What is going on with Anderson Silva and Ed Soares?
by David St. Martin on Feb 9, 2010 7:54 PM EST
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Well, it looks like the hype machine necessary to make anyone care about Chael Sonnen is off to curious start. After the dismantling of Nate Marquardt last Saturday night at UFC 109, Sonnen has been on a media frenzy of bizarre comments. Most interesting though has been his budding animosity with Anderson Silva’s manager, Ed Soares. The 185lb champ has been mostly silent about Sonnen, having bigger fish to fry with his upcoming title defense to Vitor Belfort. Most fans see Silva as quiet and dignified but is this really the case? Silva speaks practically no English and relies chiefly on Soares as his personal mouthpiece. Could Soares’ seemingly personal comments simply be a more practical way for Silva to communicate his feelings? Silva has to know that any comments made by his camp have a direct impact on his reputation so is it so crazy to assume he may be behind some of them? With Soares being one of the most influential managers in MMA, it’s possible he may just be coming into his own. With clients including Junior dos Santos, Lyoto Machida, Jose Aldo, Paulo Filho, and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, maybe Ed is just tired of being the man behind the men. Soares is quickly becoming the Drew Rosenhaus of MMA but does that give him the right to start acting like Joe Silva? In my opinion it doesn’t. The last thing this sport needs is another Don King.
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I think Don King is a bit much. Rather, a Scott Boras for Brazilian fighters. That being said Soares hasn’t really orchestrated any of the “agent coups” that Boras has. So maybe he is just a manger who has a pension of saying “meh, maybe he should fight someone else” to every opponent.
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I'm just saying
I don’t want to see Ed become Don King. Hes just showing early warning signs. The man has alot of power and we’re slowly starting to see him come out of his shell. I’m just interested in where Ed goes from here.
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by David St. Martin on Feb 9, 2010 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
This is far from a Don King situation if you ask me…
Soares is the voice of Black House, and speaks on behalf of his clients. He’s not acting in his own interest here, and really, with the progression of fights (Maia beats Sonnen, Marquardt beats Maia, Sonnen beats Marquardt) there really hasn’t been a clearly established #1 guy…
Additionally, Silva only wants big fights for good money and that advance things for him in terms of marketability and making more his next fight. Chael Sonnen doesn’t do that, regardless of how much he talks.
There are other fights out there that offer better opportunities for Anderson Silva, and this is his man Ed Soares laying the ground work for making that happen.
by E. Spencer Kyte on Feb 9, 2010 11:51 PM EST reply actions
Ditto.
I still think fans read way too much into Ed Soares statements and translates that into percieved power. He doesn’t hold sway or influence Dana White or Joe Silva. And we know how Dana White feels about managers. That’s why for the most part the “I hate Soares” chants doesn’t make sense.
If I was Soares, I would have an argument against all MW contenders except Marquardt prior to UFC 109. I think his argument against Sonnen is kind of bullsh*t but . . . yeah Maia did beat Chael in ONE round, something Marquardt and Okami could not do. If I was Soares, like Dana White, I want to paint a picture of my fighter to place him in the best possible situation. As much as the Sonnen fight may hype the hardcore MMA fans on the internet, I really doubt it will do anything towards raising Silva’s profile . . . especially if he dismantles Sonnen in his usual destructive manner. Oh yeah, that is IF he gets by Belfort.
yeah yeah yeah . . .
by VeeisAnimated on Feb 11, 2010 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
I see what you're saying
I’m just talking about my theories about their relationship. I’m not saying Ed is Don King just that I hope he never becomes him.
I totally agree with you about this being a bad business move. Silva fights pretty sparingly as it is so it makes sense that money is a major concern with him having a stake in PPV buys. Who would you guys like to see him fight? What makes sense?
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by David St. Martin on Feb 10, 2010 2:38 AM EST reply actions
Sonnen should not be the number one contender. Its a manager’s job to air concerns of their fighters and I agree that Sonnen needs one more fight before he can be considered for the title. Another way of looking at it, is that they are playing the same game as Sonnen does. Talk shit, create hype and then knock the guy out.
I was excited for the Chael Vs Nate fight by the end and I am going to be excited for this.
who do you think should get the next title shot then. Sonnen’s mouth has gotten him attention, but he is deserving of the fight in my opinion. He won three in a row against miller, and two guys people thought should be fighting for the title (okami and marquardt)
"That's an Awfully Big Mustache"-Frank Drebin
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by Zach Krantz on Feb 10, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
I agree.
I have no interest in that fight whatsoever but as far as guys in the UFC I cant see anyone else deserving it more. At least it will be someone’s first attempt at Silva which is more interesting that watching Okami or Marquardt get another chance.
Poyznus.com
by David St. Martin on Feb 10, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
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