Owings over Gable in 1970
Could Chael Sonnen become the next Larry Owings... who is Larry Owings? Larry Owings is the man who beat Dan Gable in the NCAA finals, Gable's senior year of college, after finishing high school undefeated and going undefeated through college to that point. Dan Gable was hands down the better wrestler, but the better wrestler doesn't always win. Aside from beating Dan Gable Larry Owings did something else nobody ever did, said he was going to beat Dan Gable. Chael Sonnen is attempting to do something that nobody else has ever done, beat Anderson Silva inside the UFC octagon. Chael Sonnen is also doing something else nobody has done before, speaking out publicly at Anderson Silva.
While their approach to these tactics may be different, the tactic remains the same. Announce that you are not afraid and let your opponent know that you are confident. Larry Owings made that statement to one newspaper reporter in 1970. Chael Sonnen has launched an all out verbal assault on the long time UFC champ through out all types new age media in 2010. Of course the times are different as are college wrestling and mma. But the principle remains the same. The mental game is such a big part of any sport, but especially sports like wrestling and mma, one-on-one contact sports where confidence is essential. Dan Gable had never heard someone come out and say that they were going to beat him, and when he finally did hear that he ended up losing. Could all the talking that Chael Sonnen has been doing leading up to his fight with Anderson Silva actually be working? When you look at the fight on paper you see that Anderson Silva is far superior in striking, very strong on the ground and Sonnen has shown to susceptible to submissions. Chael is a better wrestler and has shown good ground and pound and can go hard. On paper Anderson Silva is the better more complete fighter. But the better fighter doesn't always win.
If Chael Sonnen truly believes he can win this fight and Anderson Silva knows that, then Chael Sonnen just might win this fight via the mental game, just like Larry Owings did over Dan Gable.
I disagree completely, to say that Larry Owings didn't win that match as much as Gable lost it is an insult to Larry Owings and every underdog who has ever pulled off the big upset. Larry Owings outwrestled Dan Gable and won that match outright. The better wrestler does not always win but the one that scores more points. Just like the better fighter doesn't always win but the one who is just on that night.