Tue Jul 27 07:05pm PDT
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.
Cagewriter is an MMA blog edited by Steve Cofield. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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311 Comments
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Yahoo! Has really sunk to a new low.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Blackbelt practice in Aikido is sealed off to the public. Anderson will use Aikido , lethal perhaps, against Sonnen.
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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
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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.
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My dog has better writing skills than you do
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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.
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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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