Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva: teammates?
In an announcement that will surely carry inspiration for political enemies, blood rivals and viewers of The Ultimate Fighter around the world, Silva is reportedly interested in coaching alongside former antagonist Sonnen on a forthcoming season of TUF: Brazil.
News of the uneasy alliance first emerged Wednesday via the UFC Tonight cable television broadcast, via MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, who passed along comments from Jorge Guimaraes, Silva’s manager.
The coaching collaboration—which would surely blast TUF: Brazil interest and viewership to an entirely new stratum—is far from a done deal. According to Helwani, Guimaraes indicated that Silva believed the arrangement would be “fun,” and he was open to it if his schedule allowed.
On Tuesday, during a media conference call for UFC 168, Silva himself confirmed that he had been invited to coach on Sonnen‘s team and even appeared generally open to the idea, but he said he would not be available, according to MMA Junkie.
“Unfortunately, I’m not in Brazil, so I’m not going to be able to go down there and help,” Silva said Tuesday, according to MMA Junkie. “But I think for the sport, it would be something that will be great, especially because the guys competing are all Brazilian, so it would be good to go on either team and help them.”
The season is scheduled to begin filming in January. Sonnen will serve as head coach opposite Wanderlei Silva, with the two doing battle in the summer after the season is over.
Anderson Silva and Sonnen have fought twice. Silva won each contest, though Sonnen came as close as anyone had in a long time to defeating the then-middleweight champion when the two first tangled in 2010. Both fights followed intense verbal sparring between the two in advance of each fight, with highly advanced smack talker Sonnen repeatedly provoking Silva, who is normally taciturn outside the cage.
Never one to back down from a great publicity stunt or ratings boost, Sonnen publicly invited his former archrival last week to join him on TUF.
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