Fans who watched the UFC 136 main card won’t soon forget the “Loser leaves town” speech that UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen gave after his impressive submission win over Brian Stann on October 8th.
Sonnen issued a challenge to fight UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva on Super Bowl weekend saying that if he loses he’ll leave the UFC forever, but if he wins Silva has to leave the 185 lbs division.
‘The Spider’ was in fact in the audience at the Houston, Texas event putting his hand over his mouth and offering a smile for the camera. Silva, nor his camp, have talked anything close to accepting the bout or it’s terms leaving at this time.
Whether Sonnen was serious or not (when is he really?), the former No. 1 contender has now come out to say the deal is now off the table during an appearance on Jim Rome’s national radio show (transcription via ESPN.com).
“That offer was good when I made it, but it’s like any offer, they’ve got to expire. Apparently, that didn’t work. I’m doing anything I can to lure him out … [If] he wanted to accept that offer, all he needed to do was nod to me, or have one of his handlers come into the back and say ‘Anderson accepts.’ He did the exact opposite. He went to the media and said ‘I do not want to fight that guy.’ So what can I do? Now I have to come up with a new offer.”
Eventually whether this fight happens or not, will be up to UFC President Dana White to make happen. Fans are certainly clamoring to see the rematch of their UFC 117 bout, to see if Sonnen can dominate the fight once again, or whether or not Silva can pull out another last second victory.