If Chael Sonnen has his way, his next fight in the Octagon will pin him head-to-head with an “Axe Murderer.”
Sonnen (29-13-1 MMA, 7-6 UFC), who is coming off an impressive submission victory over Mauricio (Shogun) Rua on Saturday, wants to lock horns with Wanderlei Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) as the co-main event of November’s UFC 167 card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The 36-year-old Sonnen asked UFC president Dana White to make the fight happen via a tapped video message played while his boss was an in-studio guest on Wednesday’s “FOX Sports Live.”
“Dana, it is no secret that I am the biggest draw and the highest paid athlete in the UFC, and the only person that comes close to rivaling me is Georges St-Pierre ,” Sonnen explained in the recording. “And as I see it, in November, when he takes on Johny Hendricks live and in Las Vegas – tickets on sale now – he does not have a co-main event. I ask that you put me and Wanderlei Silva on that card.”
Dana White says he's open to having Chael Sonnen vs. Wanderlei Silva at UFC 167 on Nov. 16. Silva told me he could be ready by that date.
— Mike Johnston (@MikeyJ_MMA) August 22, 2013
The American wrestler didn’t shy away from throwing fuel on a potential fight with Silva when he referenced comments made by the Brazilian that he would be willing to bet $100,000 on his fellow countryman Rua, who was submitted by Sonnen at the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night at TD Garden in Boston.
“He said last week publicly that he would bet $100,000 on ‘Shogun’ against me,” Sonnen continued. “I came out publicly and accepted that bet. He has yet to pay up. I am asking that $50,000 go to the Hire Heroes Foundation headed by Brian Stann and the other $50,000 go to the bombing victims of Boston. I don’t know if he’s a welcher – I believe he will pay up. But either way, I ask you, Dana White, my plea to you: Please, put this fight together.”
White appeared intrigued by the notion of a Sonnen-Silva fight and indicated that the bout is contingent on the Brazilian’s health.
"Well, there you go,” White said. “We can do that fight. The question, I think, is Wanderlei Silva is out until the beginning of the year. I’m not sure if he’s healthy. But if he’s healthy, I will definitely make that fight, and I will definitely make it the co-main event.”
UFC 167 takes place Nov. 16 and is currently headlined by the welterweight title matchup between the champion St-Pierre and challenger Hendricks. Another bout between top welterweights Rory MacDonald and Robbie Lawler is also expected to be featured on the card.
