Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen fought twice contained in the octagon. Their trilogy match will happen contained in the boxing ring.
The 2 first fought at UFC 117 in August 2010. It was Silva’s eighth title protection and Sonnen dominated Silva for 22 minutes. Within the remaining spherical, Silva locked on a triangle choke after being taken down and completed Sonnen pulling victory out of the clutches of defeat.
The 2 rematched two years later at UFC 148 in 2012. Silva stopped Sonnen within the second spherical. Regardless of Silva successful each bouts, their rivalry was one of many best within the promotion’s historical past.
As soon as the trilogy boxing match was signed, many questioned why Sonnen would comply with field the prolific striker. Sonnen answered the query on his YouTube channel.
“I’ve my very own private causes towards Anderson and I might think about they don’t seem to be even. I take into consideration that man for the final 12 years at each single day in some unspecified time in the future,” Sonnen mentioned. “I do not suppose he thinks about tme. My expertise with Anderson is the one most essential piece of my profession. Whether or not which means one thing to your or not, it was my profession, it means one thing to me and with out him it would not work.”
To Sonnen, accepting a boxing match towards Silva was a no brainer. The principles don’t matter to Sonnen. The setting the battle takes place in is not a priority. Sonnen merely will battle Silva wherever, anytime and underneath any guidelines.
“There’s a code and both you may perceive it otherwise you will not,” Sonnen mentioned. “Here is the reply to your query. If there may be ever a time that I’m respiratory air on this Earth and that man needs to battle me, I have to battle him. Not all people. Not anyone. If that man ever asks me to battle him, I have to battle him, and also you both get that or you do not.”