Dida (right) is a muay thai coach on Wand's (left) TUF team. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook
| This coverage is sponsored by: |  |
The technical assistant Wanderlei Silva, André Dida, was expelled from TUF Brasil 3 in the episode shown last Sunday for attacking Chael Sonnen from behind during his fight with Wand. But the leader of the Evolution Thai team wants to get rid of the coward label. After stating that he attacked Sonnen out of instinct, to defend a brother, he guarantees that he would accept to fight against Chael Sonnen in the UFC.
Despite the big difference in weight – Dida fought in the lightweight category (up to 70,3 kg) and Sonnen in the middleweight (up to 83,9 kg) and light heavyweight divisions (up to 93 kg.) – the coach and fighter sees no problems in face what he calls 'Brazil's number one enemy' to erase his image as a coward. “If I were a coward I wouldn’t go into the ring, I would stay at home. I've fought with big names in my category during my career and I'm part of the biggest muay thai event in the world, which is K-1. They judge me by my attitude, but I know I can finish what I started. I’ll fight Sonnen if I have to to prove that I’m not a coward,” said Dida in an interview with the Combate channel’s website.
Dida also stated that he understands the position of Dana White, president of the UFC, in expelling him from the program, but considers that the stance was only used to set an example for the other participants. “If I were the owner of the event and the program, I would have the same attitude, as it is necessary to act like this even to set an example for other participants. And he couldn't expel Wanderlei or Sonnen, because then the program would end. So I had to be punished so that everyone could learn from the situation”, he added.
Comments