Chael Sonnen: Where He Would Rank Pound-for-Pound with a Win over Anderson Silva

If you believe what Chael Sonnen has said over the past two years, then you already claim him as the UFC champion.

You already know he carries around the real UFC title, and you know that his win over Anderson Silva tonight will be the second one, not first.

Of course, we live in reality.

Before Sonnen can go down as the official UFC middleweight champion, he has to beat Silva tonight at UFC 148.

While any other fighter might not stand much of a chance against Silva, Sonnen has already dominated him.

Sonnen rocked him, took him down and did everything right, except finish the fight.

Silva only needed a small opening to submit Sonnen and he found it late in the fifth round.

Now, after two years, TRT controversy and two straight wins, Sonnen will have the chance to face Silva once again.

But if Sonnen can finish the job this time around, where would he rank among MMA’s pound-for-pound list?

While a win over Silva would no doubt make Sonnen look like one of the greatest in the world, everyone in MMA knows that you are not really a champion until you defend the belt.

Knocking off the greatest MMA fighter in the world is a great feat.

And doing so in a championship fight is even better.

But until Sonnen defends the title, I wouldn’t put him over the likes of Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Jose Aldo.

There are many who would automatically put Sonnen in the No. 1 spot, though, for defeating Silva. 

Either way, defeating Silva will send Sonnen up the rankings quickly.