Chael Sonnen recently spoke with GracieMag.com and said the following:
“Yes, it’s confirmed. Once I’m in the UFC I’ll fight Anderson Silva. I think he’s a great fighter, but I’m only going to start thinking about that after my fight with Paulo Filho. If you want to ask me about it after tonight, I’ll be happy to answer.”
Apparently the interview was before his most recent fight with Filho. This is a good idea (even though it came completely out of left field) to merge the titles.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Sonnen is basically the WEC Middleweight champion after defeating Filho on Wednesday. Filho is mailing Sonnen the belt.
I still feel that this fight will be yet another walk through for Silva though. Why? Chael hasn't fought nearly the competition that Silva has fought (besides Filho). Silva has been facing top Middleweights since he has been in the UFC and ran through every single one of them (besides Cote, but that was more of a sparring session for him).
Silva has yet to speak on this match, but it will be a nice way to show the progress that WEC has made with their heavier divisions if he can stand toe to toe with the baddest man on the planet. Like every Silva fight, I very much look forward to it. I just hope Chael doesn't embarrass himself like so many middleweights have before against Silva.
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about 1 month ago
Nice job on getting the info. At the risk of sounding stupid, was the belt mailing comment a joke??
from about 1 month ago
Nope, he actually is mailing him the belt. He promised he would give it to him if he lost right after the match and didn't. So now he is going to mail it.
from about 1 month ago
anderson silva vs chuck liddell ufc 95 in london at o2 arena in the 205 Lhw class go to google or type in ufc 95 it has been confirmed that ufc 95 will indeed have silva vs liddell
about 1 month ago
i don't see this ever happening. The fact that he was supposedly told that he had silva before the filho fight makes me wonder even more. It just doesn't make any sense.
Silva only has 5 fights left on his contract and nobody wants to see sonnan be one of those five. Even after his victory over filho he probably still doesn't crack the top 20 at 185. He was already in the UFC once and he couldn't hack it (1-2). I expect silva to be at 205 pounds for his next fight.
from about 1 month ago
Silva will most likely be at 205 in his next fight, I agree. Maybe Silva wants this fight also, as kind of a retrebution thing? He did defeat his former training partner.
from 20 days ago
Sonnen was fighting at 205 though... not that that matters.
about 1 month ago
If this fight ever happened, it would be a waste of Anderson's time.
about 1 month ago
I agree, I hope this doesn't happen. Silva should relinquish the MW belt and make a permanent move to LHW. The Franklin/Henderson fight should be to determine the new MW champion. Thats wishful thinking though.
from about 1 month ago
I honestly don't want to waste one of Anderson's last fights on Sonnen either, but if it's already confirmed by Sonnen, then what can you do? I hope he confirms his confirmation soon.
from about 1 month ago
I hadn't thought about him giving up the belt, but now that you mentioned it, it makes so much sense. With Silva holding the Middle weight, belt, he can only fight at 205 between title defenses. He's already proven himself as the kind of his current weight class. His best bet would be to move up to 205 permanently, and try to grab the light heavyweight title before his retires. Good point Brian, someone should write an article on the topic.
from about 1 month ago
I kind of wrote it. Read Anderson Silva has five fights left. Maybe a more succinct article should be written on it though.
from about 1 month ago
Oh ya, I think I read that one.
about 1 month ago
Sonnen is an experienced top level fighter however Anderson Silva is on another level. If Silva gets beat in the next few years it will be because he made a permanent step up to light heavyweight. If someone is to upset Silva at middleweight it will be another striker with heavy hands that lands a lucky shot.
about 1 month ago
I'll believe this when I see it on the UFC website.
about 1 month ago
Yeah, I don't think this one is 100% true, or even 50% true, but i would watch it. Sonnen dominated Filho, a guy who used to train with Silva. Sonnen is a great fighter but won't stand a chance with the Spyder. But It'd be fun to see if he can repeat the magic he had in the Filho fight.
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