UFC 117 - Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva

[Rappy Veteran]

OAKLAND, Calif. ? After an epic headliner that saw UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva tested like never before, an immediate rematch with his UFC 117 opponent isn't necessarily a done deal.

Mere moments after Silva rebounded from four losing rounds for a miracle fighting-ending submission of Chael Sonnen in the fifth, Dana White was asked about the possibility of Silva vs. Sonnen II.

The UFC president admits people undoubtedly want to see it, but he's not sure it'll be next on the docket.

After all, he's already essentially promised Vitor Belfort the next shot at the belt, and as MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently reported, the Brazilian's camp is planning for it to take place as soon as November.

"It's definitely a rematch I think people are going to want to see," White said of Silva vs. Sonnen II. "Looking at Twitter, everybody is saying, 'Rematch. Rematch.' We'll see what happens. Vitor is waiting to fight right now, too. We could do the rematch with Chael, but we'll see what happens. We'll see how it goes."

[Bubbabyte]

WHAT THE!!!???? I was upset that Silva won but Chael did tap. So kudos to him. Chael got careless and paid the price. The belt was just minutes away... It was an exciting fight.

The rest of the fights: Roy Nelson took a beating but soldiered on. Great fight. JDS showed why he's a top contender but if he couldn't put Roy away, he has no chance against Lesnar or Cain. If Lesnar withstood Carwin, he can very well withstand JDS.

The Guida fight was nice, shame about the injury. Stefan Struve... DAMN! Kid has got a LOT of heart.

Matt Hughes still got it. Very good choke.

The Fitch fight was a boring one.

I agree with all your comments, Roy nelson is one tough SOB though.

The fitch fight was boring.. his fights are always boring, but although he's not making any major fans with his decision wins, the fact that NOBODY in that division can beat him except GSP is quite a statement. Dude has a very impressive record against some top guys.

[P1ckles]

Not to take anything away from Chael, who was thoroughly dominating Silva, but Silva did not seem the same. I think the combination of Silva's last performance, Dana's threats to cut him, and Chael's trash talk all mentally affected his game. Silva seems to be a bit of a sensitive person -- I've noticed him in some video (before the fight) where he was on the verge of tears, I think it was at the weigh ins. And that's just the mental side of things; apparently, he sustained some physical injuries to his ribs in preparation for this fight. Even Chael conceded in the post-fight conference that he believed Silva about his injuries.

So yeah, not to take away from Chael's performance, but Silva was definitely not his usual self.

[Darksoft]

It was a great fight. Soonen fought great but didn't have it in hiim to put Silva away.

Sonnen dominated but couldn't beat Silva who wasn't even 100%.

I hope they get a rematch but this is as close as Sonnen is going to get to beating Silva. If they fight again and with Silva healthy he got no chance. I am sure of that after seeing this fight.

[mikebiacsi]

Wow what a fight! I totally didn't expect Sonnen to bring it like that so props to him. Can anybody beat Silva???

[Matrix XII]

Entertaining fight, but if there is a rematch I don't see Sonnen coming that close again.

[Lovell]

Vitor deserves the next shot more than anyone, hopefully Dana gives him it before giving Chael another shot

[TheElite]

Yeah, we should see Belfort fight silva first.

Maybe Belfort will dethrone him.

[rajputwarrior]

man roy... all you had to do was sit on him!

AWESOME PPV. glad i ordered it and my boy anderson is still the champ. matt hughes looked amazing

[Bubbabyte]

Not to take anything away from Chael, who was thoroughly dominating Silva, but Silva did not seem the same. I think the combination of Silva's last performance, Dana's threats to cut him, and Chael's trash talk all mentally affected his game. Silva seems to be a bit of a sensitive person -- I've noticed him in some video (before the fight) where he was on the verge of tears, I think it was at the weigh ins. And that's just the mental side of things; apparently, he sustained some physical injuries to his ribs in preparation for this fight. Even Chael conceded in the post-fight conference that he believed Silva about his injuries.

So yeah, not to take away from Chael's performance, but Silva was definitely not his usual self.

I'm not buying the whole "silva wasn't 100%" bull****.. the issues silva had with this fight are simple, he wasn't given a chance to prance around and feel chael out. Watch any of Silva's last 10 fights or so.. he takes the first 3-4 minutes and kinda hops around the cage to get his timing right etc... well he wasn't given that chance that EVERYONE else seemed to give him and I honestly don't think he knew what to do. I honestly think he panicked a bit when he wasn't given that chance and didn't really know what to do.

No idea why everyone gives silva the chance to feel them out.. but i think chael exposed silva for any of this next opponents. I was sad that chael lost, because he deserved the win, but at the same time he exposed alot of silva's weaknesses.

[Salgoth]

Maybe Belfort will dethrone him.

Doubtful. Belfort is a striker. Strikers have fared the worst against Silva. Wrestlers the best. BJJ in the middle.

Sonnen did what nobody expected - he convincingly controlled Silva for 4.5 rounds. Mega-respect for that although I can't stand him for his mouth.

In the end Silva found a way to win, injured or not, he still found a way to win. That's what champions do - they win.

Rematch - maybe. But I think Sonnen needs to go fight another contender to re-earn his next shot just like Finch has done.

[TheElite]

Doubtful. Belfort is a striker. Strikers have fared the worst against Silva. Wrestlers the best. BJJ in the middle.

Maybe Belfort will knock him out.

[D. S. Veteran]

Belfort won't stand a chance unless he suddenly developed an interest in high level wrestling. Silva's striking is fantastic and if he doesn't shut him down, he will be KTFO.

What this fight shows is that Silva vs. GSP would probably end with GSP winning (by decision but still winning). GSP is a great wrestler and doesn't have obvious holes in his submission defence like Chael. On the other hand, staying within MW, Jake Shields is now in the UFC. If he wins his debut (and there really isn't any reason why he shouldn't), he's on the fast track for a title shot and being a high level wrestler, Silva is yet again in trouble.

[Dev Null Zen]

I'm not buying the whole "silva wasn't 100%" bull****.. the issues silva had with this fight are simple, he wasn't given a chance to prance around and feel chael out. Watch any of Silva's last 10 fights or so.. he takes the first 3-4 minutes and kinda hops around the cage to get his timing right etc... well he wasn't given that chance that EVERYONE else seemed to give him and I honestly don't think he knew what to do. I honestly think he panicked a bit when he wasn't given that chance and didn't really know what to do.

No idea why everyone gives silva the chance to feel them out.. but i think chael exposed silva for any of this next opponents. I was sad that chael lost, because he deserved the win, but at the same time he exposed alot of silva's weaknesses.

Go watch another of Andersons fights, and then revisit this one. His hip sprawl was nowhere near the same as it has been in any other fight. And I really don't think Chael could have kept him down like he did if Anderson was 100%. I wasn't a fan of Silva before this, but like I said before, this fight has given me a lot more respect for him.

[D. S. Veteran]

Acording to Sherdog, Chael teste positive for PED's. FML! :crazy:

[metallithrax]

Acording to Sherdog, Chael teste positive for PED's. FML! :crazy:

Here also

[nubs]

The UG is calling for the use of the term "ultimate chael" when a fighter fails PED tests. I guess it's a play on the words ultimate fail. :shifty:

[TheElite]

Wow, if it's true then it's a big shame.

[Bubbabyte]

I'm not blind to the fact that some athletes use PED's, i know it happens and i'm sure some of my favorite athletes may have done it, so i'm not being naive in what i'm about to say. IMO Chael doesn't seem like the type to use PED's.. whether it be steroids or otherwise, not only for the reason that he doesn't gas at all, but because of his Career outside the octagon etc.. As much as i hate politicians, he's a VERY smart and intellectual guy so I would never believe in a million years that he would think he wouldn't get caught, he just seems like the type of guy who KNOWS what the consequences would be and just plain wouldn't risk it. There was also talk leading up to the fight about him having the flu and taking meds for it, and we ALL know the track record of the california commissions testing.. they've been proven wrong before. Either way it's not good for Chael and if he is proven NOT guilty then it's extremely sad that someone with his talent can have a tarnished bio because of the California testers (ie. Sean Sherk)

[TheElite]

I'm not blind to the fact that some athletes use PED's, i know it happens and i'm sure some of my favorite athletes may have done it, so i'm not being naive in what i'm about to say. IMO Chael doesn't seem like the type to use PED's.. whether it be steroids or otherwise, not only for the reason that he doesn't gas at all, but because of his Career outside the octagon etc.. As much as i hate politicians, he's a VERY smart and intellectual guy so I would never believe in a million years that he would think he wouldn't get caught, he just seems like the type of guy who KNOWS what the consequences would be and just plain wouldn't risk it. There was also talk leading up to the fight about him having the flu and taking meds for it, and we ALL know the track record of the california commissions testing.. they've been proven wrong before. Either way it's not good for Chael and if he is proven NOT guilty then it's extremely sad that someone with his talent can have a tarnished bio because of the California testers (ie. Sean Sherk)

That is true. Chael Sonnen did seem like a smart character.

[rajputwarrior]

Acording to Sherdog, Chael teste positive for PED's. FML! :crazy:

ha, what a bitch. eff that guy, talked all that **** and didn't beat anderson and i don't care if you say anderson fluked out, back up your **** talking you cheater.

[D. S. Veteran]

I'm not blind to the fact that some athletes use PED's, i know it happens and i'm sure some of my favorite athletes may have done it, so i'm not being naive in what i'm about to say. IMO Chael doesn't seem like the type to use PED's.. whether it be steroids or otherwise, not only for the reason that he doesn't gas at all, but because of his Career outside the octagon etc.. As much as i hate politicians, he's a VERY smart and intellectual guy so I would never believe in a million years that he would think he wouldn't get caught, he just seems like the type of guy who KNOWS what the consequences would be and just plain wouldn't risk it. There was also talk leading up to the fight about him having the flu and taking meds for it, and we ALL know the track record of the california commissions testing.. they've been proven wrong before. Either way it's not good for Chael and if he is proven NOT guilty then it's extremely sad that someone with his talent can have a tarnished bio because of the California testers (ie. Sean Sherk)

You make a good point. People said he probably tested positive for Sudafed which contains pseudoephedrine. But the news say a natural steroid, excluding by definition pseudoephedrine. We'll have to wait for the official report. Chael's career is already taking a hit with the winner of Belfort - Okami getting the next title shot instead of the obvious rematch. Belfort must not be believing his luck.