Heavyweight detonates Belfort and Anderson Silva: 'They destroyed his legacy'

Rothwell (photo) was caught in an anti-doping test in 2013. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

Heavyweight Ben Rothwell has made a name for himself recently both inside and outside the Octagon, with three consecutive victories and impressive statements. Now, the seventh-ranked player in the under-120 kg category has aimed his “spinning machine guns” at two of the biggest idols in Brazilian MMA: Anderson Silva e Vitor belfort. In an interview, Rothwell criticized the recent controversies in which the former champions were involved and said that the episodes tarnished the fighters' legacy.

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Rothwell's first criticism was Anderson Silva, sentenced to a year's suspension after being caught doing anti-doping before and after the fight against Nick Diaz. "I will say: Anderson Silva destroyed his legacy. Not because he got caught, but, after the fact, because he continually denied everything, showing how much of a coward he is. He lost all my respect. You were tested multiple times and had these substances in your body. Who are you trying to lie to? You got caught. You cheated. You messed up. Why do you sit there and keep saying you didn't do it? It's a disgrace. And you are not a man. You can throw some punches and kicks, but inside, as a person, you already are, you are nothing”, said the heavyweight, in an interview with the podcast “The MMA Hour”.

Rothwell then directed his comments to Vitor belfort, which moments before had refused to participate in an interview on the same program to avoid questions about doping, and compared the Brazilian's case with his own, as he was caught in an exam years ago. “The difference is that I want to talk about it, because I face my problems. And that. I face my problems. I take responsibility. Man, Vitor was amazing to me when I met him in July, he was very kind and everything. It sucks to hear that. Come on, man, be a warrior. Be a man and face it. It happened. There's nothing you can do about it. It's your responsibility, you got through it. Own it. Deal with it,” he concluded.

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