Chael Sonnen On UFC 148 Fight With Anderson Silva: “It’s My 25 Minutes Versus His 25 Minutes”

(Photo via YouTube)

One of, if not the most anticipated rematch in mixed martial arts history is less than one month away as Anderson Silva will attempt to defend his UFC middleweight championship for the tenth time against bitter rival, Chael Sonnen at UFC 148

Sonnen fell short against Silva when the two first fought at UFC 117 back in 2010. Nearly two years later, Sonnen will get another crack at the champion and plans on having the rematch go in his favour. In a pre-fight interview with UFC.com, Sonnen explained his mindset going into fight and how desire to win, not skills, will be the difference maker.

“It’s a new fight, and it’s my 25 minutes versus his 25 minutes. Who can push harder longer? It has nothing to do with skills. Commentators and announcers love to make this about skills, but it’s not, it’s about who’s tougher than who. Who wants it more? Who’s willing to push harder, longer? His 25 versus my 25. I’m out here to win matches, I’m out here to win a world championship. So do I have something to prove against this specific opponent? No. This is pleasure, I don’t like this guy. All of us can relate to somebody in the office that they’d really like to go outside with and beat up, but they can’t. In my profession, I can. I don’t like a guy within the office.”

Sonnen also says in the interview that no matter what position the fight in contested in, he will be superior to Silva and find a way to win. Read those comments below.

“The intent is to pick a fight. I am picking a fight with somebody. I am not going to come out and bow and beg and get on bended knee. I’m going to take what I want one punch and one kick at a time, and I don’t give a damn who that offends. Make it a boxing match, I’ll find a way to win, make it a kickboxing match, I’ll find a way to win. I’m not going to play a dance off with him, but if he wants to make it a combative mans sport I’ll do it. Make it a jiu-jitsu match, make it a wrestling match, make it an MMA fight, it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t have anything that I as an athlete won’t conquer. I am a competitor, I will find a way to win, like I always do.”

“He put every stipulation in the world to make sure this fight wouldn’t happen. He demands that I wait two years, he demands I beat this guy, once I beat this guy I got to go beat another guy. I beat them all. He’s not keeping me away anymore.”

UFC 148 goes down July 7 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

For more on UFC 148 along with other upcoming fight cards, check the rumors section.

Mike Bohn, founder and lead writer of FightCove.com, wrote this article. You can follow Mike on Twitter at @FightCoveMike. Also, follow @FightCove on Twitter and “Like” Fight Cove on Facebook.