RIO DE JANEIRO — Anderson Silva is hoping for no drama when he faces Chael Sonnen below boxing guidelines.
In 2010, Sonnen gave Silva one among his hardest challenges as UFC middleweight champion, forcing Silva to come back again from practically 5 rounds of domination to win by way of Hail Mary submission within the ultimate spherical. Silva then received a rematch by way of second-round TKO in 2012, touchdown a brutal knee to the chest adopted by punches on the bottom. The 2 rivals now meet in a trilogy bout Saturday, this time in a boxing exhibition in the principle occasion of Spaten Struggle Evening, and Silva isn’t precisely upset that Sonnen received’t be capable to use his wrestling.
“The benefit is that he he can’t take me down and have 5 rounds to beat me,” Silva mentioned with amusing throughout his open exercise media scrum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, forward of the five-round boxing exhibition. “He should beat me on the ft. He can’t catch me on the bottom as a result of it’s simply boxing. That’s a bonus!”
Silva declined to offer an official prediction for the bout.
“You’re creating hassle for me,” Silva mentioned with one other giggle. “I don’t know what number of rounds it’s going to final, however I hope it doesn’t final lengthy. And I hope I win.”
Silva and Sonnen are set to satisfy at a 216-pound catchweight. “The Spider” expects Sonnen to come back ready after engaged on his putting expertise over twenty years of MMA competitors.
“This rivalry with Chael is tremendous fascinating as a result of Chael has reworked me into a greater athlete, and I’ve reworked him into a greater athlete,” Silva mentioned. “I’ve educated extra. Some difficulties I had in jiu-jitsu, Chael made me work on that since he’s a wrestler, so he made me a greater fighter. And I made him prepare extra to develop into a greater fighter.
“Though a few years have handed, and issues have occurred, new fighters got here and different fights occurred, the 2 fights we had won’t ever depart the pinnacle of the followers and the brand new generations.”
Silva and Sonnen’s first legendary encounter is about to be inducted into the Struggle Wing of the UFC Corridor of Fame in late June throughout Worldwide Struggle Week in Las Vegas.
The 2 share a faceoff Wednesday in Sao Paulo, and Silva expects shenanigans.
“Everyone is aware of Chael is controversial, so I’m not ready for the faceoff,” Silva mentioned, laughing once more. “I don’t know what’s going to come from that facet. He’s form of loopy.”
