Chael Sonnen’s TUF Coaching Team Is Scared For Their Safety In Brazil

The Ultimate Fighter Brazil III is well underway in South America, featuring a heated rivalry between ‘Gangster’ Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei ‘The Axe Murderer’ Silva. Their feud has been well documented, and Silva joins the long line of people waiting to get at Sonnen. The outspoken Oregon native has given more than his fair share of grief to perspective opponents.

During his now infamous rivalry with Anderson Silva, Sonnen blasted the Brazilian and his home country. More often than not it was just for laughs/sales, but it appears that things may be getting out of hand. Sonnen was already attacked by a Brazil native at an event and, according to UFC prez Dana White, things aren’t much better on the TUF Brazil 3 set:

“From what I have heard, the first day of filming was absolute insanity. Basically, it’s so crazy down there that the guys that are coaching on Chael’s team are scared to be there. That’s how insane it is inside that gym”

“I think this season is going to be explosive and crazy,” added White. “From what I’m hearing, the things that went down, Wanderlei is 100-percent being Wanderlei and Chael is being Chael.”

Obviously a series like TUF is going to be hyped to the hills, but there is always an element of truth in what White says (*pukes a little). Former Middleweight and Light-Heavyweight title challenger Chael Sonnen then added his two cents on MMAWeekly.com:

“The threats are very real, and we downplay them if anything. They’re real and genuine. Attempts have been made. It’s just the way it goes. I’m not going to live my life in fear. I don’t live in fear,” said Sonnen.“I don’t think about it a whole lot. Again, it’s a real thing. I recognize it. That’s it.”

As much of a suave lady killer that Sonnen is(n’t), I think he may have overstepped the mark with his comments about Brazilians. The South American nation as a whole is a very proud people; one that wears their hearts on their sleeves and Sonnen’s taunting seems to have hit a nerve.

I’ll keep you posted on any more developments on this situation, but hopefully Sonnen makes it out of Brazil in one piece.