Silva vs. Sonnen: What a Win Would Mean for Silva

Anderson Silva does not like Chael Sonnen. 

That may be an understatement considering how Silva has gone from the quiet and humble champion to the intimidating, trash talking warrior leading up to tonight's UFC 148 main event. 

We knew coming into this bout that Silva and Sonnen had no love loss. 

We also knew that Sonnen would go over the top to promote the fight. 

But what surprised many fans and fighters alike was just how vocal and fired up Silva has been. 

Is it the trash talk from Sonnen? Is it the fact that Sonnen nearly defeated Silva in the first fight? Whatever it is, Sonnen is in Silva's head, and this could be a good or bad thing. 

Many athletes don't perform their best when so much emotion is involved. But Silva is one of, if not the greatest MMA fighter to ever walk the Earth. 

Emotion and trash talk could just push Silva harder to want to take Sonnen worse than he did the first fight.

Sonnen is Silva's biggest rival to date.

That reason alone is why a second win over him will be one of Silva's biggest career victories.

From Dan Henderson, to Rich Franklin, to Forrest Griffin, Silva has defeated some of the biggest names in the sport.

But no one has rubbed him the wrong way like Sonnen has.

Silva's legacy is set in stone regardless of the outcome of tonight's fight.

A win tonight will be Silva's 10th title defense and 15th straight UFC victory. 

But more importantly for Silva, he will have overcome his toughest challenger for a second time.