Anderson Silva to face Chael Sonnen in boxing, “Grand Finale” of Spider’s career
Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will meet a familiar foe once again, this time in a boxing ring. “Spider” Silva will face Chael Sonnen on July 15 in Brazil, Spaten Fight Night announced Sunday night on Globo’s Fantastico.
The bout is being promoted as the “grand finale” of Silva’s combat sports career.
Arguably one of the best to ever compete inside the UFC octagon, Silva, now 49-years-old, had one of the best title runs in the promotion’s history.
Sonnen came close to dethroning Silva in 2010 before being submitted by the then champion late in the fifth-round. Silva was down on the scorecards when he threw up a Hail Mary submission and defeated the American Gangster in a fight that would later be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
The two men would rematch in 2012, but with a very different outcome as Sonnen was defeated in the second frame.
The promotion did not reveal if the boxing bout will be an official or exhibition match, and did not disclose the weight class or number of rounds.
