UFC files lawsuit over Wanderlei Silva's fixed fights claim
Wanderlei Silva's recent Facebook rants have landed him in some hot water.
A public feud between "The Axe Murderer" and the UFC boiled over recently, with Silva accusing the promotion of fixing fights during a long, inflammatory post on his official Facebook page. The UFC's recent firing of longtime cutman Jacob '"Stitch" Duran served as the catalyst that pushed Silva over the edge.
"They have no respect for anyone," Silva wrote in his native Portuguese, according to FOX Sports' Damon Martin. "I've made it very clear to you all that I will never again fight for this promotion, the U.F. Circus. Fixed fights - and I can prove it! I haven't yet dropped the bomb. I haven't said everything I know!"
The UFC, it appears, is not taking the issue lightly, filing a defamation lawsuit against the former PRIDE champion.
From UFC's lawsuit, as reported by FOX Sports:
On or about July 23, 2015, Silva again launched another attack against the UFC, this time publishing his venomous statements on Facebook. After weighing in on an independent contracted matter involving the UFC and another individual unaffiliated with Silva, the ex-fighter closed his post by stating publicly "they don't respect anyone, I already left it very clear for you I won't ever fight again and for this event. Fixed fights and I can prove this. I still haven't dropped the bomb, I haven't told everything I know!"
Not content to defame the UFC in a single post, Silva apparently decided to double-down on his scurrilous remarks. In a second post, published the same day, Silva continued his broadside attack. Though Silva published his posts in Portuguese, his statements nevertheless spread like wildfire throughout the MMA and broader sports community in the United States. Indeed a number of media outlets re-published Silva's statements (translated into English) in various online stories, thereby creating the potential for Silva's damaging statements to remain publicly available forever.
The UFC is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $10,000, FOX reports, as well as amounts for potential attorney fees, punitive damages, and pre/post judgement interest.