Silva on why he relented to UFC 148 title fight with Sonnen: 'I love what I do'

[BluenoseGreig]

Anderson Silva (31-4 MMA, 14-0 UFC) said today that he took a second fight with Chael Sonnen (27-11-1 MMA, 6-4 UFC) not only because the UFC employs him, but out of a duty to make Sonnen answer for his words.

He didn't reach this conclusion, however, until he'd fought a verbal three-hour fight with UFC president Dana White in a hotel room as the media waited for them to announce the rematch.

"I guess sometimes, my opinion doesn't make too much of a difference, but I'm here to fight whoever they put in front of me," Silva today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

A lively back-and-forth between Silva and Sonnen at a pre-event press conference for UFC 148 concluded with Silva going chest-to-chest with the challenger and forcing White and officials to separate them.

It's been mostly Sonnen who's lobbed verbal stones at Silva in advance of their highly anticipated rematch Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. But Silva fired back this past week during a media call in support of UFC 148 and today at the pre-event gathering at Lagasse’s Stadium in The Palazzo Las Vegas.

On Monday, as MMAjunkie.com reported, White revealed the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded just prior to a press conference for the original destination of the second bout: UFC 147. The April presser, which was held in Rio de Janeiro, was expected to cement the long-anticipated rematch.

But White said there was no bout agreement in place. Middleweight champ Silva didn't want a second fight with Sonnen, whom he submitted in the fifth round of a thrilling fight two years prior at UFC 117. And he didn't want to fight him in Las Vegas at UFC 148, where the bout was rebooked when a soccer stadium set to host UFC 147 could not be secured for the June 23 event.

Eventually, Silva signed his UFC 148 bout agreement in White's hotel room and attended the press conference, averting a potential embarrassment. His anger over the situation, however, continued to boil over.

The tirade on the UFC 148 media call resulted, in part, when the UFC got wind that he might no-show. White got on the phone and ordered him to participate.

Sitting at the podium today for UFC 148, which includes a pay-per-view main card, Silva appeared calmer, but also as though he was holding himself in check as Sonnen goaded him throughout the 60-minute gathering.

During the extended Q&A portion of the event, he several times repeated promises made on the media call, saying "game is over" for Sonnen.

"You guys will see on Saturday night what I'm talking about," Silva said. "I don't have anything else to say other than he's screwed."

He also explained the reasoning behind his opposition to the rematch.

"It's not even so much about me," Silva said. "[Chael] was at his most dominant position for most of the fight. If I was in my most dominant position for a few seconds, the fight wouldn't have went the way it went.

"I know that my ribs were injured. I'm not making excuses. I'm more explaining everything. But the other fighters that I've faced in the UFC are much more qualified than Chael. I beat a guy up for five rounds in Abu Dhabi, and this guy submitted [Sonnen] in seconds. So to me, I just don't think this guy deserves it."

Whether it was hatred, money or White's persistence – or all three – that convinced him otherwise, Silva said he will do his job on Saturday night.

"I'm here because I love what I do," he said. "The minute I came into the UFC, Dana and (UFC CEO) Lorenzo (Fertitta) have always treated me very well."

http://mmajunkie.com/news/29496/silv...-what-i-do.mma

[JAX]

Wow, he really doesn't want this fight, he knows dam well that a repeat of the first fight is possible but with different outcome. He was basically shamed into taking this fight, I hope he loses just because he tries so hard to get out of it.

[Rich Davie]

It's starting to sound like somebody was trying to duck an opponent... and with the lame excuse that "he doesn't deserve to fight me" no less !

[Stauffy]

Surprised that he didn't pull out of that fight when he had that "knee injury"

[Drock]

Wow, he really doesn't want this fight, he knows dam well that a repeat of the first fight is possible but with different outcome. He was basically shamed into taking this fight, I hope he loses just because he tries so hard to get out of it.

This, but id love for Chael Sonnen to Finish the Fight some how

[Mu_Shin]

Much as I love Sonnen's fighting style, and as great a victory as Chael let slip away in the first fight, I keep getting a feeling that if Anderson Silva pulls out all the stops, fights to his ultimate potential, and applies the best that he is capable of, using all of the tools he has available to him, the outcome of this second contest will be dramatically different than their first meeting.

There is no other fighter that I've seen in MMA who has the defensive radar that Silva has. At his best I think Machida comes close, but when Silva is on, he has made the top pros look like amateurs as they vainly try to connect. I know a lot of the readers here at the Crypt are too young to have seen Muhammad Ali in his prime, but some of those old films are worth a look, especially the classic battles with Sonny Liston. Silva has that same kind of sensitivity to his opponent's range and movement, where you see him drop his hands, stand in the pocket, and the guy still can't hit him...

Obviously, the first Silva/Sonnen fight did not fit that mold, but Anderson now claims to be healthy, and it looks pretty certain that the champion is fully focused on this match, if his recent outburst and the near-clash at the promotional appearance I saw on video are any indication.

I thought Sonnen beat Bisping fairly convincingly, but The Count was able to hit Chael pretty hard on more than one occasion. Sonnen has never been the most elusive on his feet, and uses toughness and a good chin mpre often than he uses fleet footwork and slick head movement to get though his attacker's onslaught. Chael has one of the best shots for a takedown in the game, but if Silva applies pinpoint striking, together with good defensive movement, hits Sonnen early and often, and has the wherewithal to stay off his back this time around, again, I think we're looking at a vastly different outcome.

Of course, that's why they fight the fights... This one should be a match that helps define modern MMA and the level to which the sport has evolved at this juncture in time. More than just a classic striker/wrestler contest, I think this one contributes to delineating exactly how great a champion Anderson Silva is, whether his best days are behind him, whether Sonnen possesses the kryptonite to neutralize the super-champion, and how the history of this early era in the UFC will reflect Silva's place in the development of the sport. If he dominates Sonnen in this rematch, I can't see much of an argument that Anderson Silva is not the greatest MMA fighter we've yet seen in this young sport, and something keeps telling me that's what we may witness...

[Mu_Shin]

Much as I love Sonnen's fighting style, and as great a victory as Chael let slip away in the first fight, I keep getting a feeling that if Anderson Silva pulls out all the stops, fights to his ultimate potential, and applies the best that he is capable of, using all of the tools he has available to him, the outcome of this second contest will be dramatically different than their first meeting.

There is no other fighter that I've seen in MMA who has the defensive radar that Silva has. At his best I think Machida comes close, but when Silva is on, he has made the top pros look like amateurs as they vainly try to connect. I know a lot of the readers here at the Crypt are too young to have seen Muhammad Ali in his prime, but some of those old films are worth a look, especially the classic battles with Sonny Liston. Silva has that same kind of sensitivity to his opponent's range and movement, where you see him drop his hands, stand in the pocket, and the guy still can't hit him...

Obviously, the first Silva/Sonnen fight did not fit that mold, but Anderson now claims to be healthy, and it looks pretty certain that the champion is fully focused on this match, if his recent outburst and the near-clash at the promotional appearance I saw on video are any indication.

I thought Sonnen beat Bisping fairly convincingly, but The Count was able to hit Chael pretty hard on more than one occasion. Sonnen has never been the most elusive on his feet, and uses toughness and a good chin more often than he uses fleet footwork and slick head movement to get though his attacker's onslaught. Chael has one of the best shots for a takedown in the game, but if Silva applies pinpoint striking, together with good defensive movement, hits Sonnen early and often, and has the wherewithal to stay off his back this time around, again, I think we're looking at a vastly different outcome.

Of course, that's why they fight the fights... This one should be a match that helps define modern MMA and the level to which the sport has evolved at this juncture in time. More than just a classic striker/wrestler contest, I think this one contributes to delineating exactly how great a champion Anderson Silva is, whether his best days are behind him, whether Sonnen possesses the kryptonite to neutralize the super-champion, and how the history of this early era in the UFC will reflect Silva's place in the development of the sport. If he dominates Sonnen in this rematch, I can't see much of an argument that Anderson Silva is not the greatest MMA fighter we've yet seen in this young sport, and something keeps telling me that's what we may witness...

[Rich Davie]

Apparently Silva thought his shit doesn't stink and he was calling the shots on who he's going to be fighting from event to event... it now seems that Silva came to the realization that his shit does in fact stink just like everybody else when he made the following comment :

Anderson Silva :

I guess sometimes, my opinion doesn't make too much of a difference...

You're only part of the talent pool in the UFC Anderson... not the UFC matchmaker, which you wouldn't be very good at since you would have denied Chael Sonnen a rematch on the grounds that he doesn't deserve to fight you because he hurt your feelings.