Chael Sonnen vs. Anderson Silva II: Will Fight End Up Taking Place in Brazil?

By now, basically every true fight fan has heard Dana White confirm that Chael Sonnen is going to be UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva's next opponent. 

However, not everyone may have heard that Silva has no problem fighting Sonnen, the only opponent in the UFC who pushed him to the brink, for a second time...

... as long as the fight is in Silva's homeland of Brazil. 

Is there any chance this actually comes to fruition? Let's break it down.  

Pro: UFC 142 Takes Place in Brazil

In his infamous post-fight challenge to Anderson Silva at UFC 136, Chael Sonnen was hoping for a fight on the UFC's annual Super Bowl card.  

This would actually move the long-anticipated rematch up a couple weeks, which would probably favor Sonnen more than Silva, given that the pound-for-pound king is nursing a minor shoulder injury. 

Additionally, there is already a well-accomplished American wrestler taking on a danger Brazilian striker with serious submission skills.  The featherweight title bout that currently headlines this card is Jose Aldo versus Chad Mendes.

Interestingly, in an interview prior to this fight being made official, Mendes also expressed interest in fighting at UFC 143, where he said that he would like to see Sonnen and himself bring the titles back to America. 

Think of how much more epic that scenario becomes if the fight takes place in Brazil instead of America.  

Con: Sonnen's Safety

While many readers may consider this a pro towards hosting this rematch in Brazil, from a business perspective, it is hard to rationalize booking this fight in Brazil given the country's hatred for Sonnen. 

Let's not forget that Sonnen did not corner his friend and training partner at UFC 134, which took place at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, due to receiving death threats shortly before the event. 

Sonnen has repeatedly proclaimed that "the people love me in Brazil," but he has also said that he had no idea they have Internet in Brazil, on top of mocking just about every Brazilian star on the Black House roster. 

In all seriousness, Sonnen would likely need some sort of special security during his entire stay in Rio, a legitimate reason why this may not happen.  

Pro: Sonnen's Reputation Is on the Line

Sonnen has called out Silva in every way humanly possible starting months prior to their UFC 117 showdown in August 2010.  

Uncle Chael has called Silva a wimp, a phony and an overrated fighter with a padded record, and even insinuated that he's homosexual.  

A recent jab at Silva last month heard Sonnen say:

"You tell Anderson Silva I'm coming over and I'm kicking down his backdoor and patting his little lady on the ass and I'm telling her to make me a steak, medium-rare just how I like it."

Bringing Silva's wife into the trash talk was obviously taking the fight hype to the next level, so now Silva has answered the ante by trying to have the fight booked in the one location where Sonnen is legitimately putting himself in danger.  

The Team Quest standout has also gone on the record before saying that he'll fight anyone, anytime, anywhere, in any weight class. 

What matters to Sonnen more: his well-being or his reputation?

Con: At the End of the Day, Neither Silva nor Chael Books the Fights

It is very possible that Sonnen does accept the challenge to fight in Silva's homeland, given that he knows there is a slim possibility the higher ups in the UFC would agree to such a venue.

As Sonnen's manager Matt Linland noted, neither Sonnen nor Silva books the fights. UFC President Dana White and UFC matchmaker Joe Silva do.  

While Silva would obviously be a big draw in Brazil, he just fought there this past August, and the buy rates were really nothing special at 335,000.   

A good portion of Brazilian fans would be content to buy any card that "The Spider" is on, regardless of where the venue is hosted.

Additionally, Sonnen's undeniable ability to hype a fight would clearly be better suited for American fans, where he has not completely alienated himself from the fan base. 

The bottom line is that Sonnen-Silva II will be more profitable for the UFC if it takes place in America, so that is most likely where it will end up happening.

Conclusion

Chael Sonnen will not fight Anderson Silva for a second time in Brazil.  

Silva's proposal was likely a half-hearted one, since he and manager Ed Soares maintain that Silva is nursing a shoulder injury right now and will not be forced into a fight until that injury is fully healed.

Dana White wants to see this fight, but he does not want any complications to go along with it, and booking this fight in Brazil guarantees distractions for both combatants leading up to their meeting in the Octagon. 

The UFC is typically not as profitable overseas as in America, which is realistically the main reason this fight will not take place at UFC 142.  

Sonnen-Silva II will probably not happen until March or April 2012 at this pace, at a card that is still to be determined at this point.