'Financial commitments' force Antonio Silva to jeopardize stateside career for bout at Sengoku

The year-long suspension handed down to the first and only Elite XC Heavyweight Champion, Antonio Silva (11-1), following his positive steroid test in July apparently won’t keep the Brazilian giant from competing after all.
The Japanese promotion World Victory Road has signed "Bigfoot" to compete on its next Sengoku event scheduled to take place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, on January 4. Yoshihiro Nakao (7-1) — the man who Heath Herring infamously knocked out before their fight even started after getting kissed — has been confirmed as his opponent.
As of right now Silva is eligible to re-apply for a license to fight in the United States in July of 2009, but taking a fight in another country that doesn’t recognize the suspension is not going to look good on that application. In fact, he could face an uphill battle in the future with this move.
Reports have surfaced that the CSAC sent the Brazilian a letter claiming if he takes the fight in Japan that he's risking a permanent loss of license in the state of California. There have also been rumors that other commissions, most notably the Nevada State Athletic Commision (NSAC) - would follow suit with a similar penalty.
Silva was left with no choice according to manager Alex Davis.
From his recent email to Sherdog.com :
"Antonio has decided to fight, he really has no option. He's innocent, he's tried to prove it and it fell on unwilling ears, and he has financial commitments that to not meet would have serious consequences for him. In light of these, he has decided to continue his career in Japan until when and if his situation with the CSAC is resolved."
Silva is still claiming his innocence and hoping that his name will eventually be cleared. Since the CSAC has already heard - and denied - Silva's appeal, there's no reason to believe they'll suddenly change their minds.
Silva is risking a lot, probably too much, to take this fight. We won't know for sure what happens until he applies for another license in the states again icome summer 2009, but none of this sounds very good for Bigfoot in the long run.
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26 comments
Comments
whatever, f the CSAC and NSAC… there are plenty of fights worldwide for a good fighter like Silva, especially in Japan where they love their big freakshows, opponents like seemy schilt and hong man choi would be huge money makers
by brendan on Dec 8, 2008 8:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I said good for him the first i heard of this. No one should have to put up with commission bs if they don’t want to play a fair game. Regardless of the supposed changes in CSAC, i say fuck em until i see results and situations handled properly.
by NameNotRequired on Dec 8, 2008 8:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
he’ll be a bigger name in japan anyways.. even butterbean is a fan favorite there and all he can do is be a fatslob who belongs on the pro eating circuit..
japan has built fedor,barnett,cro cop,overeem,noguiera’s,rampage hell everyone comes from japans circuit nowadays hes better off there
i think hes half the talent people think and he was positive no doubt but japan has more to offer him then the US at this point
by randy murders on Dec 8, 2008 9:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He was positive alright. Positive on the juice! Hehe!..Plus he’s so fugly!Not to take anything away from him though. I just don’t like juicy people, hehe!
by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Dec 8, 2008 9:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
syd, I did not know that u only rooted for fighters that u find attractive! Thats real cute man, keep it up!
F the athletic commisions. The rtuling to suspend him was decided by Armando Garcia, the most corrupt guy in all of the commisions. THey are revising their testing policies and he should not have to sit out until they get their sh*t together!
Go fight in Japan BigFoot! Think about:
BigFoot vs. Aleks in DREAM!!!! WOW!!!
by john on Dec 8, 2008 10:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
first off, I think he’s very over rated. second, who cares, he doesn’t need the U.S. anyways! he can keep fighting in japan and make a good living!
by kevin on Dec 8, 2008 11:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Haha! Nice one john. Yeah, I was rooting also for Huerta back then ‘coz he’s sooooo cute! LMAO
Kiddin’ aside, I just don’t like his fighter. Even if he’s innocent with the drugs, I mean, why trade excellent work ethic with steroids? Or whatever he was takin’ that he says is “legal”, he still should’ve taken any steroids in the 1st place!
by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Dec 8, 2008 11:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
he has growth deficiency to treatand they decided he was on roids! its descrimination and prejudice against him
by the heat on Dec 9, 2008 8:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
first for the first time, i couldnt care less about this guy
by JoW on Dec 8, 2008 8:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Why would you feel the need to tell us that you don’t care?
by Jono on Dec 8, 2008 8:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
seriously… great knowledgable, well thought out post
by brendan on Dec 8, 2008 8:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
ohh man i though i was the first….. so is a needy to let u guys know something? and brendan, in every comment you post… you show a great knowledgable… come on give me a break
by JoW on Dec 8, 2008 8:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t care that u are upset due to the fact that he felt the need to let us know that he couldn’t care less about bigfoot.
by shamo84 on Dec 8, 2008 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously… Assuming he is innocent, its hard not to feel bad for the guy. This is a bad choice though, the NSAC and CSAC probably wont ever let him fight here in the U.S… Which is a shame. Seemingly decent guy in a baaaad spot.
by medecine balls on Dec 8, 2008 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
good comment jono spot on! he’s got my support man. financialy it would be disastrous not to fight in japan! fuck armando garcia and the csac. they suck anyway! im actually dissapointed that other american commisions would actualy listen to them
by the heat on Dec 8, 2008 8:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
wow! Everytime I see this dude the only thing that crosses my mind is…..man, this guy is F#%KIN UGLY!!!!! He was just born to fight. I’d hate to see what he’d look like after he took a beatin’. Dude must give children nightmares after just a glance in their direction!
by allamerican on Dec 8, 2008 8:19 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Its his nose and ears that get me. Those things probably weigh a full pound apiece.
by medecine balls on Dec 8, 2008 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
What about the guy’s jaw? You couldn’t break that thing if you hit it with a crowbar.
by tyler on Dec 8, 2008 10:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
He’s got a catchers mitt for a face!
by Psyqo78®™ on Dec 9, 2008 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Vitor did the same thing, worked out just fine for him.
by Aric Davis on Dec 8, 2008 8:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if this guy scores hot chicks with an ugly mugg like that.
by RiverHorror on Dec 8, 2008 10:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
with the global econ in shit, what makes him think the Japs will pay him what he wants on time? he’s better off waiting for this term to finish up and get a solid pay check up front.
by sbud on Dec 9, 2008 12:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
heard he owes his steroid dealer.
You don’t wanna owe your steroid dealer money.
No sah, no.
Dill Weed
by Dill Weed on Dec 9, 2008 2:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

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