Chael Sonnen on fighting Vitor Belfort at 185: ‘I don’t know if that’s possible’

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Chael Sonnen doesn’t want to lose 51 pounds.

The UFC announced that Vitor Belfort would replace Wanderlei Silva against the “American Gangster” at UFC 175 on July 5 in Las Vegas, Nev., and UFC president Dana White told the media in Berlin, Germany, that they would fight at 185 pounds.

“That’s news to me. Dana just said that in Berlin and I just heard,” Sonnen told the media in Brazil on Friday. “I weigh 236 pounds right at this second and that would leave me with 51 pounds to lose in 30-some days. I don’t know if that’s possible.”

Sonnen was scheduled to take on Silva as a light heavyweight, and he hopes he can stay at 205 for the Belfort fight. In fact, Sonnen-Belfort is listed at UFC website as a light heavyweight contest.

“I have a contract,” he said. “My contract is for 205, so I’m hoping that Dana misspoke. But if it’s 185, it’s 185.”

White also said in Berlin that the Belfort would fight for the middleweight title with a win at UFC 175, but the “American Gangster” wouldn’t earn a shot at the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida if he beats “The Phenom.”

“Here’s how fighting works: I don’t really care about title shots, but there is a process,” Sonnen said. “Vitor has a title right now, he has a title of No. 1 contender. He can’t come into a fight and not put that title on the line. It doesn’t work that way.

“It would be the same as Chris Weidman saying ‘I’m gonna fight Lyoto Machida, but it’s a non-title fight.’ That’s pro-wrestling, that doesn’t happen. If Vitor got a title, he’s got to put that title on the line. If he doesn’t want to put that against me, then don’t fight me.”

SAO PAULO, Brazil — Chael Sonnen doesn’t want to lose 51 pounds.

The UFC announced that Vitor Belfort would replace Wanderlei Silva against the “American Gangster” at UFC 175 on July 5 in Las Vegas, Nev., and UFC president Dana White told the media in Berlin, Germany, that they would fight at 185 pounds.

“That’s news to me. Dana just said that in Berlin and I just heard,” Sonnen told the media in Brazil on Friday. “I weigh 236 pounds right at this second and that would leave me with 51 pounds to lose in 30-some days. I don’t know if that’s possible.”

Sonnen was scheduled to take on Silva as a light heavyweight, and he hopes he can stay at 205 for the Belfort fight. In fact, Sonnen-Belfort is listed at UFC website as a light heavyweight contest.


“I have a contract,” he said. “My contract is for 205, so I’m hoping that Dana misspoke. But if it’s 185, it’s 185.”

White also said in Berlin that the Belfort would fight for the middleweight title with a win at UFC 175, but the “American Gangster” wouldn’t earn a shot at the winner of Chris Weidman vs. Lyoto Machida if he beats “The Phenom.”

“Here’s how fighting works: I don’t really care about title shots, but there is a process,” Sonnen said. “Vitor has a title right now, he has a title of No. 1 contender. He can’t come into a fight and not put that title on the line. It doesn’t work that way.

“It would be the same as Chris Weidman saying ‘I’m gonna fight Lyoto Machida, but it’s a non-title fight.’ That’s pro-wrestling, that doesn’t happen. If Vitor got a title, he’s got to put that title on the line. If he doesn’t want to put that against me, then don’t fight me.”