Before he tested positive for steroids following UFC 117, Chael Sonnen had been awarded an immediate rematch against UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Apparently the UFC brass felt Sonnen deserved another shot at the title and felt it was something the fans would want to see.
One person who was understandably not in favor of the rematch though was Silva. If you took a 20+ minute beating like that, would you be raring to get back in there and do it all over again? Of course not. According to Silva though, he looks at it that if Sonnen remained on top of him, while he was injured, in an advantageous position for almost five rounds and still could not finish him, why should he get another chance?
In regards to Sonnen testing positive for steroids, Silva respectfully says he will give him the benefit of the doubt for now. Silva also comments on his friend “Minotauro” Nogueira calling Wanderlei Silva to thank him for a video that was circulating recently which showed “The Axe Murderer” teaching Sonnen a lesson in respect.
Due to the fact Sonnen received a one year suspension by the CSAC for his failed drug test, the UFC has decided former heavyweight tournament winner and light heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort will now challenge Silva for the title. The two are expected to meet sometime early 2011.