UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen LowKick.com Staff Predictions
Posted on July 6, 2012, 12:33 PM by Anton GurevichUFC Middleweight Title bout: Anderson Silva (Champion) vs. Chael Sonnen (Challenger)
Venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Previous Bout: Anderson Silva via Submission (triangle armbar) 3:10 minutes into Round 5 at UFC 117
Fans' Prediction: Anderson Silva via KO/TKO in Round 2
Anton Gurevich: It’s hard to pick against Anderson Silva. However, I truly believe Chael Sonnen has the perfect skillset to end Anderson Silva’s reign of terror, especially after gaining a valuable psychological advantage. I’m afraid Silva is slightly underestimating Sonnen, it looks like he has convinced himself that having broken ribs is the main reason behind getting dominated for more than four rounds at UFC 117. Well, it’s not. Sonnen is a tough opponent, a fierce competitor, and if Silva thinks that his encounter with the Oregonian will be a stroll in the park, he’s up for a rude awakening. Silva is a favorite, but I’ll put my bet on Chael Sonnen via Decision. The American gangster from West Linn, Oregon, will collect the dividends of his psychological warfare.
Mike Searson: Sonnen shocked the world by beating Silva for 4 rounds before losing in the 5th round by submission. Sonnen is relentless with his take downs and he throws a lot of strikes, he totally dominated the last fight, but I don't think it is going to go his way. First of all, the day before weigh-ins he was claiming that he was 20 lbs over weight. That is a lot of weight to lose in a day and if he does it or gets close, he is going to pay the price for it later. I have never seen a fighter that close to being over win in a main event of any boxing or MMA bout that I have covered the past 3 years. Apart from that, Anderson Silva is a superior martial artist and if Sonnen really did get in his head, I don't think it is going to be the way he intended. I am going with Silva by KO/TKO or even tap out due to strikes in the third round. This fight is going to be brutal.
Daniel Cassidy: Despite the end result, Chael really proved a point in the last fight. In doing so, he finally made Anderson Silva look human. Having no fear of his opponent is crucial for Sonnen's game plan. This time, I think he will repeat the previous game plan, wrestling and ground and pound, only now I think he might have a bigger edge on the ground with his new submission skills. My bold prediction is Chael Sonnen to become the new Middleweight Champion via R3 submission, head and arm triangle.
Evan Holober: Anderson Silva is the best fighter to compete in mixed martial arts thus far. His blend of power and speed has made him possibly the most feared striker in the world. The time he has spent broadening his skill set while also being long and flexible creates a threat to almost anybody in the 185 lb division on the ground. Greatness, the UFC Hall of Fame, and a legacy to be proud of are foregone conclusions, "definites" if you will. However, another definite in MMA is one overlooked much too often, "styles make fights". For all the greatness Anderson has achieved his wrestling has always been simple. He's had flashes of brilliance like the switch he hit against Nate Marquardt in their title clash at UFC 73, but it has never been sustainable (his striking has just been too much for opponents to overcome in the past 7 years for it to matter). Chael is the best wrestler in the 185lb division, and in this writer's opinion the added boost from Testosterone Replacement Therapy makes him a nightmare of a match up for Anderson to go up against. Anderson could end it at any point, but I think the clock strikes midnight on his amazing run. Chael Sonnen by UD
Mike Drahota: Finally the epic rematch two years in the making is upon us. The hype will come to an end once and for all. We will see if truly elite MMA wrestling is Anderson Silva's kryptonite, as we fully expect Sonnen to try and drag Silva down repeatedly. Sonnen does also possess an underrated striking game. However, we have never seen Anderson Silva become so fired up and outspoken in media engagements, a testament to how motivated he is for this fight. While this could serve him in both positive and negative ways, I think The Spider will come to put on quite a show. He may be getting older, but he is still the most dominant champion in UFC history. We may never know if Anderson Silva was truly injured in their first match, but Saturday's fight will go a long way in explaining all the speculation. Chael Sonnen truly is the only man to take Anderson Silva into deep and dangerous waters, but somehow I think Silva knows what to expect this time around. I see Silva winning this impressively with a Round 2 (T)KO.
Comments
Been saying the Chael Sonnen via Arm Triangle theory for a long time. Great minds think alike buddy!
I can't wait to troll the **** out of Silva nuthuggers when he gets beat. I expect the same if I am wrong.
looks like 3 out of 5 of yal will b wrong
Chael Sonnen via flying scissor heel hook !
Silva might lose. I don't think so but he might. What will not happen is a submission victory for Chael Sonnen.
Prediction: Sonnen comes in a few pounds over, gets the decision but failure to make weight will keep the belt just out of reach.
Saying Sonnen will win by submission is more than a bold statement, more like crazy.
People act like, just like in a video game, Sonnen has all of a sudden got new submission abilities that he hadn't unlocked before.
Brian Stann is a great striker but his ground is pretty poor when it comes to UFC elite.
I think people are forgetting how greatly Bisping's jits defended against Chael and I would bet my house Anderson has a much better BJJ game than Bisping.
Anderson Silva by TKO
im glad someone here has some sense, people are really starting to belive sonnen when he says that a black belt under nog is worthless, man to be black belt under the nog bros u have to have some serious skills on the ground, silva is training jits with 1 of the greats ju jitsu fighters in heavyweight, and little nog who is a LHW, these are people that are much bigger than him, do you think that chael has the accolades in ju jitsu that these two have? give me a break
"silva is training jits with 1 of the greats ju jitsu fighters in heavyweight, and little nog who is a LHW"
His experiences with Andre Galvao is far more accrediting to his BJJ than either of the Nog's (no disrespect intended to them).
true but he is with the Nog's constantly
I don't think that would be a good bet.
Straight BJJ with the Gi, maybe. MMA BJJ where scrambling and wrestling are such a big part, I'd go with even.
Now Anderson better than Stann? Of course.
He beat Stann w a sub, and I don't think that scenario is out of the realm of possibilty this time.
KeithFarrell, Well said.
I actually don't think Silva would have that much better of a Jits game than Bisping, if it is better at all. Bisping started his martial arts training not with kickboxing, but with 10 years of training under Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Paul Lloyd Davies. It's actually the core of his style. That said, Silva, who practices the much more sub-heavy BJJ, probably has a better submission game, but Bisping's never even been in danger of being submitted. He's really good at controlling the action on the ground, and where the fight takes place in general.
I think some people just don't like AS bc its hard to admit that someone is just that good. Sonnen has good take downs sure but AS TDD is 69% (according to fight metric). The first TA will tell the tale can Chael secure that double leg we will see, if not its a long (or short) night for Chael.
actually that might not be right, in the first fight Anderson evaded the first TD attempt but got taken down not stop after tht
who's the ref for the fight? that will tell you how the fight will end
Anton Daniel Evan not right.Silva win in powerful form Sonan sleep or tap ha! Sonan mouth too large Silva put both feet in Sonans mouth ha! Sonan will sleepy sleepy in 2st round no come back will drop to little leeges after dance that ha!
Troll.
Stop this garbage writing style. Talk shit in a normal way.
(before anybody jumps on me for talking smack to somebody with a different language, check out the certain things he spells correctly in all his posts... it's an act.)
Lmao @ "Sonan will sleepy sleepy"
DG1 post's were normal some time ago, lately he started with this $hit, now there are two reasons, he became insane or he just has this annoying form of humor, anyway the whole thing is starting to get really lame.
lol.... *facepolm*
Weaked you ha!
will depend on how the first 60 seconds go. if Sonnen comes in and is easily successful with the left straight to takedown like he was in the last fight it will be a very simaler fight. only sonnen will watch for the submissions this time.
I honestly don't think chael has a chance in hell of beating Anderson. I think Anderson played the best game he could at the time of their last fight with his injuries. Wore chael out and like Royce of old beat him when he was weakened. This time he will destroy chael.
Chael is over rated and hasn't really has a major impressive performance except with the Anderson fight. This guy is 75 percent hype. It worked though. Everyone believes it.
I clicked this link with fear in my heart....Will Anton pick Silva??? Al good now! It is a lock - Andy wtw!!
Why has no one mentioned that on the main card Silva has beat a fighter in each of those fights: Maia, Griffin, Cote and Sonnen. This is impressive and shows how good Anderson is and how many good fighters he has victories over.
Sonnen on the other hand has lost to Maia, Griffin and Silva. This might make you rethink your opinion if you were going for Chael on this one
Sonnen was beat by Jeremy horn 3 times. Jeremy Horn. Basically anybody with bjj has beat this guy. He has about 2 percent of his wins by decisive victory. Almost all of his wins by decision. Pretty pathetic for the hype he creates for himself. Personally I thought bisping won that fight. But I realize that's subjective. The guys a joke. Watch him get beat tomorrow. The excuses of weight cut are already being laid.
2% < almost all
Learn math.
And yeah, 5 minutes of talking about HOW EASY the weight cut should be sure sounds like an excuse.
You are acting like Jeremy Horn doesn't have good jits? Jeremy Horn's ground game is legendary
Jeremy has a great ground game but was already way past his prime by the time he fought sonnen the last two times.
I don't see how, given the first fight, someone can say something like, "Silva is a superior martial artist." Sure, he pulled of the submission, but the fight showed that:
1) Silva's advantage in the striking department is slim at best - at least in MMA with the added threat of Sonnen's takedowns. Chael got the better of Silva in several of the standup exchanges in the first fight.
2) Chael's wrestling is lightyears ahead of Silvas. It's a huge gap. No matter how diligently Silva has been working on his wrestling the last two years, he can't make up for the nearly 30 years Chael has been working on his.
3) Silva has great submission skills and while Chael has demonstrated that he knows how to defend submissions, he has also proven many times during his career that he is prone to mental lapses that allow him to fall victim to them.
Neither fighter is truly superior. The fight could have gone either way. Both guys are great at what they do, and both have holes in their game where the other is great. You have to pick based on who you think did a better job of fixing their deficiencies. With all due respect, calling one superior is simplistic, and just incorrect.
Personally, I think a mental error (relaxing at the end of a fight you believe you have already won) is easier to fix than a physical one (inability to stop the takedowns of a far superior wrestler). So I am picking Mr. Chael P. Sonnen to win this fight by rear naked choke in the third round.
My explanation: Chael took Anderson's back several times in the first fight, and opted not to put his hooks in and go for the submission. Being a smart guy, he has watched the film, seen the opportunity, and is prepared to take it this time.
We will see. But playing jits is like chess and Anderson played sonnen in that last fight. Now that he isn't going for the sub (he calls it before the fight) he should win this easily. Anything can happen but sonnens not that good even with peds (which he is still on legally). He has a mediocre ufc record with some embarrassing losses.
First fight = Shael 14x the man he is + AS broken ribs + AS wanted to be on his back to sub him.......ha!
I see Anderson Silva destroying Sonnen face... It won't be pretty for the chin juicer Sonnen.... I will enjoy watching all the hillbillies crying after this one... It's going to be awesome...
Also Maia > Sonnen... Any day of the week. Twice On Sunday... Maia would make him tap for his life again....
I've grown to like Sonnen, having seen him train, the guys attitude is impressive. The thing which I notice people tend to overlook about the first fight is that Sonnen was juiced.... He was brilliant against Stann, but couldnt impose his game on Bisping - I think we would all agree that although Bisping is a decent fighter, Silva is a different class....
I believe Silvas involvement with Steven Seagal will be based around the excellent enter and exit movements of Aikido. I would go so fat to say that we may see a master class in avoiding and punishing takedowns....
I have also noticed that no one has suggested that Silva breaking his silence and acting angrily in public may have been a reverse mind game played on the Sonnen camp.
I think this fight will be a classic matador v's bull tournament and the bull will fall exhausted on its face.
I've grown to like Sonnen, having seen him train, the guys attitude is impressive. The thing which I notice people tend to overlook about the first fight is that Sonnen was juiced.... He was brilliant against Stann, but couldnt impose his game on Bisping - I think we would all agree that although Bisping is a decent fighter, Silva is a different class....
I believe Silvas involvement with Steven Seagal will be based around the excellent enter and exit movements of Aikido. I would go so fat to say that we may see a master class in avoiding and punishing takedowns....
I have also noticed that no one has suggested that Silva breaking his silence and acting angrily in public may have been a reverse mind game played on the Sonnen camp.
I think this fight will be a classic matador v's bull tournament and the bull will fall exhausted on its face.
Dolce, you forgot to mention PEDs.
Anton Gurevich, Daniel Cassidy and Evan Holober thought wrong.