Morning Report: Chael Sonnen says Conor McGregor is 'feathering the nest for a fall' against Jose Aldo
UFC 194 is only days away and the pressure is on.
UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will finally meet interim champ Conor McGregor Dec. 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada in what will absolutely be a turning point for both men.
Aldo doesn't fight incredibly often, but he doesn't lose. He hasn't lost a fight in 10 years and he's the only featherweight champ the UFC has ever known. In a few short years, McGregor has catapulted himself into stardom with less wins, but more mouth.
The tension between the pair has been explosive, but former UFC contender Chael Sonnen believes the mutual respect has transformed into outright fear.
"I have never seen a fight of this magnitude where both guys are so scared that they're going to lose," Sonnen told Submission Radio. "Every time you have a huge fight in wrestling, in boxing, in MMA, both guys are sure they're going to win. They really believe it. These guys are so scared of one another and so positive that the other guy is going to beat them. I've never seen anything like it."
For McGregor, Sonnen points to recent comments he made in regards to the loss of former women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey at UFC 193.
"Conor McGregor is feathering a nest for a fall," said Sonnen. "It's so apparent to a guy who understands the psychology of sport. He just did an interview where he said, 'The secret ingredient to success is failure' and 'nobody can really be the best until they get beat.' That's just not true. I could name a bunch of guys who went undefeated. You don't have to get beat. It was a weird thing for him to say and he was feathering the nest."
Sonnen went a different direction with Aldo, essentially just calling him a coward.
"Jose Aldo, this guy's a chicken," said Sonnen. "I can't even tell you how good Jose Aldo is but he doesn't think it. When Georges St-Pierre retired and Jon Jones was absent, I had Jose Aldo the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. That's how highly I think of him. That guy's a chicken. He's pulled out of five fights. He's already pulled out of this one once."
Aldo defends his featherweight title to McGregor Dec. 12 in the main event at UFC 194 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Can you imagine? Chuck Mindenhall wonders what could happen to Conor McGregor if he actually beats UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo at UFC 194.
Strained. Jon Jones' agent says the former champion's relationship with the UFC is "professional," but needs "a lot of repair."
'You win and lose in the fight game.' UFC president Dana White says former women's bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is "bigger now" than before her loss to Holly Holm.
'I'd be willing to teach her a lesson.' Miesha Tate says Bethe Correia "needs a more brutal beatdown" than Ronda Rousey gave her at UFC 190.
Hindsight. Boxing promoter Lou DiBella says Ring Magazine should have put Holly Holm on the cover before she kicked "the sh*t out of" Ronda Rousey.
MEDIA STEW
UFC 194 Embedded on FOX: Jose Aldo vs Conor McGregor.
UFC Fight Night: VanZant vs. Namajunas embedded episodes 2, 3 & 4.
Highlights from Legacy 49.
Chris Weidman talks possible fight with Jon Jones.
Holly Holm's parade speech in Albuquerque.
Conor McGregor's movement guru doesn't think Aldo will be able to adjust in their fight.
TTTHS.
Long watches.
KNUCKLE UP #337: The Storm Before the Quiet or Why No One Wins This Weekend But The Bald One's House
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Jose Aldo vs Conor McGregor - Breakdown - Pre-Fight Analysis - Coach Firas Zahabi
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TWEETS
Wow.
The champ is home! #HolmComing pic.twitter.com/It01b7fiXj
— UFC (@ufc) December 6, 2015
Soon.
I sure am gonna miss this color scheme. Sacrifices have been made and will pay off soon. #highelevation pic.twitter.com/16eH8rQZuu
— Chris Weidman (@ChrisWeidmanUFC) December 6, 2015
All business, hair don't help you fight. @mavtro with the aerodynamic champ cut. #ufc194
Posted by Luke Rockhold on Sunday, December 6, 2015
Sounds good.
I get a lot of questions about - I'm retired? I'm not retired. Next year I'll be back InshaALLAH. Thank you guys pic.twitter.com/vrUhE1JooY
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) December 6, 2015
Buds.
@UFCGYMHonolulu UFC GYM 3 YR Anniversary!! With da man @matthughes9x Come check us out!! Aloha! pic.twitter.com/o4NoqK0aHO
— BJ PENN (@bjpenndotcom) December 5, 2015
Beef.
@danawhite Thank U for the post, Millions that didn't realize I was fighting In Bellator tuned in because of you #ImInYourHead stay classy
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) December 5, 2015
Tis the season.
When u send @sergiopettis to get a tree!!! #lmfao #charliebrowntree #wtf https://t.co/VsW9pnp4on
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 6, 2015
Better... @sergiopettis #happyholidays #christmas https://t.co/ylpzSBBHzW
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) December 7, 2015
@Showtimepettis mine was more gangster
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) December 7, 2015
Next level.
Kicking balloons for GQ magazine tonight! #BodyEdition #ReebokZPump pic.twitter.com/67Xm0vQo1o
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 5, 2015
Pretty good.
I looooove this!!!!!!!! https://t.co/TnzXGclwOF
— Holly Holm (@HollyHolm) December 5, 2015
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced this weekend (Dec. 4-6 2015)
Marcos Galvao vs. Eduardo Dantas at Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2
David Rickels vs. TBA at Bellator 150: Galvao vs. Dantas 2
Tom Breese vs. Nakamura Keita at UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Mousasi
Justin Scoggins out, Geane Herrera vs. Joby Sanchez at The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale
Francimar Barroso vs. Abdul-Kerim Edilov at UFC Fight Night: Dillashaw vs. Cruz
Erik Koch out, Drew Dober vs. Scott Holtzman at UFC 195
Found something you'd like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we'll include it in tomorrow's column.