MMA has entered the age of the superstar, but with mainstream appeal comes mainstream problems. One such problem was recently on display—the issue of a fight negatively influencing an athlete’s “brand image.” In a moment t…
MMA has entered the age of the superstar, but with mainstream appeal comes mainstream problems. One such problem was recently on display—the issue of a fight negatively influencing an athlete’s “brand image.” In a moment that instantly became one of MMA’s most infamous, UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones refused to face Chael Sonnen on […]
(It’s completely involuntary at this point — even when somebody tries to pat Anderson on the back, he slips it.)
Anderson Silva has beaten up enough middleweights, right? We can all agree on that? Now that he’s finished his toughest rival for the second time, the UFC legend is looking ahead to a pack of potential challengers — including Michael Bisping*, Hector Lombard**, and Mark Munoz*** — who, frankly, wouldn’t pose many challenges that Silva hasn’t already met and overcome. And with his competitive days running out, don’t we want to see Anderson in a super-fight against somebody who might actually give him a run for his money?
Well, Jon Jones doesn’t want to be that guy, so stop asking. During an appearance on ESPN’s Max & Marcellus show yesterday (via BleacherReport), the UFC’s light-heavyweight champ laid out exactly why he’s not interested in a date with the Spider. And while you might not appreciate the explanation, you have to respect his honesty. Maybe. Here’s what he said:
(It’s completely involuntary at this point — even when somebody tries to pat Anderson on the back, he slips it.)
Anderson Silva has beaten up enough middleweights, right? We can all agree on that? Now that he’s finished his toughest rival for the second time, the UFC legend is looking ahead to a pack of potential challengers — including Michael Bisping*, Hector Lombard**, and Mark Munoz*** — who, frankly, wouldn’t pose many challenges that Silva hasn’t already met and overcome. And with his competitive days running out, don’t we want to see Anderson in a super-fight against somebody who might actually give him a run for his money?
Well, Jon Jones doesn’t want to be that guy, so stop asking. During an appearance on ESPN’s Max & Marcellus show yesterday (via BleacherReport), the UFC’s light-heavyweight champ laid out exactly why he’s not interested in a date with the Spider. And while you might not appreciate the explanation, you have to respect his honesty. Maybe. Here’s what he said:
“It’s not that he won’t fight me or I won’t fight him. To be dead honest, it’s that we both have a lot to lose and we both respect each other a lot and we both are striving for personal greatness. I don’t want to crack on his greatness and I don’t want him cracking on my greatness. We’re in completely different weight classes. We both have sponsor deals and things that are really important to us and a big part of that sponsorship package is being a winning…being a champion. Having us fight each other means one of our championships goes away. I respect Anderson Silva so much that I don’t want to be the guy to beat him. I don’t want to lose to him either. It’s a lose-lose situation for me.”
In other words, losing is bad for business. Also, some crap about “respect,” but I think we get the point. For the record, Anderson Silva also has no interest in a fight with Jones — but UFC president Dana White hasn’t given up hope yet. “[Silva] said he wouldn’t fight Chael again, either,” White told USA Today. ”The two times he went to 205, it wasn’t because he wanted to, it was because I asked him to…Let’s see what happens.”
Anybody think Dana can strong-arm two of his champions into giving the fans a super-fight for the ages? Or has Jones convinced you that this fight would do more harm than good?
* The British Rich Franklin, basically.
** The Cuban Vitor Belfort, basically.
*** The Filipino-American Chael Sonnen, basically.
“This was the last fight of the contract. The most interesting thing was that the contract finished when I got the belt. And they already want me again. DREAM’s a good event. I like fighting there. So [to] sum up, because I know you’ll ask me about the UFC (laughs)… UFC is also good, but I got a career. I don’t know how long I will fight,” he told Tatame recently. “I got family, bills to pay. I’m a pro; there are people who rely on me to put food on the table. I got my wife, who’s carrying another baby. Now I can fight as if it was my dream. I must be responsible. It’s business. I’m happy DREAM pays me and I get more things from there. They’ve tried to take me [to the UFC], but I said that’s not my dream. I told them I’m responsible for my family.”
Though it’s possible that DREAM pays him more than he was offered by Zuffa, if he isn’t paid until months after his fights and ends up paying interest on bills, maybe a consistent paycheck would cancel out the difference in salary. Maybe that’s the fan in me talking who would like to see Fernandes rematch Urijah Faber — a fight he told me last summer that he’s take in a heartbeat.
Hopefully DREAM stays afloat so Bibiano can continue to compete for them or else he may run out of other lucrative options, having snubbed the UFC.
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