Chael Sonnen’s coach Scott McQuarry demands rematch with Anderson Silva, files appeal with NSAC
While Chael Sonnen had appeared quite graceful and respectful after losing handily to UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva at UFC 148, news comes today that his team may have plans that are quite the opposite. Sonnen’s head trainer Scott McQuarry spoke out today, explaining that he has filed a claim with the NSAC stemming from what he believes was an illegal knee by Silva to the downed Sonnen. Already one of the most hotly debated topics in MMA, the knee was ruled to have struck Sonnen in the chest rather than the head, making it a legal strike. McQuarry thinks this is not the case, and spoke to Bleacherreport.com today about his grievances:
“Chael’s not the kind of guy who likes to complain after a fight. I felt I needed to take this action to protect him. At the point of impact, Anderson had his hand locked in the cage and his feet left the ground. We believe his intentions were clear. We started the process of filing a complaint with the Nevada Athletic Commission. We believe the knee that Anderson Silva threw was illegal with the clear intent to strike the face. And it did in fact connect with the face. Chael bit his tongue and needed eight stitches.”
Sonnen’s eight stitches has not been discussed much as a by-product of Silva’s knee, which no doubt was a huge turning point in the massively anticipated rematch. Filing a complaint with the NSAC is a long process that would most likely end with the results being the same. So, McQuarry will move his focus of the appeal and plead with UFC President Dana White. He continued on:
“What I’m going to do is change my tactic. We’re going to ask for a rematch. We deserve a rematch. If the only way Anderson Silva can win is by cheating, we need to keep a closer eye on Silva before and during a fight. And we need a rematch now. Legal knee or illegal knee, there’s enough doubt with all the fouls to warrant a rematch.”
The fouls McQuarry speaks of were Yves Lavigne’s warning Silva about grabbing Sonnen’s shorts, and another for Vaseline prior to the bout starting. Do these discrepancies warrant enough of a controversy to find Silva and Sonnen facing one another for a third time? With Anderson Silva winning both of the previous fights, do MMA fans deserve to weather a long, drawn-out appeal process only to endure more and more hype from a fighter who has lost to Silva twice and is considering retirement? Some may believe the fouls were legit enough a reason to have a third and final fight. Many think that the rivalry was finished decisively, once, and for all, by Silva on Saturday. After being finished in the second round, does Chael Sonnen truly deserve another rematch with the great Anderson Silva?
Further Reading: Chael Sonnen could retire following UFC 148 fiasco
