Chael Sonnen reacts after winning against Mauricio Rua via guillotine choke in their light heavyweight bout at TD Garden on August 17, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo : Getty Images/Jared Wickerham)
Recent UFC rumors indicated Chael Sonnen is planning to return to the Octagon and indicated he is open to facing superstars, Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva.
Sonnen told MMA Fighting he wants a shot at St-Pierre, who is reportedly planning to make a comeback soon. Both fighters have not fought since 2013, but Sonnen is convinced fans will be interested in a showdown between him and St-Pierre later this year.
"Everyone would watch that," Sonnen said of his proposed bout with St-Pierre. "I'm not trying to hype a fight with Georges here. I'm just saying. But yes, as far as a fight, if you're just looking at what could sell tickets, yeah man."
St-Pierre has not fought since scoring a split decision win over Johny Hendricks in November 2013. However, Georges St-Pierre's return appears to be imminent as he was reportedly considered to co-headline UFC 200 in July, but no deal was reached.
St-Pierre confirmed, though, he and his camp are talking to UFC about a possible comeback. The 35-year-old Canadian pointed out he is not necessarily looking for a title shot, saying his priority is to face the biggest name in the business today.
"The belt is a material thing," St-Pierre told MMA Fighting in April. "It's good. I won it a few times. But I want to fight the best, the biggest name."
Meanwhile, Sonnen added he is also open to facing Silva one more time inside the Octagon in Anderson Silva's next fight. The Oregon native said he will not have a hard time deciding if he receives an offer to face Silva despite losing in their first two fights.
"It'd be real hard to not go in and whip Anderson's a*s a third time," Sonnen added. "That's a tough one. Anderson was never a hard fight for me. It was hard to get my hand raised."
Sonnen took a submission loss to Silva during their first fight at UFC 117 in August 2010 via triangle choke. He got another crack at the former middleweight champion at UFC 148 in July 2012, but he absorbed a second-round knockout loss in the rematch.
Sonnen has not fought since his first-round knockout loss to Rashad Evans at UFC 167 in November 2013. Watch Sonnen's career highlights below.
