Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen will rematch on July 7 at UFC 148, and Steven Seagal is predicting a comfortable win for his friend.
“I think this time, they’re both going to be at their best,” Seagal said on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani. “I don’t think there’s going to be any controversy, I don’t think there’s going to be any injuries. I think two great fighters are going to go out there and have it out, and I think my guy’s going to win. My guy’s going to win handily this time.”
Sonnen dominated the first four rounds of their first fight, but Silva caught him with a triangle/armbar combination that forced Sonnen to tap in the 5th. Sonnen tested positive for elevated testosterone levels after the fight and was suspended for a year. He appealed the suspension and said he had been approved for testosterone replacement therapy, but that was just part of the controversy.
With the testosterone issues worked out, Seagal is expecting a much different fight.
“Chael last time had an extremely unfair advantage,” Seagal said. “Because, you know, that whole deal with I don’t know what it’s called, steroids, or whatever, performance-enhancing drugs or whatever. … I think this time, probably he’ll be a little more careful with that, and I think that will even the playing field.”
Seagal also told Helwani that Silva had cracked ribs before the first fight and advised him not to fight the last time.
Now I know what you’re wondering: Does Seagal have anything new in store for Silva to use in this fight?
Silva famously attributed the crazy kick he used to knock out Vitor Belfort to Seagal.
Seagal says he’s trained with Anderson and taught him stuff that is very special and stuff that most people won’t be expecting.
“There are millions of techniques that no one has ever seen in UFC. I’ve showed him some of those, and there are things that if Anderson decides to use would be extremely effective.”
Seagal isn’t sure if he’ll be in Silva’s corner for the fight, but he will be there and supporting him.
And if Silva wins the fight, Seagal doesn’t want to see the Spider fight Jon Bones Jones. He believes Jones is a heavyweight and that there is too much of a big difference in size and strength between the two.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE
