UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva — who hails from Curitiba, Brazil — helped facilitate the contract negotiations of his fellow countryman, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, earlier this month, according to a recent interview from Tatame.com.
Here's a snip from "Big Nog:"
"Anderson Silva got me in contact with Dana White about four months ago. But the proposal was made when I went to UFC Fight Night to help Roan Carneiro. I have to thank Anderson Silva, it was his idea and his manager Eddie also helped a lot. I'm 30 years old and able to negotiate my own stuffs I know what is good to me, [Brazilian Top Team] is an excellent place for me to train but I got this contract thru Anderson Silva and his manager."
Because Nogueira signed the deal — terms of which are undisclosed — more or less on his own with the input or blessing from his camp, BTT, it has been widely speculated that it caused a rift in the relationship.
However, "Minotauro" downplayed any such friction.
Here's another snip:
"... I didn't take any decision to leave BTT. I'm waiting Master Murilo Bustamante arrives from ADCC. As soon as he arrives we will talk and set everything up. What happened is that I got the invitation of Mr. Dana White and couldn't get in contact with BTT people before sign the contract, but I know it will be good to me and, if they are together with me, it will be good for them too."
Nogueira is set to face Heath Herring in his UFC debut later this year at UFC 73: "Stacked" at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California, on July 7. He is one of the top heavyweights in the world and his addition to the division is without a doubt monstrous.
Sounds to me like a handsome finder's fee is in order for Anderson.
Get the latest gear
