UFC heavyweight Antonio Silva has certainly softened his stance on Brazilian physician and promotional liaison Dr. Marcio Tannure. After testing positive for elevated testosterone levels during a post-fight screening of his Dec. 6 majority draw against Mark Hunt in Brisbane, Australia, Silva blamed Tannure, claiming he jumbled his treatment. Silva was allowed to compete using a testosterone used exemption for the bout, but apparently took an extra dosage during fight week, pushing him over the limit. Later indicating his intentions to sue Tannure in an effort to clear his name, Silva said it was the doctor’s orders which caused him to test high.
Now, speaking with Esporte Interativo and translated by Bloody Elbow’s Fernando Arbex, Silva says the politics of TRT’s recent scrutiny have forced the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) head to realign his feelings on the treatment.
“The way I see, he wants to play the good guy role,” says Silva. “He’s just being political because he was never against TRT. But I don’t judge him.
“Everybody likes Dr. Tannure, he is a great person. He made a mistake with me and I was upset because he hasn’t admitted. But I understand why he didn’t, he is in charge of CABMMA, he is Flamengo’s (the most popular soccer team in Brazil) doctor, a lot of famous people have appointments with him. If he had admitted, his image would be damaged.”
Although there is some dispute as to how involved Tannure really was in Silva’s treatment, the doctor claimed he was never Silva’s personal physician. That individual, according to Tannure, was solely responsible for any misstep.
“His doctor recommended that Antonio increase the frequency of his dosage of testosterone based on his prior levels, and I was asked to communicate that recommendation to Antonio – which I did via email,” Tannure said in a statement released to MMA Junkie.
In the midst of serving a nine month suspension due to the test result, Silva remained hopeful he would be allowed to continue TRT prior to its sweeping prohibition. Still, Silva believes there is an exception to every rule. Silva suffers from acromegaly, an abnormality of the pituitary gland in which tumors cause excessive creation of growth hormone.
“They thought that the prohibition was the best but who has proved to have a clinical need will be harmed. I will try to continue my career in the best way. I can’t retire, I was born to fight.”
5 MUST-READ STORIES
GSP scrum. Georges St-Pierre glad about TRT ban, talks UFC return, Johny Hendricks vs. Robbie Lawler and more.
Eddie & Gil. Eddie Alvarez says he’s the reason Gilbert Melendez didn’t sign with Bellator and that Gil’s been running from him for years. “He doesn’t want to come where I am. He’s a phony.”
‘Overlooked.’ Jake Shields believes he’s very much in the mix for a UFC welterweight title shot with wins over Damien Maia and Tyron Woodley.
The stoppages. A nice recap of some of the best finishes in combat sports from this past weekend.
SHINE. Matchmaker Santino DeFranco regales us with an insider’s take on the infamous Shine Fights one-night tournament. Look for Part 2 sometime today.
MEDIA STEW
Countdown to UFC 171: Diego Sanchez vs. Myles Jury.
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Gunnar Nelson doing more things you and I can’t.
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Jake Shields sees a title shot in his near future.
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If you lose in 30 seconds you better believe Momma’s jumping into that cage.
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A Japanese game show tried to prank Yoshihiro Akiyama and it didn’t go too well. Skip to 5:00.
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Fedor feels your pain.
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Long watches.
Watch Combate Americas full video replay (Ep. 2) featuring GLORY’s ‘Bazooka’ Joe Valtellini
Co-Main Event Podcast Episode 94
TWEETS
Hopefully.
@ItsNorms @Artj97 @THEREALPUNK for sure I hate getting paid!!! Lol
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) March 11, 2014
@THEREALPUNK when I come back running thru the whole top ten, hopefully ur still around!
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) March 11, 2014
@Showtimepettis I like you, but you had your chance to fight me and you pulled out. So don’t act tough now behind your keyboard kid.
— Josh Thomson (@THEREALPUNK) March 11, 2014
Cordial beef.
@One_Punch ya I should be good by then. I’m fragile lately so don’t wanna make any promises haha
— Ian McCall (@Unclecreepymma) March 12, 2014
Beef out of nowhere.
@matthughes9x your talking about David like I said it’s ok I will bow out gracefully your are the man I’m just a crumb off your cookie peace
— Bobby King Green (@BobbyKGreen) March 12, 2014
Congrats.
20 yrs ago today was the start of a new career 4 me at UFC 2. It has been 1 hell of a ride so far, Thanks 2 everyone involved along the way
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) March 11, 2014
Happy birthday, Professor.
Happy birthday to @RenzoGracieBJJ, have a great day my brother, Godspeed and party on!!
— Bas Rutten (@BasRuttenMMA) March 11, 2014
Happy birthday to the ultimate Jiu-Jitsu ambassador! @RenzoGracieBJJ
— Rener Gracie (@RenerGracie) March 11, 2014
@OttaviaBourdain @RenzoGracieBJJ the only guy I know that’s turning 30, looks 25 and has the energy of a 20 year old boy! H-Bday Renzo!
— Vinny Magalhaes (@VinnyMMA) March 12, 2014
We’ve got a long way to go.
Back at it hard ha pic.twitter.com/pxI208FsU0
— Neil 2 Tap Seery (@NeilSeeryMMA) March 11, 2014
Tito moving on.
#Muppets #Movie #Premiere Here we come!! @titoortiz ??💙💚 disneypictures http://t.co/qQh7zfu3QS
— Amber Nichole Miller (@ufcambernichole) March 12, 2014
How are their Yelp reviews?
A #massage place frustrated with their own policies… 😔 http://t.co/YaD6btlknc
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) March 11, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Mar. 11 2014)
Quinton Jackson vs. Muhammed Lawal at Bellator 120
Bibiano Fernandes vs. Masakatsu Ueda at ONE FC 15
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via Da Headbanger.
Everything You NEED to Know About UFC 171 Prelims
Though there are actually 13 fights on a card for the first time in quite a while (thanks injury bug) and there are some matches to definitely keep your eye on, there aren’t any potential title contenders as there was on the last PPV preliminaries (Raphael Assuncao and Alexis Davis). Does that mean these will suck? Not really. I look at a few of these fights and see some potential stinkers in there, but I also see some slobber knockers emerging, though not many technical affairs.
Just a quick reminder that the prelims not shown on Fight Pass will be on Fox Sports 2, not the usual Fox Sports 1. Lousy Big East basketball tournament!
#14 Rick Story (16-7) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (7-0), Welterweight
As the man who derailed the Uriah Hall hype-train, Gastelum has garnered a fair share of attention. Story is looking to get the victory and gain that attention for himself.
Story was riding a hell of a hype-train himself a few years ago with 6 straight victories, including one over title contender Johny Hendricks. He has since gone 3-4 since that streak was snapped and has become a forgotten man in many ways. At 29, he still has time to right his ship and become thought of as a contender once again.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
Found something you’d like to see in the Morning Report? Just hit me up on Twitter @SaintMMA and we’ll include it in tomorrow’s column.