Morning Report | Tim Sylvia recalls rough UFC relationship: ‘This is how I know Dana hates me’

Tim Sylvia wished greater than a chunk of Brock Lesnar.

The yr was 2008 and Sylvia and Lesnar had been at distinctly totally different factors of their UFC careers. Sylvia was a two-time heavyweight champion trying to keep on the prime of the ladder, whereas Lesnar was set to make his debut within the promotion. Each fought and misplaced at UFC 81, with Sylvia dropping an interim title struggle to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Lesnar being submitted by Frank Mir.

Lesnar joined the UFC with loads of hype round him as a former professional wrestling star with the WWE and the pedigree of a legit NCAA Division-I champion. Suffice to say, he was paid significantly greater than the common first-timer when he joined the UFC roster. Sylvia has spoken previously about his points with Lesnar’s compensation, and he revealed in a latest interview on the JAXXON podcast that he truly requested the matchmakers if he may struggle Lesnar for his contract.

“Once I was the heavyweight champ, we discovered what they introduced Brock Lesnar in [for],” Sylvia stated. He was getting [$300,000 to show and $300,000 to win] and cash per pay-per-view purchase, so each struggle he was making over one million {dollars} again then. My contract was 100 and 100, so $200,000 on the win, I made perhaps 40 or 50 in sponsors. Brock is getting one million and he’s a no person.

“So like, ‘Hey man, we would like this contract. Why is he getting it?’

“‘Oh, he’s a much bigger identify than you.’

“‘How the f*ck is he a much bigger identify?’ Due to wrestling. OK, let me struggle Brock. If I win, I get his contract. If I lose, I’ll return, I received’t say a phrase, I’ll take my 100 and 100.

“‘No, we’re attempting to construct him, we are able to’t do this, it received’t be a very good struggle for him. We’re afraid for that struggle.’”

Following the loss to Nogueira, Sylvia had one struggle remaining on his contract and he claims the UFC advised his administration they might not be renewing it. Quickly after, upstart MMA promotion Affliction got here alongside providing Sylvia a three-fight contract beginning off with one million for his first struggle.

That was a way more interesting prospect than what the UFC had on the desk, which was a struggle with Cheick Kongo in England, the place Sylvia’s pay can be closely taxed.

“England takes, what, 40 or 50 p.c of your cash?” Sylvia stated. “So I’d have made 100 grand and my contract’s over with, and if I misplaced, I wouldn’t be as invaluable. So we’re like, OK, will you allow us to out of the contract and the UFC’s like, ‘Completely. He’s gone. There you go, you’re launched.’ They launched me, and I signed with Affliction, after which Affliction introduced it, and [the UFC] was pissed. They had been pissed at me as a result of I did that.

“I simply did one thing to raised myself, they usually thought I used to be attempting to screw them. No, you weren’t going to resume my contract. So what’s the issue?”

Regardless of reigning as UFC champion on two events, Sylvia says he has by no means had a heat relationship with UFC boss Dana White. He claims White shut the door for good on an octagon comeback in 2011 when Zuffa, LLC bought the Strikeforce promotion and was in a stage of expertise acquisition.

Sylvia’s supervisor Monte Cox tried to work out a take care of the UFC, however Sylvia heard White himself shut it down.

“That is how I do know Dana hates me,” Sylvia stated. “[UFC matchmaker] Sean Shelby will get a maintain of us when Strikeforce is on the brink of go beneath and he goes, ‘We’ve acquired a proposal for Tim if he’s prepared.’ Monte is like, ‘What’s it?’ Forty-forty, fifty-fifty, sixty-sixty. ‘Properly, what’s the deal?’ [Shelby] goes, ‘First struggle goes to be in Strikeforce, it’s going to be in opposition to [Daniel Cormier].’

“Monte’s like, ‘We’ll take it, however his subsequent two fights are assured within the UFC. Even when he loses his first two fights, he has three fights.’ They’re like, ‘OK. Deal.’ They ship the contract. We signal it. We ship it again and every week goes by, Monte’s like, ‘Hey, what’s occurring, Sean?’

“‘Dana simply hasn’t signed it but.’

“‘OK. Is he going to?’

“‘Yeah, he’s simply been busy.

“One other week goes by, ‘What’s occurring, Sean?’

“‘Dana’s not going to signal it.’”

The connection between Sylvia and White has remained frosty, with Sylvia taking a shot at White in 2020 for not providing to assist him with arm surgical procedure, and White hardly ever having something good to say in regards to the former UFC heavyweight star.

Sylvia has no real interest in dredging up his feud with White and there’s part of him holding out hope he could make it into the UFC Corridor of Fame—however not for himself.

“I’m at my age the place I don’t maintain any grudges,” Sylvia stated. [White] don’t like me. Him and I didn’t have a very good relationship. I wasn’t a ‘Sure, sir,’ ‘No, sir’ sort of man. I stated quite a lot of issues. I converse the reality. I’m from the east coast, if you wish to know the reality, but it surely’s going to harm your emotions, don’t ask me as a result of I’m going to let you know.

“We had quite a lot of battle, after which with the best way I left and stuff, they acquired mad at me for it, going to Affliction, sure issues occur. I had my arm break and the followers had been all pissed off about I wanted one other surgical procedure to get it fastened, and he wouldn’t do it, however he spends rather a lot cash at blackjack and stuff like that, he was simply form of speaking shit, however like I stated, it’s what it’s. I don’t have an issue with him, I’m too previous to have grudges. Truthfully, I form of wish to get into the Corridor of Fame for my son, so I feel I’m form of being blackballed.”

“I feel the UFC Corridor of Fame is the Dana White Corridor of Fame,” Sylvia added. “I don’t care, I don’t give a shit about it, but it surely’d be cool for my son. My son’s 14 and he’s all about all that stuff.”

Respect. Dan Hooker isn’t pleased with the UFC denying him tickets to look at teammate Kai Kara-France at UFC 317.

Hope. Cory Sandhagen has his title shot—and he doesn’t assume Merab Dvalishili is unbeatable.

Pictures. Tom Aspinall calls Michael Chandler out for having “dangerous struggle IQ.”

Oh? In response to Khalil Rountree, the brand new UFC gloves being deserted had nothing to do with consolation or efficiency.

Assist. Jon Anik wonders if there must be a five-knockdown rule to guard fighters after watching Mohammad Yahya take a horrific beating at UFC Abu Dhabi.

Backup. Caio Borralho and Jiri Prochazka can be found to save lots of upcoming title fights at UFC 319 and UFC 320, respectively.

Hope. Shavkat Rakhmonov’s household is OK following a horrible automotive accident in Kazakhstan.

ICYMI: UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight present.

Rock Salt is actual.

And but no bonus for Bogdan.

Watch some Tatsuro Taira forward of Saturday’s UFC Vegas 108 essential occasion.

On To the Subsequent One. MMA Combating’s Mike Heck and Alexander Ok. Lee work out what’s subsequent for a victorious Reinier de Ridder and the place he stands within the Fighter of the Yr race, plus extra future matchups for the winners of UFC Abu Dhabi.

The perfect knockouts of the week.

OK, Nate.

Askren replace.

Actual.

How was this not the top of the struggle?

Petr Yan is so rattling good.

Crying.

Tatsuro Taira (16-1) vs. Hyun Sung Park (10-0); UFC Vegas 108, Aug. 2

Shout out to Tim Sylvia, one of many forgotten champions of the UFC’s early increase interval.

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