UFC's Wanderlei Silva promises 'butt face' Chael Sonnen a fight

Wanderlei Silva has an answer to news that he won’t fight Chael Sonnen, but it may lack the one fans seek.

One day after UFC President Dana White told MMAFighting.com that Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) wouldn’t face Sonnen (29-13-1 MMA, 7-6 UFC) unless he received pay-per-view profits from their fight – and that his retirement was imminent – the Brazilian fighter responded through a YouTube video.

Cut straight from a pro-wrestling promo, the clip is backed by an 80s heavy metal soundtrack and flips between color and black-and-white in shadowed lighting.

For nearly five minutes, Silva blasts Sonnen, calling him a “coward,” a “lower level fighter,” and a “butt face.”

“I’m only waiting for the date and the location,” said the former PRIDE champ of a potential Sonnen fight. “Because people want this fight and I want this fight.”

Earlier this week, it appeared he would get his wish. White told “FOX Sports Live” that Sonnen, who this past Saturday submitted former Silva teammate Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the headliner of UFC Fight Night 26, asked to fight Silva at UFC 167. White said he would try to book the matchup.

“We can do that fight,” he said. “The question, I think, is Wanderlei Silva is out until the beginning of the year. I’m not sure if he’s healthy. But if he’s healthy, I will definitely make that fight, and I will definitely make it the co-main event.”

Then, on Thursday, everything changed.

In the video, Silva never addresses White’s assertion that he turned the fight down. Instead, he rails at Sonnen.

“I’ve already shut you up, face to face, and you were not man enough to step up to me,” Silva said. “Sonnen, you are afraid of me, and I can see it in your eyes every time we meet.”

Silva declined multiple interview requests from MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) over the past week.

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.