The biggest story in MMA for the past few weeks has been the issue of fighter pay in the UFC. Jon Jones, Jorge Masvidal, and Henry Cejudo have all been vocal about issues with their negotiations with the UFC. And while more and more fighters have begun coming out more publicly against the UFC’s negotiation tactics, there’s been an interesting offshoot of this movement: former UFC fighters dragging former UFC matchmaker Joe Silva.

Silva was the UFC matchmaker from 1997 to 2016, and as such, he was one of the most most powerful men in the organization for much of his tenure. As a result, there have been many unflattering told stories about him from fighters in the UFC orbit, both personally and professionally. In recent weeks, several more former fighters have added to that throng, including Mike Pierce, Gray Maynard, Jon Fitch, and Roland Delorme. And now, an MMA legend has joined the fray.

Taking to Twitter yesterday, former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez joined in on the #JoeSilvaStories movement, sharing a story that occurred shortly before his lightweight title shot against Rafael dos Anjos.

“While the Me Too movement on Joe Silva continues, I got an incredible Joe Silva story myself but my momma always told me that if “I ain’t got nuttin good to say, then don’t say nuttin at all.

Ok ok .... so I am in the restaurant of a hotel a few weeks after the Anthony Pettis fight eating by myself and next to me is Joe Silva with a group of buddies and I believe Sean Shelby they are having some drinks. I never interacted with Joe but I took the time to introduce (myself). Next I ask who my next opponent could possibly be and half joking half serious ask for the champion if he’s available. Joe took the opportunity to tell me with the way I am fighting I’ll never get a title shot as long as he’s around, they all laugh.

At this point I am completely embarrassed, I want to hurt him but I just joined this promotion and this guy pretty much makes the rules. The funny part was he was standing and I could of swore he was fully seated. So I took the high road and went to my room in a rage. I get a call a few weeks later from Dana not Joe asking for the RDA fight. I thought wow this one must of went over Joe’s Head. Joe’s 4 foot, a lot of things do. So I get the fight I wanted and Joe didn’t want. I KO RDA and win the world title in the 1st round. As I make my out of the ring and in the back guess who is the first guy standing there? Yes Joe. No congrats, no good job just a bitter angry small little man. I said nothing, nothing needed to be communicated, I just wink. Success is how you destroy your enemies.

(Edited for clarity).

Silva ended up getting the last laugh though: Alvarez lost the title in his very next fight, to Conor McGregor at UFC 205 in November of 2016. Silva then retired at the end of that year. He was inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in 2017.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Accusation. Cynthia Calvillo: Jessica Eye cheated to make weight for UFC on ESPN 10, was 3-plus pounds over.

Response. Jessica Eye offers ‘no excuses’ for loss, responds to claims from Cynthia Calvillo about her weight cut.

APEX. Dana White not interested in smaller, socially-distanced crowd: ‘I won’t do a 50 percent arena’.

Beef. Jorge Masvidal scolds UFC commentators: ‘You guys should be embarrassed to call yourselves current/former fighters”.

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VIDEO STEW

Free fights.

O’Malley on the Conor McGregor comparisons.

Chael Sonnen getting in on the Anderson-Lawler bus.

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LISTEN UP

The Co-Main Event. Discussing UFC on ESPN 10 and UFC on ESPN 11.

Anik & Florian. Recapping Eye vs. Calvillo and previewing Blaydes vs. Volkov.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Call out.

Darren Till is going ham on Mike Perry. He made a website and an Instagram dedicated to him.

Meanwhile.

The dream.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Max Rohskopf (5-0) vs. Austin Hubbard (11-4); UFC on ESPN 11, June 20.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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