Here is my take on this situation. It is not news to anyone that Silva feels his career is winding down and plans on leaving UFC once contractual obligations are done. He has 11 consecutive wins inside the octagon and has been talking about challenging himself outside of the octagon.
One of his idols is RJJ and though RJJ is completely shot as a boxer and past even the twilight years; he wanted to see how he would stack against a "B" level boxer. I think he is seeking some outside challenge and also get a huge payday for his athletic ability.
The truth is that the UFC is a very monopolizing organization. I think it is great for the fans of the sport, even BETTER for the top brass of the sport and terrible for the fighters. Getting 3.5 million at the gate, hundreds of thousands of PPV buys, TV shows, and they pay fighters anywhere from 10-500k a fight.
I would imagine that it would be very hard for a very very dominant and elite level MMA fighter not want a piece of that "top brass cake." It would be hard to watch the elite level of boxing (A. Silva is the Pac Man or Mayweather of boxing get 10-20 million a fight.
DW is a greedy SOB. He KNOWS what he is doing. He comes across as a hothead take no prisons SOB that is "all about the fans." But he isn't. He is hypocritical with many statements that get called out by MMA fans here. "I'll never let Kimbo fight" "Kimbo is signed." "I'm not doing freakshow fights" "Toney isn't a freakshow because he is an elite level boxer." He puts on Kimbo because he was a HUGE internet sensation and every pre-pubescent fan that has never stepped foot in the ring thought he was the toughest guy around. Any fighter knew he was garbage. Just because a guy gets humble and hungry in loss doesn't mean you let him co-main UFC events. I would rather the UFC spent their time and money on signing talented MMA artists that have actual records and years of experience than Kimbo's and James Toney's.
Dana White just gives the CASUAL fans what they want (less time to work ground game, more stand up matches, etc). The hardcore fans love watching elite level groundgames, BJJ Vs BJJ, less forced stand ups from the refs, etc. But if Dana were to appease the hardcore fans, their revenues would drop from less PPV and ticket sales. This would give the top brass less money.
At the end of the day, these fighters deserve much more than their making. 30 years ago, professional athletes made peanuts to what their contemporaries are making (inflation issues aside) and I think Anderson Silva wants a piece of the pie before his twilight years come and go. He KNOWS that MMA fighters will be making millions per fight and multi-millions on endorsements much greater than today and he KNOWS that the UFC could pay much more if they weren't as capitalist and greedy.
I dunno...that is my theory on his antics. He looked like he purposely was bored, and frustrated. Not with his opponent but with the UFC. He displaced his anger and excuse on his opponent because he isn't going to completely bite the hand that feeds him....imo.
One of his idols is RJJ and though RJJ is completely shot as a boxer and past even the twilight years; he wanted to see how he would stack against a "B" level boxer. I think he is seeking some outside challenge and also get a huge payday for his athletic ability.
The truth is that the UFC is a very monopolizing organization. I think it is great for the fans of the sport, even BETTER for the top brass of the sport and terrible for the fighters. Getting 3.5 million at the gate, hundreds of thousands of PPV buys, TV shows, and they pay fighters anywhere from 10-500k a fight.
I would imagine that it would be very hard for a very very dominant and elite level MMA fighter not want a piece of that "top brass cake." It would be hard to watch the elite level of boxing (A. Silva is the Pac Man or Mayweather of boxing get 10-20 million a fight.
DW is a greedy SOB. He KNOWS what he is doing. He comes across as a hothead take no prisons SOB that is "all about the fans." But he isn't. He is hypocritical with many statements that get called out by MMA fans here. "I'll never let Kimbo fight" "Kimbo is signed." "I'm not doing freakshow fights" "Toney isn't a freakshow because he is an elite level boxer." He puts on Kimbo because he was a HUGE internet sensation and every pre-pubescent fan that has never stepped foot in the ring thought he was the toughest guy around. Any fighter knew he was garbage. Just because a guy gets humble and hungry in loss doesn't mean you let him co-main UFC events. I would rather the UFC spent their time and money on signing talented MMA artists that have actual records and years of experience than Kimbo's and James Toney's.
Dana White just gives the CASUAL fans what they want (less time to work ground game, more stand up matches, etc). The hardcore fans love watching elite level groundgames, BJJ Vs BJJ, less forced stand ups from the refs, etc. But if Dana were to appease the hardcore fans, their revenues would drop from less PPV and ticket sales. This would give the top brass less money.
At the end of the day, these fighters deserve much more than their making. 30 years ago, professional athletes made peanuts to what their contemporaries are making (inflation issues aside) and I think Anderson Silva wants a piece of the pie before his twilight years come and go. He KNOWS that MMA fighters will be making millions per fight and multi-millions on endorsements much greater than today and he KNOWS that the UFC could pay much more if they weren't as capitalist and greedy.
I dunno...that is my theory on his antics. He looked like he purposely was bored, and frustrated. Not with his opponent but with the UFC. He displaced his anger and excuse on his opponent because he isn't going to completely bite the hand that feeds him....imo.
