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Chael Was Right? Wanderlei Won’t Sign On Dotted Line

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If anyone remembers Chael’s hilarious black and white interview from 2011 when he sat down with Ariel Helwani to talk about everything from Vitor, Pride being fake, Blackhouse, and Wanderlei (see below)… You might remember Chael Sonnen saying “Put a fight contract infront of Wanderlei, and film him, and he won’t sign it. He’s afraid of me.




 

Years later, it appears that this is still the case. Even though only one episode of TUF Brazil 3 has aired so far, based on the promos it’s pretty obvious these two have a lot of pent up frustration for one another and it seems Chael’s prediction is holding up as Dana White revealed that Wanderlei Silva has yet to officially ink the deal. There’s been a lot of back and forth between these guys and they’re both essentially say that the other one is afraid of them. When push comes to shove, only one of them has signed the fight contract so take from that what you will.

Initially, speculation was that Wanderlei was trying to get more money for this fight. It wouldn’t be the first time he tried to collect a little extra scratch, having been outspoken about wanting PPV points in the past. Let’s face it, especially with the recent TRT ban, both fighters are in the autumns of their careers and don’t have many opportunities left for big paydays, yet Dana White assured the media that this had nothing to do with money.

“He’s not balking,” White said of Silva. “Not even a little bit. It’s not over money either. I can’t tell you. It has to do with the show (TUF Brazil 3). It has to do with the show, that’s all I can tell you.”

Maybe Wanderlei really is afraid to step into the Octagon with the American Gangster after all?

What do you think? Is this more over-the-top WWE-esque hype from two of the UFC’s best salesmen, or is this real animosity boiling over?

Do you think this whole ordeal has anything to do with the recent TRT banning in MMA? It’s still undecided where this fight will be held, but my money’s on it not happening in Nevada..

Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

 


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