Tag: UFC 148

The long-awaited rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is so close, MMA fans can probably get away with ignoring all other aspects of life and focus solely on the awesomeness that is about to ensue.

Ever since August 8, 2010, a rematch between Sonnen and Silva has been one of the biggest matches the UFC could possibly make. If you follow the sport at all, you’ve already heard the narrative of the first fight from every possible angle.

Sonnen, relentlessly mocked, called out and otherwise picked on Silva like no one had ever done before. Most fans considered it to be the drivel of a delusional man—that was, until he backed it up. After four rounds of a rather lopsided affair, it was clear that Sonnen wasn’t a nobody soaking in his 15 (or 25) minutes of fame, he was a legitimate threat to Silva’s title reign.

However, it was Silva who would get the last word as he turned in one of the most memorable moments of his career with an improbable late submission victory.

Since their first encounter, the first fight has become the hottest of hot button issues, and there’s simply no way to talk about either Sonnen or Silva without starting a debate. Never has a fight been more polarizing in MMA history.

Which brings us to the second incarnation of this rivalry.

Through a combination of high stakes (the middleweight championship could actually change hands), bitter internet debate (just look up the comments under any article which includes the names “Sonnen” or “Silva”) and an endless supply of sound bites (thanks largely to the UFC’s best hype-man, Chael P. Sonnen, and shockingly thanks in some part to Silva) the Silva-Sonnen rematch has become the holy grail of easily hyped fights.

With the lofty expectations, could the rematch be a flop?

Is there any way that this fight fails to live up to expectations?

Let’s take a look at a few ways this fight could be “boring.”

Silva Wins By Early KO

Some would argue that Silva is going to end Sonnen’s night early, thus rendering the fight a disappointment. If Silva is able to shut Sonnen up emphatically with an early ending, we can add it to the impressive number of finishes that Silva has accrued in his career.

Silva’s ability to finish opponents in awe-inspiring fashion is what has made him a UFC icon. Regardless of who you are rooting for, Silva’s striking is on a higher level than anyone else on the planet and it’s beautiful to watch.

An early Silva knockout may not be the long, drawn-out war that constitutes a Fight of the Year candidate, but watching Sonnen bring out the best in the MMA legend would be something to behold.

Sonnen Grinds Out Decision

“Wall and Stall” and “Lay and Pray” are usually associated with fighters that employ a wrestling-heavy style of fighting and these, most often, carry the negative connotation of being boring.

When it comes to wrestling, there are few in the sport that can compare with Sonnen. He simply suffocates opponents and sets a relentless pace that can overwhelm even the most well-conditioned athletes.

There’s little doubt that Sonnen will bring his grinding style to Silva, and his clearest path to victory will involve a whole lot of wearing Silva down. Admittedly, the idea of Sonnen holding an opponent down and controlling his opponent for five rounds may not sound like the most action-packed affair, but this is no ordinary opponent—this is Anderson Silva.

Even if this fight turns into a Chael Sonnen grapple-fest, the sheer magnitude of the fight should be enough to keep fans on the edge of their seats. With both fighters’ dignities (it’s personal) and legacies on the line, this fight will be entertaining for as long (or as short) as it lasts.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

You’ve read the title and are already writing your comments as to why I’m the biggest idiot writing for Bleacher Report. That’s fine. I can take it, but at least hear me out.

I’m not somebody who writes for shock value. In fact, I despise those that do. So don’t think that this is being published for that reason.

Think of all the UFC fights that have taken place. Not only this year, or last year, or the five years preceding that. I’m talking about every UFC fight that has taken place. Have you ever sensed as much build up for one fight as you do for Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen II?

Perhaps Chuck and Tito? GSP and Penn? What about Tito and Shamrock? There are plenty of fights that had a high level of anticipation for them, but nothing compares to what we are seeing in this rematch that will take place on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

What happens when the fight doesn’t live up to expectations? Is it even possible for Silva and Sonnen to put on a show that will warrant the level of attention it has received? I don’t think so.

Most fans anticipate the fight being as exciting as their first fight, if not more so. The first fight appeared to be exciting because Sonnen was not nearly as popular as he is today and the world was captured by the huge underdog dominating the champion in ways we’ve never seen before.

The fight itself consisted of one man dominating another for four-and-a-half rounds. It wasn’t a close fight by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, Silva threw up the Hail Mary in the final round and made Sonnen tap out.

Fast forward two years and there isn’t a huge underdog in the fight. Polls are almost split on who the fans expect to win and both fighters are a little older.

Sonnen looked good against Brian Stann last October, but followed that up with a very ugly and uninspiring win versus Michael Bisping. In fact, many believe he lost that fight.

Silva, on the other hand, still looks to be his dominant self. Since his first fight with Sonnen, Silva has convincing wins over Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami.

Let’s face it, Sonnen caught Silva off-guard in their first fight. Silva is too good to let the same thing happen again. Especially with so much time in between fights to prepare.

This isn’t going to be a back and forth five-round slugfest like the media and other MMA fans have hyped it up to be. Silva has faced tougher challenges in his career and made quick work of those opponents.

I’d be very surprised if Sonnen gets beyond the second round. His only chance is to get Silva to the ground much like he did in their first fight. Silva will not allow that to happen this time around and I expect Sonnen to get caught with a knee or a kick on a takedown attempt.

I’m amped for this fight as much as you are, but the expectations for this fight need to be tempered a bit. Otherwise, we will all be disappointed.

Joe Chacon is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com