Talk before the storm for UFC's Chael Sonnen in Burbank

"I think because I'm the only guy that understands respect," Sonnen said. "I'm the only respectful fighter in the organization. So many guys think that respect is to look at your face and tell you a lie, to pay you a compliment and stick a knife in your back when you turn around. I will tell you to your face that when you turnaround I'm gonna put a knife in your back and then I will. People find that refreshing. I'm not a trash-talker, I'm a truth-talker. I talk the truth. If you ask me a question, I will answer it."

Sonnen, who joined the likes of Junior Dos Santos, Alistair Overeem, Frank Mir and Brandon Vera as UFC fighters to drop by Burbank's Morton's ahead of a big fight, answered plenty of questions and, as he's known for, pulled no verbal punches. He referred to Brazilian middleweights and future potential opponents Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as a "dork" and an "invalid," respectively. He would follow by calling Belfort a tough fighter and complimented Wanderlei Silva's tenacity and aggression.

Originally, Silva-Sonnen II was scheduled for Brazil, but the fight was moved to Las Vegas. Had the fight taken place in Silva's native land, many, including UFC President Dana White, openly worried about Sonnen's safety. Sonnen wasn't one of them, however.

Still, Sonnen said there was a big difference between being in a Burbank steakhouse a few days out from his fight rather than Brazil.

"It's funny you bring up steak, because, [what is] actually a big deal when you travel is eating," Sonnen said. "That's one of the hardest parts when you factor in trying to make the weight limit and eat at the same time, it's very difficult."

As for any home-country advantage, it was something Sonnen balked at.

"Brazil would've been a good neutral territory," Sonnen deadpanned. "Let's not forget Anderson lives in Beverly Hills. Anderson's got a several-million-dollar mansion, he left those Brazilians just as quick as Wanderlei and Vitor did. And they go back any time they can reach into those guys' pockets in the favelas. The reality is that they're in America. They were made rich in America, they pay taxes in America, they were made famous in America, they're employed by an American company. Those guys are Americans. His plane flight from Beverly Hills to Las Vegas is a lot shorter than my ride from West Linn, Ore. So good for Anderson for getting me to his home turf."