The Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission announced on Thursday the decision to overturn Leandro Silva’s UFC Fight Night 62 submission win over Drew Dober to a no-contest, but apparently nobody informed “Buscape” of the decision.
Moments after CABMMA issued a statement announcing the decision, MMAFighting.com called Silva to get his reaction on the news, and that’s when he found out about it.
“Nobody told me anything,” Silva said. “I’m actually surprised.”
Silva left the Octagon on Saturday night’s event in Rio de Janeiro with a submission victory, but his opponent never actually tapped or passed out. Referee Eduardo Herdy stopped the bout when he thought Dober was out, and the Brazilian commission decided to overturn the result when Herdy “recognized his error”.
“It surprises me, but at the same time it doesn’t,” Silva said. “We know this was not the first mistake a referee has made in the UFC, and it can happen in any sport. If they decided to overturn the result, I won’t protest. I don’t agree because there were many other mistakes and they never changed the result. I have a clear conscience.”
Despite CABMMA’s decision, Silva still believes he should be victorious.
“My opinion is the same,” he said. “I locked the guillotine and he tried to defend himself. I watched the fight four times. You can see him holding my wrist and then letting it go. He was soft, and the referee stopped the fight and I said ‘tap’, the first word that came to my mind at that time. It wasn’t my fault. I made weight and fought, but that happened.”
“Buscape” returned to the gym two days after his third UFC bout, and is anxious to get back in action.
“I can fight anyone they want,” he said. “They can bring Dober, even Anthony Pettis. They can bring anyone. I’m paid to do this. I will be ready to fight and beat anyone they want.”