Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva is not a happy camper. Both Fedor and Overeem were very possible opponents for the Brazilian fighter, but now it appears that he won't get to fight either one for awhile. A frustrated Big Foot put it this way:
"I come from Paraiba , in Brazil…..we don’t back down from things there! I fight who ever they put in front of me, you will never see me picking and chosing opponents. Its sad, when the HW champion of the 2nd biggest event in the world , 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 how about Fedor, one of the biggest legends in the sport, is this how he got to be a legend? Declining fights?
I never disrespect any opponent, no matter what his record is or what the publics thoughts are about him, to me, he merits respect just for stepping up there and facing me, but these guys are disappointing me, they are demonstrating that they are not deserving of my respect.
We are fighters, we are supposed to be some of the best in the world, our job is to go up there and perform, 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 women to be involved in soap operas , looking forward to the next episode.
I think that strike force needs to put and end to this. Give me whoever, and I will fight him, and winning or losing, people will know that I came to fight that day, and I put my heart into it, to me, this is the only way."
The gauntlet has been thrown down. Let's see who's man enough to pick it up!