Wand offers explanation for no showing Bellator 180 presser
Wanderlei Silva: “When I see Chael, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m professional, but the guy has crossed the line with me and played with the wrong guy.”
According to Chael Sonnen, the beef between he and Wanderlei Silva extends back to the late 90s. It became public in 2010 when The Axe Murderer and The Gangster from Oregon were put in a van together.
Silva took issue with Sonnen’s clowning of Brazilian icons Minotauro and Anderson Silva, among others.
“In Brazil we have a saying, ‘You have respect, you don’t lose your teeth,'” said a menacing Silva in a video that went viral. “In Brazil we say that. Because you don’t know about the future.”
Then they were matched as opposing coach on The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 3, and physically got into it.
The pair are now scheduled to fight in the main event of Bellator NY on June 24, live on pay per view television. Fans were looking forward to Silva and Sonnen facing off at a press conference, but Wand no showed. During a recent media conference call, he offered an explanation.
The truth is, I didn’t go to the press conference because I didn’t want to do what ‘Cyborg’ did with that girl that talked s*** to her, said Silva, as transcribed by Adam Guilen Jr. for MMA Mania.
Cris Cyborg punched Angela Magana in the face at the UFC Athlete Retreat over a particularly mean Tweet.
When I see Chael, I don’t know what’s going to happen, said Silva. I’m professional, but the guy has crossed the line with me and played with the wrong guy.
Bellator NY is headlined by Wand vs. Chael, and also features Fedor Emelianenko vs. Matt Mitrione, two title fights, and the MMA debut of combat sports prodigy Aaron Pico.