Famous action star Steven Seagal won’t hold anything back when it comes to defending UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.After what was a memorable battle at UFC 117, Silva and Chael Sonnen are prepared to touch gloves once more in a highly-anticp…
Famous action star Steven Seagal won’t hold anything back when it comes to defending UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
After what was a memorable battle at UFC 117, Silva and Chael Sonnen are prepared to touch gloves once more in a highly-anticpated rematch at UFC 148 on July 7.
Seagal believes their second meeting will look much different than their first fight and he shared his thoughts on The MMA Hour.
“Chael last time had an extremely unfair advantage,” Seagal said. “Because, you know, that whole deal with I don’t know what it’s called, steroids, or whatever, performance-enhancing drugs or whatever. … I think this time, probably he’ll be a little more careful with that, and I think that will even the playing field.”
Although Sonnen would go on to lose the five-round bout to Silva, and be handed a one-year suspension from the California State Athletic Commission shortly after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone, his performance has generated much intrigue for the rematch.
And Seagal, like many other fans, cannot wait for the event and he picks the Brazilian to defeat his American counter-part convincingly.
“Let’s just say this, I think this time, they’re both going to be at their best,” Seagal said. “I don’t think there’s going to be any controversy, I don’t think there’s going to be any injuries. I think two great fighters are going to go out there and have it out, and I think my guy’s going to win. My guy’s going to win handily this time.”
It’s no secret that Seagal is an accomplished martial artist, however there is a mystery as to how he became involved in helping Silva, as well as other Team Black House fighters.
But it is certain that Seagal will be rooting for the champion, whether he is in attendance or not, only adding more anticipation to the main event.
The long-awaited rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is nearly here.Silva and the one opponent that can truly be deemed his career nemesis will finally hook up again next month at UFC 148. It’s one of the most anticipated UFC fights in hist…
The long-awaited rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen is nearly here.
Silva and the one opponent that can truly be deemed his career nemesis will finally hook up again next month at UFC 148. It’s one of the most anticipated UFC fights in history, and all because of Sonnen’s propensity for saying ludicrous things designed to hype up the rematch and get under Silva’s skin.
With that in mind, what better time to take a look at the biggest feuds in UFC history? These are the rivalries that thrilled millions and escalated pay-per-view buyrates to the highest of highs.
Dana White’s historic feud with Tito Ortiz may be forgiven, but it certainly isn’t forgotten.From a memorable weigh-in confrontation to a proposed boxing match, it’s fairly easy to say Ortiz and the UFC President haven’t had a typical boss-and-employee…
Dana White‘s historic feud with Tito Ortiz may be forgiven, but it certainly isn’t forgotten.
Despite their personal disdain for one another, the pair have managed to maintain a working relationship over the years to ensure the continued growth of the UFC.
White recently announced the upcoming induction of Ortiz into the Hall of Fame prior to his final professional bout against Forrest Griffin at UFC 148.
In an interview with MMAWeekly, the UFC President had plenty to say about his former nemesis, and most of it wasn’t good.
Tito’s never been about the company of the UFC. Tito’s been about his own brand, Punishment, and Tito Ortiz. I think he’s a guy who pound-for-pound—at the time we were hurting—tried to do more damage to [the UFC] than anyone in the history of this company.
If White truly feels this way, one has to question his reasoning for inducting Ortiz into the Hall of Fame to begin with.
Legendary fighters like Frank Shamrock have been shafted in the past when it comes to the UFC Hall of Fame, but Ortiz, who is being labeled a brand killer, is set to walk across the stage and receive a plaque to join a short list of all-time greats.
What gives?
White weighs in:
“At the same time, I think that the storylines played out, and it’s a part of our history, between me, Chuck [Liddell] and Tito. It is definitely a part of the history of this sport.”
Las Vegas will host Anderson Silva’s crowning achievement in July when Silva vs. Sonnen 2 headlines UFC 148.There we will see just how much better The Spider is than absolutely everyone else in MMA at 185 pounds.Yes, Sonnen delivered an unprecedented b…
Las Vegas will host Anderson Silva‘s crowning achievement in July when Silva vs. Sonnen 2 headlines UFC 148.
There we will see just how much better The Spider is than absolutely everyone else in MMA at 185 pounds.
Yes, Sonnen delivered an unprecedented beating on Silva during four-and-a-half rounds in the summer of 2010. Yes, Silva is now in his late 30s. Yes, Sonnen presents an awkward matchup for The Spider. Yes, Sonnen only lost due to his Achilles’ heal: the triangle choke, something he’s fallen pray to four times before. He only needs to tweak that weakness and he’s got Silva’s number.
There are a million reasons to theorize why Sonnen is one small step away from dethroning the Silva Dynasty.
Problem, though, is reality. It trumps popular opinion. And in the Internet age, popular opinion receives more web exposure than professional diagnosis. The web has created the “fan as sports commentator” phenomenon which leads Google searches to show masses of mediocrity indecipherable from true journalism.
One cure for this mediocrity are the Nevada betting odds. They have a stronger tie to reality.
Right now, Silva is a 2:1 favorite on most betting lines. And for good reason.
In August of 2010, Sonnen was indeed fighting a bent (although not broken) Silva. The Spider was nursing bone-bruised ribs which put a significant thorn in a fighter’s game.
Further, Sonnen’s testosterone levels at UFC 117 were 17:1. That’s nearly triple the amount allowed for competitive athletes and more than four times the normal human levels.
Sonnen was in challenger status: hungry and healthy. Silva was in definite plateau mode. Having dispatched the big names in his midst he could seem almost bored in the Octagon. Psychologically, this puts a reigning champ at a disadvantage.
With Sonnen’s testosterone levels in check and Silva’s body (hopefully) in standard condition, as well as his psyche reignited, we will see a true comparison of these men’s skills.
Sonnen ran through Brian Stann but technically lost (in my, and many sports journalists’ honest opinion) to Michael Bisping. In comparison, The Spider wiped Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami off his checklist in decisive fashion. Comparing both men’s past two years paints a picture of Silva’s performance against Sonnen in 2010 as an exception, not the rule.
Silva’s fighting IQ is monstrous compared to one-dimensional Sonnen. And The Spider’s historic record is against bigger and better names than his mouthy nemesis from Oregon.
My humble, and ironically “fan as commentator” opinion, is a Silva TKO victory in the early moments of Round 3.
On Saturday, July 7, Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva will meet in Las Vegas for their eagerly anticipated rematch. We don’t know yet who will come out on top, but let’s imagine a few possible ways in which Sonnen could lose to Silva. Sonnen knocke…
On Saturday, July 7, Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva will meet in Las Vegas for their eagerly anticipated rematch. We don’t know yet who will come out on top, but let’s imagine a few possible ways in which Sonnen could lose to Silva.
Sonnen knocked out in the first round
It is an embarrassingly one-sided fight. As the bell rings, both fighters rush to the centre, with Sonnen coming out swinging. The champion ducks and weaves in bullet-time and counters with pinpoint strikes: kicks to Sonnen’s body, jabs to his face. “The Spider” has a rhythm and timing we never saw in the first match. Perhaps his broken rib was the problem after all?
In desperation, Sonnen attempts his first takedown, expertly stuffed, as Silva sprawls and follows up with a knee. His confidence builds as Sonnen’s pressure style proves no match for the Brazilian’s reflexes.
And then it happens. Another takedown attempt from too far out, Silva throws a hook, catches Sonnen on the way down, and the fight is over.
As pandemonium breaks out around the stadium, the answer to all our questions is lying flat on the mat.
There was a gulf in class on that night which we’re now wondering why we ever doubted. The first match must have been a fluke. Silva was unprepared, probably complacent. With the pressure on, he rose to the challenge and gave Sonnen no hope.
In the post-fight press conference, Sonnen is conspicuous with his absence. The champion sits centre stage, with his belt gleaming gold before him. All the questions are the same. Silva doesn’t say much. His replies are short and courteous, but there’s nothing left to say now.
All of Sonnen’s talk was just that—talk. Last night showed he had nothing to back it up. Silva’s unprecedented 15-fight winning streak is extended to 16, and the only fighter to ever question his credentials as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time is now a faded star.
Sonnen, meanwhile, is riding an ambulance to the hospital. Alongside him is a big bag of cash. He’s 35 years old and has made more from this one fight than in any fight in his entire career—enough to retire on.
He’s faced and defeated some of the biggest names in his division, and while he won’t go down as among the great, he’s sure to be remembered as having come the closest to unseating the greatest champion of all time…
Sonnen loses to a fourth-round submission
It is a virtual replay of their first encounter. Sonnen thinks he had the formula to unseat Silva. He takes him down at will and rained punches from the top, just like he had the first time round.
But “The Spider” twists and weaves and slips them all. It goes this way for round after round, leaving us all aghast, thinking surely, this can’t be happening again. Surely this time, Sonnen will have learnt enough to not fall for the same stuff twice.
But perhaps, like Silva fan-boys had always contended, this had been his plan all along. It’s Sonnen who is falling straight into The Spider’s web.
And then it happens. Somewhere in the fourth round, like before, Silva catches his arm. He spins his legs around Sonnen’s shoulders and twists Sonnen’s extended arm against his belly. This time it’s an arm bar, and Sonnen taps.
The look of abject embarrassment on Sonnen’s face, as he sits kneeling on the canvas nursing his arm, is pitiful.
Money is no consolation for looking this stupid. What awaits him tomorrow is the doldrums of the division: fighting the lower order far from the hunting pack. He’s shown himself to be a two-dimensional fighter, and despite having faced and overcome some of the best middleweights UFC had to offer, he is not among the greats, not by a long shot.
He could retire now, with what he earned last night. But pride could get in his way. He doesn’t want to go out like this. He can still claim he was winning on points for most of the match, but concede that Silva’s jiu-jitsu was just too good. That could save some face.
But he can forget about ever drawing a crowd to his fights like the ones that parted with their dollars to watch the self-proclaimed greatest fighter in the world. The emptiness of that label is there for all to see.
Silva, meanwhile, has just notched another victory in the longest championship run in the UFC’s history. He’s proved that the last time wasn’t a fluke. By fighting the same fight, he’s shown supreme confidence in his ability and demonstrated what a versatile and highly intelligent fighter he is.
There are others now, still left in the division, but none of them seem anymore remarkable than Sonnen. Now in the twilight of his career, his earning potential is bigger than it has ever been, and he’ll certainly feel that he’s earned the right to pick and chose his next fight…
Sonnen loses a grueling five-round decision
Many are already calling it the fight of the year. The two go at it like lions for 25 minutes, and each round could have gone either way. Sonnen scored takedowns. Silva, pummeled him in the clinch. Both boxed and landed shots that would have felled lesser men.
Through tenacity, experience and a greater range of skill, Silva came out on top in a result no one would question.
But there is no shame on either men. Both came out as warriors, and as the final bell rings, they embrace a bloody mess.
In the post-fight press conference, both men sit on either side of Dana White—Silva with the belt, Sonnen without, just like it always was.
Silva is a relieved man. He knows he came close again. He’s respectful of Sonnen but is wondering how long he can keep doing this. There are many fighters of Sonnen’s calibre snapping at his heels, and he wonders whether he still has desire to deal with them all.
Sonnen’s stock is still high, and he knows it. The match could have gone either way, and a decision like that shows that the gulf in talent between the two is very narrow indeed. But he has been beaten, for the second time, which makes the first near victory that much more painful.
He looks across at Silva thinking how long before he earns another shot. He’s still among the elite of the division but will have to fight his way through the hunting pack to get back into title contention.
There’s a rematch against Michael Bisping that many would like to see. He still needs to fight Mark Munoz, a match that was planned before injury forced Bisping to take his place. Then there’s grudge matches against Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort or even Rousimar Palhares —every Brazilian in his class will want a piece of him.
Yes, his earning potential is still high, and tasty matches can still be made. And who knows? If he beats them all, his path may lead him back to Silva once again.
That’s all in the future. For now, he has a bag of money to spend and time to wonder how much more he’ll earn before his time is done.
Oh man, Chael Sonnen is going to have some ammunition when he sees this one. Middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva has been verbally blasted by Sonnen so often in the past that fans have almost become numb to it by now. But The Spider&rsquo…
Oh man, Chael Sonnen is going to have some ammunition when he sees this one.
Middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva has been verbally blasted by Sonnen so often in the past that fans have almost become numb to it by now. But The Spider’s recent Michael Jackson-themed cover shoot for the Brazilian edition of Rolling Stone may add a whole new wrinkle into Sonnen’s trash talk.
In all honesty, though, this is a pretty awesome photo shoot. Silva looks like he’s having a blast dancing like the King of Pop, and he even sports some of Jackson’s trademark outfits and the end results look awesome.
The video above is a must-see if you’re a fan of the middleweight champion. It gives us a nice insight into Silva’s willingness to make fun of himself and not let his ego get in the way of him having some fun.
The cover of Rolling Stone magazine is a pretty big honor no matter what country you’re in. But the fact that one of the largest music magazines in the world decided to throw an MMA fighter on the cover of one of their issues shows just how popular the sport really is in Brazil.
The middleweight champion is a bona-fide superstar in his native country, and with his title fight against Sonnen just under a month away, this will be some great press for the UFC in Brazil.
With his middleweight title defense against Sonnen set to go down at UFC 148 on July 7th, Silva is likely training extremely hard for what may end up being the biggest fight in UFC history. Still, it’s nice to see that he was able to take some time to receive such an honor and even have some fun along the way.
Las Vegas will host