Antonio Silva and Murilo Rua NOT Picked up by Strikeforce

by Discman2 on Feb 10, 2009 10:34 AM EST

Of the 42 contracts acquired by Strikeforce two notable names not on the list, according to Five Ounces of Pain, is (former?) EliteXC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Silva and Middleweight Murilo 'Ninja' Rua. The two fighters will remain under the control of ProElite.

Though a great fighter it should come as no surprise that Antonio Silva did not get picked up by Strikeforce. After testing positive for banned substances after beating Justin Eilers to become the EliteXC Heavyweight Champion Silva was suspended for one year. Silva, still under suspension in the US, went around that suspension and fought at the January 4th Sengoku event held in Japan.It's now a possibility that he gets his fighting license revoked in the US and he may not be able to fight in the US ever again.

Rua meanwhile:

Having earned $35,000 for his knockout loss to Benji Radach this past October during EliteXC’s “Heat” event, Rua’s contract was also deemed to be too pricey. Despite having become the first-ever EliteXC middleweight champion following a second round TKO over Joey Villasenor during a combined Strikeforce and EliteXC event in July of 2007, Rua is just 2-2 in his last four bouts.

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Well, it’s obvious why they wouldn’t pick up Silva. As for Rua, it’s not as though he’s done anything of late to warrant picking up his salary when you consider his drawing power (i.e. none).

It’s good to see that Strikeforce is keeping their head about themselves in this time of transition and expansion. This bodes well for their future, if not necessarily for Rua’s. But hey, he can head back to Japan and hopefully find some of his former success. Then, everybody wins.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Feb 10, 2009 11:30 AM EST reply actions

I am a Ninja fan. I would love to see him get inside the UFC octagon and tangle it up with fighters like Chris Leben, Alessio Sakara, James Irvin and Drew McFedries.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Feb 10, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions

Is ‘tangle it up’ code for ‘get knocked out’? :p

by ilostmydog on Feb 10, 2009 1:14 PM EST up reply actions

It could be great

but it would probably end badly. Since his introduction into the UFC, Shogun has not had a single impressive round (imho). I don’t know how Ninja could possibly do any better.

by dugmouth on Feb 10, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions

Ninja looked awful against Radach.

by Bigperm on Feb 10, 2009 1:52 PM EST reply actions

Benji is a tough dude to handle. I mean he has decent striking with good if not great wrestling. He is very effective at everything he does. Benji is very underrated and overlooked.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Feb 10, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. Still, Shogun had the experience factor edge and looked lost against him. I hope we see Benji in the UFC or strikeforce..

by Bigperm on Feb 10, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

er..ninja.

by Bigperm on Feb 10, 2009 3:19 PM EST up reply actions

Didn’t Vitor or someone else do the exact same thing as Silva and get away with it?

by Zack Gobie on Feb 10, 2009 5:11 PM EST reply actions

I think so. I thin Vitor was under suspension and then fought in Cage Rage during it.

by Discman2 on Feb 10, 2009 5:41 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, there was some nonsense about him not having a current fighter’s license in Nevada that allowed him to do that without suffering any repercussions IIRC. I thought he should’ve had his suspension extended, but whatevs.

by ilostmydog on Feb 10, 2009 6:51 PM EST up reply actions

I’d like to Antonio Silva back in the US. I do think CSAC has given him a raw deal across board. He failed the test which they admitted was flawed, denied him an appeal and now want to suspend him indefinitely until he sits a complete calendar year.

Worst of all I think he does have a bit of case to present. I’m no doctor, but looking at him I’d guess he has had a hormonal issue.

by bignerd on Feb 10, 2009 10:18 PM EST reply actions