Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II is on according to an Ultimate Fighting Championship press release. The fight, slated for UFC 147 in Brazil, is the most anticipated rematch in UFC history. However, the massive scale of the event would not have been possible without the proper timing.
August 7, 2010 was the date of their first epic encounter. Chael Sonnen was riding a three fight win streak in to the fight and made it a must-see event with his trash-talk. Many felt as if this would be just another spectacular finish for the long-time UFC Middleweight Champion, but Sonnen had other ideas.
For four and a half rounds the challenger pounded Silva en route to what would have been a dominating decision victory. But Anderson Silva retained his title with a comeback performance that fans will not soon forget as he forced the tap at 3:10 of the fifth and final frame with a triangle choke.
Since that day fans have been clambering for the rematch.
Sonnen tested positive for elevated testosterone/epitestosterone post-fight, sending him to the sidelines for over a year. During Sonnen’s absence from the scene Anderson Silva dazzled the crowd with an astonishing front-kick knockout of top contender Vitor Belfort and a TKO over Yushin Okami.
Coming off his suspension, Chael Sonnen battled Middleweight contender Brain Stann, and won in impressive fashion with an arm-triangle choke in the second round. After the fight Sonnen did his best to goad Anderson Silva with a post-fight promo. For fans and pundits alike, now was the time to have the grudge settled between Silva and Sonnen, but the fight did not come to fruition.
This January, Chael Sonnen stepped in to the cage in a number one contender’s bout against Michael Bisping. Anderson Silva sat cageside as Sonnen won a narrow decision to set up the rematch everyone has been waiting for. Chael put together another memorable post-fight speech to entice Silva to accept and to rouse the fans in attendance. But when and where would it take place?
If this fight had been made any sooner it may have ended up in Las Vegas or another MMA hotbed. But due to the timing the most anticipated rematch in MMA history finds itself in Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The UFC is expecting its largest crowd to date for the June 23rd event, which will come on the heels of “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil” with the co-main event between the two coaches and Brazilian superstars, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. The expectations for the pay-per-view broadcast are lofty as well.
Timing put this matchup when and where it should be. If Chael Sonnen had not been suspended, and if Anderson Silva had not incurred injuries that prevented an earlier rematch or if any other of the litany of factors had not happened we would have been deprived of the spectacle that this massive stage brings.
Timing is everything, and Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen is finally set for the biggest stage the UFC has ever been on.
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