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Silva taking easy route against Bisping - Sonnen

ESPN staff
October 25, 2011
MMA Live: Part 3

Chael Sonnen has accused Anderson Silva of attempting to pick up "easy fights" after the Brazilian's manager spoke of a potential bout with Michael Bisping.

Sonnen is determined to rematch Silva, to whom he lost via fifth-round submission at UFC 117. The American called out Silva directly after his victory over Brian Stann at the recent UFC 136 event, but his offer has so far been ignored.

Instead, the middleweight champion's manager Ed Soares claimed Sonnen did not deserve the next title shot. In Soares' eyes, Sonnen is merely a fighter on a one-fight win streak who has already tapped against the champion.

Bisping, by contrast, could extend his winning run to four fights if he beats Jason Miller in December, and Soares labelled the Brit a "good opportunity" for Silva. Sonnen believes he knows why.

"Apparently the Ed Soares excuse factory is open for business," Sonnen told ESPN's MMA Live.

"A champion doesn't call somebody out. When you're the champion, you get called out. So it's a little odd and unprecedented that Anderson is trying to pick a fight.

"Secondly, he's doing the same thing I am. He's calling Bisping out because Bisping's an easy fight. I want an easy fight too so that's why I'm calling [Anderson] out."

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