UFC
Chael Sonnen's manager says Dana White and the UFC will determine if Silva-Sonnen II happens, not Silva's camp
Oct 17, 2011 - 5:20:39 PM Chael Sonnen's manager says Dana White and the UFC will determine if Silva-Sonnen II happens, not Silva's camp

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Last week, Anderson Silva's manager Ed Soares lashed out at Chael Sonnen following Sonnen's victory over Brian Stann, and ripped into Sonnen's claim for a rematch with the UFC Middleweight Champion. While he acknowledged the choice isn't theirs, he told SporTV in Brazil (translated by Tom Mendes at BloodyElbow.com) exactly what he thought Sonnen's spot in the division is.

"Let's see what the big boss is going to do," Soares said. "My opinion is that he had his chance and tapped, he should go back to the end of the line. The same thing is true with Vitor Belfort. They're great fighters, but they had their chance. Sonnen would make a big fight, as would Dan Henderson and Georges St-Pierre, but we should recognize that Anderson only has around four fights left in his career."

Now Sonnen's manager, Mike Roberts of MMA Inc., has responded in an interview with MMAWeekly.com.

"It makes no sense at all," Roberts responded. "Chael is as deserving as anybody for that next title shot. The bottom line is it doesn’t matter what I think and it doesn't matter what Ed thinks. It matters what Dana [White] thinks. Ed's not the matchmaker, I'm not the matchmaker, you're not the matchmaker. Joe Silva and Dana White make the matches."

Roberts also took exception to Soares making other more personal comments towards Sonnen in the last week.

"Ed's saying some personal things about Chael and I don't think Ed or I are in a position where it's good to throw insults at anybody," Roberts said. "I think Ed's a good guy that's maybe got caught up a little emotionally himself with some of the things Chael has said about Anderson. It's just better in my opinion if we leave that to the fighters.

"Chael is who he is, who am I to stop Chael from being who he is."

The UFC hasn't officially set anything up after Sonnen laid down the challenge for Super Bowl weekend in February, and the Champion remains on the mend from bursitis in his shoulder, so until that is finalized the talk is just that: talk.

Penick's Analysis: Roberts is right, and Soares understands as well that ultimately it will be the UFC that makes the decision. And Soares' comments don't mean Silva is looking to duck a fight with Sonnen here. He's made similar comments about a number of title challengers for Silva in the UFC, but that hasn't stopped the fights from being made. Soares' opinions on Sonnen's place in line are simply his opinions, and it won't ultimately have an affect on the fight being made. The UFC knows it's the money fight to make, and because of that they'll make that fight as soon as they're able.