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'Let someone different [to Sonnen] try for title' - Soares

Anderson Silva is not keen on fighting a fighter he has already beaten as his UFC career nears an end © Getty Images

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If Anderson Silva gets his way Chael Sonnen will not be his next opponent in the UFC, according to manager Ed Soares.

The MMA world has been waiting anxiously for Silva's reply to Sonnen's loser-leaves-town challenge, but none has been forthcoming. Sonnen handed the middleweight champion a 24-hour deadline earlier this week, and has since withdrawn his offer to quit the UFC if beaten by Silva.

Soares says the Brazilian's silence has largely been due to the fact that the UFC picks the next fight. However, the Silva camp is firmly of the opinion that Sonnen should not be next in line, having been submitted at UFC 117.

"Anderson just feels that he doesn't deserve it yet. He doesn't deserve it yet," Soares told Sherdog Radio Network's Rewind show. "Anderson's not ducking him. Anderson, right now, is focused on recouping his shoulder, and basically he's going through physical therapy on that just to get that back 100 per cent.

"I think eventually, our opinion is that we don't think Chael should get a shot yet. There's other guys out there. I've been hearing a bunch of different people. Let someone try that hasn't fought for the belt yet.

"Why do we have to keep repeating these fighters? We fought Rich Franklin twice. We'll probably end up having to fight Chael twice. We're going to end up fighting probably Dan Henderson twice. It's just like, it would be nice to see some new faces in there getting a crack at it."

Soares later mentioned England's Michael Bisping as a "good opportunity" for Silva, although he confessed little thought had gone into a clash with the Brit.

Sonnen's original challenge included putting the fight on Super Bowl weekend. Soares, once again, shot down the American's idea, saying: "I don't think it's going to happen. It could happen, but we'll just have to cross that bridge when it comes."

There was some hope for Sonnen though, with Soares confessing that money is important to Silva at this stage in his career. The veteran potentially only has four fights left in his career, and therefore knows the necessity of making as much money as possible before he hangs up his gloves.

"Money talks to [Silva] of course, but that's not his main objective," Soares explained. "[But] I do think the Chael fight could potentially sell. It could be a big seller. I think it could be a huge pay-per-view. So I see all angles of it, but I'm just expressing what Anderson has talked to me about. That's how he feels."

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