Silva vs Sonnen: Will the Rematch Be Better Than the First Fight?

The biggest rematch in UFC history is upon us, and many fans have one thing on their mind: Will the rematch be better than the first fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen?

I could go either way on it, although I wrote an article earlier this week claiming that the rematch won't be as good as the first meeting.

After the weigh-ins and press conferences this week, I may be wrong. But again, I am not completely convinced.

On one hand, the surprise factor of Sonnen taking it to Silva will be gone from the first fight. This was a big reason the first fight was so good. Not many people expected Sonnen to be able to hang with Silva, but he did just that and more.

Also, anything short of a back-and-forth classic will be deemed as inferior to the first match. If Silva makes short work of Sonnen, it will prove the first fight was a fluke. The first match had a Hail Mary finish, which added to the intrigue.

That being said, the rematch could be better. As I said, if a back-and-forth classic occurs, it could turn out to be an all-time great. It is possible, as Silva has probably worked on his wrestling, while Sonnen has likely continued his striking improvement and submission defense.

Also, this is the first time Silva has been this emotional and fired up. Sonnen got under his skin so badly that Silva has looked to be on a war path. Silva threw a shoulder shot at Sonnen's jaw at the weigh-ins yesterday, proving that he is ready to fight.

The best thing about this fight is that there are no excuses. Silva is motivated. Sonnen is motivated. Both looked healthy and on weight.

Either way, the build-up to this fight has been filled with trash talk, intensity and hype. When the cage door closes and the bell tolls, the fighter in both men will appear. Only one man can be champion, and it will take five rounds or fewer to give us an answer.