Editor’s Note: “Modern History” is being loosely defined as the post-formative years of MMA, when the sport became more widely and thoroughly regulated. Every so often, a fight comes along that’s just so bizarre it causes you to…
Editor’s Note: “Modern History” is being loosely defined as the post-formative years of MMA, when the sport became more widely and thoroughly regulated. Every so often, a fight comes along that’s just so bizarre it causes you to squint at the TV, shake your head, and quietly whisper to yourself; “What the hell am I…
Wanderlei Silva was not having any part of Conor McGregor’s comments about Jesus Christ six years ago, which the Brazilian considered to be blasphemous.
The always-on-a-mission “Axe Murderer” took to social media two weeks after McGregor defeated …
Wanderlei Silva was not having any part of Conor McGregor’s comments about Jesus Christ six years ago, which the Brazilian considered to be blasphemous.
The always-on-a-mission “Axe Murderer” took to social media two weeks after McGregor defeated Silva’s compatriot José Aldo at UFC 194 to release a video taking aim at the Irishman. Wanderlei Silva had plenty to say about McGregor’s comments about fighting Jesus, as well as the possibility of Aldo not getting an immediate rematch.
Prior to Silva’s video, McGregor had made the following comments about a fight with Jesus Christ inside the Octagon.
“Me versus Jesus in the Octagon? I tell you what, there’s not a man alive that can beat me,” McGregor told TMZ before UFC 194. “But Jesus ain’t alive so I don’t f—ing know. Maybe he can come back from the dead, I don’t know. I’d still whoop his ass.”
Silva responded with the following comments in the new video released on his official Facebook page.
“And this promotion, if they don’t give (Aldo) the immediate rematch, we will criticize them,” Silva said. “How? Everybody saw it was an accident, this a–hole was lucky. And when I meet this guy, for everything he said about Jesus, I will slap this motherf–ker in the face. You can’t do that. You can’t play with our God. When I meet you, raise your hand because you’re getting slapped in the face, you punk.”
The rest of Silva’s comments in the video reads as follows:
“I’m here to support one of the greatest champions, our greatest champion, Jose Aldo,” he said. “You continue to be our great champion. Wanderlei Silva continues to be your fan. I like you, I know what you can do, and I know you know that too. That has happened to be too, I’ve been through a moment like this you’re going through now.
“I’ll tell you this: it hurts. It hurts. A warrior feels this pain with the loss. I know you will walk through this and show you still are the best fighter in the world. Don’t listen to the critics. I want to ask Brazilians to support our champion. Hold back the jokes. If you have any garbage inside your heart, don’t throw it outside. Keep it to yourself. Don’t criticize our champion. Our champion needs support.
“He represents us for a long time. A guy that lived in a gym, had nothing, and became the best fighter in the world, deserves out respect to say the least. Aldo, I’m with you. You’re our champion, and that won’t change anything.”
Of course, as we know, the rematch with McGregor and Aldo never took place. And as far as the public knows, Silva never had the opportunity to slap McGregor on sight.
Add MMA legend, Wanderlei Silva, to the list of former MMA standouts making a transition to the world of boxing, as Silva is also eyeing a rematch with Vitor Belfort 23 years after they squared off at UFC Brazil in 1998. Silva hasn’t competed in MMA since 2018 after getting knocked out by fellow UFC […]
Add MMA legend, Wanderlei Silva, to the list of former MMA standouts making a transition to the world of boxing, as Silva is also eyeing a rematch with Vitor Belfort 23 years after they squared off at UFC Brazil in 1998.
Silva hasn’t competed in MMA since 2018 after getting knocked out by fellow UFC colleague Rampage Jackson at Bellator 206. Before that, he lost to longtime rival Chael Sonnen at Bellator 180. Belfort is coming off of a knockout win over heavyweight boxing legend Evander Holyfield just weeks ago.
Silva and Belfort have quite the history together after they coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil back in 2012, and before that competing against one another in a fight that Belfort won by a first-round knockout. Silva watched Belfort’s recent bout with Holyfield and wants another shot at his former UFC rival.
“It would be a super interesting fight and most of all, it’s a fight that everyone wants to see,” Silva told AG Fight. “Everyone wants to see me smack around Belfort. I’m sure boxing will be different. I have very good boxing, I’ve been training boxing for a long time and I’m sure my boxing can surprise everyone.”
“I’m interested, getting ready. After this new trend, the legends face each other, in a rule a little easier than boxing, because you don’t need to train jiu-jitsu, takedowns. It’s a little more ‘light’. So I’m keeping in shape because I know that when the time and the right event come.”
It sounds like Belfort doesn’t plan on stopping boxing anytime soon, especially after he called out the controversial YouTuber turned boxer Jake Paul and also called for a fight with Anderson Silva down the line. Silva could be the right opponent for Belfort as he weighs his options.
What do you think about a potential Wanderlei Silva vs. Vitor Belfort rematch in the boxing ring?
Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva were the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 3 Brazil and in the lead up the two did not have a rivalry but that certainly wasn’t the case at the end of the season. Sonnen’s biggest rival was Anderson Silva, but after he went 0-2 to the legend he squashed the […]
Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva were the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 3 Brazil and in the lead up the two did not have a rivalry but that certainly wasn’t the case at the end of the season.
Sonnen’s biggest rival was Anderson Silva, but after he went 0-2 to the legend he squashed the beef. Yet, Wanderlei Silva wasn’t happy with what “The American Gangster” said about Brazil and demanded an apology or he would not film TUF.
“That was a mess,” Sonnen told Burt Watson on MMA Junkie’s “Legend 2 Legend” series. “So, my heat was with Anderson Silva. Anderson would be right to be disgusted with me. I invoked his wife, his entire country, his people. There was spreading that hot sauce, as you put it, all around. But somehow Wanderlei tried to insert himself in the conversation. I’m not clear to this day how Wanderlei became a part of Anderson and I’s beef.”
Throughout the season, it was clear Wanderlei Silva was not a fan of Chael Sonnen and his antics. It got intense and they brawled but Sonnen reveals Silva demanded an apology from him for everything he said to Anderson and about Brazil.
“We get out to ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ and this story is already written, we don’t need a script, I get it, he gets it,” Sonnen explained. “He gets to wear the white hat, I’ve got to wear the black hat. I’m the guy that insulted his whole country, and now I’m in the country, it’s not going to be great for me, but he gets to be the big hero. So, on the very first day, for reasons unknown, he stands up before we start filming.
“Wanderlei stands up and goes ‘Before we go any further, unless you apologize, I’m leaving.’ Well, you’re going have to leave, man, because that’s not part of the skit. I do not give apologies, it’s part of being the bad guy. I can’t really come off-brand to make you feel better in a room of empty people when I’m trying to entertain the masses at a later date on television, that just doesn’t happen. So, he left. That was the sucker’s move that he made – he didn’t give himself any other way out.”
Vitor Belfort wants to make the Wanderlei Silva rematch but needs the Brazilian to start negotiating. For months now, Belfort and Silva have both expressed interest in a rematch and both said it was close to happening. Yet, with Belfort under contract …
Vitor Belfort wants to make the Wanderlei Silva rematch but needs the Brazilian to start negotiating. For months now, Belfort and Silva have both expressed interest in a rematch and both said it was close to happening. Yet, with Belfort under contract with ONE Championship and Silva with BKFC, it made it uncertain if it […]
Wanderlei Silva sent MMA fans into a frenzy late last night when he took to Instagram, in a now-deleted post, that teased several intriguing matchups at an event called Fight Club After Dark. The poster says the event will take place on November 21 at the Tyson Ranch, with the tagline, “Experience live MMA like never […]
Wanderlei Silva sent MMA fans into a frenzy late last night when he took to Instagram, in a now-deleted post, that teased several intriguing matchups at an event called Fight Club After Dark. The poster says the event will take place on November 21 at the Tyson Ranch, with the tagline, “Experience live MMA like never before under the stars on the Tyson Ranch.”
In the poster Silva is teasing Tito Ortiz vs. Rashad Evans in a trilogy fight and Fedor Emelianenko and Fabricio Werdum’s rematch. He also says he will be fighting Vitor Belfort on the card with two high-profile unnamed undercard fights on the event.
Belfort has now taken to social media himself to advise his compatriot to stop posting fake news and begin negotiations, he wrote.
“I’ll give you an advice, stop posting and start negotiating. Your request has been accepted. Stop posting fake news posters and let’s get it done.”
In a minute-long video Belfort tells Silva and his team to contact the ONE Championship CEO Chatri Sityodtong to negotiate the fight.
“My team, my manager have already called (Silva), and Chatri from ONE Championship said that this fight will happen,” Belfort said in Portuguese. “It’s only up to (Silva) now. He has to start negotiating with (ONE). He has to start moving for this fight to happen. There’s no other way.
“He wants this fight, so let me give you some advice Wanderlei, get in touch with (ONE) and dedicate, brother. I’m waiting for you. Stop posting fake news and little posters and let’s fight. I’ve already accepted, you have to start moving now.”
Do you want to see Vitor Belfort fight Wanderlei Silva?