Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia (28-7) had a four fight win streak stopped by former “TUF 10″ fighter Abe Wagner last Friday night in the main event of Titan Fighting Championship 16.
Wagner scored a few strikes early in the fight, wobbling the former champ before “The Maine-iac” fell to the mat. Referee Jason Herzog jumped in to end the fight much to the protest of Sylvia who quickly got back to his feet to express his displeasure.
In a recent interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, Sylvia talks about the early stoppage noting that the loss was a wake up call so that the next time he fights it won’t be at super-heavyweight. Sylvia weighed in at 311 lbs for the fight.
“Refs need to know the fighters. Did he see my fight with Andrei Arlovski – the second one – I got dropped, got up, and KO’d him. The Randy Couture fight I got dropped and fought for twenty five minutes,” Sylvia explained while citing past examples of his ability to overcome in-ring adversity.
“It was stopped way too early…It was bullsh*t,” he continued. “(And) the sad part is the ref told the promoter and my corner he was sorry because he knew he made a mistake and stopped it a little early…”
“I will never fight at Super Heavyweight again. I fight much better at 265 so from here on out that’s what I am going to fight at.”