Wand: TUF edited to make me the villain
“I called him a motherf@$%er, but I don’t speak English,” said Wanderlei Silva. “I didn’t really know what it means and I don’t consider it a cuss word.”
Wanderlei Silva is on the short list of the most beloved fighters in MMA. Chael Sonnen us on the short list of most hated. Further, Chael has ridiculed Brazil for years.
However, on the April 12 episode of TUF Brazil 3, UFC met WorldStarr as Chael and Wand brawled on concrete, with Wand’s coach Andre Dida punching Sonnen in the head. Chael got a small cut and some bruising, while Wand hurt his back so much the fight between the pair was delayed until July 5 fight in Las Vegas.
But a strange thing was happening.
A major Brazilian sports poll showed that 70% of Brazilians were behind Sonnen.
Wand did an interview, which will air on Fight Pass, blaming the shift on editing.
“They edited a lot of things, and unfortunately, the production decided to paint me as the villain,” said Silva as transcribed by Dave Meltzer for MMAFighting. “But that is not right, because he said horrible things about us, and disrespected me at every moment during filming. This good guy you’re watching on television is not how things are for real. He said and did a lot of things that aren’t being shown.”
“What was shown on the show is not everything that happened. Behind what happened there is the motives and the reason why I was mad that day. Beside the absurd that he has said about all of us, he had been provoking me and disrespecting me. Right on the first episode, he called me stupid. Not at any moment did I go down to his level.”
“I called him a motherf—er, but I don’t speak English. I didn’t really know what it means and I don’t consider it a cuss word.”
“If you learned about all he has said and done, and you still cheer for him, you’ll have my respect. I will just tell you not to lose your money because I will win this fight.”
Silva also addresses rumors that this will be his last fight.
“Only God knows,” said Wand, adding that he will let fans know after this fight.
“I am coming off of good performances in my last three fights. In all three fights I won four bonuses. I got three fight of the night bonuses and in my last fight, I got knockout of the night. I am still able to perform well and give the public a reason to cheer.”