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While we all enjoy the candor of UFC president Dana White, commentator Joe Rogan takes the cake when it comes to leaving the censors at the door. Unlike White, who remains ever faithful we'll see former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva make his return this calendar year, Rogan is perhaps more realistic. On Dec. 28, 2013 at UFC 168, Silva suffered a gruesome leg injury during the second round of his title bout with Chris Weidman, breaking both the tibia and fibula of his left leg.
Speaking with SiriusXM's The Opie & Anthony Show, Rogan isn't putting high hopes on such a quick turnaround:
"Maybe. Dana's a promoter," says Rogan. "He wants [Silva] to fight by the end of the year. Anderson wants to fight, too, but there's a real danger of that thing breaking again. You've got to make sure that it's completely healed up before you check it again. [Opponents] are going to do the exact same thing. Anybody who fights Anderson is going to practice checking kicks like a mother f***er.
"Guys have come back in other sports, but those other sports are very different. They don't involve purposefully trying to break your bones."
White reaffirmed his belief that Silva would, indeed, be returning by years end in an update during Saturday night's UFC 169 post-fight press conference.
"Anderson should be walking without crutches here in the next couple weeks, then he'll start training in a few months. We've got to see how he comes back. He is 100% confident that he's coming back.
"He probably won't fight until the end of the year. If everything goes the way that it should, he should be fighting in pretty much the same fight he had this last year."
(Skip to 23:00)
5 MUST-READ STORIES
Fortunes changed for five. Dave Meltzer tells us how Barao, Faber, Aldo, Overeem and Bagautinov move forward following UFC 169.
No decision. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has overturned Jessica Eye's split decision victory over Sarah Kaufman, citing Eye testing positive for a 'prohibited drug.'
Barry to GLORY. Former UFC heavyweight Pat Barry returns to kickboxing, making his GLORY debut in May.
Reem. Alistair Overeem refutes Dana White's critiques, saying he needed to prove to himself and others that he could flourish in the later rounds.
Chunky Wandy. Chael Sonnen says Wanderlei Silva is trying to get out of their fight after believing it would happen in July, not May.
It's Tuesday, so make sure to check out The MMA Hour featuring , Alistair Overeem, actor Skylar Astin of "Pitch Perfect" fame, Gegard Mousasi and Pat Barry.
MEDIA STEW
BJ Penn says he's a new man.
Cro Cop talks GLORY 14.
Training vlog with Myles Jury.
A look at some hand positioning from UFC 169.
Metamoris 3 countdown for Eddie Bravo vs. Royler Gracie.
Don Frye on Brock Lesnar, GSP, Hendricks, TRT and more.
Long watches.
FrontRowBrian: MMA's Mystery Man
MMA 3 Way: Off Topic and UFC 169
TWEETS
This mess.
I PROMISE YOU I AM NOT SUSPEND and WILL BE FIGHTING FEB 22 as scheduled !! @UFC don't believe everything you read online !
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) February 3, 2014
@AlexisDavisMMA ohh we are fight alright !! Shit going down like poop in a toilet ! #ufc ;)
— Jessica Eye (@jessicaevileye) February 4, 2014
Poor, Khabib.
"@TeamKhabib: @Cowboycerrone wants to fight a lot, I need opponent for a long time.Lets do this fight in April! I'm down!
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 3, 2014
"@_Sam_K_: @Cowboycerrone i thought you were down to fight @TeamKhabib? now you're fighting @EdsonBarbozaJR" I just say yes to everyone
— Cowboy Cerrone (@Cowboycerrone) February 3, 2014
:( "@ArtemYalanskiy: Donald Cerrone and Edson Barboza will fight at UFC on FOX on April 19th, so the @TeamKhabib fight won't happen."
— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) February 3, 2014
Congrats.
GUESS WHO'S SIGNED TO @GLORY_WS ?!?! @BrianButler_Au @SuckerPunchEnt @AlienwareMMA
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) February 3, 2014
1ST KICKBOXING FIGHT SINCE 2007 WILL BE MARCH 22 IN RICHMOND VA AT WKA THEN GLORY IN MAYYYY!!!! @BrianWKA @BrianButler_au @SuckerPunchEnt
— Pat Barry (@HypeOrDie) February 3, 2014
I'd settle for the Gus rematch.
If this "celebrity" boxing match wasn't in march, I'd gladly oblige Zimmerman.
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) February 4, 2014
Juggling about three different beefs.
Sorry guys busted my hand again .. Won't be fighting @ufc 170 😔😔😥 ..
— FranCisco Rivera (@CiscoRiveraUFC) February 3, 2014
Hi guys, so..My supposed opponent Francisco Rivera broke his hand and is outta the fight #UFC170 . Who would ya'll like me fight against ??
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2014
@RaphaAssuncao @RobertFrausto have many times brotha, not saying u weren't a tough fight but u got lucky it was in Brazil. That was my fight
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) February 4, 2014
@RaphaAssuncao lol for one u never rocked me and for two I definitely won rnd 1 and 3. But much respect man. agree to disagree
— TJ Dillashaw (@TJDillashaw) February 4, 2014
@EddieWineland @RockyTopD @danawhite awesome !!but i would love a shot at Barão like you had , perhaps later on. :)
— Raphael Assuncao (@RaphaAssuncao) February 3, 2014
Not happy.
So happy (and jealous) for @Cowboycerrone ...already has his 2nd fight of 2014 for @ufc booked before I have my first! Congrats!
— Sarah Kaufman (@mmasarah) February 3, 2014
Doing an "Ask Me Anything" on #Reddit. Will start answering questions at 3pm EST. http://t.co/JFX6rBD9P8 @Reddit_MMA
— Joe Lauzon (@JoeLauzon) February 3, 2014
Come on over.
If i wasnt a soccer player i would love to be a MMA fighter!👊 Se non ero un calciatore avrei voluto essere un combattente di MMA. 👊
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) February 3, 2014
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Announced yesterday (Feb. 3 2014)
Joe Benavidez vs. Tim Elliott at UFC 172
Edson Barboza vs. Donald Cerrone at UFC on FOX 11
cancelled Raphael Assuncao vs. Cisco Rivera at UFC 170
FANPOST OF THE DAY
Today's Fanpost of the Day comes via Stylesmakefights.
Let's face it, José Aldo is bored. He's just going through the motions-exceedingly violent, cringe-inducing motions complete with the most brutal leg kicks in the sport. The greatest featherweight ever has cleaned out his division, and it was quite evident at UFC 169. Aldo controlled the action early against an overmatched Ricardo Lamas, and coasted to victory in the later rounds. No one is disputing his right to move up a division and challenge Anthony Pettis for the lightweight belt. But Dana White seems determined to make Aldo vacate his strap before doing so, a sentiment I can't quite understand and for which there is an easy compromise.
Aldo has earned some privilege; a winning streak dating back to May 2006 and a remarkable eight title defenses under the Zuffa banner will do that. In this case, the privilege Aldo has earned is the opportunity to be the first dual belt holder in company history. But that doesn't mean he has to actually defend both of those belts.
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Check out the rest of the post here.
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