According to MMAMania, Chael Sonnen said his rematch fight against UFC middleweight titlist Anderson Silva has not been offered to him.
“I have not even been offered the fight. I’ve read in the media that I’m going to have the fight. I’m telling people that I have the fight, but the reality is I’ve never been offered it,” Sonnen said.
The highly anticipated rematch first gained momentum back in 2010, after Sonnen’s unsuccessful tilt at the title at UFC 117—the ex-realtor was on the brink of capturing Silva’s 185-lb. crown, only to fall victim to a triangle armbar submission in the closing minutes of the final frame.
Though following the bout, Sonnen’s drug tests showed an elevated testosterone ratio in his urine, and as a result he was subsequently banned from professional MMA for 12 months (later reduced to six months on appeal).
That per se, put paid to an immediate rematch, and as a consequence, Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) went on to defend his title on two separate occasions—against Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami.
On Sonnen’s (27-11-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC) return to the Octagon in October of 2011, he upended Brian Stann and in his most recent outing at UFC on Fox 2, defeated Michael Bisping to book his flight for a summer showdown with “The Spider” in Brazil.
However, as he has since intimated, that rematch was never proffered to him, which contradicts what UFC president Dana White said at the UFC 143 post-fight press conference—that both Sonnen and Silva had verbally agreed to the rematch.
Though, whether Sonnen was offered the fight or not, Silva still doesn’t believe he’s entitled to a rematch as he told the LA Times.
“In my opinion, Chael doesn’t deserve a rematch, but I’m ready for this fight. I’ll go back to my home, with my family, remembering Chael disrespects the people of Brazil, and start my focus on this fight.”
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