Chael Sonnen objects to boxing draw vs. Anderson Silva, although he gained

Chael Sonnen thinks he would’ve defeated Anderson Silva by choice on Saturday if their exhibition boxing match had conventional scoring.

After years away from competitors, Sonnen ventured into the boxing ring for an exhibition battle towards longtime rival Silva, who was taking part in what could be his fight sports activities farewell in Brazil.

It turned out to be a glorified sparring match, with Sonnen and Silva buying and selling mild photographs to the pinnacle and physique over 5, two-minute rounds. The exhibition had no judges, so after time expired it was deemed a draw and each males had their fingers raised. Sonnen acted shocked by the result and performed ignorant to the shortage of judging, then afterward advised the media he thought he deserved to win.

“I assumed I gained the primary three rounds,” Sonnen advised reporters in a post-fight scrum (H/T: MMAFighting.com). “He let me win the primary one. He at all times lets me win the primary spherical. That’s like considered one of his methods. He feels you out. He lets all people win the primary spherical. And I did the identical factor in Rounds 2 and three that I did within the first spherical. However I slipped someplace within the fourth spherical, then they introduced the physician in in some unspecified time in the future as a result of I had a bloody nostril or one thing. It’s like, come on. You’re making this look manner worse than it’s. It’s three rounds to 2. I assumed I gained that battle.”

Regardless of being a distinct sport and ruleset than earlier conferences, Saturday’s matchup marked the third fight sports activities encounter between storied rivals Sonnen and Silva.

Silva defeated Sonnen by fifth-round submission at UFC 117 in August 2010 to defend his UFC middleweight title in a bout that can be inducted to the UFC Corridor of Fame battle wing later this month.

They might have a rematch at UFC 148 in July 2012, which Silva gained by second-round TKO. It’s been greater than a dozen years since then, however Sonnen stated he’s held on to the outcomes of these two fights, and is proud this one was much less definitive.

“The final two fights, whether or not I prefer it or not, have been stoppage losses,” Sonnen stated. “So a draw is an enormous step in the appropriate path. Alternatively, of the six accomplished rounds I’ve had with Anderson Silva, I gained all six. He has by no means gained a spherical towards me. That’s a actuality. Tonight he gained rounds. Huge deal for me to get a draw – large deal for him to win a spherical.”

In keeping with Sonnen, this enterprise into the boxing ring is not going to be a one-off. The 47-year-old stated a boxing match with Jorge Masvidal is in his future as soon as Masvidal has his showdown with Nate Diaz on July 6, and Sonnen was happy to get some expertise below his belt earlier than that occurs.

“I’m boxing Jorge Masvidal,” Sonnen stated. “I obtained referred to as out for that battle. I agreed for that battle. This was all a part of the coaching course of, and I realized some stuff tonight.”