Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen at the pre-UFC 148 press conference in Rio de Janeiro / Photo: Wander Braga/UFC
The mood in Las Vegas is one of anticipation of yet another “fight of the century,” when middleweight champion Anderson Silva defends his title from the big-talking Chael Sonnen this coming July 7, right after the United States Independence Day holiday.
In a video released by the UFC, Sonnen restated how his confidence and desire will be enough to overwhelm the champion’s capabilities—and wherever the action may be: standing, striking or in Jiu-Jitsu.
“Make it a boxing bout, I’ll find a way to win. Make it a kickboxing match, I’ll find a way to win. I’m not going to play a dance-off with him, but if he wants to make it a combative, man’s sport, I’ll do it. Make it a Jiu-Jitsu match, make it a wrestling match, make it an MMA fight—it doesn’t matter; he doesn’t have anything that I as an athlete won’t conquer. I am a competitor. I will find a way to win, as I always do,” says Sonnen, who has been brushing up on his Jiu-Jitsu skills with ADCC heavyweight champion Vinny Magalhães of team Gracie Tijuca.
“It has nothing to do with skills. Commentators love to make it about skills, but it’s not. It’s about who’s tougher, who wants it more,” adds Sonnen, who in their first encounter ended up losing via armbar from within a triangle.
UFC 148
Las Vegas, United States
July 7, 2012
Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen
Tito Ortiz vs Forrest Griffin
Cung Le vs Patrick Côté
Demian Maia vs Dong Hyun Kim
Ivan Menjivar vs Mike Easton
Chad Mendes vs Cody McKenzie
Gleison Tibau vs Khabib Nurmagomedov
Melvin Guillard vs Fabrício “Morango” Camões
Riki Fukuda vs Costa Philippou
John Alessio vs Shane Roller
Yoislandy Izquierdo vs Rafaello Oliveira