Public humiliation and contractual obligations be damned, Wanderlei Silva just wasn’t in the mood for TUF. I’m sure some MMA fans can relate.
Serving as coaches on the third season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil, Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen didn’t wait long to roll out the dramatics. As the two sides were set to divvy up the prospects, Silva apparently challenged Sonnen to apologize for his numerous unflattering statements about Brazil. Confronted with Sonnen’s absolute refusal, Silva threatened to quit the show.
Saying he’s ‘ashamed’ by Silva’s ‘stupidity,’ Sonnen explained the situation to Combate (translated by Bloody Elbow’s Fernando Arbex).
“He comes and says, ‘The show stops if you don’t apologize for what you said about Brazil’. He did what a real checkers player would do. He would never imagine that I would refuse to apologize. When I refused, all what he could do was give up. He put himself in check, I didn’t do that. The show stopped and was almost over. They had to call Dana White and the producers. I begged him to come back and he didn’t. So he called for a cab and the cab came. One producer had to stop him in the cab and make him come back.”
With Silva finally signing his bout agreement, I guess we’re left to assume reason prevailed in the end.
Wanderlei Silva faces Chael Sonnen in the main event at UFC Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Silva May 31in São Paulo, Brazil.
5 MUST-READ STORIES
On the mend. UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is looking at a four-week recovery from minor knee procedures, while welterweight champ Johny Hendricks will take up to eight weeks to recover from a torn bicep.
In talks. A bout between Daniel Cormier and Rafael Cavalcante is currently in discussion for UFC 175, while a welterweight bout between Rory MacDonald and Tyron Woodley could land at UFC 174.
Chat Wrap. Luke Thomas talks UFC Fight Night: Shogun vs. Henderson 2, WSOF 9, Bellator 114 and more in this week’s live chat.
Metamoris. Eddie Bravo says the professional Jiu Jitsu promotion is ready to bring the art to the masses.
Next up. Jon Fitch will face the winner of this weekend’s WSOF welterweight title bout between Steve Carl and Rousimar Palhares. Remember, Fitch once vowed he would never compete against Palhares, saying “It would be the first time in my career that I turned down a fight.”
MEDIA STEW
UFC 171: Fight Motion.
Cris Cyborg’s pro Muay Thai debut. She fights again Friday night at Lion Fight 14 on AXS TV.
Interesting perspective from Stitch.
They covered spitting and eye pokes pretty well.
Junior dos Santos gets eaten by piranhas in a Samsung commercial.
Not quite Anderson-Vitor, but pretty good. Skip to 5:00.
Long watches.
Co-Main Event Podcast Episode 96 (3/25/14)
…
Off Topic: Why MMA matters and why it sucks
…
Press Row joined by Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter
TWEETS
GOAT talk?
Being the greatest of all time is not going to be easy
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) March 27, 2014
Apply online.
Hey @SugarRaySefo you got a phone number so I can talk to you about fighting for WSOF?
— Cody McKenzie (@TheCodyMcKenzie) March 26, 2014
Fun.
@aHIGHLIGHTcraig doesn’t get better? It looked better when @LukeBarnatt ko’d you twice and then Subbed you. Less time on twitter more in gym
— michael (@bisping) March 26, 2014
@bisping @LukeBarnatt meow
— Andrew Craig (@aHIGHLIGHTcraig) March 26, 2014
@TimKennedyMMA ya scum bag move
— Tim Sylvia (@timsylviamma) March 26, 2014
Ref problems.
@Stevesiler yea sucks man but Fcuk it..lol onto the next 1!! Speak soon brah
— STORMIN NORMAN PARKE (@norman_parke) March 26, 2014
Lookin’ B1G in PR.
Amazing dinner in Puerto Rico!!! @uluvlisette @sergiopettis #blessed #imulino #boriqua http://t.co/wcgQRy5y0b
— Anthony Pettis (@Showtimepettis) March 27, 2014
The Coliseo de Puerto Rico set up the arena to show us what UFC Puerto Rico will look like pic.twitter.com/ffbDHimfT3
— Dana White (@danawhite) March 26, 2014
Dig at Siver?
After a month of thought I have consulted w/ my coaches&have determined my lack of success has been brought about by lack of “nutritionist”
— Cole Miller (@colemillerATT) March 26, 2014
Keep an ear out.
I’ll have some news soon for everyone 👊”@BestUFCTweeter: @BrendanSchaub Would love to see you fight Hunt!!!”
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) March 27, 2014
Be careful.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Mar. 27 2014)
Rafael Cavalcante vs. Daniel Cormier at UFC 175
John Dodson vs. John Moraga at UFC Fight Night: Albuquerque
Yaotzin Meza vs. Sergio Pettis at UFC Fight Night: Albuquerque
Mark Eddiva vs. Edimilson Souza at UFC Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Silva
Mike Easton vs. Yves Jabouin at UFC 174
Ernest Chavez vs. Elias Silverio at UFC Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Silva
Anthony Pettis vs. Gilbert Melendez at UFC 182
Jon Fitch vs. TBA at World Series of Fighting 11
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today’s Fanpost of the Day comes via heavyfl0w.
A Subjectively Negative Look At Chuck Liddell
This article is about how I believe sacred MMA cow Chuck Liddell to be a wee bit overrated by the masses. I hope you enjoy reading it, and if you don’t, I hope you share your opinion as to why. Check the link out for your boy, as well:
Chuck Liddell is one of the most popular fighters in MMA history. His allure to casual fans was instrumental in bringing the UFC to its current heights. The Ultimate Fighter obviously played a huge role in this as well, but the fact that Liddell was in his heyday when the sport began to explode in the states helped matters exponentially. His style of fighting was something people wanted to see, pure and simple. A Cali-based, mohawked puncher with piercing blue eyes, you knew you were getting something memorable when Charles David Liddell stepped into the Octagon. All of these things are facts. Truths.
Here’s the thing: I found him dreadful to watch.
…
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.