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Chael Sonnen’s efforts at UFC 117 may not have earned him the belt, but they have earned him an immediate rematch with middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
UFC President Dana White delivered news of the rematch on ESPN earlier this morning.
In what is a certain “Comeback of the Year” candidate, Silva took a beating for four and one-half rounds, with Sonnen earning takedowns in each and every round and utilizing ground and pound throughout the contest. However, Silva locked on a triangle choke from his back at the end of the fifth, forcing his underdog opponent to submit.
While the submission seemed to make Sonnen’s efforts in vain, the fact that he has earned an immediate rematch displays just how impressive his performance was. It also displays the appreciation of the UFC executives that a middleweight actually was able to force Silva to engage after several fights where the champion seemed completely uninterested.
No date has been set for the rematch, as Silva continues to heel from his injuries. Sonnen’s immediate rematch also means that Vitor Belfort will not be fighting for a title in 2010. The Brazilian striking sensation revealed recently that he is expected to return to action this Fall in a middleweight contest.