Former PRIDE champion Wanderlei Silva insists that all the drama involving his scheduled bout with American rival Chael Sonnen involves a simple misunderstanding, therefore, he should still be fighting him at UFC 175.
In a YouTube video released by “The Axe Murderer” early Friday afternoon, the Brazilian slugger claims he did not purposely avoid a random drug test from the Nevada State Athletic Commission last week, nor has he ever in his career.
"Last Saturday a guy showed up at my gym with several papers in English saying I had to sign the papers. I asked him if all the papers were in English and he said yes. He did not show me any identification,” Silva said in Portuguese (English subtitles provided).
"So I told him that I can't read English very well and I would need my lawyer present to be able to sign any documents. Then I had to leave since it was the day of Barao's fight and I was really busy here in Vegas.
"In 20 years of career and 50 professional fights, I never refused to test or failed to apply for a license to fight.”
Silva also notes that he had every intention of submitting to a blood and/or urine test administered by the NSAC after he returned to the states next week.
According to MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani, UFC President Dana White has stated that it is too late for Silva to get back on the card and he isn’t sure if the NSAC will sanction him over this situation.
Sonnen is now set to meet fellow Brazilian adversary Vitor Belfort at the July 5 pay-per-view event instead, with both men eyeing another shot at UFC gold.
Is Silva’s recollection of events plausible or just a poorly put together excuse in hopes of alleviating some public pressure?