UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva has launched an incredible attack on challenger Chael Sonnen ahead of their rematch at UFC 148 on July 7th.
While Sonnen, one of the UFC's best talkers, has rarely - if ever - missed an opportunity to talk trash about the Brazilian, at a media conference call on Monday it was the champ, who is seen by many as the best pound-for-pound MMA fighter on the planet, who was doing all the talking.
"First of all, Chael's a criminal. He's been convicted of crimes," said an unusually animated Silva via interpreter Ed Soares.
"He doesn't deserve to be inside the Octagon and when the time comes and the time is right, I'm going to break his face and break every one of the teeth in his mouth."
He added: "What I'm going to do inside the Octagon is something that's going to change the image of the sport.
"I'm going to beat his ass like he's never been beaten before. I'm going to make sure that every one of his teeth are broken, his arms are broke, his legs are broke.
"He's not going to be able to walk out of the Octagon by himself, I'm going to guarantee that."
UFC president Dana White, who believes the upcoming pay-per-view will pass the one million buys mark, was surprised by the comments.
"I've promoted every Anderson Silva fight since he's been in the UFC and I've never heard him talk even remotely close to this," he said.
Silva and Sonnen both left the call early.
UFC 148 take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and features a rubber match between Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz in the semi-main event.