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UFC on FOX 2 results: Chael Sonnen steals promo from Superstar Billy Graham after beating Michael Bisping

We already knew that Chael Sonnen was borrowing heavily from pro wrestling for his promos but last night (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) after his unanimous decision win over Michael Bisping, he outright stole an old promo from "Superstar" Billy Graham.

When Joe Rogan climbed inside the Octagon to ask Sonnen a question for the post-fight interview, Sonnen simply took the mic and did his thing.

Or I should say, Graham's thing.

This is a new low for Sonnen, whose schtick is so unbelievably tired, I can't imagine it will hold up for much longer, especially now that folks know he's straight up ripping off old pro wrestlers promos from way back in the day.

Above you can watch Sonnen's version but after the jump check out the original, from someone who actually knew how to cut a promo.

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Rip-off or homage?

Either way, I enjoyed Sonnen’s promo.

That Billy Graham promo was hilarious. I’ve never seen it before. It was fun to see young Vince.

I wonder if Billy Graham was running by baby Undertaker when he was tanning in Death Valley.

by Manolo Has Pizzazz on Jan 29, 2012 2:00 AM EST reply actions  

It's a fine line between rip-off and homage, I suppose

but I can imagine how many folks in MMA are so sick and tired of him lifting pro wrestling shit and inserting it into MMA.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Jan 29, 2012 2:36 AM EST up reply actions  

MMA needs more shit like this.

One of the reasons I find the sport so boring is the lack of theatricality to it. MMA could use a few more characters as far as I’m concerned.

I may be a minority I suppose, but this is the kind of stuff that would get me watching MMA. And perhaps the kind of thing that would get an MMA fan to try pro wrestling. I see nothing wrong with working a little crossover magic.

Beware my tiny electric fury.

by Gravity on Jan 29, 2012 3:50 AM EST up reply actions  

If it helps to create a good story between 2 guys with 1 being pissed off at the other for the wrestling promos

its just going to help PPV sales and I can’t imagine people being pissed about larger numbers for their PPVs

by hfl2013 on Jan 29, 2012 11:55 AM EST up reply actions  

couldn't disagree more

If people are paying attention, Chael is trolling MMA folks who hate pro wrestling being anywhere near their temple of Martial Arts. He’s showing that his pro wrestling shtick is precisely what will draw more eyes to the biz. There’s a lot of crossover in the venn diagram between people who despised Brock when he made the crossover (and even more when he succeeded), and the people who hate Chael’s act. He sells fights, sells himself, exposes the pretensions of MMA fans, and critics, who no matter how pure they fancy themselves in their love for the sport, are actually clueless to its roots. If they had a clue as to that, they’d realize that pro wrestling has been a part of MMA culture since the beginning of it.

by balllikemad on Jan 29, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions  

Then I guess you could also say Bloody Elbow stole your story?

Because they put a post up saying the exact same thing about 30 minutes after this one, Geno. Figured they at least give you a shoutout. I’m sure Roth saw your post before he posted his… don’t ya think?

"Vo-cab-u-lary's necessary when diggin' into my library..."

by TDITZ on Jan 29, 2012 2:55 AM EST reply actions  

No one is stealing anything from anyone.

Roth didn’t steal this from me and I didn’t steal this from anywhere. It sounded familiar but all Sonnen’s shit does and then I saw it on Twitter and it clicked. Boom, story.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Jan 29, 2012 1:35 PM EST up reply actions  

You're bullshitting.

Meltzer already announced Sonnen was doing the Superstar Graham gimmick days earlier. Him or Alvarez were the first to post the YouTube link. I know.

by TrailerParkTrash on Jan 29, 2012 2:26 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Maybe they were the first.

But that’s not where I saw it first.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Jan 29, 2012 4:09 PM EST up reply actions  

I love that people assume we all read the same sites

I for one don’t really care about stuff outside of the SB network. Every so often someone will write something interesting but for the most part, unless it’s on Mania/CSS/HKL/BE/Nation or Fighting, I really don’t care.

by Matthew Roth on Jan 29, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions  

MMA has lots of outlets, NOWADAYS.

It is that popular. But, you better look for more outlets if you’re pro wrestling fan or want a bigger perspective of MMA. Geno knows.

by TrailerParkTrash on Jan 29, 2012 5:13 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

There are very few pro wrestling sites that are worth anything.

The Observer is great, Torch is great, the spyware site has accurate backstage info but most of the rest just plagiairise word for word and never have anything interesting to say. They all also usually murder your computer with unnecessary shit. And my god, I can’t stand the pop-ups.

Forget it Donny, you're out of your element.

by Geno Mrosko on Jan 29, 2012 5:59 PM EST up reply actions  

There ya go!

You got the list. These new jacks don’t know. Even these wannabe hardcore MMA fans and writers don’t know sites like TheObserver. When this freaking old guy Meltzer was doing this since day 1 UFC 1. I read his reports of Japan before UFC 1.

by TrailerParkTrash on Jan 29, 2012 8:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

Which spyware site did you refer to?

by TrailerParkTrash on Jan 29, 2012 8:27 PM EST via mobile up reply actions  

I didn't actually steal it from Geno

It was pointed out to me in the radio show post while I was hosting last night. After that wrapped up I got to work with the post.

by Matthew Roth on Jan 29, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions  

If Sonnen comes out and admits it was a "Billy Graham inspired" promo then I'd be ok with it..

But Superstar did it ten times better. It also felt a little off considering Sonnen didn’t exactly dominate the fight.. he won it no doubt, but barely…

I’m good with Sonnen cutting promos and going over-the-top with his interviews… If it gets a few thousand more pairs of eyes to tune into FOX or better yet, buy a PPV then all the better.

I always think the MMA purists protest a little too much when pro-wrestling elements of showmanship and attitude creep in.

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by Art Middleton on Jan 29, 2012 2:58 AM EST reply actions  

yeah but dont forget

sonnen cut the promo after gettin a few punches in the skull and it was a tough fight for him too, its not the same to cut a promo after a wrestling match and after a real tough fight

i really like sonnen specially when he gets corny with the wrestling promos lol i really hope he gets that damn belt from anderson, im personally kinda tired of anderson, the division needs something new going on

by chaggo on Jan 29, 2012 6:48 AM EST up reply actions  

awesome

i think old tributes like that are probably the best thing going for mma right now. a slow death coming for that sport the likes of boxings death in the late 90s

by garringer420 on Jan 29, 2012 3:15 AM EST via Android app reply actions  

p.s.

also geno where the hell did sergio go. the man wrote stellar columns

by garringer420 on Jan 29, 2012 3:20 AM EST via Android app reply actions  

I’m not sure it’s a new low. He did it on Thursday too.

"I don't know where this term "training camp" in MMA came from. There's no campground. There's no tents." - Nick Diaz

My twitter: @TB_Money

by Tim Burke on Jan 29, 2012 4:17 AM EST reply actions  

really??

So you guys are al over Mark Henry’ys jock but dissing Chael? At least Chael admits that he is a pro wrestling fan. Plus he made everyone at home smile unlike when Mark comes on and he inspires people to call Domino’s

by Scott Whitt on Jan 29, 2012 4:21 AM EST reply actions  

So Mark Henry’s heel promos promising to kill someone are supposed to make me smile? What am absurd thing to say.

by Chris Cutrer on Jan 29, 2012 3:29 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions  

I don't even care about him ripping the promo as much as the context of it.

Acting big after shocking everyone against the best in the world is one thing, but saying that shit after a controversial decision over Bisping (that I, and many others, scored for Bisping) in a fight many pegged you to dominate? Unacceptable.

Together we are Ruining Your Special Night. Twice.

by sun yue on Jan 29, 2012 8:15 AM EST reply actions  

Bisping clearly won round 2, Sonnen clearly won round 3

Multiple live bloggers, fans and Sonnen himself thought Bisping took round 1, although I can see how others scored it for Sonnen.

Together we are Ruining Your Special Night. Twice.

by sun yue on Jan 29, 2012 11:00 AM EST up reply actions  

Dear Geno

Haters Gonna Hate. All joking aside, I would consider this a homage to Graham.

by MMA42 on Jan 29, 2012 11:22 AM EST reply actions  

Sonnen is one of the few things keeping my attention on MMA right now.

I thought his delivery of the promo was excelent, way better than Graham (at least on the video you linked).

And Sonnen talking like a world beater after barely scraping by Bisping? Classic Heel move, and i bet a lot of guys are just dying to see Silva smash this fool.

by Dannie Ray on Jan 29, 2012 11:38 AM EST reply actions  

Holy shit he straight jacked it.

You have been banned from Bloody Elbow.
I don’t know what you said, but I don’t like you.
12/22/11
"You actually got banned 3 times in 2 minutes by 3 different people"

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by *Californication* on Jan 29, 2012 1:35 PM EST reply actions  

I'm ok with it

Then again I’m a fan of both pro wrestling and MMA. I’ll never understand the absolute disdain some fans of one have for the other.

When Mike Ditka calculates pi it's decimal representation ends.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jan 29, 2012 4:53 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions  

Graham would love it.

And unlike most Graham rip-offs, this was done right.

And is it just me or was Vince better-looking in his 50s than he was in his 30s (as seen in the video above)?

by CAxlRose on Jan 29, 2012 6:05 PM EST via mobile reply actions  

Very well said, to me Chael just used the golden rule about stealing. That if you’re going to take something from someone make sure it’s from one of the greats because at least you prove you have good taste.

"I don't walk around looking at cameras telling people that I am the best fighter in the world to hear myself talk. I say it for the same reason they put warnings on packages of cigarettes, because fighting Chael Sonnen may be hazardous to one's health."-Chael Sonnen

by Raker on Jan 30, 2012 3:10 PM EST up reply actions  

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