Sonnen declines Wand fight offer, open to Metamoris
Chael Sonnen said he would honor his suspension, and declined an offer to fight Wanderlei Silva in Brazil, but said he was open to grappling in Metamoris.
Wanderlei Silva has been barred for life from competing in mixed martial arts for running from a PED test administered by the Nevada Athletic Commission. However, he remains under contract with the UFC.
Wand was serving as a color commentator Saturday night at XFC International 7 in Sao Paulo, Brazil when the league president Myron Molotky made a remarkably implausible suggestion – that Silva fight Chael Sonnen in Brazil.
“Are you ready to do this?” said Molotky as transcribed by MMAFighting. “Let’s do this.”
Wand was game.
“If (Sonnen) accepts the fight, why not?” said Silva. “I’d do it. Why not? I’m here. Come get it.”
However, not only is Wand is suspended for life, Sonnen is suspended until well into 2016. The Brazilian regulatory body CABMMA would never allow the fight to place. Further, Wand and Sonnen both remain under contract with the UFC, and if two of the UFC’s larger PPV draws were to fight, the sport’s dominant league would bring extraordinary legal pressure on them.
Sonnen, a highly rational man, told MMAMania that he would honor his suspension and would not fight Wanderlei Silva, but that he was open to a grappling match at Metamoris, if “The Axe Murderer” was willing.
It appears from a recent tweet as if UFC president Dana White reached out to Wand and reminded him of his contractual obligations.
Wanderlei Silva @wandfc
Escravidão agora????? Como assim,nao posso trabalhar entao Dana? Vc nao manda em mim,luto onde eu quiser!O Q é seu ta guardado ja chega!
(Translatiuon via Guilherme Cruz: “Slavery now? So I can’t work, Dana? You’re not the boss of me, I can fight wherever I want.”)
Unfortunately, Wand is factually incorrect. Further, this is just the latest in a troubling series of tweets and videos that indicate the fighter does not have a completely clear grasp of the issues affecting his career.