Dana White “doesn’t want to say anything bad about Wanderlei Silva,” but he won’t stay quiet while the recently retired MMA light heavyweight rants about his MMA promotion.
Silva retired from the sport on Sept. 19, and vowed to start “a war” against promoters, claiming they underpay the fighters, and attacking the athletic commission. Banned for life and fined $70,000 by the Nevada Athletic Commission, Silva got a response from the UFC president.
“You know how much money Wanderlei Silva has made since he’s been with the UFC? $9.7 million,” White said in an interview to Combate after UFC 178 weigh-ins.
“So Silva says everybody’s getting rich except the fighters. What does Wanderlei considers rich? $9.7 million isn’t rich? A lot of people would consider that rich,” he continued. “Let me say you what: Wanderlei Silva has fought six times in the last five years. He’s fought six times in five years. If being overworked is fighting one time a year, I don’t know what to tell you.
“And I think his strategy right now is brilliant. If Wanderlei Silva was standing here, not me, and you’re interviewing him, he would go crazy about ‘I hate the UFC, these guys don’t pay us, I’ve given them my body and they don’t pay.’”
Silva went 4-5 inside the Octagon after his run at PRIDE, where he reigned for years. According to White, the Brazilian legend, who retires from the sport following an epic TKO victory over Brian Stann in Japan, pretended to be injured to avoid fighting Chael Sonnen earlier this year.
“When we offered him the fight, he said he was hurt. We sent him to a doctor two different times, and the doctor said ‘this man is not hurt. There’s nothing wrong with him,’” White said.
The Brazilian is still under contract with the UFC, and White wants to wait and see how his fight against the NAC will end.
“He’s under contract. His contract is frozen,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. His contract doesn’t matter. He has been banned from the athletic commission. He’s appealing it, and he needs to go through the legal process. This thing is gonna play out. You know, I never had anything bad to say about Wanderlei, I still don’t have anything bad to say about Wanderlei, but he could have not have handled this situation any worse than he has.
“Drug tests are in place for the safety of all the fighters. Not only did he run from the drug test, I kept calling him and he didn’t return any of my calls, any of my texts, and he didn’t return anybody else’s phone calls and texts,” White added. “This man disappeared from the face of the Earth for days.”
Dana White “doesn’t want to say anything bad about Wanderlei Silva,” but he won’t stay quiet while the recently retired MMA light heavyweight rants about his MMA promotion.
Silva retired from the sport on Sept. 19, and vowed to start “a war” against promoters, claiming they underpay the fighters, and attacking the athletic commission. Banned for life and fined $70,000 by the Nevada Athletic Commission, Silva got a response from the UFC president.
“You know how much money Wanderlei Silva has made since he’s been with the UFC? $9.7 million,” White said in an interview to Combate after UFC 178 weigh-ins.
“So Silva says everybody’s getting rich except the fighters. What does Wanderlei considers rich? $9.7 million isn’t rich? A lot of people would consider that rich,” he continued. “Let me say you what: Wanderlei Silva has fought six times in the last five years. He’s fought six times in five years. If being overworked is fighting one time a year, I don’t know what to tell you.
“And I think his strategy right now is brilliant. If Wanderlei Silva was standing here, not me, and you’re interviewing him, he would go crazy about ‘I hate the UFC, these guys don’t pay us, I’ve given them my body and they don’t pay.’”
Silva went 4-5 inside the Octagon after his run at PRIDE, where he reigned for years. According to White, the Brazilian legend, who retires from the sport following an epic TKO victory over Brian Stann in Japan, pretended to be injured to avoid fighting Chael Sonnen earlier this year.
“When we offered him the fight, he said he was hurt. We sent him to a doctor two different times, and the doctor said ‘this man is not hurt. There’s nothing wrong with him,’” White said.
The Brazilian is still under contract with the UFC, and White wants to wait and see how his fight against the NAC will end.
“He’s under contract. His contract is frozen,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. His contract doesn’t matter. He has been banned from the athletic commission. He’s appealing it, and he needs to go through the legal process. This thing is gonna play out. You know, I never had anything bad to say about Wanderlei, I still don’t have anything bad to say about Wanderlei, but he could have not have handled this situation any worse than he has.
“Drug tests are in place for the safety of all the fighters. Not only did he run from the drug test, I kept calling him and he didn’t return any of my calls, any of my texts, and he didn’t return anybody else’s phone calls and texts,” White added. “This man disappeared from the face of the Earth for days.”
Anderson Silva changed his plans for the future. It’s normal.
The former UFC middleweight champion, who said multiple times he would never fight for the UFC title again, being “closer to retirement every day,” has other plans for the future,
Slated to meet Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan. 31 in Las Vegas, “The Spider” said he won’t hang up his gloves until he challenges the middleweight champion one more time.
“Look, besides returning well in 2015, my project in the UFC is only one: I won’t stop (fighting) until I get my title back,” Silva said in an interview to Veja. “I want to at least try.”
Earlier this month, the Brazilian fighter said he would never be in a UFC title fight again.
“I’m over this thing of being champion, having the title,” he said. “The truth is, there will only be one Ayrton Senna, there will only be one Pele, and there will only be one Anderson Silva, so whoever saw me (as champion), saw me. Who haven’t seen me (as champion), won’t see it.
“In a way you’ll see me (fight again), but not for the belt, that thing of being champion again. I don’t have patience for this. I think I’m closer to retirement every day.”
Silva (33-6) dominated the UFC middleweight division since 2006, losing twice to Chris Weidman in 2013.
Anderson Silva changed his plans for the future. It’s normal.
The former UFC middleweight champion, who said multiple times he would never fight for the UFC title again, being “closer to retirement every day,” has other plans for the future,
Slated to meet Nick Diaz at UFC 183 on Jan. 31 in Las Vegas, “The Spider” said he won’t hang up his gloves until he challenges the middleweight champion one more time.
“Look, besides returning well in 2015, my project in the UFC is only one: I won’t stop (fighting) until I get my title back,” Silva said in an interview to Veja. “I want to at least try.”
Earlier this month, the Brazilian fighter said he would never be in a UFC title fight again.
“I’m over this thing of being champion, having the title,” he said. “The truth is, there will only be one Ayrton Senna, there will only be one Pele, and there will only be one Anderson Silva, so whoever saw me (as champion), saw me. Who haven’t seen me (as champion), won’t see it.
“In a way you’ll see me (fight again), but not for the belt, that thing of being champion again. I don’t have patience for this. I think I’m closer to retirement every day.”
Silva (33-6) dominated the UFC middleweight division since 2006, losing twice to Chris Weidman in 2013.
Vinny Magalhaes predicted to win his Titan FC debut inside the first three rounds, but he just missed his prediction by 36 seconds.
Magalhaes, a former M-1 Global light heavyweight champion, claimed the Titan FC 205-pound championship on Friday night in Cedar Park, Texas, with a fourth-round submission against Jason Brilz.
After a back-and-fourth battle, the Brazilian, a multiple-time jiu-jitsu and ADCC champion, rocked Brilz with a right high kick before trapping the fellow UFC veteran with a guillotine to win the vacant light heavyweight title 36 seconds into the fourth round.
In the co-main event, Walel Watson made quick work of then undefeated bantamweight Anthony Gutierrez. With little over the 3-minute mark, the former UFC fighter improved his MMA record to 13-7 with a triangle choke. “The Gazelle” is now 2-0 under the Titan FC banner with a pair of submission victories.
Brazilian Top Team products Gleristone Santos and Pedro Nobre were also victorious on the card. Santos, a 27-4 featherweight prospect, defeated Robert Washington via split decision. At 2-0 in Titan FC, he could fight for the 145-pound title next. Nobre, a former UFC fighter, scored a split decision win over Nick Honstein.
Check below the complete results of Titan FC 30:
Vinny Magalhaes def. Jason Brilz via submission (guillotine choke) (R4, 0:36) Walel Watson def. Anthony Gutierrez via submission (triangle choke) (R1, 3:02) Gleristone Santos def. Robert Washington via split decision Le’Ville Simpson def. Richie Martinez via TKO (R1, 2:56) Pedro Nobre def. Nick Honstein via split decision EJ Brooks def. Todd Moore via unanimous decision Cody Williams def. Xavier Siller via TKO (R1, 3:54) Adam Nijem def. Gabe Carillo via TKO (R2, 0:33) Matt Mazurek def. Chuck Adkison via KO (R2, 0:09) Kevin Troyer def. Eric Hendon via submission (triangle choke) (R1, 3:49) Julian Shore def. Phillip Platt via submission (armbar) (R1, 1:38)
Vinny Magalhaes predicted to win his Titan FC debut inside the first three rounds, but he just missed his prediction by 36 seconds.
Magalhaes, a former M-1 Global light heavyweight champion, claimed the Titan FC 205-pound championship on Friday night in Cedar Park, Texas, with a fourth-round submission against Jason Brilz.
After a back-and-fourth battle, the Brazilian, a multiple-time jiu-jitsu and ADCC champion, rocked Brilz with a right high kick before trapping the fellow UFC veteran with a guillotine to win the vacant light heavyweight title 36 seconds into the fourth round.
In the co-main event, Walel Watson made quick work of then undefeated bantamweight Anthony Gutierrez. With little over the 3-minute mark, the former UFC fighter improved his MMA record to 13-7 with a triangle choke. “The Gazelle” is now 2-0 under the Titan FC banner with a pair of submission victories.
Brazilian Top Team products Gleristone Santos and Pedro Nobre were also victorious on the card. Santos, a 27-4 featherweight prospect, defeated Robert Washington via split decision. At 2-0 in Titan FC, he could fight for the 145-pound title next. Nobre, a former UFC fighter, scored a split decision win over Nick Honstein.
Check below the complete results of Titan FC 30:
Vinny Magalhaes def. Jason Brilz via submission (guillotine choke) (R4, 0:36) Walel Watson def. Anthony Gutierrez via submission (triangle choke) (R1, 3:02) Gleristone Santos def. Robert Washington via split decision Le’Ville Simpson def. Richie Martinez via TKO (R1, 2:56) Pedro Nobre def. Nick Honstein via split decision EJ Brooks def. Todd Moore via unanimous decision Cody Williams def. Xavier Siller via TKO (R1, 3:54) Adam Nijem def. Gabe Carillo via TKO (R2, 0:33) Matt Mazurek def. Chuck Adkison via KO (R2, 0:09) Kevin Troyer def. Eric Hendon via submission (triangle choke) (R1, 3:49) Julian Shore def. Phillip Platt via submission (armbar) (R1, 1:38)
The UFC announced that former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael Cavalcante was pulled from his co-main event bout with OSP at the UFC Fight Night 56 card in Uberlandia, Brazil with an injury Friday, and will be replaced by Nova Uniao’s Francimar Barroso.
There is no official word yet if Barroso vs. Preux will serve as the co-main event.
Barroso (16-4), a former Shooto Brazil and WOCS 205-pound champion, defeated Ednaldo Oliveira in his UFC debut in 2013, but suffered a split decision loss to Hans Stringer in his next bout. The Brazilian was slated to meet Patrick Cummins earlier this year, but withdrew from the planned fight with an injury.
OSP (16-6) looks to get back on track following a unanimous decision loss to light heavyweight contender Ryan Bader in August. The loss snapped OSP’s five-fight winning streak, which included finishes over Ryan Jimmo, Nikita Krylov and Cody Donovan under the UFC banner.
Another bout official for the fight card is Claudio Silva vs. Leon Edwards. Silva (11-1), who hasn’t lost since 2007, defeated Brad Scott in his Octagon debut in March. Edwards (8-1), the current BAMMA British welterweight champion, signed with the UFC after six straight victories.
Headlined by Mauricio Rua vs. Jimi Manuwa, UFC Fight Night 56 takes place at the Tancredo Neves gymnasium in Uberlandia, Brazil.
The UFC announced that former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Rafael Cavalcante was pulled from his co-main event bout with OSP at the UFC Fight Night 56 card in Uberlandia, Brazil with an injury Friday, and will be replaced by Nova Uniao’s Francimar Barroso.
There is no official word yet if Barroso vs. Preux will serve as the co-main event.
Barroso (16-4), a former Shooto Brazil and WOCS 205-pound champion, defeated Ednaldo Oliveira in his UFC debut in 2013, but suffered a split decision loss to Hans Stringer in his next bout. The Brazilian was slated to meet Patrick Cummins earlier this year, but withdrew from the planned fight with an injury.
OSP (16-6) looks to get back on track following a unanimous decision loss to light heavyweight contender Ryan Bader in August. The loss snapped OSP’s five-fight winning streak, which included finishes over Ryan Jimmo, Nikita Krylov and Cody Donovan under the UFC banner.
Another bout official for the fight card is Claudio Silva vs. Leon Edwards. Silva (11-1), who hasn’t lost since 2007, defeated Brad Scott in his Octagon debut in March. Edwards (8-1), the current BAMMA British welterweight champion, signed with the UFC after six straight victories.
Headlined by Mauricio Rua vs. Jimi Manuwa, UFC Fight Night 56 takes place at the Tancredo Neves gymnasium in Uberlandia, Brazil.
Vinny Magalhaes takes on Jason Brilz for the Titan FC light heavyweight championship Friday night in Cedar Park, Texas, but he’s not focusing on the belt before stepping inside the cage for Titan FC 30.
Entering the bout fresh off a quick submission victory in Mexico, his first win since leaving the UFC in 2013, the submission wizard vows to become the Titan FC 205-pound champion after one of the best training camps of his career.
“It was excellent, perhaps one of my longest training camp if compared to my last fights,” Magalhaes told MMAFighting.com. “Since I recovered from that (staph) infection earlier this year, I didn’t stop training. I changed my diet, increased the intensity of my training and, instead of training twice a day as I used to, I started training three times a day.”
The 30-year-old veteran, who competed at Metamoris weeks after his last MMA bout, a draw against Keenan Cornelius, feels younger heading into his Titan FC debut.
“Training intelligently, with the right dosage – to avoid overtraining – can’t be bad. I’m in the same shape I was when I was 23 years old, I have the same energy, and I believe this is the result of a consistent training,” he said. “It’s not hard to stay in shape, it’s hard to get in shape after you relax, so I didn’t let that happen.”
Brilz looks to establish himself in the light heavyweight division with a win over “Pezao” on Friday night, adding another victory to his win streak. “The Hitman” was victorious in his last four MMA bouts, but Magalhaes is not impressed.
“I’ve seen some of his fights and, although he handled well the pressure and came out victorious, he wasn’t so dominant, especially for the type of competition he was facing,” he said. “But he came out with the win, and that’s what matters.”
“It would be my second MMA title, and the second in a big international promotion, so it’s obviously an extra motivation,” he added.
Brilz hasn’t lost a fight via submission since 2001, but the Brazilian doesn’t see anything special about his ground game as well.
“When I fought Pokrajac, he had only been submitted once in his career. When I fought Soszynski on TUF, he had only been submitted once in his career. And both haven’t been submitted since I fought them,” Magalhaes said. “When the fight goes to the ground, stats will always be in my favor.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to win, I have many options, but I know I will win before the third round,” he continued. “It’s not the moment to think about how important the title is, but to think about the victory. I believe that even if I win the title, I will still hear questions about my future performances.
A former M-1 Global light heavyweight champion and a The Ultimate Fighter finalist, Magalhaes doesn’t make plans for the future outside Titan FC. He wants to end his five-fight contract with the 205-pound belt around his waist, and then he’ll think about what’s next.
“I have a five-fight contract with Titan and I plan to fulfill it, so my focus is on finishing this contract as champion,” he said. “After that, I will make other plans.”
Vinny Magalhaes takes on Jason Brilz for the Titan FC light heavyweight championship Friday night in Cedar Park, Texas, but he’s not focusing on the belt before stepping inside the cage for Titan FC 30.
Entering the bout fresh off a quick submission victory in Mexico, his first win since leaving the UFC in 2013, the submission wizard vows to become the Titan FC 205-pound champion after one of the best training camps of his career.
“It was excellent, perhaps one of my longest training camp if compared to my last fights,” Magalhaes told MMAFighting.com. “Since I recovered from that (staph) infection earlier this year, I didn’t stop training. I changed my diet, increased the intensity of my training and, instead of training twice a day as I used to, I started training three times a day.”
The 30-year-old veteran, who competed at Metamoris weeks after his last MMA bout, a draw against Keenan Cornelius, feels younger heading into his Titan FC debut.
“Training intelligently, with the right dosage – to avoid overtraining – can’t be bad. I’m in the same shape I was when I was 23 years old, I have the same energy, and I believe this is the result of a consistent training,” he said. “It’s not hard to stay in shape, it’s hard to get in shape after you relax, so I didn’t let that happen.”
Brilz looks to establish himself in the light heavyweight division with a win over “Pezao” on Friday night, adding another victory to his win streak. “The Hitman” was victorious in his last four MMA bouts, but Magalhaes is not impressed.
“I’ve seen some of his fights and, although he handled well the pressure and came out victorious, he wasn’t so dominant, especially for the type of competition he was facing,” he said. “But he came out with the win, and that’s what matters.”
“It would be my second MMA title, and the second in a big international promotion, so it’s obviously an extra motivation,” he added.
Brilz hasn’t lost a fight via submission since 2001, but the Brazilian doesn’t see anything special about his ground game as well.
“When I fought Pokrajac, he had only been submitted once in his career. When I fought Soszynski on TUF, he had only been submitted once in his career. And both haven’t been submitted since I fought them,” Magalhaes said. “When the fight goes to the ground, stats will always be in my favor.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to win, I have many options, but I know I will win before the third round,” he continued. “It’s not the moment to think about how important the title is, but to think about the victory. I believe that even if I win the title, I will still hear questions about my future performances.
A former M-1 Global light heavyweight champion and a The Ultimate Fighter finalist, Magalhaes doesn’t make plans for the future outside Titan FC. He wants to end his five-fight contract with the 205-pound belt around his waist, and then he’ll think about what’s next.
“I have a five-fight contract with Titan and I plan to fulfill it, so my focus is on finishing this contract as champion,” he said. “After that, I will make other plans.”
Another UFC veteran is scheduled to compete at the Legacy Fighting Championship kickboxing card in January.
Miguel Torres, who was once considered the best bantamweight fighter on the planet, is set to make his kickboxing debut against fellow MMA fighter Angel Huerta at the debut of Legacy FC kickboxing on January 16, Legacy FC promoter Mick Maynard told MMAFighting.com.
The first Legacy FC kickboxing card, that also features UFC veteran Pat Barry versus Demoreo Dennis, takes place at Bayou Music Center in Houston, and airs live on AXS TV.
Torres, a former WEC bantamweight kingpin with a 43-7 record in MMA, was scheduled to compete for GLORY in June, but withdrew from the card with an injury. Torres is 3-0 in MMA in 2014, with one submission and a pair of decisions.
Huerta, who holds a 6-3 record in MMA, once challenged Matt Hobar for the Legacy FC bantamweight championship. He hasn’t won a fight since a 67-second knockout over Saul Elizondo in Nov. 16, 2012.
Another UFC veteran is scheduled to compete at the Legacy Fighting Championship kickboxing card in January.
Miguel Torres, who was once considered the best bantamweight fighter on the planet, is set to make his kickboxing debut against fellow MMA fighter Angel Huerta at the debut of Legacy FC kickboxing on January 16, Legacy FC promoter Mick Maynard told MMAFighting.com.
The first Legacy FC kickboxing card, that also features UFC veteran Pat Barry versus Demoreo Dennis, takes place at Bayou Music Center in Houston, and airs live on AXS TV.
Torres, a former WEC bantamweight kingpin with a 43-7 record in MMA, was scheduled to compete for GLORY in June, but withdrew from the card with an injury. Torres is 3-0 in MMA in 2014, with one submission and a pair of decisions.
Huerta, who holds a 6-3 record in MMA, once challenged Matt Hobar for the Legacy FC bantamweight championship. He hasn’t won a fight since a 67-second knockout over Saul Elizondo in Nov. 16, 2012.
