UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva was fined $50,000 by the Ultimate Fighting Championship Tuesday for skipping a media event in Los Angeles to promote the upcoming UFC 162.
Silva was supposed to speak with several of the largest media outlets in L.A., but no-showed and flew home to Brazil instead.
“We had a full media day set up for him in Los Angeles, and he just decided he didn’t want to do it, so he’s being fined $50,000,” UFC president Dana White told MMAjunkie.com.
“He doesn’t like talking to the media, but it’s part of his contractual obligation,” White said. “Everybody wants more money, more money, more money, but nobody wants to sell the fight or go out and talk to the media. Talking to the media is part of your job, whether you like it or not.”
It’s rare for fighters, let alone superstars, to miss mandatory media obligations, but this is something the UFC has dealt with in the past.
In September 2011, prior to UFC 137 – which at the time was scheduled to feature Georges St-Pierre vs. Nick Diaz – Diaz skipped a pre-fight media gathering in Toronto and a press conference in Las Vegas. The UFC punished Diaz by removing him from the main event.
“Nick Diaz didn’t show up for the press conference,” White said. “(Tuesday’s event) was just a smaller media day, but it’s still not acceptable, so we’re fining him $50,000.”
Silva (33-4) is scheduled to defend his title against Chris Weidman (9-0) in the main event of UFC 162, which takes place on July 6 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
