Sonnen and Muñoz in staredown at first UFC on Fox press conference / Publicity photo
The UFC is thinking big for the next event in Brazil to follow UFC 142 this January, with a return to the South American nation planned for May or June. Likely at the Morumbi soccer stadium in São Paulo, with Anderson Silva versus Chael Sonnen as a main event and Vitor Belfort taking on Wanderlei Silva in a showdown between the coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show. Furthermore, the mega production will feature the fight to determine the winner of the inaugural season of the television show to air on channel Globo every Sunday starting in late March.
But for Sonnen to make it to his coveted title challenge he has to get past Mark Muñoz first, when they meet at the end of January (check out the complete card below).
Famous for his sharp tongue, Chael has now found someone who doesn’t mince his words, to provoke him. To Muñoz, the UFC needn’t worry about his opponent’s safety in Brazil, after the harsh statements he has made regarding the country:
“There are bounties for Chael down in Brazil. But he doesn’t have to worry about it, because he’s not going to have to go down there,” Munoz is quoted as saying on the Heavy.com.
The bout to determine Anderson’s challenger will take place in Chicago at UFC on Fox 2, and Muñoz is aware he is in for a war.
“I feel Chael and I are a great match-up,” he says further down in the interview. “I feel his strengths are my strengths, and we are going to go out there and find out who is the true number one contender for the title. If he beats me then God bless him, but I can tell you that I have confidence that I’m going to go out there and beat him up,” before addressing Silva.
“Anderson tends to have trouble with wrestlers. I’m a strong wrestler and I go out there and make it dirty. That’s exactly how Chael is. He goes out there, gets in your face and grinds out matches,” added a confident Muñoz.
“UFC on Fox 2 will be headlined by Rashad Evans and Phil Davis, another high-stakes match-up—the winner could turn out to be the next challenger to Jon Jones’s throne. Rashad is the favorite going into the fight.
UFC on Fox 2
Chicago, Illinois, USA
January 28, 2012
Phil Davis vs Rashad Evans
Chael Sonnen vs Mark Muñoz
Michael Bisping vs Demian Maia
Johnny Bedford vs Eddie Wineland
Evan Dunham vs Paul Sass
Jon Olav Einemo vs Mike Russow
Cody McKenzie vs Michael Johnson
Chris Camozzi vs Dustin Jacoby