UFC light heavyweight fighter Thiago Silva (15-2) made a successful return to the octagon on Jan. 1st after being sidelined for almost a year because of a nagging back injury. At the New Year’s Day event, UFC 125, Silva faced Brandon Vera on the evenings main card. The Brazilian would dominate the fight and walk away with a unanimous decision victory, but not without a little drama.
During the third round, Silva had Vera’s back along the cage and used several open handed slaps to his opponents head. At the post-fight press conference Silva stated he used the tactic to try and open Vera up for a submission. Another UFC light heavyweight fighter, Jon Jones, took offense posting this note on his Twitter page.
Wow that slapping was so disrespectful.. id love to give him a slap in the face
Silva spoke to Tatame.com about the comment calling Jones “a jerk.”
You and Brandon Vera teased each other after the first round, and he returned more aggressive on the following round and you gave some little slaps on his back on the third round. It was all provocation or did you tried to make him to make a mistake?
We never do anything without a reason. What I did in there was to take his focus away. The only provocation I did was when I slapped him on his back, the others I did because my hands were aching when I punched him because I broke my finger. So it would open me the way to try a submission or something like it. The only provocation was that one so he would lose his focus, and there’s no other reason.Jon Jones criticized a lot your attitude, claiming that it wasn’t respectful and that a martial artist shouldn’t do such thing… What did you think of it?
This guy is a jerk. Everybody’s a professional fighter and all fights include provocations. Brandon Vera said he’s break my legs, that I wasn’t on his level. I don’t say things, I do. You get recognized when you do things. I’m a professional fighter, but I can’t always please everybody. There’s always somebody behind the computed with a plate filled with French fries, ready to criticize you. I fight for the fans, for the money and to put my name up there. Talking is too much easy, nobody knows what goes on in your life, your trainings… I think I did my job. Who likes it, likes it, but you can dislike it if you want.
Silva is scheduled to meet former UFC champ Quinton “Rampage” Jackson on May 28th in the main event of UFC 130 in Las Vegas.