In full contact sports, its a term of endearment when you see somebody who puts for their best effort and never gives up and excites you, that that person is "A Beast".
Thiago Silva is one such example. When he dropped Houston Alexander with punches back at UFC 78, I was impressed with how one sided his dominance was with the Ground and Pound. The same thing happened in his fight with Antonio Mendes at UFC 84, securing him a co-main event slot against Lyoto Machida at UFC 94. He would get floored by the future UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, but would follow it up in fights with Keith Jardine and Brandon Vera, with a loss to Rashad Evans sandwiched in the middle (he still showed some lethal strikes in having Evans wobbly though).
Following his one sided dismantling of Vera, it would have been safe to say that Silva was, for all intents and purposes, a "Beast".
How much of a "Beast" Silva is however, both literally and figuratively, is currently under speculation. Following the win over Vera (and "The truth"s subsequent release), came a fight pitting the Brazilian against Rampage Jackson. However, a disputed drug test put the brakes on that fight, with Matt Hammill stepping in to replace him.
Now, comes a report from MMAJunkie today, that the disputed "A" sample is quoted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission as one that is "inconsistent with human urine". Yes folks, you are reading the absolute truth ripped from the headlines...its not the pee you drop in the toilet every day. Silva is suspended pending an April 7th appeal hearing. Up until then, Silva is temporarily suspended until the matter is resolved.
This almost seems something out of the National Enquirer. Comments on the Junkie message board have ranged from it being Dog Urine to The NSAC head Keith Kizer admitting they might have to take "drastic measures" to ensure deception amongst fighters doesn't happen again. Kizer also reported that this hasn't been the first time they've been deceived : in 2006, Kevin Randleman submitted a fake urine test at Pride 32 where he fought "Shogun" Rua, and when confronted with it at his appeal in 2007, admitted to using a fake sample to ensure he wouldn't be caught using illegal painkillers he claims were used to cure a lung infection.
So it happens twice in 4 years, and NOW they decide to do something? The first time somebody got caught, you should have come up in arms and made an example out of Randleman. He too, in his day was a "Beast". Now he's just some cheater who got caught.
It would said that the same could be said of Silva. How much of a "Beast" he is now, I suppose we'll have to wait to find out.
- In other news, Bellator ratings dropped again. From a high of 230,000 2 weeks ago for Bellator 36 comes a season low of just 150,000 for this past Saturday's Bellator 38. This was after Richard Hale's inverted triangle victory, a la Toby Imada/Jorge Masvidal (which has become a Youtube sensation upon itself).
Note to fans : Bellator provides exciting action. Get with it.
Until next time, Fight Fans.
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