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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Before the Nevada Athletic Commission can administer official punishment for him skipping out on a May drug test, Wanderlei Silva has announced his retirement in another ranting video. In it, he rips into the UFC, among other things. Here's a brief portion of his comments, watch the 13 minute video below for the whole thing:
"I am stepping down from the ring. After today, Wanderlei Silva will not fight again," he said (via MMAFighting.com). "My career is over. Because I don't have a stage to perform, where the athletes get the proper respect. For these reasons, I have had enough.
"They tried to turn my fans against me. My fans, who have followed me for 20 years, before this promotion even existed I was already fighting in Brazil. I have fought bare-knuckle and I helped building this sport. Everything you see today, I helped build with my sweat and blood."
Penick's Analysis: Silva blaming the UFC for "turning fans against him" when he continuously delayed the Chael Sonnen fight only to skip out on a drug test is laughable. No matter his long history in the sport, he bears the responsibility for the turn his image took over the last year and a half.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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