Following public apology, Wanderlei Silva released from UFC contract

[Wild]

The UFC on Wednesday released Wanderlei Silva from his contract with the industry-leader, freeing him to fight for other promoters, the fighter’s longtime attorney today told MMAjunkie.

Silva issued a public apology today on his official Facebook page, retracting a fight-fixing allegation toward the UFC that prompted a lawsuit.

“I failed to understand that the term ‘fight-fixing’ specifically refers to the illegal action or practice of dishonestly determining the outcome of a contest before it occurs,” read his statement. “I understand the UFC’s reputation would be harmed if my fans and others actually believed the UFC engaged in fight fixing, and I have no evidence to support such a claim. I apologize for any misunderstanding my comments may have caused.”

Ross Goodman, the Las Vegas-based attorney who’s repped Silva (35-12-1 MMA, 5-7 UFC) against the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said the UFC’s lawsuit against the fighter will now be dismissed.

“The UFC has released Wanderlei from any and all obligations or rights to Zuffa, which obviously now allows him to do whatever he wants,” Goodman told MMAjunkie.

A UFC official declined to comment on the matter, but said a statement is forthcoming from the promotion. Goodman said the UFC’s litigation against Silva is “in the process of being dismissed, so all the agreements have been signed.”

“The mutual release was signed by (UFC President) Dana White yesterday,” Goodman added.

LINK: Attorney: Following public apology, Wanderlei Silva released from UFC contract

 

[Super Dave]

Rizin?
Bellator seniors division?

#wouldwatch

 

[Pitbull9]

Wow. Huge Wand fan here you all know that, even to defend him when he was wrong but this is just fucking pure stupidity to claim you didn't know what you said. You specifically made it clear the implication was Zuffa fixes fights. Fucking bullshit at this point. Sick of some of these mma fighters and their fake ass apologies even though he was most likely forced to say that to get out of his contract but still.

 

[Ted Williams' head]

The guy's a legend in the sport and has had many classic wars, but he couldn't have handled this situation any worse than he did. He fucked himself over at every turn. Instead of taking his pinch like everyone else, he ran from a drug test. Then he did interviews where he was saying things like "oh no, I'm not in any trouble, this is nothing, I'll be fighting soon" and made a bunch of cheesy black and white vids where he made up a story about the guy not having credentials, ect - totally disrespecting the NSAC.

Then he has his hearing where he admits he lied to all his fans and says he ran because he had a banned diuretic in his system - pretty convenient that he plead guilty to the LEAST damaging substance he possibly could have. Then he gets banned and starts trashing the UFC hard when he's still under contract with them and pisses them off to the point where they hold his career hostage. It was just one bone head play after another. The guy truly has no credibility.

 

[HEATH VON DOOM]

Good for him. Cant wait to see him fighting in Japan on whatever special Brazilian vitamins his trainers see fit.

 

[SNIDELY WHIPLASH]

Mob shit. They didn't release him until he did exactly what they wanted.

Mob shit.

 

[Robbie Hart]

Wow. Huge Wand fan here you all know that, even to defend him when he was wrong but this is just fucking pure stupidity to claim you didn't know what you said. You specifically made it clear the implication was Zuffa fixes fights. Fucking bullshit at this point. Sick of some of these mma fighters and their fake ass apologies even though he was most likely forced to say that to get out of his contract but still.

Son, I agree, but they could have tangled him up forever and he's gotta eat.......

 

[teamquestnorth]

Chael vs Wand juiced to the max with kicks, stomps, and wrestling shoes.

 

[Ghost Bro]

RIZIN HERE WE GO BABYYYYYYYYYYYY!!

 

[jason73]

 

[Ministry of Silly Walks]

I'm fuckin happy for the man! that was long overdue, imo.

 

[Papi Chingon]

He now can fight overseas for any organization that wants him. He can do the autograph signings with bellator. He has tons of options. If he wants to wait for the nsac to issue him their final punishment, then he can play that waiting game and then fight for Bellator in the states.

Had vanderlei not made those videos he would still be on the shelf and under the thumb of the ufc.

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

Had vanderlei not made those videos he would still be on the shelf and under the thumb of the ufc.

Or he would have gotten the Nick Diaz treatment where the attorneys that commonly work with the UFC mysteriously appear after a shitty NAC decision and suddenly a deal is negotiated...

 

[Papi Chingon]

Or he would have gotten the Nick Diaz treatment where the attorneys that commonly work with the UFC mysteriously appear after a shitty NAC decision and suddenly a deal is negotiated...

A deal with him still under ufc contract?

 

[Lukewarm Carl]

Considering that even Dana hasn't publicly bashed Wanderlei throughout all of the crazy shit other than to initially say that Wandy was probably going to be made an example of by the NAC, yeah... Probably still with the UFC where he was wanted and promoted and featured and at the time of his suspension was easily his biggest opportunity to get paid.

 

[teamquestnorth]

One of the coolest entrances I've ever seen. Probably watched it 20 times now. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Narcosynthesis]

I wonder if Wand has any inside information on whether the Ronda/Holm fight was fixed.

 

[Deleted member 1]

He now can fight overseas for any organization that wants him.

View: https://i.imgur.com/oqdQhaT.gifv

 

[stielar]

I wonder if that was what Millen was alluding to when he said we had been waiting 8 years for this. His last fight with Pride was in 2007, so depending how Millen may have counted this, it is either 8 or 9 years.

And if Millen knew that beforehand, I suppose negotiations might have already taken place between Rizin and Wand. It would be huge for Rizin as they would be signing a ufc fighter who left on a win and who is popular as hell in Japan.

Edit: Since the ufc accepted to release him from his contract as long as he would retract from his allegations for fixed fights, I suppose where there's smoke there's fire...

 

[Ed_Stark]

Brace yourself japan, Wanderlei is coming

 

[ECC170]

Fedor vs Juiced Wand

 

[Lamont Cranston]

You know that Zuffa probably said, "If you take back what you said about fixing fights we'll let you go."

Of course that might be why Wand said it in the first place...

 

[Ted Williams' head]

Wand is a pathological liar, but he'll fold under questioning. The NSAC should hook his ass up to a lie detector.