Some recognize Chael Sonnen as the first trash talker to create a blood rivalry with his words, having done so with former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva. The truth? Long before Sonnen arrived on the scene, another American managed to understand that throwing some spice into the rivalry between Brazil and the United States could yield beneficial dividends.
When I covered IVC 14 on Nov. 11, 2001 in Caracas, Venezuela, I witnessed the birth of Alex Stiebling as “The Brazilian Killa.” It was a well-deserved nickname after he beat four Brazilians on the same night.