Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Is there anyone more deserving of a shot at Anderson Silva than Chael Sonnen? Hansen, Hyden, Park, Hobaugh, Amadi, and Penick
Oct 20, 2011 - 9:45:04 PM ROUNDTABLE: Is there anyone more deserving of a shot at Anderson Silva than Chael Sonnen? Hansen, Hyden, Park, Hobaugh, Amadi, and Penick

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Michael Bisping believes he should be ahead of Chael Sonnen in the middleweight title picture, and Silva's manager Ed Soares believes Sonnen should be in the back of the line.  Should Sonnen-Silva still be the next fight, or is there someone else that deserves to get a shot at the Champion?

RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

The UFC has been loathe to grant title rematches (see Fitch, Jon). If Anderson Silva's next fight is against a fresh contender, the highest ranked contenders would be (per MMA Torch October rankings) Mark Munoz, Michael Bisping, Brian Stann, or Alan Belcher. Belcher and Stann aren't worthy contenders, leaving Munoz or Bisping.

If Anderson Silva's next title fight is a rematch, the pool of contenders to choose from includes Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami, Demian Maia, or Vitor Belfort. Two of those four fighters were slaughtered by Silva, and Maia was proven an unworthy contender.

So you tell me who should be next: Sonnen, Bisping, or Munoz. My money's on Sonnen; not only to provide the best fight, but to do the best business as well.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I think the UFC should go with Sonnen vs. Silva as the next fight. Is Sonnen more deserving of a title shot than Bisping? No, he's not, and it's impossible to argue that he is. After Sonnen lost to Silva, he's only beaten Brian Stann. Bisping has won his last three fights, against Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Jorge Rivera. However, you also can't make the case that Bisping is so deserving of a title shot that having anyone else fight for the belt is ridiculous. Bisping also has Jason "Mayhem" Miller to fight in December. I don't believe in giving a guy a title fight when he has an opponent already.

The UFC needs to make Silva vs. Sonnen 2 immediately, then Bisping can face the winner if he defeats Mayhem.


CHRIS PARK, MMATORCH UK SPECIALIST

As much as I want Michael Bisping to fight for the title; I edge towards Sonnen on this one.

While Bisping has looked terrific in his last few outings he hasn't taken out an obvious challenger, while Sonnen just blitzed through Brian Stann.

This is no fault of Bisping, he has fought (and defeated) whomever has been put in front of him; but a name like Dan Miller, Jorge Rivera or even Mayhem Miller is not going to be seen as a big enough scalp to get that much desired title shot.

If he defeats Mayhem Miller, I would like to see him face Demian Maia. A win over Maia would see him on a five-fight tear - stepping up the level of opponent each time - and no doubt deserving of a title shot.

But for now Silva vs. Sonnen II is a must!


ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

All of these questions are moot.  Dana White does not care who is most deserving or who is the number one contender.  As a business man, he is only concerned with the fights that will sell and make Zuffa the most money.  I do not like Chael Sonnen as a fighter or as an ambassador for our sport.  I feel he cheats and is not good for MMA. However, he is a great fighter and can build an interest in his fights. Dana White will make the fight between Sonnen and Silva and it will sell extremely well.


JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
 
I was as against Chael Sonnen getting an immediate rematch with Anderson Silva as anyone, but that's not what this is. Chael Sonnen steamrolled Brian Stann, he dominated Anderson Silva for four rounds, and before that he dominated three other guys just the same.
 
Sonnen probably won't do as well as the first time, and we'll probably all feel really stupid for clamoring for it after the fact, but he's done more than anyone else has to get a shot at Anderson Silva at this point in time.
 

JAMIE PENICK, MMATORCH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For as much as Michael Bisping wants to claim he deserves the next title fight, nothing he's done in his three fight run is as impressive as what Sonnen did for four and a half rounds against Silva and in his fight with Brian Stann. A win over "Mayhem" Miller puts him ahead of everyone but Sonnen, but the UFC will still be more interested in putting Sonnen in there for a second time against Silva than they will in giving Bisping his first shot.

Now, Sonnen isn't the massive draw he's been made out to be by some, but he does create interest in his fights; and there is interest in a rematch from both those that believe Sonnen can finish what he started last summer and those that want to see Silva shut Sonnen up again. The only way Sonnen does not get his rematch is if Dan Henderson beats "Shogun" and wants a rematch of his own. He'd be the only name the UFC would consider over Sonnen.