UFC News: Anderson Silva Critical of Chael Sonnen Title Shot Against Jon Jones

Breaking news: UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva still isn't a supporter of Chael Sonnen. 

In an interview with SporTV, "The Spider," Sonnen's most notorious Octagon adversary, blasted the UFC's decision to have "The American Gangster" coach the next season of "The Ultimate Fighter" opposite Jon Jones (translation via Google Translate).

"

Think I have other athletes who deserved. Chael does his job very well ... But I think I have other athletes who might be vying for that title. Lyoto (Machida), Glover (Teixeira), (Antonio Rogerio) Nogueira and even Rafael (Cavalcante), that is the Strikeforce. They have all the conditions to face Jon Jones and even beat him.

"

Given that Chael has not fought at light heavyweight since UFC 55 in October 2005, a losing effort against Renato Sobral, it's tough to argue with Silva on this one (with the exception of Cavalcante who has never fought under the UFC banner). 

Teixeira has won an incredible 17 fights in a row, including two stoppage wins inside the Octagon. Machida, a former champion at 205-pounds, is the only fighter to definitively win a round against Jones. 

While "Lil' Nog" in undeniably past his prime, he has won eight of his past ten fights and, his losses came at the hands of top ten fighters Ryan Bader and Phil Davis. 

Silva, who had to deal with many proverbial low blows during his feud with Sonnen, acknowledged that the American grappler's microphone skills can be a good thing for the sport of MMA. 

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But Chael Sonnen gets things that sometimes we cannot. It sells well, is a guy who knows how to make provocations. The American public likes these provocations, and it ends up selling.

"

In predicting the April 27 title bout between Jones and Sonnen, Silva gave a heavy endorsement to Jones.

"Jon Jones arrived at a level that few athletes are able to reach out and achieve," Silva said. "I don't see anyone in the UFC win in his category." 

The pound-for-pound great is heavily rumored to next fight Georges St-Pierre if the welterweight champion defeats Carlos Condit at UFC 154, though the Brazilian is also warming up to a fight with Jones in the future. 

Silva is fresh off a dominant first round TKO over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153, a matchup that was contested at light heavyweight.