Chael Sonnen set up an epic middleweight title clash with Anderson Silva after defeating Michael Bisping on Saturday night.
Sonnen won by unanimous decision, using his world-class wrestling ability to control the overwhelmed Bisping. It wasn’t a dominant victory, but it was enough to secure another shot at Silva’s throne.
Sonnen almost took Silva’s belt in August 2010, but The Spider pulled off an improbable victory. Sonnen was less than two minutes away from winning the title when Silva miraculously submitted him with a triangle armbar.
Unfortunately for Sonnen, his quest for a rematch was delayed by a year-long suspension. But after disposing of Brian Stann in October and Bisping on Saturday, he’s finally ready for another showdown with the king.
This matchup is an MMA lover’s dream, as Sonnen is the only fighter to test Silva during his current reign of dominance.
Silva has won 15 fights in a row, including all 14 of his bouts in the UFC. During that time, he has defended his title nine times and knocked out or submitted 13 of his opponents.
Silva has beaten everyone the UFC has thrown at him, and he’s taken almost all of them out convincingly. The lone exception, of course, is Sonnen.
Sonnen’s in-your-face style and wrestling skills are problematic for Silva. After his strong performance in their first fight, he should also carry plenty of confidence into the rematch.
I’m expecting Silva to prevail again, but it sure as hell won’t be easy. Sonnen is an incredibly dangerous fighter, and as he proved in 2010, he’s capable of beating anyone.
There’s no official date set, but Silva-Sonnen 2 will be one of the most anticipated sporting events of 2012.
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