Silva vs Sonnen 2 - confirmed by Dana

[es_19]

SAUCE

Chael Sonnen was right, he will be Anderson Silva’s next opponent. Well, half right, Sonnen expected to fight someone else while Silva nursed his ribs back to health, but it looks like he’ll get a pass. Dana White appeared on SportsCenter this morning and said he’s going to give the fans what they want to see and that’s an immediate rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. LA Times’ Lance Pugmire is hearing it could take place around New Year’s or on the Super Bowl weekend card depending on how quickly Anderson’s ribs heal.

UFC will stage Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen rematch on New Year’s Eve or Super Bowl card, depending on Silva’s hurt ribs.

Fertitta saying Silva’s ribs bruised not broken, but still may require layoff until early Feb.

Meanwhile, the other middleweight top contender Vitor Belfort will fight in November, preferably at UFC 123. He’s not too crazy about flying to Germany for UFC 122.

“I talked to Lorenzo (Fertitta) this week and will return in November,” Belfort said. “I just asked him to not be (on the November card in Germany). I’m tired of traveling. I would like to return to fighting here in America. According to my conversation with Lorenzo, my opponent will not be Sonnen, but another guy that will be decided soon.”

No word yet who Belfort will face, but Yushin Okami would be the obvious choice. I could also see Nate Marquardt slipping in there if he beats Rousimar Palhares this weekend.

More news items from Dana White via the SportsCenter interview and an interview with 98 Rock Baltimore:

• Still looking at late Spring/early summer for Shogun Rua vs. Rashad Evans light heavyweight title fight
• The Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard winner at UFC 118 will likely get the next lightweight title shot
• Win or lose, Randy Couture will return to light heavyweight following the James Toney fight
• Tim Sylvia could return to the UFC down the road if he gets a few key wins, his win over Paul Buentello doesn’t count
• Heath Herring was never the same after Brock Lesnar, probably won’t fight in the UFC again

 

[canucksfreak19]

I'm not surprised with this. I will undoubtedly look forward to this rematch. Considering how well their first fight sold PPV wise, and the knowledge that rematches generally do even bigger numbers their next fight could be one of the biggest in history. . .go figure.

 

[es_19]

i am interested to see two things
1) how anderson will fight chael when he's at 100% and if he will dance around or not
2) whether or not chael has learned from any of the mistakes he made in his first against silva

 

[canucksfreak19]

I see Silva adapting his gameplan more than Sonnen. Chael has never adapted his style through any of his losses, and I find it hard to believe that he would actually "get it" at this point.

Also I a Belfort/Okami number 1 contenders match is what I'd like to see.

Finally they announced on the Fan 960 here that around 8:00 A.M. Mountain Time tomorrow morning Mike Richards will be interviewing James Toney. That should be good for some incoherent, belligerent chuckles.

 

[chadsexington]

i am interested to see two things
1) how anderson will fight chael when he's at 100% and if he will dance around or not
2) whether or not chael has learned from any of the mistakes he made in his first against silva

Silva was still dancing during the Sonnen fight...even when he was in trouble. It's just something he tends to do to build his confidence back up before attacking. It's like watching lanky Brazilian Mega Man fire up his charge buster before firing away at Penguin Man, or whatever "boss" he's fighting.

Given that Chael's biggest weakness has always been his ability to get submitted, I don't know how he's going to adapt for the next fight unless he brings in BJJ guys to train with that teach him how to fend off submissions and be weary of a stretch armstrong-esque limb closing in to put him in a Triangle Choke.

To be honest, the most interesting part of the whole article was Herring. I know he's been taking roles in movies lately, but didn't realize that the Brock fight changed his entire outlook on things to the point where he may never fight in the UFC again.

Also...I don't see Belfort fighting anybody but Okami at this point, unless Marquardt knocks out Palhares in like 10 seconds and it impresses so much that it vaults him over Okami. Okami's only losses in the last 6 years have been to Jake Shields, Rich Franklin and Sonnen and he's disposed of everybody else in that time...I'd say he's earned a #1 contender shot again.

 

[es_19]

Silva was still dancing during the Sonnen fight...even when he was in trouble. It's just something he tends to do to build his confidence back up before attacking. It's like watching lanky Brazilian Mega Man fire up his charge buster before firing away at Penguin Man, or whatever "boss" he's fighting.

Given that Chael's biggest weakness has always been his ability to get submitted, I don't know how he's going to adapt for the next fight unless he brings in BJJ guys to train with that teach him how to fend off submissions and be weary of a stretch armstrong-esque limb closing in to put him in a Triangle Choke.

To be honest, the most interesting part of the whole article was Herring. I know he's been taking roles in movies lately, but didn't realize that the Brock fight changed his entire outlook on things to the point where he may never fight in the UFC again.

Also...I don't see Belfort fighting anybody but Okami at this point, unless Marquardt knocks out Palhares in like 10 seconds and it impresses so much that it vaults him over Okami. Okami's only losses in the last 6 years have been to Jake Shields, Rich Franklin and Sonnen and he's disposed of everybody else in that time...I'd say he's earned a #1 contender shot again.

well you know what i meant

he wasn't dancing around as much as his other fights - particularly the demian fight where he has his own highlight dance reel on youtube - since he was on his back defending half the time.

if i was sonnen, i'd work on the bjj more and also keep all appendages as close to the body as possible so as not to allow for isolation and the eventual submission.

 

[2fnlo]

Fail on the UFC. Sonnen LOST, he did not deserve a rematch. At least this sets Belfort up for a tune up match before he gets a shot at Silva.

 

[es_19]

Fail on the UFC. Sonnen LOST, he did not deserve a rematch. At least this sets Belfort up for a tune up match before he gets a shot at Silva.

that's the ongoing debate on sherdog but deserve it or not, he went for 23 minutes with silva. he was winning up until that point. for all the haters, let them have the rematch (like shogun and machida) so they can settle it once and for all and declare, without a doubt, who the MW champ is.

 

[Nick2317]

If for not one screw up by Sonnen youd all be clammoring for a rematch for Silva now .....Sonnen did better than anyone ever expected and deserves a rematch

 

[canucksfreak19]

Fail on the UFC. Sonnen LOST, he did not deserve a rematch. At least this sets Belfort up for a tune up match before he gets a shot at Silva.

It all depends on who Vitor fights. If Vitor does in fact fight Okami; it'd be tough for me not to pick Yushin.

I don't think the UFC fails for this decision. They win, they are running a business and the biggest fight they can make is a Silva/Sonnen rematch. If they didn't give Chael the immediate rematch there would be a chance that he loses than they've pissed away a lot of money, for what?

 

[plubers]

Fail on the UFC. Sonnen LOST, he did not deserve a rematch. At least this sets Belfort up for a tune up match before he gets a shot at Silva.

Seriously? How can you not give Sonnen a rematch? He deserves it more than anybody.