Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen Set for Boxing Match on June 15; Fought Twice in UFC
Andrew PetersMay 20, 2024
Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Former UFC champion Anderson Silva will fight Chael Sonnen for the first time in more than a decade, but this time the two will square off in the boxing ring.
Per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, the middleweight champion Silva agreed to fight Sonnen on June 15 in Brazil.
Silva and Sonnen haven’t fought one another since 2012 when Silva won by TKO. Their other fight between the two in 2010 was also a win for Silva.
The bout between Silva and Sonnen in 2010 at UFC 117 was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in April. Sonnen was in front for much of the fight, leading the scorecards 40-34, 40-35 and 40-36 before Silva used a triangle choke in the fifth round to get the win.
When the two met again in 2012, Silva handled Sonnen in just two rounds after a TKO.
While Silva and Sonnen have given fans plenty of memorable fights, this will be the first time they have met in the boxing ring. Both fighters retired from UFC in 2019, but Silva began boxing shortly after.
Silva fought Julio CĂ©sar ChĂĄvez Jr. and Tito Ortiz in 2021, picking up wins in both fights, and took on Jake Paul in 2022, losing in a unanimous decision. Silva will look to bounce back from the loss with a win over his former rival.
