Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Anderson Silva And Chael Sonnen Are Taking It To The Ring

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated 5/20/24

Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will face Chael Sonnen will be taking their rivalry to the ring in a boxing match June 15 in Brazil, the Spaten Fight Night promotion announced Sunday. Silva, 49, had been hinting that he will conclude his fighting career finale earlier this week, claiming his final fight would take place next month in his birthplace of Sao Paulo.

The history

Silva (34-11) vs Sonnen (30-17-1) goes down as one of the best rivalries in UFC history. Silva untouchable at middleweight and was in the middle of a UFC-record 16 consecutive wins when he ran squared off against Sonnen in 2010. What happened in that fight shocked the whole fight world, Silva got completely dominated. Nobody saw it coming that Sonnen was going to put on an absolute clinic against Silva. For 23 minutes fight fans were looking at the end of Silva’s streak, so they thought. Silva secured a late triangle choke off his back and made Sonnen tap out with less than two minutes left in the fight. It was one of the greatest comebacks that we’ve ever seen in MMA history.

Two years later the two would meet again at UFC 148 in a blockbuster rematch in Las Vegas. Silva knocked out Sonnen with a knee to the chest after Sonnen lost balance throwing a spinning backfist in the second round.

Silva has boxed professionally four times. He is 2-1-1 in the ring, with the only loss coming to Jake Paul via decision in 2022. Sonnen has never boxed professionally.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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