Three-time UFC title challenger Chael Sonnen is always just milliseconds away from making headlines these days and all he needs to do it is a microphone.
In an in-depth interview with MMA Crazy TV yesterday, “The American Gangster” spoke on a wide array of topics, but inevitably, old rival Anderson Silva came up in conversation.
While Sonnen shockingly revealed he may ask “The Spider” to coach alongside him on season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil, per Bloody Elbow, he also stated that people aren’t giving middleweight champion Chris Weidman enough credit heading into UFC 168.
The December 28 pay-per-view has “The All-American” rematching Silva for the middleweight strap, the same man he dethroned after an incredible 17-fight undefeated streak.
Sonnen believes Weidman didn’t fight anywhere up to his potential at their first fight at UFC 162 in July, yet he still won decisively, transcription via Bloody Elbow.
Let’s not forget, Chris Weidman dominated him on the ground and then got up and dominated on the feet. This was not a close fight. It was also the worst Chris Weidman I’ve ever seen. I’ve never seen Chris Weidman fight so poorly. He slowed down significantly. When he was on top in the first round, it was off a very sloppy takedown. He gave up position going for a very reckless submission. He was taking a couple of kicks. He just didn’t fight very well, and he still dominated and ended with a finish inside seven minutes… You have to understand, in the history of combat, never, not one time ever, ever, ever has a rematch ever favored the older fighter. There’s a 10-year age gap here. It will be amazing if Anderson can beat him. Anderson Silva is a very smart fighter. He’s very skilled. He’s very experienced. I just don’t think he wants to be in there. They asked him right after he lost, and he openly said ‘my time as champion is done.’ And I believe him.
While the former two-time All-American collegiate wrestler is yet to cross paths with Weidman inside the Octagon, he had two memorable middleweight championship bouts against Silva.
Despite convincingly winning the first four rounds of their UFC 117 encounter, The Team Reign Training Center fighter tapped out to a Hail Mary triangle choke midway through the fifth and final round.
In their rematch at UFC 148 last July, Sonnen again used his wrestling advantage to win the first round, but ended up being TKO’ed in the second frame of the title bout.
In the same interview, Sonnen indicated he would like a third fight with the legendary Brazilian, though the FOX Sports 1 analyst has competed at light heavyweight since his second loss to Silva.
Weidman, who boasts a perfect 10-0 record as a professional mixed martial artist, is the only fighter to knock out Silva in his 16-year, 38-fight career.
Is Sonnen right on the money in predicting another convincing Weidman victory over Silva or will Anderson get his revenge and prove he still has plenty of good fights left in him?
John Heinis is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA Editor for eDraft.com.
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