Anderson Silva is returning to the ring against a familiar foe.
Former UFC middleweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer will be longtime boxing rival Chael Sonnen on June 15 in São Paulo, Brazil. Silva and Sonnen announced the news on social media.
This will be Silva’s last fight in Brazil.
Silva, known mainly for his historic UFC championship, stopped fighting in MMA in 2020 after ending his UFC contract.
Although the Brazilian legend has not competed in MMA again, he has returned to boxing, where he has fought sporadically since leaving the UFC. Silva has boxed three times: twice in 2021 – defeating Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by decision and knocking out former UFC champion Tito Ortiz – and once in 2022, when he faced YouTube star Jake Paul and lost a unanimous decision . He hasn’t fought since.
He will now face Sonnen, who will come out of retirement to make his boxing debut. The pair fought twice under the UFC banner in two legendary fights, both won by Silva. Their first fight at UFC 117 in August 2010 will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame less than two weeks after the boxing match ended.
