'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Chael Sonnen, the original MMA bad guy
One of the greatest trash-talkers in MMA history wasn't always the heel he's known for being. Before his 2nd stint in the UFC in 2009, Chael Sonnen didn't have a 'Bad Guy' persona just yet. Check out this UFC 98 post-fight presser video by Youtube user Steve Cofield to see Chael being outwardly nice (skip to 4:40):
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Sonnen fought three times in the UFC between 2005 and 2006, winning once and losing twice before being released by the promotion. It wasn't until his return to the UFC in 2009 that we started seeing a glimpse of what he would become. He manufactured trash-talk so inventive and unique that he was able to talk his way into fights and opportunities that he might not have received previously.
After the famed callout of then-champion Anderson Silva, heel Chael Sonnen was in full bloom. Thanks to his incredible ability to blend humor, bravado and originality, the build-up to UFC 117 was off the charts. The fight was also an instant classic.
Sonnen arguably wrote the blueprint on how to be the bad guy in MMA. His achievement in self-promotion inspired other fighters like Conor McGregor and Colby Covington.
Check out his trash talk highlight reel in this ESPN video:
#1 The Colby Covington show
Here's the curious case of Colby 'Chaos' Covington. Let's start by showing you this UFC 187 post-fight interview with Covington with MMAnytt:
If you compare this video to his most recent interview building up towards UFC 268, you'd think he's a different person entirely. So what caused the change from nice guy to absolute heel?
There were many rumors surrounding this transformation. Whether it was to save his job or get work in pro wrestling, something switched in the welterweight contender's mind going into his bout against Damian Maia in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Covington took aim at the Brazilian crowd in attendance following a dominant victory. He insulted the audience in his post-fight interview and hasn't looked back since.
Regardless of the reason, this 180 degree turn definitely propelled the undeniably skilled welterweight into mainstream media. From trash talk, cheap suits, MAGA hats, megaphones, political affiliations and everything in-between, Covington has become the most divisive fighter in the sport of MMA today.
