With Chael Sonnen vs. Vitor Belfort Still In The Air, Is ‘The Axe Murderer’ On The Chopping Block?

The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3 finals went down last night in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and provided a pretty solid night of finishes and sluggers. Brazil’s third season of the growing reality series was not without it’s share of controversy though, as Wanderlei Silva backed out of his fight against opposing coach Chael Sonnen. The move has rocked the media for the last week, especially considering the overtone of PED use.

I’m yet to make up my mind on the Silva drug test debacle, but UFC president Dana White is sure that he will not allow ‘The Axe Murderer’ to compete on July fourth weekend. Speaking during the Fight Night 41 pre-fight show, ‘The Baldfather’ indicated that Vitor Belfort is now the only option for Chael Sonnen at UFC 175.

“We did the press conference that day with everybody, then afterwards the NSAC turned up at his gym wanting a random drug test from Wanderlei. (Silva) ran out the door and got in his car, and went MIA for a few days. Obviously when you do that, it doesn’t put you in a good position with the commission. It’s all riding on whether Vitor can gets licensed.”

“He can shoot as many videos as he wants, he’s in trouble, I don’t know (if he’ll ever fight for the UFC again). I’ve spoken to him by text, but he didn’t say much; not much that made sense.”

I had hoped that Silva’s recent video appeal was an honest one, but White’s comments shed doubt on it. Silva had said that he would reach out to the NSAC when he returned from the TUF: Brazil 3 finals, but he no-showed that event too. So what message is that sending the MMA populous? Well, not a good one.

The fact remains that if Vitor Belfort can’t get licensed, and Chael Sonnen is scratched from another event, then ‘The Axe Murderer’ could well receive his walking papers for this fiasco. White also said that Belfort’s self-testing for his T levels won‘t mean much for the commission, but also revealed that ‘These doctors don’t know what the fuck they are talking about’.

After a long, drawn-out rivalry, it seems that we will never see Wanderlei Silva and Chael Sonnen throw down. Not only that, but one of MMA’s greatest careers has been somewhat smeared by this controversial sequence of events. Say it ain’t true Wandy, or at least try and prove it.