Fronted by Luke Thomas.

MMAWeekly reports, in an interview with Sonnen, that Filho never handed over the title after their match, as reportedly promised after the fight was changed to a three round non-title bout:

After officially weighing in four pounds over the 185-pound limit, Filho allegedly commented that he'd give Sonnen the belt if he lost. He lost, but the belt wasn't handed over. Asked about the situation, Sonnen said, "I did hear that rumor. I heard he said he would surrender it, that he would count this as a championship match. Of course that wouldn't be official, but just something between the two of us. And I would have accepted. I'm that desperate for the championship and to have that goal fulfilled that I would have humbly accepted that belt from him. But no, he didn't offer it to me."

In the last three days Filho has done a lifetime of damage to tarnish his image as a top five middleweight, an honorable opponent and as a mentally stable human being. I had waited anxiously after the announcement of the victor for Filho to cross the cage with the belt in hand and present it to Sonnen, who dominated (however not exciting) their three round contest. Having already been vehement at Filho's behaviour, the pre-fight interview with Sonnen, where he recounted a story of promising his dying father that he would win the title, really tipped the scales for me.

Filho canceling their original rematch due to addiction was marginally acceptable. His tipping the scales was the last straw. The fiasco regarding his offer to hand over the belt, in a symbolic gesture, and his eventual refusal to do so, is irreparable to my opinion of him.