Big Nog: Dana isn’t God
Wanderlei Silva started fighting in 1996. It was two years before he suffered his first loss via kayo, to Vitor…
Wanderlei Silva started fighting in 1996. It was two years before he suffered his first loss via kayo, to Vitor Belfort. It was another eight years before he was to again lose via kayo, this time to Heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop. Since that time he has gone 2-5, getting knocked out three more times, most recently to Chris Leben, in just 27 seconds of the first round in UFC 132.
UFC President Dana White voiced his concern. “People love him so much because of the way he fights and his style and the type of person he is, but yeah, it’s probably the end of the road for Wanderlei. I think it’s one of those ones where I’d like to sit down and talk to him and kind of Chuck Liddell him into it.” White later added “He has nothing to be ashamed about. He has been an amazing fighter for the last 10 years, people love and respect him. Age gets us all.”
The remarks apparently upset Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, another formerly iron-jawed Brazilian legend, in his mid-30s, who recently suffered a string of KO losses. In a recent interview with the Brazilian Portuguese language site R7 Esportes Big Nog said “I think (Dana White) was unfortunate with his comments. They’re idols of the sport, (Dana’s) not a God who decides on everyone’s career.”
“I loved the fact that Tito Ortiz won his last fight. You see that these people were not champions for nothing. Ortiz, Wanderlei and Fedor were top fighters for a reason. But Dana White can’t decide that, he’ll have to eat his words regarding Tito (laughs).”
Read entire article… (original Portuguese)
