Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen official for UFC 149 in Brazil
Anderson Silva, right, punches Chael Sonnen during the Middleweight Championship of UFC 117 in Oakland, Calif. (Aug. 7, 2010) Credit: AP
Dana White said it last week at a press conference in Calgary, but the UFC officially announced the news on Monday: Chael Sonnen finally will get his UFC middleweight title rematch against champion Anderson Silva.
In Brazil.
In a soccer stadium.
On June 23, 2012.
Silva vs. Sonnen 2 will headline UFC 147 at the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking the promotion's third event in Brazil since August 2011. It is the first held in soccer stadium, though.
Middleweights Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva will fight each other in the co-main event.
Joao Havelange Stadium holds more than 47,000 for a soccer match, but with seating available on the field for a UFC event, it's possible that UFC 147 could top the promotion's record of 55,000 fans in Toronto for UFC 129 in April 2011.
Anderson Silva successfully defending his title against Sonnen in August 2010 with a fifth-round submission. However, Sonnen had dominated Silva for the entire fight leading up his tapping out and would have won the fight by unanimous decision.
