Wanderlei Silva labels Vitor Belfort “scared” after pulling out of their UFC 147 showdown
Former PRIDE middleweight champion, Wanderlei Silva has today gone on the offensive when it comes to his original UFC 147 opponent and fellow TUF Brazil coach, Vitor Belfort after “The Phenom” pulled out of their fight late next month, and it seems “The Axe Murderer” thinks his opposite number is just too scared to step inside the octagon with him.
Speaking via Tatame Magazine, Wanderlei said:
“(Fighting me) with one hand (laughs)? We are professionals. It’s a great irresponsibility not to be careful on training, a great disrespect towards the fans. I’m really sad. I’m ready to knock you out, you have nowhere to run. This fight is happening. I guess you got scared of me. Nobody trains so hard that breaks his hand. We use the best equipments, gloves, bandages.”
“If you were scared, you shouldn’t have accepted it. If you really got it broken, it’s amateurism and if you didn’t, you’re scared. In both scenarios, it was irresponsible of you towards the fans. Pardon the word, but I’m pissed with your amateurism. A main event on the biggest event of the world and the guy shows up like that.”
Dana White confirmed they are actively seeking a replacement to step in and face Silva on the June 23 card, but no announcement has been made yet on who it will be. This is no doubt a major blow for the Las Vegas based promotion who earlier in the year had to move the fight between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen off this card due to logistical issues.
By Michael Pepper. (Follow me on Twitter)
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