The loss isn’t good, but that’s good to learn. We need more focus, responsibility, and the weight is a problem… What happened yesterday we’ll forget and start all over again. We’ll train here and get our rematch with Sonnen, and then go to light-heavyweight division.”
Oh great, a rematch. That’s just what we all want to see after last night’s odd snoozer of a fight. Going up to light heavyweight might be a decent idea, but at 5′9″ Filho is far from your typical 205-pounder. The better approach might be to stay at middleweight and simply become more disciplined with his diet and training.
Or just moving to L.A. and calling it good. I’m sure that will fix things.
(“Boys, please, can’t you settle your differences with words?” Photo courtesy of MMA Weekly.)
The California Kid invades Hollywood (Florida), Chael “RE/MAX” Sonnen aims to do a bit of closing on Paulo Filho’s middleweight title reign, and Leonard Garcia will be smuggling nothing but his fists and feet across the border that is Jens Pulver’s face. I’m coked-out Mauro Ranallo and I’ll be your liveblogger tonight — the specials are honor, glory, pumpkin crème brûlée, and maybe some championship gold?
Just kidding, it’s only me, BG. Hit that “More” link and refresh the page every few minutes to get all the latest from tonight’s live event on Versus. Should be a monster.
Whoa, are you guys watching this Sports Soup shit? Garbage! Joel McHale is not to be imitated. And alright, here we go…
I like this intro. Leonard Garcia just punched some guy so hard that he turned into glass and shattered. Literally. Florida is “not a swing state tonight,” according to this commentator whose name I didn’t catch. Frank Mir is in the house, of course, wearing what seems to be an outfit from Penn Jillette’s closet. “See how we elect a champion in the WEC,” says Mr. Dude. Mauro Ranallo is spinning in his martini right now.
Jake Rosholt vs. Nissen Osterneck (middleweights)
Both men are undefeated and are making their WEC debuts tonight; interesting, considering the WEC is reportedly folding their middleweight division after this event. I wonder if they know? Rosholt is a three-time NCAA wrestling champion. Mir makes the bold claim that Rosholt might be the third-best college wrestler ever. Round 1: Osterneck rushes forward throwing punches in bunches, but Rosholt clamps on and scores a takedown. He moves from side control to back control, and tries to set up a choke but Osterneck wriggles out. Osterneck looks for an armbar from the bottom. He gets up and rocks Rosholt with punches. Again, Rosholt tries to stop the damage with a clinch, but Osterneck bashes him off. Rosholt tries to clinch against the cage and eventually gets Osterneck down, throwing punches from the top. Rosholt throws a big knee into Osterneck’s body, then one to the shoulder, close to the head, that earns a warning from the ref. Osterneck tries to create some space after kicking off Rosholt, but Rosholt sticks right back on. Rosholt throws elbows into Osterneck’s body. Rosholt takes Osterneck’s back and drills punches into the side of his head. Osterneck rolls and Rosholt takes half-guard. Rosholt tries to set up a choke as the bell rings.
Round 2: Rosholt’s face is mad swollen. Leg kicks from Osterneck. Rosholt shoots and wraps Osterneck’s leg up, but Osterneck is able to flip Rosholt to the ground, looking for a kimura. Rosholt escapes and gets on top. He takes a breather for a moment, then gets side-control. Rosholt continues to lie on top of Osterneck and the crowd boos. They get to their feet and Osterneck slugs Rosholt with a punch combo and a knee. He misses a spinning backfist and gets taken down, and Rosholt is on top bashing Osterneck in the side of the head. He turtles up and Rosholt jackrammers him until the fight is stopped. Jake Rosholt def. Nissen Osterneck via TKO, 3:48 of round 2.
Hey look, a Urijah Faber No Fear commercial. “What do I fear? I’ll let you know when I find it.” Cool, but I’m still not gonna wear those t-shirts.
Jens Pulver vs. Leonard Garcia (featherweights)
Garcia, for some reason, comes out to “Jukebox Hero” by Foreigner. And it looks like Pulver’s double black-eyes have cleared up in time for the match. Monte Cox is in Pulver’s entourage, wearing a XXXL TapouT shirt. And Garcia tweaks his nipples when he’s introduced! It’s over, Jens! Round 1: Hard leg kick from Garcia. Jens moves forward with some nice punches, rattling Garcia. Head kick from Garcia off Pulver’s glove. Garcia sticking/moving nicely, now he’s landing some brutal punches. Pulver stiffens up against the cage and Garcia finishes him off with power shots. Very impressive. Leonard Garcia moves one step closer to a title shot against Faber. (Or, Mike Brown, obviously. Cough.) Leonard Garcia def. Jens Pulver via TKO, 1:12 of round 1. Garcia says he’s the #1 contender now, but a guy named Wagnney Fabiano just signed to the WEC, so we’ll see.
David Avellan vs. Aaron Simpson (middleweights)
I don’t really know who these guys are, but SOMEBODY’S ‘O’ MUST GO! Round 1: Simpson slips in the overhand right death-blow in the opening seconds, Rashad Evans style! Knockout. That’s all she wrote, bros. Aaron Simpson def. David Avellan via KO, 0:18 of round 1.
Paulo Filho is backstage, hitting pads in his signature sleeveless flannel shirt. Do you think he has an entire closet full of those things? Or does he just have the one, that he never washes?
Paulo Filho vs. Chael Sonnen (middleweight quasi-title fight)
Filho has a rather cavalier attitude regarding his missed weight. Sonnen, on the other hand, is incredibly pissed about it. “I promised my father on his death bed that I would win this title…and now I won’t be able to.” Filho? Beware the ghost of Chael Sonnen’s father. And then Filho comes out. Somewhere, Larry the Cable Guy is walking around shirtless. The crowd boos Filho. The announcer shouts out Tapout’s slogan as “Arrogant, Inyaface, and American.” FAIL. Round 1: Filho shoots and hangs on to one of Sonnen’s legs after some feeling-out. Sonnen sprawls and throws some fists into Filho’s body. Sonnen gets up and cracks Filho twice in the head. Filho rushes forward with a punch and falls over. Sonnen throws a punch down from the top, then a kick to Filho’s leg, then another punch. Filho aint doin’ dick but eating blows. Sonnen stupidly goes to the ground with Filho briefly, but backs off. The crowd boos the stalemate. Sonnen moves in and almost gets caught in an armbar. Sonnen stomps on Filho’s foot, and Filho rushes forward for a leglock attempt. Sonnen escapes and Filho goes to his back again. Bullshit fight. Sonnen should just let Filho up and end it. Sonnen kicks Filho’s legs, and Filho returns the favor. The horn sounds, the crowd roars angrily.
Round 2: Filho with a nice reverse kick, then a couple leg kicks. And another. Filho shoots, then clinches, but Sonnen falls on top in Filho’s guard. He lets Filho up. Filho shoots again and gets kicked in the head. He falls on his back, and Sonnen lets him up again. The crowd is back into this fight. Filho looks sluggish as hell. Filho grabs on and tries to pull guard, but Sonnen slams him hard and backs off. Filho misses a left hook and lets his arm swing back lazily. Can he possibly be gassed? Sonnen misses some punches. Filho shoots again, Sonnen sprawls. Sonnen punches Filho in the face and Filho rolls on his back; Sonnen backs off. Now Filho seems to be waking up, and he tries to steal the round with strikes, but the horm sounds before he can do much damage.
Round 3: Sonnen working his jab. Filho does nothing except try a lazy shoot that he gives up on. Filho just flops on his back, Nick Serra style. This is sad. Sonnen tagging him with kicks to the legs and body punches from the top just to get up on the scorecards. The ref orders Filho up. Sonnen throwing some light punches, then lands a good combo. Sonnen keeping busy, but he’s not over-committing on the punches; he’s just waiting out the bell. The crowd hates it; they chant “bullshit.” Filho tries to clinch and takes an elbow. He swings weakly and gets tagged. Filho whiffs a big reverse head kick. Sonnen drills a knee to the body and circles until the final horn. Pathetic. This is the #2 middleweight in the world? Not anymore. Filho probably blew his shot at the UFC entriely. Sonnen didn’t deserve that fight. The judges put this sad spectacle to an end, calling it 30-27 x 3 for Sonnen in a unanimous decision. And I guess it’s back to rehab for Filho. Or fat camp, maybe?
“There will be no dangling chad in Florida tonight…” says the announcer. BITCH THAT REFERENCE IS EIGHT GODDAMNED YEARS OLD. Is a Monica Lewinsky joke next?
Hurry the hell up, it’s 9:50 already. No word from backstage yet on whether Filho fulfilled his gentleman’s agreement to give up his worthless belt to Sonnen if he lost.
Urijah Faber vs. Mike Brown (featherweight title fight) Round 1: Faber with a body kick. Urijah shoots in with a left, then a right. They clinch and separate. Head kick from Faber off the glove. Brown catches Faber with a couple right hooks and pushes him against the cage. Knee from Faber, but Brown returns, and they’re free after Faber tumbles backwards. Brown rushes forward and cracks Urijah with a punch, shaking him badly. Faber springs forward with an elbow, but runs directly into Brown’s fist, and he goes down. Brown swarms Faber on the ground, firing punches until the ref stops it. Mike Brown is the new WEC featherweight champion. WTF?!? Mike Brown def. Urijah Faber via shocking the world, 2:23 of round 1. Craaaazy. Mike Brown chokes up during the post-fight interview. Urijah Faber loves life, and is a happy person, and will be back to get that belt. So he won’t be killing himself after the show, is what I think he’s trying to say. Good for him. Mike Brown has to be helped out of the cage; it looks like he effed up a rib. So, it’s bittersweet, I guess.
Anyway, I’m out, because I love life and I’m a happy person. Flannel party at Fatty Filho’s place!
In preparation for his bout with Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 on Nov. 15, Randy Couture is doing just about the only thing you can: tussling with big wrestler-types. He looks to be handling them pretty well in this video. Then again, none of these dudes is Brock Lesnar. Just saying.
Below, Chael Sonnen absolutely refuses to complain about his somewhat controversial loss to Paulo Filho and talks about his plan for this Wednesday’s WEC rematch.
From Sherdog — for the first time since checking into a Brazilian rehab facility last month, undefeated WEC middleweight champ Paulo Filho speaks about his condition and his delayed rematch with Chael Sonnen. Apparently, Filho was addicted to “Rupinal” (possibly referring to Rohypnol, aka “the date rape drug”), and had been suffering from depression even before his first fight in America. As far as Sonnen, “What I have to say is the lion does not deal with men.” Wait a minute Paulo…are you high right now?!
“The doctor has released Paulo from the rehabilitation center, and Monday he returns to train. Paulo is already running, making a diet, a set diet and from 102 kilograms (224 lbs) he has already dropped to 95 kilograms (209 lbs). He is leading a normal life and is well motivated. About his return, the WEC will decide the ideal date, but he will be ready when they call.”
Jorge Guimaraes — the manager for WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho — talks about the recovery progress of his fighter. Filho was booked to rematch Chael Sonnen at this past Wednesday’s WEC 33 event. However, he had to pull out of the bout because of depression-related substance abuse and check into a rehab facility. Sonnen went on to fight and defeats Brian Baker at WEC 33, solidifying his status as the number one contender in the middleweight division. Could we see Filho-Sonnen II added to this June’s Faber-Pulver card? We’ll have to wait and see.
First, a blown-out knee threw a monkey wrench into what was going to be the most interesting fight of UFC 85. Now it’s Ultimate Fight Night 13’s turn to lose a highly anticipated bout, as a shoulder injury has forced Spencer Fisher to withdraw from his match against Marcus Aurelio on April 2nd. Said Fisher’s manager Monte Cox:
“Marcus Aurelio is not the kind of fighter you want to fight at 80 percent. [Fisher] was willing to fight but we decided it just was not a smart decision.”
Aurelio is now expected to face Jim Miller, a 10-1 lightweight who has never set foot in the Octagon, and whose sole loss came at the hands of Frankie Edgar at a Reality Fighting event in 2006. Should be a……………….ah, sorry, nodded off for a second there.
In related news, 6-0 middleweight Bryan “The Beast” Baker has stepped in to face Chael Sonnen next Wednesday at WEC 33, which will be headlined by a light-heavyweight title fight between Doug Marshall and Brian Stann. Paulo Filho is still drying out in a Brazilian rehab facility, working the program and taking it one day at a time.
First we mocked him for pulling out of his WEC 33 fight against Chael Sonnen. Then it looked like he sacked up and the fight was back on. Well, now it’s off again, and drugs are reportedly to blame for Filho’s mysterious depression and personal issues. From WEC.tv:
WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho has chosen to withdraw from his March 26th title defense against Chael Sonnen after voluntarily checking himself into an undisclosed rehabilitation center in Brazil on Thursday morning, March 13, to seek help for a substance abuse problem.
“This is horrible news, but we’re proud of him for stepping up and recognizing his problem,” said Filho’s manager, Ed Soares…“Paulo apologizes to his fans but he thanks them for their support and he promised that the next time they see him, he’ll be back at 100 percent and will be the Paulo Filho everyone expects to see.”
The WEC light heavyweight title bout between Doug Marshall and Brian Stann will now be moved into the March 26th main event slot. Any further plans regarding the card will be announced at a later date.
In a follow-up article on Sherdog, Jorge Guimaraes — also referred to as Filho’s manager — added:
“We tried our best with Filho, but it didn’t work and he’ll not fight in the WEC. He tried with all his effort to accomplish the title defense, but he realized he couldn’t do it due to chemical dependence and depression. He knew this kind of stuff does not have a link with the sport, and I’m happy he had a conscience and looked for help…The WEC staff was superb with us. They understood the situation, and Filho will return and defend his belt in June.”
Well, we wouldn’t bet on it. We’ve watched enough Celebrity Rehab to know that Filho has two choices here: focus on his recovery for a long period of time and get healthy, or go back to training and fighting around the same people and situations that allowed his drug problem to escalate in the first place. An extended rehab stay is necessary, but it could seriously get in the way of his training. Who knows if he’ll be ready three months from now, mentally or physically? We’ll update you when we know more, and we truly hope Filho can bounce back from this and eventually get on with his truly promising career.
Despite numerous reports that he was postponing his rematch with Chael Sonnen (19-9-1) on March 26, WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho (14-0) will indeed headline the upcoming WEC event as scheduled.
In addition, the WEC announced the entire March fight card this week.
Filho’s participation in the March event was confirmed by his manager, Ed Soares, in an interview with Sherdog.com on Thursday afternoon. Reports that he would exercise a clause in his contract to postpone the bout until June because of depression appear to be inaccurate.
Here’s a snip from Soares:
“He went through some personal issues, and he basically pulled everything together. During difficult times you get to see who your true friends are, and everyone is coming together to help him get ready for this fight.”
After a lackluster round and a half in their first encounter, Filho won the December 2007 contest after catching Sonnen in an armbar at the end of the second round. Sonnen refused to submit when asked repeatedly by the referee; however, he stepped in and stopped the bout after Sonnen unleashed a scream that was audible to those even watching on television.
After protesting the decision, the WEC granted Sonnen an immediate rematch based on the controversy.
The WEC: Filho vs. Sonnen II bill has another championship bout come fight night. WEC Light Heavyweight Champion, Doug “The Rhino” Marshall (7-2), a winner of three in a row, against Brian “All-American” Stann (5-0). The Rhino — known more for his punching power — showed his submission game in his previous title defense with a quick, first round armbar victory over Ariel Gandulla.
Stann is a true American hero. A former first lieutenant in the US Marine Corps during the Iraq War, Stann received the Silver Star for bravery in battle. Turning pro after coming home from Iraq, the “All American” has compiled a perfect record with all of his fights ending in first round knockouts.
The undercard showcases some rising WEC stars.
Two undefeated lightweights, Ed “9mm” Ratcliff — fresh off his win over Alex Karalexis — and Marcus “The Wrecking Ball” Hicks look to climb up the ladder. Light heavyweight up-and-comers Steve Cantwell and “The Wrecking Machine” Tim McKenzie will lock horns in a fight with title implications.
McKenzie is actually the last man to beat current WEC light heavyweight champ Doug Marshall
Former WEC welterweight challengers John Alessio and Brock Larson square off in a much anticipated match. Sergio Gomez faces a tough challenge in former WEC lightweight contender Richard Crunkilton. Unbeaten welterweight prospect Ryan Stonitsch makes his WEC debut against the crafty Alex Serdyukov. Rising American Top Team lightweight juggernaut Chris Manuel puts his undefeated mark on the line against Japanese standout Kenji Osawa. And middleweight prospect Logan Clark steps to undefeated Bryan Baker in n opening bout.
WEC: Filho vs. Sonnen II takes place at “The Joint” at Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday, March 26. It will air on the Versus network at 10 p.m. ET.
We told you yesterday that Paulo Filho went all Britney Spears and pulled out of the WEC event on March 26th where he was to fight Chael Sonnen. That fight had reportedly been pushed to June, provided Filho could stay on his happy pills. Well, scratch that. If Filho’s manager, Ed Soares, is to be believed, the fight is now back on for March 26th.
“He went through some personal issues, and he basically pulled everything together,” Soares said.
Training at the Black House gym in Rio de Janeiro, Filho has been preparing with Ricardo Arona (Pictures) and Rafael Feijao. Soares said UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will join the training camp on March 17.
Said Soares: “During difficult times you get to see who your true friends are, and everyone is coming together to help him get ready for this fight.”
So for now the rematch we thought we had to wait for is back on for later this month. One has to wonder how much pressure the WEC was putting on him to fight since their event card was looking weak at best. Sherdog is also saying that 5-0 middleweight Nissen Osterneck has also pulled out of the March gig. The fighter was set to battle 6-0 Bryan Baker, even though the fight had never been officially announced by the WEC. The withdrawal was due to a shoulder injury that will keep the fighter out for eight months after surgery.
Props: 
Despite 