Along with his fire to earn redemption against Anderson Silva still burning vivid, Chael Sonnen is diving right back into the deep end, but one former MMA champion isn’t too confident in his possibilities.
While almost 12 years have passed for the reason that pair of sporting titans were last locked in a cage together, their iconic feud still holds a special place within the hearts of combat sports enthusiasts across the globe.
Ben Askren fears for Chael Sonnen in his boxing match with Anderson Silva
While UFC fans may remember Ben Askren for his horrifying loss by the hands of Jorge Masvidal, and even his KO defeat in boxing to Jake Paul, hardcore followers of combat sports know exactly what ‘Funky’ was able to.
From competing on the Olympic Games in wrestling, to dominating the world of MMA in Bellator and One Championship, Askren has put together an incredible legacy. Subsequently, while his UFC run, which got here far too late into his profession, has left somewhat of a stain on his previous achievements, there’s little question he knows what he’s talking about.
Issuing a stark warning during an episode of his podcast with Daniel Cormier, ‘Funky and The Champ’, Askren said: “Chael, I really like you, I don’t know why you’re boxing. At the very least after I took my boxing fight, I assumed [Jake Paul] sucked…
“I actually don’t know why Chael’s doing it. Anderson is a superb striker; he’s actually had multiple boxing matches and beat Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.”
Chael Sonnen vs Anderson Silva set to deliver the third installment of their classic feud
On June 15 in São Paulo, Brazil, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will put all of it on the road in a contest dripping with nostalgia.
When the pair first crossed paths all the best way back in 2010, ‘The American Gangster’ won the hearts of the general public along with his remarkable skills on the mic.
With Muhammad Ali-esque powers of charisma, Sonnen ran verbal rings around his iconic opponent, dominating the mind games in a series of press conferences which have gone down in UFC folklore.
Alas, while the West Linn, Oregon, native actually knew a thing or two about talking the talk, only a few thought he genuinely had a shot of dethroning the champion.
In spite of everything, at that time limit, no person could. Blessed with a remarkable array of strikes and unrivaled footwork, the combat sports sensation left his foes in a state of complete and utter disarray, making them miss and ultimately pay along with his fearsome power shots.
Yet one way or the other, when Sonnen and Silva eventually set foot within the cage, the underdog overcame all the chances and produced a scintillating shower, tearing ‘The Spider’ apart in certainly one of the best exhibitions of martial arts the middleweight division had ever seen.
But with just 4 minutes left before his crowning moment, the challenger made a significant error that allowed Silva to lock up a submission and consequently end his arch nemesis’ hopes and dreams.
And while a rematch occurred two years later, Sonnen couldn’t attain the identical level of success and lost via TKO within the second round.
Since that day, the trash talker has craved his opportunity for revenge, but by the sounds of things, the challenge ahead, shall be anything but
Anderson Silva looks implausible ahead of his boxing bout with Chael Sonnen
While Silva isn’t quite the athlete he once was, it’s clear the chance to show Sonnen one other lesson has given him the motivation to get back in fighting shape.
The exhibition contest, which can happen over five two-minute rounds at a catchweight of 216lb, is scheduled to be the last of the UFC Hall of Famer’s marvelous profession.
Training intensely alongside his sons Gabriel and Kalyl, the latter of whom features on the undercard, the Brazilian hero is prepared for business.
As a consequence of the shortened length of the rounds, Silva is ready to fight at a frantic pace as he goals to place his rivalry with Sonnen to bed once and for all.
And in response to his coach, Luiz Dorea, he’s rolled back the years along with his terrific physical condition.
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