Cagewriter - UFC

Boorish, disrespectful, clownish, obnoxious, rude and even insubordinate. Those are just some of the derogatory terms used to describe Anderson Silva's behavior during the main event at UFC 112. Between the gyrating, dancing and his failure to engage during much of the fight, Silva sent Dana White over the edge, disrespected the UAE royal family (his new bosses) and turned off many fans. Silva showed a little contrition in the immediate aftermath but during a UFC 117 teleconference, to preview next weekend's main event, it was good to find out the old Silva is still alive and well.

Showing once again he doesn't get it, the UFC middleweight champ made gave plenty of one-word answers and mocked most of the questions. It's the fight game. Part of your job is to sell the fight and in doing so raise your own profile. It's fine Silva's a jerk, we get that. But at least embrace it.

Floyd Mayweather is a genius. He gets it. As long as you pick a side, Floyd is happy. That's why he's making $25 million a fight. Silva is on the opposite end of the spectrum. His approach during an incredible 11-fight UFC win streak is still why almost no one outside of MMA has any idea who he is. Chael Sonnen, who is the antithesis of Silva with the media and fans, gets it and wrapped things up nicely. 

"He comes on here and says something stupid as if he's saying some sort of Nobel Prize winning statement. He truly believes the answer he gave few minutes ago, that people are tuning in to see a fight, and not see anything else. He really means that,"  Sonnen said (5:15 mark). "He feels like he's taking the moral high ground."

Just as he's been doing for the last few months, Sonnen talked lots of trash during the call. Silva chose to basically mock every question he was asked and then hid behind the excuse that he refused to get into a war of words with his opponent. One problem: the majority of the questions were legitimate questions about the fight and had nothing to do with Sonnen flapping his gums.

"He couldn't be anymore wrong," Sonnen said. "Does he know anything about business? That's not what people are tuning in to see. People don't just tune in to see people fight. They want to know why they're fighting? He couldn't have this industry anymore backward." 

Silva came out firing blanks and it never got better. AOL Fanhouse's Mike Chiapetta then pushed more (2:50 mark) by invoking his best Joe Pesci from "Goodfellas" (VIDEO - 2:50 mark). Silva's manager/translator Ed Soares said he had trouble understanding the question. 

The one time Silva showed passion was when he said he didn't care about White's opinion.After UFC 112, White said Silva could face termination.

You get the feeling this is all going to end badly. Maybe we're headed toward another cold war with Silva on the outside looking in, like Tito v. Dana.  

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311 Comments

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  1. r t
    1. Posted by r t Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:28 pm EDT

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    Silva is the best fighter in the world, sonnen is a mediocre lay and prayer who's only "skill" is running his mouth. Silva's skills are what we tune in to see, not a bunch of WWE s-talk from a loud-mouth republican. Hopefully silva knocks his teeth out so sonnen can't make idiotic statements for a while.
  2. Uncle Charlie
    2. Posted by Uncle Charlie Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:46 pm EDT

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    My favorite thing about Silva winning this fight, is that Sonnen will have ZERO ground to stand on ever again, I'll repeat, ZERO!!! Might as well quit, why? ZERO GROUND!!! haha sorry, its just I do have a point. Don't get me wrong, Sonnen could win, but if not. thats it! His career as a contender is finished.
  3. MPA2000
    3. Posted by MPA2000 Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:48 pm EDT

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    Let me get this straight, you bad mouth Silva, the pound for pound best in the world for 25% of your article, and then the rest is giving props to Sonnen?
    Yahoo! Has really sunk to a new low.
  4. Uncle Charlie
    4. Posted by Uncle Charlie Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:51 pm EDT

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    Its not like Dan Hardy or Shane Carwin, where they could legitimately work their way back to a title shot. But not Chael, when he loses, thats it. Unless Vitor wins the title, then maybe, but doubt it
  5. Justin Case
    5. Posted by Justin Case Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:54 pm EDT

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    If not for the recent involvement of Steven Seagal in Anderson's training, Chael would be my pick to win this fight.
    But I've seen how Steven throws his opponents around with that Aikido stuff.
    It's too difficult to call at this point. How much did Anderson learn?
    How much has Chael trained to overcome Steven's techniques?
    Brad and r t, neither of you contributed anything meaningful in your sycophantic superciliousness. Libtards.
  6. .
    6. Posted by . Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:06 pm EDT

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    Moronic... Leave it to idiots like you guys to make it a "republican" issue.
    It has nothing to do with anything - idiots x2!!
    Try... Just TRY... To focus on the story at hand here, which has nothing to do with color or politics.
    Talk about "blanket" or "idiotic statements".
    Grow up.
  7. Clint
    7. Posted by Clint Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:10 pm EDT

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    Joe, are you out there??? I have a question for you?? What is your take on DBOL?? pillls? I have a friend who wants to take them....He said 8 a day ....2 every 6 hours for 4 weeks??? Fill me in if you can!!
  8. Jon R
    8. Posted by Jon R Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:17 pm EDT

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    The UFC would never release him from his contract but if he clown again during this next fight I'd like to see Zuffa put him on the shelf for 12 months minimum. No fights foir the UFC and no fights outside the UFC as he is contracted for I believe 7 more fights.
    This post got one thing right...this really does have the potential to end very badly for both Silva and Zuffa. This could potentially turn into another years long legal war ala Couture vs Zuffa.
  9. peteguirguess
    9. Posted by peteguirguess Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:18 pm EDT

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    Stephen Seagall will be the difference in this fight, i agree. Aikido, what Seagall is disciplined in, has never before been used in the UFC or MMA. The reason is that it is a traditional martial art that uses lethal and dangerous techniques.
    Blackbelt practice in Aikido is sealed off to the public. Anderson will use Aikido , lethal perhaps, against Sonnen.
  10. jayyolf1
    10. Posted by jayyolf1 Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:23 pm EDT

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    Anderson the Clown Silva is NOT the best fighter, he is third best at the very most, behind GSP and Fedor.
    1. GSP
    2. Fedor
    3. Shogun
    4. Aldo
    5. Anderson the Clown Silva
    Until he at least fights Vitor Belfort AND an ELITE 205er, then he's not even worthy of the top p4p discussion
  11. Brad
    11. Posted by Brad Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:32 pm EDT

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    LOL @ people saying it doesn't matter Sonnen is a loudmouth republican, then calling me a "libtard".
  12. Jon R
    12. Posted by Jon R Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:32 pm EDT

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    "The raiders are the drunken, lowlife, ex-con kid-touching uncle of the nfl that shows up on thanksgiving and spouts out all the family secrets after dinner. Joe, I figure you still have 3 or 4 years before the raiders rebuild enough to the point where you can be allowed to comment about any other team in the league without being owned. Just criminals baby, criminals.
    It's a good thing you dont live in oakland joe, you'd never see one of their games because all their fans spend sunday sleeping off whatever inhalants they could get their hands on the night before instead of going to the games."
    Just wanted to say, in case anyone missed it, that this is the best post Barry has ever made. This is the post of the year right there. In fact, I'm gonna steal that post and use it for my internet signature from now on.
    WAR BRONCOS!!!
    Denver Broncos...the only NFL team that has Jesus on the roster with his BFF.
  13. Jorge
    13. Posted by Jorge Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:39 pm EDT

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    Way to go Cofield, ".....the UFC middleweight champ made gave plenty of one word answers ...."
    My dog has better writing skills than you do
  14. Zach
    14. Posted by Zach Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:51 pm EDT

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    WHO DEY! Cincy is going to surprise alot this year. T.O just signed. not sure what to make of that yet. I agree jon r, that post barry made was brutal.
  15. Zach
    15. Posted by Zach Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:56 pm EDT

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    Jay, Im no fedor hater, but i wouldnt put him in front of silva. Silva is number one my friend.
  16. David
    16. Posted by David Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:00 am EDT

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    damn, sonnen is really doing his best to sell this fight. i have to admit, i'll buy. i enjoy silva's responses too
  17. Justin Case
    17. Posted by Justin Case Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:14 am EDT

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    peteguirguess @10: That is one of my concerns that Anderson may have learned too much too fast. Those who have truly mastered Aikido (and there are only a handful, including Steven Seagal) are able to NOT use it lethally. If Anderson has learned enough to be lethal, but not enough to AVOID being lethal, it could be disasterous for Chael. We don't need another death in the Octagon. Part of me hopes that Anderson plays the clown again.
  18. The Legend
    18. Posted by The Legend Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:14 am EDT

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    I'm not sure what Anderson Silva's problem is. I first noticed his idiocy in the fight with TUF Forrest. At one point early in the fight Silva yelled and waved Forrest in, clearly frustrated. Forrest, being the biggest puss on the planet, shrugged and almost apologized. What was that about? Was Forrest not engaging? Was Forrest pulling guard? No, no. It seems if you don't come at Anderson chin first, he'll be offended.
    Screw this guy. You buy his PPV. I'll be at the Kilt. Not sober. Cheering for Sonnen, whom I would never cheer for in another circumstance.
    Anderson Silva is dumb. I want to see him get exposed. If TUF winner Travis Lutter can get him in "trouble", someone will eventually get this jerk.
  19. Justin Case
    19. Posted by Justin Case Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:16 am EDT

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    Anderson Silva would beat Fedor...
  20. Justin Case
    20. Posted by Justin Case Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:17 am EDT

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    Zach, please stop embarrassing yourself.
  21. ryan w
    21. Posted by ryan w Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:23 am EDT

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    silvas a moron. he shouldnt be called a fighter. he obviously doesnt want to fight.
  22. ryan w
    22. Posted by ryan w Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:24 am EDT

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    jaygoth, you realize fedor lost his last fight to the worlds biggest underdog and he hasnt fought top notch competition in almost 10 years....
  23. Brian
    23. Posted by Brian Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:25 am EDT

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    So I guess according to coefield Anderson has to hype the fight up to make a lot of money like mayweather. Anderson doesn't do his talking outside the cage. He does it IN THE CAGE when he embarrasses his opponents. Manny Pac-man doesn't talk [profane] yet he still makes ALL that money. You dont need to talk [profane] to hype a fight. After chael losses no one will give two cents about him That's the truth.
  24. Jay
    24. Posted by Jay Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:26 am EDT

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    First of all, I have been a fan of Anderson Silva ever since I first saw him fight in Pride. I started watching MMA in 2000 and have watched every PPV UFC match since the beginning of 2004. I am still a fan of Anderson Silva in spite of his boring fights and even his last fight which was a little disrespectful on Anderson's part. If a fighter talks so much trash though before a fight then the fighter should be totally willing to engage if he is being disrespected IN THE VERY MIDDLE of the fight, right? Most of you people forget that Silva was TOTALLY the aggressor even in all of his boring fights. Is it his fault that his opponents don't want to engage in the fight? Sure, it's slightly his fault but only to a MUCH lesser extent than it is his opponents' faults. People like me watch MMA for the excitement of the fights, not the war of words crap. I could care less about that nonsense. Steve Cofield your article sucks! I speak Portuguese fluently and I used to live in Brasil, so I understand the culture and the sentido das palavras em frases "feeling of the words in sentences" and not only simple translations (that aren't even totally correct). Anderson was saying he thinks what Chael Sonnen has been saying is engracado "funny" in the sense that Chael Sonnen has been making a clown out of himself by talking all sorts of SH&* that he almost certainly can't back up. Chael is doing what he's doing to hopefully get more PPV buys and tickets sold, but after he gets his A^& kicked he will look more and more like a dumb clown for all the SH&* he talked and you can go along looking like a dumb clown with him Steve Cofield. A true champion in ANY SPORT lets his actions speak for him, and Anderson's actions in the past speak WAY BETTER then Chael Sonnen's actions. Chael Sonnen is a liar and he's delusional. He has said: "I've beat every champion there's ever been except one." Watch the video on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LH6xa9i_1_U and then look up Sonnen's fight history in wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chael_Sonnen and after you're done reading about Chael Sonnen in wikipedia go read about Anderson Silva in wikipedia. Enough said.
  25. Justin Case
    25. Posted by Justin Case Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:55 am EDT

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    Jay @25: Maybe I'm wrong, but I think Anderson fights for money. If he's doing it for love of the sport only, then please feel free to correct me.
    The majority of people who pay their hard-earned money to watch him fight don't like watching him be a dancing clown.
    Did it ever enter your slightly biased brain that maybe Chael wouldn't have to go so far over the top to sell the fight if the "haughty" spider-clown would do his part.
    I hope Anderson is badly embarrassed by Chael, and made to cry. (Apologies to Steven Seagal.)

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