Sonnen on McGregor, Assuncao: Hope is not a plan

Conor McGregor is one of the the best trash talkers in mixed martial arts today. Chael Sonnen is the best ever, and one of the best ever in the history of combat sports.

On the debut episode of his new Podcast “You’re Welcome” Sonnen indicated his approval. McGregor showed up post fight at UFC 178 with a belt, a stunt pioneered by Sonnen, but the Gangster from Oregon could only smile.

“I’m ripping someone off too,” said Sonnen as transcribed by Fighters Only. “I can’t remember who else did that, maybe that one was an original, maybe I came up with that one on my own. But so what? We’re all stealing each other’s ideas, that’s what the world is. We don’t need to go out there and create new things. Not everything is a new recipe. If somebody’s doing something and you like what they’re doing, find out what they did to get there and go out and copy it.”

“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.”

McGregor is ranked #5 at featherweight. One division down at bantamweight, and one place up at #4 sits Raphael Assuncao, but the Brazilian is not getting billboards in Sao Paulo, like McGregor is in Dublin.

“I know Assuncao, he’s a very nice guy and one heck of a fighter,” said Sonnen. “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 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!”

So what do you think UG? Who gets a title shot first, McGregor or Assuncao?