(Lindland, weaseling his way out of a fight with the Grim Reaper)
UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen may believe he can talk his way into another battle with Anderson Silva, but he has no illusions that he’s already secured the rematch. While “The American Gangster” continues to call out the champion as often as possible, fellow Team Quest member Matt Lindland is piling the pressure on Silva.
Black House manager Ed Soares has made it clear in recent interviews that Chael has already had his shot at the belt and that it would be a shame to squander any of Anderson’s few remaining bouts. According to “The Law”, not only is Sonnen the number one contender, but it may take a contractual mandate to force Silva into that fight.
In an interview with MMAHQ.com, Lindland had this to say:
“Anderson will to find a way to weasel out of that fight. I don’t know what his contractual obligations are as far as who he has to fight as a champion but they’re already laying the ground work; I mean look at the article that came out this morning on Bloody Elbow.
His manager Ed Soares is already making excuses for Anderson to not take that fight so yeah I think they’re going to try to weasel out of it. I don’t know what his obligations are contractually to the UFC but his obligations to the fans are that he needs to take that fight.
Everyone of the fans know that Chael’s the number one contender and the guy that has a chance of beating him, can beat him and exposed his weaknesses in that fight. The fans want to see that fight and Anderson owes the fans that fight.”
While eliminating Sonnen and Belfort from the “The Spider’s” list of potential challengers, Soares doesn’t offer much in terms of opponents he deems worthy. He mentions the names GSP and Henderson, but GSP has challenges ahead of him in his own division and seems hesitant about the jump up in weight, and even if Henderson gets past Shogun he hasn’t exactly been active at Middleweight lately.
Is there any challenger that makes more sense than Sonnen at this point?