Anderson Silva‘s February is going from bad to worse, it seems.
According to Brazilian sports website Veja.com.br (via Bloody Elbow‘s Fernando Arbex), the UFC has blocked a 16 million Brazilian Real payment (approximately $6 million USD) to the former middleweight champion due to Silva’s failed drug test ahead of UFC 183.
For those who somehow missed it, The Spider failed a pre-fight drug test ahead of his UFC 183 headlining bout opposite former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz. The cause? Not one, but two anabolic steroids: drostanolone and androstane. The drug-test failure will likely be accompanied by his win over Diaz being overturned to a no-contest, alongside a hefty fine.
While the reported move to withhold Silva’s payment is interesting in and of itself, the bigger story is the alleged size of Silva’s UFC 183 payday. According to MMAjunkie (via MMAPayout.com), Silva’s disclosed payout for the fight totaled $800,000 ($600,000 to show, $200,000 to win), one of the highest in UFC history. Disclosed payouts, however, do not include pay-per-view points, locker room bonuses or sponsorships, making Silva’s reported $6 million haul come as a surprise.
Silva (as well as Diaz, who tested positive for illegal levels of marijuana metabolites for the third time in his MMA career) will be required to appear before the Nevada State Athletic Commission for a preliminary hearing on February 17.
To this point, Silva has vehemently denied using any performance-enhancing drugs, and the UFC has voiced its support of its embattled star and has already promised to retain his services for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, during which he will coach opposite fellow former UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua.
Stick with Bleacher Report for more details as they become available.
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