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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
With Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem embroiled in the fracas that comes with dealing with Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 Global - while simultaneously waiting out a rematch with Fabricio Werdum - Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva has found himself as the odd man out in Strikeforce's heavyweight division.
The former EliteXC Heavyweight Champion suffered a loss to Werdum last November, but rebounded with a win over Andrei Arlovski in May. Now he just wants a fight, and he doesn't understand the mindset of two of the big three in the division right now.
In a statement released through the MMA Profit Advisor on Facebook, Silva went so far as to say the way Fedor and Overeem are handling their situations makes them not deserving of his respect. His full statement is below:
"I come from Paraiba, in Brazil, where we don’t back down from things! I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me; you will never see me picking and choosing opponents. It’s sad when the heavyweight champion starts whining that he will only fight this guy or that. What kind of a professional is this guy? He is the champ, isn’t he? Why be afraid to fight me? And Fedor, one of the biggest legends in the sport. Is this how he got to be a legend, by declining fights?
I never disrespect any opponent, no matter what his record is or what the public thinks about him. To me, he merits respect just for stepping up there and facing off, but these guys are disappointing me. They are demonstrating that they are not deserving of my respect.
We are fighters, supposed to be some of the best in the world, and our job is to get up there, perform, and put on a good fight for the fans. I am ready to do this, just tell me who is next and I will be there. I am not a woman who wants to be involved in soap operas, looking forward to the next episode.
I think that STRIKEFORCE needs to put an end to this. Give me whoever and I will fight him, and, win or lose, people will know I came to fight that day and put my heart into it. To me, this is the only way."
Silva continues to wait for a fight from Strikeforce with both Overeem and now seemingly Fedor not interested in a fight against him. Hopefully for him Strikeforce hears his words.
Penick's Analysis: For as frustrating as it is for fans to see this whole situation unfold with Fedor, Overeem and Werdum, Silva's got to be even more irritated. There are valid reasons for Overeem to say Silva hasn't earned that fight just yet, but for Fedor's camp to continue to search out a fight against the two fighters that should be facing each other next - while leaving Silva without an opponent - is ridiculous. I understand Silva's side of this situation, and hopefully Strikeforce finds him an opponent soon.
RELATED STORY: STRIKEFORCE NEWS: Alistair Overeem open for Olympic drug testing provided widespread implementation, thinks Fedor needs to get a win before they fight: [CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE]
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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