(Filho pointing out his biggest problems in life: bitches and money.)
Paulo Filho today responded to the Portal do Vale Tudo story released this week in which his former manager and friend Rodrigo Riscada accused the former WEC middleweight champion of still being strongly addicted to GHB. “Ely” told Tatame that he is over his addiction and that he is also likely done with fighting after his
contracted KSW 17 bout against Mamed Khalidov in November.
According to Filho, who is reportedly in debt to a few people in Brazil, reportedly due to his massive addiction to rohypnol and the fact that he missed out on the Zuffa drug plan by a couple years, he is planning on walking away from the sport because he received death threats over his drug debts.
“I’m choosing retirement, man… I may fight in November (in Poland) because I already signed the contract. after that I will retire. I don’t want this anymore. I’m kind of disappointed with this stuff, fighting and not getting paid. I don’t want people comforting me, I just want what is mine. That’s the third time I fight and not get paid. I was the threatened of death by people I owe here in Niteroi.”
Now, I’ve never done roofies, at least not to my knowledge, but maybe someone with knowledge on the subject could correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m thinking his lack of correlative logic is a direct result of his drug use. I mean, if I were in huge debt and the only moneymaking skill I had fighting, I would likely not retire. But that’s just me.
Now for those just joining us, “The Reward Hunter” wasn’t stiffed by the promotions he fought for, he claims that Riscada took his purse money from his Amazon Forest Combat and X-Combat bouts and gave him only a small portion of it — an allegation Riscada says is completely untrue.
Filho says Riscada is making up stories, just like the tale he invented about him being admitted to a rehab facility in Rio.
“Man, that’s no truth about that. He’s a crazy person. Man, people invented a lot of stuff, and unfortunately I gave them reasons to think that. He said that just to avoid paying what he owns me. I gave him an opportunity and he took it,” Filho said. “He took my money and I don’t know what he did with that. I just don’t know where’s my money. I have bills and debts to pay and people are charging me. He took my purses, everything. I think he took advantage of that to get back on his feet and get support of his stuff.”
As far as coming back to the sport that made him a star and paid him well for most of his troubled career after a break away from the cage, Filho says his mind is made up and that he’s become disenchanted with MMA.
“I believe I always defended Jiu-Jitsu with all my heart — always an honest guy. I never ducked anyone, never chose opponents. I fought in the worst conditions, but never ran away. Nobody had the privilege to finish me. I’m very sad in this moment. If I fight in November, if I fight, I’m already saying I won’t fight anymore,” Filho said matter-of-factly. “I’m not thinking about that right now, but I don’t wanna know about fighting anymore. I had good and horrible moments. I did what I could, it’s over. I was far from what I could have been, but I’m satisfied. It’s over.”
