Chael Sonnen has a chance at redemption.
This Saturday, Sonnen will face Anderson Silva in an exhibition boxing match in Sao Paulo, Brazil, a continuation of their longtime MMA rivalry that defined UFC in the early 2010s. And while both are far from their athletic peaks — Sonnen is 47 and Silva is 49 — “The American Gangster” sees this as a chance for redemption.
“I didn't realize how big a deal this was,” Sonnen said Wednesday. MMA Hour. “I didn't know what it was like until I got here. Everyone's talking about it. We even have boxers coming to our events. I met an Olympic silver medalist who's on the card yesterday and he came and showed us his respect even while we were preparing for his sport. It's a big thing here. I think that's all I want to say.”
“I have a great chance at redemption. It's not just that I'll find out or that a few people will find out through a text. There are a lot of people watching this game and I have a chance to rebuild my life.”
Sonnen has challenged Silva for the UFC middleweight title twice in his career, but fell short both times. In their first bout, Sonnen, who will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame this summer, dominated the bout before Silva pulled off a miraculous comeback victory in the final round. The rematch two years later was far less appealing, with Silva stopping Sonnen early in the second round. And Sonnen said it's something you never get over.
“Sports have been a part of my life,” Sonnen said. “I've been doing it since I was 8-and-a-half years old. But I never got anywhere. I lost a state final, I lost a national final, I lost a UFC final. When you've had a traumatic experience, you try to get counseling and stuff and basically teach yourself, 'Hey, sports is no big deal. Stop making fun of it.' But that's easier said than done when you don't have other memories. I never had social events, I never had friends, I never had sleepovers. I was always at practice. So when something goes wrong, it sticks in your mind. It's a great opportunity to fix that.”
“I remember Rashad Evans losing five fights in a row, maybe six, he left UFC and came back with the Eagles. [FC] There wasn't a big crowd, but he knew it. He stopped his losing streak. Not only did he win the fight, he won every round, he felt good about himself, he felt proud about himself. It may sound like a small thing, but this was a big opportunity and I took it.”
Sonnen isn't the first fighter to covet such an opportunity. Former opponent Tito Ortiz fought longtime rival Chuck Liddell for a third time 12 years after their second bout, with Ortiz getting revenge with a first-round knockout. Sonnen doesn't see this fight as quite the same, but acknowledges that a win on Saturday would still be a happy moment for “The Bad Guy.”
“yes [it would soften the blow of the earlier losses]”This fight is not a replacement for those two fights,” Sonnen said. “Those fights happened and it's not just about who can beat who. The most important part of our sport is time. Can you beat your opponent at a certain time?”
“So if I were to preemptively attack him, I don't think I'm going to grab the microphone and give a Tito Chuck-style speech. I know what the stakes were, and I know there aren't any stakes anymore. But deep down, yes. And I'll stop by Cleveland and meet the guy.” [I lost against] I stopped off in Medford from the NCAA and met the guy. [I lost against] If I have the opportunity, I would like to go out of state in high school.”
