One of Chael Sonnen’s pupils on The Ultimate Fighter season 17, Luke Barnatt, wants to settle matters with one of his coach’s enemies, Wanderlei Silva.
The Englishman’s challenge was already accepted, as “The Axe Murderer” told Combate.com that he is up for the fight, aeven though he doesn’t know who his opponent is. He also mentioned that bouts against Vitor Belfort and Chael Sonnen are still his priorities.
“Sonnen and Belfort are the opponents that I want to face and these fights have to happen. When Sonnen is good to fight, it can happen. There are other guys, like that one who lost to Belfort, Luke Rockhold. I wasn’t even thinking about him but I was asked if I could face him and I said it could be. I just know who he is because he lost to Belfort. This other skinny one (Barnatt) smells like easy money. I don’t know who he is. I looked his picture and said: ‘I can’t believe it, this skinny guy?’. To beat fools like him is easy money. I would accept giving him a beating, for sure.”
Barnatt suggested the idea when interviewed by The Daily Telegraph:
“The name that I’m looking at is from mister Wanderlei Silva. He is about 40 years old and I’m a young man, so it’s a good fight for me. He’s a legend of the sport but I can knock him out in the first round. I think that would be devastating for him. A redemption for bad guys. Chael Sonnen was my coach, we are very close of each other. He’s passing by difficult times now and fighting Wanderlei was his main goal. I can beat Wandy for Sonnen, it would be great for me and I want it. Wanderlei is dead, people want to see new fighters like me. I’m the new. That is why guys like Wanderlei still fights. He’s there to loose for younger men.”
Barnatt last fought in May, when he lost a split decision to Sean Strickland at UFC Fight Night: Mousasi vs. Munoz. Wanderlei Silva refused to cooperate with a random drug test before his fight against Chael Sonnen, which was scheduled for UFC 175, and now has to solve this situation with Nevada State Athletic Commission.