Chael: Silva defense ‘very silly and ridiculous’
Chael Sonnen: “Guys who dig their heels in and come out and deny and lie and refuse to admit the findings of the test have always been treated more harshly,”
The greatest fighter in UFC history, former middleweight champion Anderson Silva appeared on Thursday before Nevada Athletic Commission at a hearing on his failed drug tests taken for his fight with Nick Diaz at UFC 183. It did not go well, and among other penalties, he will pay the largest fine in MMA history – $380,000.
Chael Sonnen challenged Silva for the title twice, retired after failing mutliple doping tests, and was not impressed with Silva’s testimony.
“The defense was very silly and ridiculous,” said Sonnen to Brett Okamoto, for ESPN.com.
“Guys who dig their heels in and come out and deny and lie and refuse to admit the findings of the test have always been treated more harshly. In Anderson’s case, he went down swinging all the way to the end.”
“I’m just not sure why he thought he needed to put it up there. These tests are bulletproof. It was found in his system and that’s the end of it. The reason why it was in his system is simply irrelevant. Guys that end up in this spot — and I’m one of those guys, I can tell you from firsthand experience — like to make a big case and a big show about why it was in their system. But look guys, it’s pass-fail. You took and you competed. You’re in violation.”
“He had a leg that was broken in two. I think ethically, he had the right to turn to the free market or black market if he’s trying to heal his leg. What he cannot do is also compete. He’s got to choose one.
“He didn’t need to touch on five different dimensions and insult everyone’s intelligence. Just tell everybody, ‘Yeah, I did it.'”
Chael also tweeted that he wants another fight.
Chael Sonnen @sonnench
#onemoreTime
Sonnen’s suspension ends the Summer of 2016; Silva’s is retroactive, so he can fight in January of 2016