UFC 117 – Anderson Silva reveals rib injury almost forced him off the card, Sonnen left heartbroken
UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva has revealed his doctor had asked him not to compete at UFC 117 last night against Chael Sonnen after picking up an injury during training, something he attributes to his slow start during last night’s fight.
Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Silva said:
“I knew that was I was losing the first 4 rounds. Not to make any excuses, but about a week and a half ago I hurt my rib, the doctor asked me not to come in and fight, but for you guys and the UFC, I came in here and I put it all out on the line. Chael had a hell of a fight tonight.”
“I was thinking about my home, my family, my kids and my wife. I haven’t seen them in three months. I was thinking about my grandmother who had just passed away a couple of weeks ago. The whole time I was just thinking about my family and just couldn’t wait to get back home to see them.”
“To be honest, I really don’t have anything against Chael. This is a sport. What happens inside the ring, it’s a fight. But what happens outside the ring, whatever this is, it’s in the past…I don’t hold any grudges.”
Sonnen was also in attendance, admitting he is devastated to have led the whole was before losing in the dying seconds.
“Fighting Anderson Silva is a lot like eating Chinese food, 20 minutes after I do it, I’m going to want to do it again. There’s no way to sugar coat it, my heart’s broken. I’m devastated. At the end of the day you either get your hand raised or you don’t, and I didn’t. I’m devastated.”
“Listen it was a tough fight, he’s a tough guy. I came in second, there’s nothing I can say. They gave me my opportunity and I came up short. I’m only here to be No. 1, if I’m not the best I’m going to move on in life. We’ll go back and re-evaluate, but for now I got the silver medal. It’s devastating. I can’t sugar-coat it. My heart’s broken. I wrestled for a world championship: I came in second. I fought in the WEC for a world championship: I came in second. Now, I fought in the UFC and again, I’m a runner-up and it hurts really bad.”
“I didn’t know how much time was left. I heard someone just reference that there was about a minute and ten seconds (left). I didn’t know that. Frankly, you even get lost in what round it is. He hit me really hard a few times. You get a little disorientated. You’re just in the middle of a fistfight on a Saturday night. I’m not backing off my stance and if I did, I’d send myself a pink slip and move on in life. I have one goal: it’s to be the world champion and I’m not backing off that goal because of tonight’s decision…I’m not Dog the Bounty Hunter and I don’t issue apologies.”
As for the future, Sonnen said:
“If it’s Anderson or I have to go up after the guys at 205 or go on a diet and go after (WEC featherweight champion) Jose Aldo, it doesn’t matter. If you’ve got the belt, I’m coming after you. There’s true camaraderie when you compete against somebody. I don’t have ill will towards Anderson and I don’t wish him a bad life. but here’s the truth. If the commission would sanction it and Dana would move, I’d fight him right now.”
With former 205 pound champion, Vitor Belfort waiting in the wings for the next shot at the title, it’s highly unlikely Sonnen will receive an immediate rematch against “The Spider”. Stay tuned to MMABay for more updates on the situation as we get them.
By Michael Pepper. (Follow me on Twitter)
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