UFC 136 Results: Is Chael Sonnen Really the Best Challenger for Anderson Silva?

“Anderson Silva… you absolutely suck!”

Those were the words echoed by No. 1 contender Chael Sonnen after a second-round submission victory over Brian Stann at UFC 136.

After thoroughly dominating the former Marine captain and sealing the deal with an arm triangle choke, Sonnen took to the microphone and called out Silva for a rematch at Super Bowl weekend. Sonnen further raised the stakes and said that should he lose to Silva, he will leave the UFC.

It was a classic pro wrestling-esque promo, and while MMA traditionalists may be against that sort of thing, you have to admit that Sonnen brings a level of entertainment to the sport that none can match.

The people’s middleweight champion is back in business, but is Sonnen truly the best challenger for Silva?

To even bring up that question is absolutely absurd. Last year, Sonnen handed Silva the biggest beatdown of his career. The date was August 7, 2010 at UFC 117, and Sonnen pounded on Silva like a red-headed Brazilian step-child for 24 minutes with relentless ground and pound.

Yes, Silva caught Sonnen in a remarkable triangle choke in the final minute of the bout to retain his title, but you cannot deny Sonnen a rematch after that kind of performance.  

Critics of Sonnen and lovers of Silva will no doubt point to the fact that the champion was competing with a severe rib injury, but excuses are like anger issues and every Brazilian has one.

That’s not to say that the injury didn’t play a factor, because obviously any sort of rib injury is going to deter an athlete’s performance, especially a fighter. Silva wasn’t at his best that night and maybe he will look differently in a rematch?

Or, perhaps, Mr. Sonnen dresses Silva up like the scarecrow and beats him all the way down the yellow brick road before stealing his title and giving Dorothy a sloppy kiss? There is only one possible way to find out and that is to let these two middleweight stars slug it out again.

Who else in the middleweight division can make a claim for a title shot?

Vitor Belfort is really the only other middleweight contender who can make a case for a title shot right now, but he was put away very quickly by Silva’s front kick at UFC 126.

Belfort didn’t mount much offense at all against Silva either, so it’s definitely a head scratcher as to why some believe “The Phenom” should be next in line. Violently knocking out Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133 was impressive, but Belfort needs to rack up another win before we put him in there with Silva again.

Dan Henderson is another potential option, but he currently has his hands tied with Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 139 in the light heavyweight division. If Henderson defeats Rua, we could see him challenge Silva again—but a more likely option is to put Henderson in the Octagon with 205-pound champion Jon Jones.

Sonnen is not only the best option to fight Silva next, but also the most anticipated and one that makes the most sense.

The call out was made for Super Bowl weekend, but it may just be re-dubbed Sonnen Cage weekend when it’s all said and done.

Mitch Ciccarelli is the sexiest featured columnist on B/R MMA and a United States Airman. Follow Ciccarelli on Twitter     @mitchciccarelli

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