The long talked about rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen has finally received an official date and location. Silva, the longest reigning champion in UFC history, will put his title on the line against Sonnen at the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on June 23.
The soccer stadium, which hosts the Botafogo football club, seats 47,000 fans for soccer games. With the seats that will be added to the playing field, the UFC is of the mind that the crowd that sees the fight card live will rival or surpass the 55,000 fans that witnessed UFC 129 at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.
The first time these two met, on Aug. 7, 2010, it appeared that Silva’s title reign was about to come to a halt. Sonnen was ahead on the scorecards when Silva, working from his back, found an opening and reacted, slapping a on a triangle choke/armbar that forced Sonnen to tap at the 3:10 mark of the fifth and final round.
Since that loss, Sonnen has defeated Brian Stann and Michael Bisping. He has also taken every opportunity afforded him to disparage Silva, even going so far as to carry a replica title belt with him, claiming that he is the “undefeated and undisputed” middleweight champion.
Sonnen has been a one-man marketing machine for this fight, and that has led to UFC president Dana White to proclaim in a statement released by the UFC:
This will be the biggest sporting event of the year. Bigger than the NFL, the NBA, you name it – UFC 147 will be the biggest. The whole world wants to see this fight between Silva and Sonnen. We are broadcast in over 150 countries in 22 languages in half a billion homes. Wherever those fans are, they are going to be watching this fight.
Also appearing on the card will be a fight between The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort.
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