Miami Heat forward LeBron James is Chael Sonnen’s new target. Photo: Keith Alison

Yes, we know 90 percent of 36-year-old Chael Sonnen’s statements are made to get him some publicity.

But we admit we got reeled in by him again. After all, this time he’s shooting at someone totally unexpected. Not an MMA athlete at all, but instead the current king of basketball.

Sonnen, who has a fight vs. Mauricio Shogun scheduled for August 17, now lashes out at LeBron James, the Miami Heat star and MVP of the finals.

The American wrestler told Bleacher Report where the grudge comes from, calling James a dork. “Let me tell you a story about LeBron. He asked the UFC for tickets for my fight against Anderson Silva. We sit the guy front-row, and all through the night he snubs our fans. He’s a guest in our house and he refuses to sign any autographs or take any pictures unless your cup size was later in the alphabet than he was able to learn,” said Sonnen, who even accuses James of coming on to his wife. “I had a UFC employee tell me he saw a mother wheel her handicapped child up to him to get a picture. LeBron was walking towards them. When he
reached the kid, the mother stopped the wheelchair. LeBron took the wheelchair, wheeled it out of the way and kept walking.”

“I’d like to slap the divots right off his face,” he provoked.

What do you think, reader? Is Sonnen a raving lunatic, or does he have a case here in calling out LeBron?

UFC on Fox Sports 1
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
August 17, 2013

Mauricio Rua vs.Chael Sonnen
Alistair Overeem vs. Travis Browne
Urijah Faber vs. Yuri Alcantara
Matt Brown vs. Thiago Alves
Uriah Hall vs. Nick Ring
Joe Lauzon vs. Michael Johnson

Undercard

Brad Pickett vs. Michael McDonald
Andy Ogle vs. Conor McGregor
Mike Brown vs. Akira Corassani
Diego Brandão vs. Daniel Pineda

Undercard (Facebook)

Manvel Gamburyan vs. Cole Miller
Cody Donovan vs. Ovince St. Preux
Ramsey Nijem vs. James Vick

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who is scheduled to fight Chael Sonnen at UFC on Fox Sports 1 #1, could be one of the foreign fighters affected by Massachusetts law if UFC officials find a resolution. (Getty Images)

UFC on Fox Sports 1 #1 could be in jeopardy due to a Massachusetts state law that prevents fighters without Social Security numbers from obtaining licenses to fight, according to a report on Tuesday from the Boston Herald.

The law would prevent a number of fighters on the card, for example, main event participant Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, from being able to compete in the Octagon in Boston’s TD Garden on Aug. 17.

“This law has been in existence since we legalized mixed martial arts in the commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Terrell Harris, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety, told the newspaper. “It’s been brought to the attention of the UFC more than a few times since we legalized the fighting here. But they’ve chosen basically to ignore the law and hope that they could skirt it somehow.”

The report added that UFC officials approached the Department of Public Safety to make a one-time exception and allow fighters on the August card to compete with or without Social Security numbers, but the governing body told the MMA promotion that state law prohibits licensure to fighters without the proper documentation.

“They’ve approached us and asked us if we could make exceptions to the law for them,” Harris said. “But the law is the law. The law doesn’t allow us to make exceptions.”

Harris added that the Social Security Administration can issue a temporary work visa to fighters that are not American citizens, but that it’s up to the UFC to “do their due diligence.”

GRACIEMAG.com attempted contacting UFC officials about the issue, but an email requesting comment was not returned at the time of this publication.

Shogun is currently scheduled to face Chael Sonnen in the card’s featured bout, while Alistair Overeem, another foreign-born fighter, is tabbed to fight Travis Browne in the co-main event.

UPDATE: 4:16 p.m. PT

The UFC issued a statement Thursday afternoon through their website, addressing questions about the licensure of fighters without Social Security numbers.

“There were some questions that surfaced regarding licensing requirements for mixed martial artists and boxers to have social security numbers in order to compete in the state of Massachusetts,” the statement read. “Last week, these requirements were brought to UFC’s attention and we immediately began working to ensure that all athletes affected by this are in full compliance. We are continuing to work on this and anticipate a positive outcome.”

Tickets for the event went on sale today, Tuesday, according to a press release received by GRACIEMAG.com.

Maurício Shogun announces new coach. His team will be led by Glaube Feitosa. Photo: UFC/Disclosed

Tuesday morning, April 23, we reported a statement by Andre Dida via Facebook, claiming he is no longer Maurício “Shogun” Rua’s coach.

In an interview with SPORTV.com, the fighter has spoken about it and anticipating response to criticism, revealed the name of the new head coach of his team.

“It will be Glaube Feitosa, who has worked with me for a long time,” Rua said. “He is a muay thai athlete and fought the K-1. The guys think I abandoned, I didn’t abandon. I’ll keep everyone calm by knowing I am not alone.”

The information comes at an important moment in the career of former UFC heavyweight champion.

Since he lost the belt to Jon Jones, Mauricio Shogun hasn’t been winning consecutive fights in the UFC, and the athlete has been criticized for his physical conditioning in his fights. Shogun seems to be willing to have a twist in his career, seeking new partnerships, something that his brother Murilo Ninja had already advised.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion explained that there wasn’t a fight between him and Dida, just a disagreement on how to train for the upcoming challenges.

“There was no fight, on the contrary,” he said. “I called him, we talked, it was my decision. The training was not like before, that’s why. I have already started the camp and I am with several professors and athletes that are helping me. I’ve just changed my coach. I told him we couldn’t go on. Dida is my friend, but it was a professional thing. I have nothing against him, but I have to look for what’s the best for me.”

Shogun fights on June 15 in Winnipeg, Canada against Rogerio Minotouro. This is a highly anticipated rematch for MMA fans, who in 2005 saw a great match between the two at the now-extinct Pride.

Check out the card for UFC 161:

UFC 161
Winnipeg, Canada
June 15, 2013

Renan Barão vs. Eddie Wineland
Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson
Rogério Minotouro vs. Maurício Shogun
Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley
Stipe Miocic vs. Soa Palelei
Pat Barry vs. Shawn Jordan
Sam Stout vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Alexis Davis vs. Rosi Sexton
Sean Pierson vs. TJ Waldburger
Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac
Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire
Roland Delorme vs. Edwin Figueroa
Dustin Pague vs. Yves Jabouin