With two wins in his last three fights, W. Silva (photo) targets Sonnen. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
With confirmation that Wanderlei Silva e Chael Sonnen will continue to fight in the light heavyweight category, a confrontation between the two began to take over the imagination of fans. Sonnen is the “number one public enemy” of Brazilians after countless provocations made since the first fight with Anderson Silva. Wand is one of the greatest heroes in the history of MMA.
Although a title fight is a distant reality for both, the confrontation makes a lot of sense due to the enormous commercial power that the fighters carry. This condition was reinforced when a video began to circulate on the internet with the Brazilian giving the American a hard time, threatening to “break his teeth” if he continued to “disrespect the country”.
After being knocked out by Jon Jones At UFC 159, Sonnen focused his attention on Wand, challenging the Brazilian and giving the Crazy Dog 24 hours to accept. The confrontation was even considered as the main fight of the debut event of the UFC On FOX Sports 1 series, in August. But, according to Wanderlei, the fight with Sonnen is interesting, but not at this event.
“I'm going to say something that I haven't told anyone yet: I'm not going to fight in Boston, that's for sure,” Wand told reporter Marcelo Russio, from Combate.com. “Sonnen hasn't been officially proposed to me yet, no one has called me offering the fight. It's interesting? Is very. But if it is to take place, it will be after (the event) in Boston. Before, or in Boston, no. I'm ready for December, at the end of the year event. I'm de-stressing my mind and body a little for now, because my last fight was very difficult, because I was filming TUF and I prepared there. This year I was away from home for two months, and now I have to rest a little”, continued the former PRIDE champion.
Regarding a possible location for the fight, Wand was even more specific. The idol would like to fight in front of his fans, in his country. “(Fighting) in Brazil would be a dream. I think he (Sonnen) would even have to wear armor and earplugs to walk around there (laughs). My last one in the country was in Belo Horizonte, the audience was wonderful, I was very well received. I had a great week, I had the fight of the night… It was a very good experience”, he added.
Despite the statements, it is unlikely that the Brazilian will be able to fulfill his desire to face Sonnen in the card at the end of the year and in Brazil. This is because the event review has become one of the four most important dates on the UFC's annual calendar and the organization always holds these cards in Las Vegas. This was the case in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012, the only years in which the UFC held events on the last Saturday before the review.
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