Anderson Silva walks around with the UFC middleweight champion, but Chael Sonnen believes he’s the true champion.
The former middleweight title contender returned in impressive fashion at UFC 136, where he dominated and submitted rising contender Brian Stann with a second round arm triangle.
Always one to speak his mind, Sonnen had some rather harsh words for Silva after the bout.
“Anderson Silva, you absolutely suck,” Sonnen said in his post-fight interview with UFC commentator Joe Rogan. “Super Bowl weekend…the biggest rematch in the history of the sport. I’m calling you out, Silva. It’s time to up the stakes. I beat you, you leave the division. I lose, I will leave the UFC forever.”
While other challengers like Dan Henderson and Vitor Belfort seek another shot at Silva, Sonnen may have the best chance out of any fighter at 185-pounds of dethroning the pound-for-pound king.
Silva has always struggled against strong wrestlers with suffocating top control. While Sonnen saw the most success in his near routing of Silva at UFC 117, Henderson had his moments early out against Silva at UFC 82.
Sonnen differed from Henderson in his ability to stick to his grappling strengths and make Silva uncomfortable.
People may laugh at some of Sonnen’s remark, but they shouldn’t underestimate his ability to get the job done. Stylistically, it doesn’t get any tougher at middleweight for Silva than Sonnen.
If this is the fight UFC President Dana White goes with, Silva and his camp will have to make some major adjustments. Silva may have defeated Sonnen at UFC 117, but it was far from a competitive bout.
Sonnen pushed the action and had his way with Silva for four and a half rounds.
The world had better get ready. Uncle Chael is coming for “his” middleweight title.