Wand: McGregor’s a blue belt at best
Wanderlei Silva: “Maximum, he’s a blue belt. He needs to focus on his ground. But he fights good. He’s a good fighter. He promoted well. But he needs to do – job is job!”
Few fighters have been as critical of the UFC as has Wanderlei Silva. However, in a recent interview with TMZ Sports, Wand appeared to side with management in the ongoing dispute with Conor McGregor.
“You have to train, but we need to promote,” said Silva. “When you are starting to fight, the promotion is a part of the deal. And you need to be professional, you know? I think we need to do both. We need to have time to do both.
“He’s good. [What does the Wand say?] Maximum, he’s a blue belt. He needs to focus on his ground. But he fights good. He’s a good fighter. He promoted well.
“But he needs to do – job is job!”
Silva is currently under suspension for running from a PED test, and recently did a tag team wrestling match for Rizin Fighting Federation on April 17, that he described as a warm up for his return to MMA. He most recently called out Kimbo Slice, who is also under suspension for PEDs. If the pair fight, it would be in Bellator, overseas technically beyond the reach of North American regulators. It is not known whether Bellator would abet the circumvention of suspensions, something the UFC is on the record as saying they would never do.
Wand is also scheduled to take part in a RIZIN World Grand Prix tournament with rounds in Sept and on New Years Eve. It is not believed that RIZIN will have any qualms about using a fighter under suspension.