It’s hard to remember an MMA career more turbulent than Tim Sylvia’s.
The two-time UFC heavyweight champion, who pairs wins over Andrei Arlovski and Ben Rothwell with losses to Abe Wagner and aged ex-boxer Ray Mercer, has degenerated into something of a laughingstock in recent years.
But the retired 41-year-old still has some strong opinions about the way his UFC career ended, and he aired those feelings Wednesday on Chael Sonnen’s You’re Welcome podcast (h/t David St. Martin of MMA Fighting).
Perhaps not surprisingly, Sylvia (31-10-1) saved his choicest words for UFC President Dana White, who he maintains blackballed him after he left the UFC to fight for the rival Affliction promotion:
You know Dana White. He’s just a f–king d–k. He’s just holding a grudge. They’re pissed off because I went to support Affliction. I was sponsored by [Affliction] for three years before that fight. Dana’s just a d–k. He holds grudges. They blackballed Andrei Arlovski as well, but he was smart, went to a good camp, started picking and choosing who he fought and put eight or 10 wins together. They had no choice but to bring him back to the UFC.
Intentionally or otherwise, Sylvia’s comments do more than blame White. They point a finger at the man in the mirror, given that Sylvia racked up a 7-6-1 record against a collection of misfit toys and aging celebrities after leaving the UFC. Meanwhile, Arlovski went 8-5-1 against higher-level competition.
Sylvia also revealed the opponent that he wanted but never got from the UFC: Brock Lesnar. Sylvia noted that his pay, which was very low in comparison to that of the pro wrestling superstar, and the UFC’s refusal to make the fight led him to sign with the rival company:
I was making $100,000 [to show] and $100,000 [to win] in the UFC. I would have to win four fights in the UFC to make the $800,000 to get what I was paid [at Affliction]. I had one fight on my contract left and I wanted to fight Brock Lesnar next. They wouldn’t let me do it…I was like, ‘I’m the [former] f–king heavyweight champ and this guy comes in and he’s making this kind of money? He’s only fought once in his career.’ I was very bitter, very pissed off. [The UFC] said they were going to have me fight Cheick Kongo over in Europe and I said I wasn’t interested. I asked them to release me from my contract, they did and the next day I signed with Affliction.
Historically a fan favorite, Sylvia last fought in 2013, ending his career on a three-fight losing streak. He has vigorously campaigned on social media to return to the UFC, but to no avail.
@timsylviamma Thanks for the pic with my daughter MANIAC!! Hunters Extravaganza 2015 Fort Worth, Texas!! pic.twitter.com/bH2cUdBt2t
— Blake Mitchell (@BAMitchell52) August 15, 2015
Sylvia held the UFC heavyweight title from February to September 2003 and again from April 2006 until March 2007.
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