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Main-event fighters are expected to fulfill media obligations, but Anderson Silva recently decided to skip a media day for his UFC 162 bout with Chris Weidman, and was handed $50,000 fine.

While members of the media were expecting ‘The Spider’ (33-4) to promote his June 6 title defence, taking place at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, the long-time UFC middleweight champion had flown home to Brazil.

Silva has become known for his disdain for the press, and often gives flat, one-word answers during interviews, but skipping the entire media day in Los Angeles is certainly not going to win him any more fans heading into his upcoming fight.

Dana White, UFC president, said: “He doesn’t like talking to the media, but it’s art of his contractual obligation. Everybody wants more money, more money, more money, but nobody wants to sell the fight or go out and talk to the media. Talking to the media is part of your job, whether you like it or not.”

Fighters missing similar events can be extremely costly, as Nick Diaz found out at UFC 137, when he failed to turn up to a press conference and was pulled from his original title bout with Georges St-Pierre. While Silva’s punishment was not as serious as Diaz’s, it is the sort of thing White will punish.

Silva will meet title-challenger Weidman (10-0) on the Fourth of July weekend card, and many believe the 28-year-old could be Silva’s biggest challenge to date.

 

Lewis Smith

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