Undisputed UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) middleweight titlist Anderson Silva, was none too pleased when UFC President Dana White informed him that his highly anticipated rematch with arch-nemesis Chael Sonnen would have to be moved from the original location of Rio, Brazil, to the MGM Grand, Las Vegas Nev.
However, he says he’ll beat Sonnen wherever the fight takes place.
For 75 minutes, the Zuffa-based promotions head-honcho White, did his best to persuade “The Spider,” that as Rio de Janeiro was a non-starter due to conflicting interests, Sin City would be the next best place to hold MMA’s (Mixed Martial Arts) ultimate grudge match.
White stated that because of events happening on June 23, the same day as the proposed UFC 147 show, Rio wouldn’t have the basic structures requisite for the event to take place.
Original quotes reported by Fightersonlymag.com: “There wouldn‘t have been enough hotel rooms.”
Initially, Silva was obdurate on his stance that the fight should transpire in Brazil—his reasons—Sonnen had disrespected not only him and his countrymen, but also his family.
“He deserves to taught a lesson here, I owe this to my people”, Silva said.
However, White wasn’t budging either.
“If there is no way how to make the event in a stadium, it has to be in Las Vegas,” White said.
Though once White had sold him the idea of the benefits regarding the fight (UFC 148) taking place in the United States on Independence weekend (July 7), as well as ensuring Silva garnered a respectable percentage of the pay-per-view revenue, it was nearly a done deal.
Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) had one last question to ask the UFC supremo, before the deal was officially sealed.
“Okay, so tell me – what do you want from me?”
“I want you go to Las Vegas and perform well, make it a great fight,” White replied. Silva’s response was:“If it has to be like this, I will beat this guy wherever. He deserves a lesson.”
With an affirmative from the UFC’s most successful combatant, White was ecstatic.
Silva was the “perfect UFC ambassador in Brazil” and “is the best fighter ever made in MMA—today everybody talks about Jon Jones but for me you are the best by far,” White said.
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