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"There's no such thing as an automatic rematch. Back in the day, in boxing, when they would negotiate contracts there would be a rematch provision, meaning, if I have the title and I lose this fight I get an automatic rematch... That doesn't happen in the UFC. We rematch fights that we think a) deserve it or b) people want to see. So there really is no automatic rematch, there's no such thing. For instance, Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva. Chael Sonnen wins 4.75 of those rounds and then loses by armbar. The first guy ever to really take it to Anderson Silva and put on a fight like that, and people are still talking about the fight today. And people want to see the rematch. And, Anderson needs to be motivated and I guarantee you this one's going to motivate him. In most cases [a fighter needing to win another fight to get back to a title shot] is usually what happens; but in this case where the guy lost with a minute and 30 left in the fight that he completely dominated - and Anderson Silva is the best pound for pound fighter in the world - put them back in there and let's do the fight again."
-Dana White in a Q&A with fans discusses how the UFC handles rematches and Chael Sonnen getting an immediate second chance against Anderson Silva. (Video at MMAWeekly.com)
Penick's Analysis: That's the good way to go about it instead of having a rematch clause in the contracts, because sometimes an immediate rematch isn't warranted. For the Sonnen-Silva rematch, I see both sides of the argument. Sonnen had won most of that fight, but he was finished decisively. At the same time, he provided something we'd never seen before and to see him get a chance to replicate that, only this time try to pull out the victory, is something fans everywhere will tune in for. So from a business and excitement factor it makes a lot of sense, and obviously that part of it outweighed the "sport" aspect that would have called for Sonnen to pick up another win. And there's nothing wrong with that in this case.
[Dana White art by Travis Beaven (c) MMATorch.com]
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