Next in Line for Anderson: Belfort or Sonnen?

[Turd Ferguson]

If the next Middleweight Title fight is Anderson Silva is Vitor Belfort, then the UFC would be making a very big mistake.

What has Vitor Belfort done to really justify giving him a Middleweight Title shot? Don't get me wrong, I like Belfort a lot, but he really hasn't done too much to get people to say that this is a shot he deserves. He beat Matt Lindland and he beat Rich Franklin at 195 lbs, when he was on his way to light-heavyweight in the first place. Basically, he'd be getting a title shot for how good he was ten years ago. I think it would be doing a major disservice to the fans, Silva, and Sonnen if he got the next shot.

Chael Sonnen deserves another shot. He still absolutely earned his shot by rising through the ranks in the first place, and he absolutely took it to Anderson Silva for 23 minutes, landing 320 strikes, and basically got careless when he had the fight in hand. He is the only person to ever dominate Anderson Silva like that.

But the fact of the matter is that nobody else in the division deserves a shot at Anderson Silva. Everyone else is nowhere close to a title shot, and Chael Sonnen is still in my mind, the #2 best Middleweight in the world. Personally, if Vitor wants a title shot, I think he should at least go through 2 of 3 of: Okami, Maia, and Bisping. At this point, I'd even say that if he got past Yoshihiro Akiyama, that Bisping would be more deserving of a title shot than Vitor.

Silva vs. Sonnen II could be a huge moneymaker for the UFC, because people would want to see if Sonnen could pull it off after coming so close the first time. Sonnen would definitely do his part promoting the fight as well. Fans love grudge matches, and there is definitely a major grudge between these two. With Sonnen hinting around doing a TUF season around a rematch as well... that would be a major hit.

 

[Ferbian]

Now I'm not sure where Vitor stands in the whole rankings and all that. But I would say that he should not be getting the next shot at Anderson, considering the fight they brought last night him and Sonnen. Especially considering the fact that Sonnen has been very back and forth at bashing Anderson on numerous occasions.

I don't know how the sales for last nights event looks, but I'm certain that the sales were good. And I can only imagine that the next round if Sonnen vs Silva II is announced, I can only see it as a way to sky rocket the sales for this Pay Per View, considering the bout they had last night, compared to what I probably would assume people only had half the expectations for.

 

[charles]

I want to see Anderson vs. Vitor next. Anderson has beaten Chael and he needs to earn another title shot.

I am not taking any respect away from his performance but he couldn't beat an injured Silva so he needs to improve and come back. Anderson vs. Vitor is fresh and I was looking forward to it earlier in the year.

Chael may only need to win one more fight to get back in there but he should not get an immediate rematch.

 

[Dressler]

Sonnen deserves a rematch, everyone in that arena wants a rematch, the media wants a rematch, and if Dana White is smart he will give Sonnen a rematch.

Look at this way, when Machida vs Rua Round 1 happened, right after the fight everyone wanted a rematch, why? Because Shogun won the first time. And the UFC knew it was there most marketable fight. Now this is the same thing almost, Sonnen won 4 1/2 out of 5 rounds, give Silva credit for winning, but he sure as hell didn't do much. So there needs to be a Silva vs Sonnen II just like there was a Machida vs Shogun II.

 

[jmt225]

I completely agree with Dressler.

Listen, Vitor Belfort hasn't fought in almost a year... seriously, how does he deserve a shot? Shit, why would he want one? Isn't it logical for him to have a warm-up fight before fighting the best in the World? Why would anyone want to fight Anderson Silva after a year long lay-off? That makes absolutely no sense.

And the fact of the matter is that Vitor doesn't deserve a shot anyway. He got lucky against Rich Franklin, and beat a has-been in Matt Lindland. Seriously, how the fuck does that earn him a Title shot? Not to mention the three wins he got before that were against UFC rejects. Again, why should he get a title shot in the UFC? What has he done to earn one? The answer to that is nothing.

Yushin Okami deserves a shot more than Vitor Belfort. When Okami was lined up to get a shot at the title and he got injured training, did he return and get a shot? Nope. He fought and fought some more. And this is a guy who right now is 9-2 in the UFC.

So, yeah... the most logical thing to do right now is to set-up a rematch between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, and have Okami and Belfort fight each other, with the winner of that getting the winner of Anderson/Sonnen. There's literally no other way to go. I don't know how anyone could disagree.

 

[INDYjon22]

I love Belfort but his long lay off does not help his case for a title fight. Had he fought between the Franklin win and now then yes he may very well be the best choice for a title fight, but he hasn't fought and shouldn't receive a shit quiet yet. I saw put him in the cage with Yushin Okami and set that up as a number one contenders fight. Either man would be a logical choice for next in line and a fight between them would give us a definitive opponent.

As for Sonnen, yes I think he should get a rematch. No one has taken the fight to Silva like that before. Sonnen had that fight won and everyone knows it. A rematch will bring in some big numbers for the UFC just like Rua/Machida 2, not to mention the way Sonnen will surely build the fight up once again. I would gladly see another fight between Sonnen and Silva before the end of the year or even at the beginning of 2011.

 

[Tha Wolfpac]

Hey Yo!

Man Vitor Belfort doesn't goddamn deserve a title shot, he is almost forgotten in the Middleweight division.

Don't get me wrong Vitor is an excellent fighter, but he has had like almost a full year with no competition, seriously Dana White stated Anderson Silva would go on to face Vitor Belfort if he won because deep down he thought Anderson has got this easy in the bag. If Dana likes and wants to make money, and keep the fans happy Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen II is the way to go. I can almost figure out exactly what Chael Sonnen will say and the immense build up to this fight. You can't just have a long hiatus and then come back and expect yourself to beat Anderson "The Spider" Silva, so sorry Vitor. Chael Sonnen vs Anderson is the way to go.