Sonnen: 'I Hope Anderson Wins'

LAS VEGAS -- Chael Sonnen wants a piece of Anderson Silva.

In wake of his unanimous decision victory over Nate Marquardt in the UFC 109 “Relentless” co-main event on Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Sonnen turned his attention toward his next hurdle. He figures to meet the winner of the Silva-Vitor Belfort showdown at UFC 112 in April for the promotion’s 185-pound title.

“I hope Anderson wins,” Sonnen said. “I think Vitor’s a lot tougher fight. If I had to choose between the two, I’d take the lower road.”

UFC President Dana White now views Sonnen as a viable threat to whichever fighter emerges from the overseas scrum in the United Arab Emirates.

“Now you have another guy who brings something a little different,” said White, who believes Silva will remain at 185 pounds. “[Sonnen] popped up out of nowhere, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

Sonnen -- who has rattled off three straight quality wins, each more impressive than the last -- since his submission loss to Demian Maia at UFC 95, won all three rounds from Marquardt. The 32-year-old Oregonian grounded the former King of Pancrase whenever he wanted, as his superior wrestling skills controlled the fight and carried him to victory.

“That wasn’t how I saw the fight going,” said Sonnen, sporting a nice gash above his eye. “He came up to Portland five years ago and spent a week with me, and I didn’t take him down once.”

Marquardt threatened Sonnen with a pair of guillotine chokes, one in the first round and one in the third, and appeared close to finishing the fight in the closing minutes. However, Sonnen persevered, and Marquardt ultimately relinquished the hold.

“That guillotine choke was a miserable experience, as was the entire fight. I’m glad it’s over,” Sonnen said. “I thought I was going to pass out possibly, but I was not going to tap. Right there, I was pretty sure the tables had turned.”

Matt Lindland, a 2000 Olympic silver medalist and Sonnen’s longtime teammate, indicated Sonnen would remain patent as he waits for his first crack at UFC gold.

“We’re going to wait and see who comes out of that fight [between Silva and Belfort],” Lindland said. “We’re going to keep training. We’ll get back in the gym next week.”

Consider Lindland among the few not surprised by Sonnen’s emergence on the global stage. A 5-to-1 underdog to Marquardt, he has won 10 of his past 12 fights.

“Chael’s always had the talent and the ability,” Lindland said. “He’s kind of come into his own and found a way to use his toughness. I expect him to win every time out.”