In typical Chael Sonnen fashion, the outspoken whateverweight recently issued a challenge to Wanderlei Silva with a 24-hour expiration date. Apparently Sonnen’s ability to lose fights yet subsequently talk himself into main events has confused him to the point that he believes he is a UFC matchmaker. Sure, Silva is coming off of an impressive knockout win and yes, Sonnen has lost two in a row. But when has being on a career downturn ever stopped the “American Gangster” from getting fights with more famous fighters who are actually winning before?
“I gave him the timeline…if he doesn’t answer, I’m done and I’ll move on,” Sonnen said from his Fuel TV analyst’s seat this week.
Wanderlei finally responded to Sonnen’s challenge yesterday, and thankfully not on Twitter. Silva told Ariel Helwani that he’s never been offered the Sonnen fight by, you know, the people who offer fights in the UFC. Sonnen also apparently didn’t realize that the communication medium of choice for twelve year old girls would mean little to Wanderlei.
When Fuel TV called up Silva for comment on Sonnen’s challenge, Wanderlei took things from the world of Twitter to a much weirder and more frightening place. First off, Helwani said that Silva “laughed uncontrollably” — which, if you’ve ever heard him laugh, is scary enough – before adding that, “Jon Jones and Anderson Silva have been too nice to Chael. I want to suck his blood. I want to smell it. Not just fight. Not just fight. I want to hurt him…”
When that kind of statement comes from someone with as much blood on his hands as Wanderlei, it rings a little too true for comfort. Silva doesn’t deal with Twitter beefs, only lifelong blood feuds. Chael’s best lines are stolen from professional wrestlers and said far away from his foes, usually on Twitter or during awkward Sportscenter interviews. Wandy’s words go straight into folklore, much like his vicious KO’s fill countless tribute videos, while Sonnen basically fights big bouts for the sole purpose of bolstering his opponent’s’ highlight reel. Simply put, if Chael Sonnen is a gangster in the movie of his life, Wanderlei Silva is Jason fucking Voorhees. Not that I have a dog in this fight or anything.
More importantly, we all know how their first mano-a-mano encounter went down.
What do you say, nation? Do you want to see Chael talk himself into yet another rematch with someone who made him say uncle the first time around? And if so, aren’t there other rematches that Sonnen should get to first, before taking on and getting demolished by MMA royalty?
Personally, I think a rematch better suited for Sonnen is Terry Martin. Yes, that Terry Martin. Sonnen may have been beaten, exhausted and unable to stand on his own two feet without support after losing to Martin back in 2004, but at least it was a much more competitive exchange than his first showdown with Wanderlei.
[UPDATE] We have received reports that Jeremy Horn was in Los Angeles yesterday and, by virtue of being within thirty miles of the Fuel TV studio, forced Sonnen into submission. Sonnen screamed out in pain for all to hear and then denied having given up to the unknowing Horn, who was enjoying a hot dog on the Venice Beach boardwalk at the time of the win, the 90th of his career. Horn’s fourth career stoppage win over Sonnen is being listed via triangle choke at :59 of the third round.