Preview to UFC 148, can Sonnen finish what he started at UFC 117?
This short video, below, hearkens back to August 7, 2010 at UFC 117. Anderson Silva faced Chael Sonnen to defend the UFC Middleweight Title and the fans were treated to an all-out beat-down in the Octagon at the hands of Sonnen.
In round one, Sonnen took Silva down after blasting him and dominated him, completely in that round as well as the following three. In the fifth round, Sonnen caught Silva with a left hook and immediately established top position. At the three-minute mark, Silva came back and locked a triangle armbar on Sonnen, forcing the challenger to submit at 3:10 of Round 5.
According to an article posted on MMAJunkie at the time, Silva was hit more in that one fight (289 times) than he had been in his entire career (208 times). Had “the Spider” not pulled off that armbar in the final minutes of round 5 without a stoppage by “The People’s Champ”; Silva would have lost the fight and his title.
Fallout from the fight included a cracked rib for Silva. The champ had gone in with a rib injury against doctor’s orders and Sonnen made it worse; keeping Silva out of the Octagon until the following February when he knocked out Vitor Belfort in Las Vegas.
From the other corner, Sonnen tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs:an elevated testosterone to epitestosterone ratio. Sonnen’s test results and immediate CSAC suspension caused UFC President Dana White to revoke the promise of a rematch. White rescheduled the rematch after the self-proclaimed “Gangster from West Linn” proved himself, again in the promotion’s eyes with back-to back wins over Brian Stann and Michael Bisping after his suspension was served.
On July 7 at UFC 148 in Las Vegas, Sonnen promises to finish what he started. Sonnen is known for his trashtalking. Is this just more talk or does he have what it takes to finish “the Spider”?
