(Seen here: Something Thiago Silva has not been able to honestly do since 2009.)
If you thought Matt Riddle was just blowing smoke up our asses when he criticized the subjectivity of the UFC’s hiring/firing policy on The MMA Hour a couple days ago, look no further than Thiago Silva for proof that he wasn’t. The Brazilian slugger has not only failed two drug tests in his past three bouts, once for using synthetic animal urine in an attempt to fool his post-fight test at UFC 125 and once for marijuana metabolites at UFC on FUEL 6 last November, but has gone 0-2 in the bouts he actually managed to show up clean for. Combine that with the fact that he nearly costs as much to show as that “super fucking expensive” Jon Fitch and you’ll be left wondering how someone so incompetent still holds a job in the sport’s highest promotion. Our guess: DW and friends really appreciate the fact that — on the off-chance Silva isn’t trying to cheat the system or cheapen the value of a win — the dude brings it.
Whatever the case, Silva will be given what we can only assume is his final, final chance at UFC 162, where he will meet fellow piss test savant Rafael Cavalcante. Ironically enough, Cavalcante will also be coming off a drug test-related suspension, this one dating back to last May when “Feijao” was popped for stanozolol in the aftermath of his victory over Mike Kyle at Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier. Although if you were to ask Cavalcante, his positive test was the result of a massive conspiracy carried out by the California State Athletic Commission. So we should probably assume that Rafael is on thin ice as well.
Featuring Anderson Silva’s return to the middleweight division against Chris Weidman, UFC 162 goes down from Las Vegas, Nevada on July 6th at a TBD location.
I’m no gambling expert, but when placing your bets on this fight, I would suggest looking for the “overturned by NSAC” prop and bet the ranch.