A match-up between Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen could be a possibility, despite both currently facing suspensions from MMA.
Silva made an appearance at Saturday's XFC International 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil as a guest commentator, saying in an interview with RedeTV that he is open to facing his longtime rival, according to MMA Fighting.
When XFC President Myron Molotky asked the former PRIDE middleweight champion if he was ready for a fight with Sonnen, Silva said, "If (Sonnen) accepts the fight, why not? I'll do it. Why not? I'm here. Come get it."
Both Silva and Sonnen retired from MMA this year after receiving suspensions from the Nevada Station Athletics Commission (NSAC), Sonnen after testing positive for five banned substances and Silva for running away from a random drug test in his gym in Las Vegas, MMA Fighting reported. Sonnen was suspended for two years, while Silva was banned for life.
Sonnen and Silva were coaches for the third season of "The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3," and were originally supposed to face each other in the main event of a UFC card in Brazil. However, Silva would suffer a hand injury, moving the fight to UFC 175 before it was cancelled.
Sonnen said that while he plans on honoring his current suspension, he doesn't mind having a jiu-jitsu match with Silva for Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) promotion Metamoris, MMAmania.com reported.
The two fighters' experience with BJJ makes the grappling match a more realistic possibility than a fight, Bleacher Report said. Sonnen competed against former BJJ world champion Andre Galvao, losing via rear-naked choke, and Silva holds a black belt in the fighting style.
