I'm still buzzing from last night -- Randy Couture looked fantastic. Tim Sylvia, on the other hand, did not.
It cost him his coveted belt and possibly much more.
That's because in the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan immediately following the five-round contest, Sylvia revealed that he was suffering from an injury.
He later went on to commend Couture and sing his praise. However, the statement didn't sit well with most in attendance at the Nationwide Arena, as well as those watching the pay-per-view.
Sylvia did not attend the post-fight press conference, however, Miletich training partner Matt Hughes revealed Sylvia had sustained a back injury and almost pulled out of the fight, according to the Baltimore Sun and Canadian Press.
Here's what UFC President Dana White had to say:
"Even if he did [have a back injury], he should have never said it. Tim has an big image problem, you could see it tonight. He was overconfident."
Amen. And statements like the one he made last night certainly don't help.
C'mon, Tim. Stop shooting yourself in that clown foot.
Here are some other quick news and notes from the articles:
- UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell has pneumonia, which could threaten the Iceman headlining UFC 71 on May 26. And, it's one of the reasons he appeared to be shithoused on national television last week. White said that station officials "ought to be slapped and beat with sticks for letting him go on the air like that."
- Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic -- the man who will most like face Couture if he can get passed Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 70 -- asked to fight Brandon Vera in his next bout. With his contract situation a disaster and reports he's jumping ship to ELITE XC, White apparently did not grant the request. I wonder how that request went:
Mirko: I want to fight Brandon Vera.
White: No.
Mirko: Bye
Anyway, White should have fed Vera to Cro Cop and watched him get destroyed -- talk about damaged goods. However, White appeared confident that Vera would indeed re-sign with UFC.
Yeah, right.
Finally, in his post-fight interview with Rogan, Rich Franklin shared news that his rematch with UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva would take place in his hometown, Cincinnati, Ohio.
No time or date has been set.
Remember, White told Georges St. Pierre something similar after his win over Matt Hughes at UFC 65 -- that the rematch would be in Montreal, Canada.
It never happened.
Silva came into the Octagon last night as part of the act. He and Franklin looked like homeboys. Franklin even said Silva was well-spoken.
I didn't know Franklin understands Portuguese.
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