Tim Sylvia Opens Up, Doesn't Care What the Fans Think
by Nate Wilcox on May 26, 2010 1:43 PM EDT
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Tim Sylvia did a really interesting interview with Sherdog Radio yesterday. Zach Arnold transcribed a whole bunch of it. Here are some money quotes:
You talked about yourself being a legend in MMA, but a lot of people don't see you that in that light. You seem to have a chip on your shoulder a lot..."Yeah, I do, I mean, there's only been one other heavyweight that's had the belt for five times and that's Randy, so him and I are both tied with that for the Heavyweight belt. You know, it is what it is, if that's the way people want to look at me, so be it. But I know what I've done and I know no one else has been a five-time UFC Heavyweight champion besides Randy... I just want to you know fight again as soon as possible, I did break my big toe, my toe next to it on my right foot when I was kicking him when he was on the ground so I'm hoping I can start doing something in a week or two and I get back in there and get in shape and fight again. I think the next fight is going to be at 265 so that's what we're shooting for and trying to get a fight at that class, that way it forces me to get down there and stay down there."
Fans really either love you or hate you. Do you care about changing your image?
"Nope. It is what it is. I'm who I am. I've made statements and stuff you know if you hate me, I hate you, I don't care, I don't care if you don't like me to be honest with you. That's just the way it is. I'm not going to change for anybody, I'm not going to you know try to kiss people's butt and so on and so forth, that's just not me you know. I'm from the East Coast and that's just the way we're all brought up."You know when you're my friend you know that and we are close and we do things together with the guys that I you know I'm on the police force now, all those guys we all great along with great. Everybody I'm hunting with in the hunting industry. The guys that I mud race with you know. The guys I did movies with. When I met somebody and they're around me long enough to where we hang out and spend a couple of days together, I pretty much end up being lifelong friends with them so you know when you get to know me and I get to you know and we become friends it's friends for life."
He also mentions that he no longer trains at Miletich Fighting Systems in Iowa and is instead training with Team Wolfpack in Indiana and he discusses his new day job as a police officer.
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Imagine if you were pulled over for speeding by Sylvia?
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
Seems pretty easy to get out of a ticket from Tim Sylvia.
- Acknowledge you love his fights and that people bagging on him on idiots.
- Tell him he’s an MMA legend
- Have giant knockers, flirt, give him fake phone number
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on May 26, 2010 11:50 AM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
Hang out with him for a couple of days and become lifelong friends.
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
by 49er16 on May 26, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
You might, you know, be on to something, you know.
by CaptnAmerca on May 26, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
- Make sure you take down your Andrei Arlovski air freshener.
by CaptnAmerca on May 26, 2010 11:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Tell him...
Hey…it’s okay. We all shit our pants from time to time. No big deal.
by funkywanderer on May 26, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
against Assuerio Silva
Fan of Tiger 'Makin It Rain' Woods
by B-A-N-A-N-A-S on May 26, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
D'argh...
Sorry…link didn’t work the first time…
by funkywanderer on May 26, 2010 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Another all time classic for BIG Tim and his bodily functions was the time he and Monty cox were on inside the MMA talking about the Fedor fight that was upcoming and Tim was really sick pale as all hell in that interview. Half way threw the interview as Monty is talking Tim burts and blows chunks insdie his mouth. Tim sits there the rest of the interview with a full mouth of puke and said nothing while Monty talked.
This isn’t go over well
"I fight because I can’t sing, I can’t dance, and it beats working all day. Now ask me a question that doesn’t sound so fucking stupid." – Phil Baroni
wow, wft did I just type? *going to go over well
"I fight because I can’t sing, I can’t dance, and it beats working all day. Now ask me a question that doesn’t sound so fucking stupid." – Phil Baroni
by midwestbred on May 26, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Dont see him ever making 265 again
Team wolf pack? Really some ex wrestlers high school wrestlers from new castle indiana will be able to get him down to 256? I wouldn’t put my faith in a gym that uses Myspace for their main internet web site.
by Darren Watkins on May 26, 2010 11:55 AM EDT reply actions
25 pounds isn't that hard to lose when you are 305 and then he can probably cut from 280
Dieting is probably 5000 calories a day for someone that big if he is actually active.
Not afraid to nitpick
I wonder if this not caring about what the fans think is something new. I can recall after what I think is the Nogueira fight that in the post-fight interview, Sylvia said something to the effect of, “Damn, just when I thought that you guys (the fans) were finally warming up to me.” I was always under the impression that he deeply cares what the fans think of him actually, but maybe he has started to realize that he is not very well-liked by the fans.
The fact of the matter is that Sylvia (and Arlovski) will not be top Heavyweights anymore. The “Legend” thing is a bit of a stretch, but Brent Brookhouse and Jordan Breen have pointed out Sylvia’s relevance and importance to the Heavyweight division early on.
Saying he doesn’t care what the fans think is probably directly related to him caring very much what the fans think but knowing that it’s mostly negative.
Huh ? How do u conclude that exactly ? So if he said he really cares a lot about what the fans think – would it then mean he doesn’t care at all?
I think at this point he gave up and just doesn’t give a shit anymore , which is the correct attitute imo since when mma fans smell weakness or neediness on a fighter they’ll tear him apart like a bunch of piranas…good for Tim , really .
People go on and on about not caring about what other people think tend to care the most about it. This isn’t the first time Tim has talked about this. Someone who actually doesn’t care what people think normally doesn’t even even care enough to keep telling them they don’t care what they think, they just ignore it all and go on with their life. Besides I’m sure he is smart enough to know that his future in MMA is pretty much based on whether fans will pay to watch him fight or not.
Get your facts straight, Tim-meh. You’ve held the UFC title twice, not five times (for that matter, Randy’s held the HW title three times, the other two were in the LHW division). While we’re on the topic, he beat Rodriguez and Arlovski for the belt – and the first reign ended when he pissed hot.
Tim’s a two-time UFC champ, true. He’s in pretty good company as is – the other two-time champs are Couture, Hughes and StPierre. Even if you count the tournament champions of the early days, there’s names like Gracie, Severn, Coleman and Kerr. You’re already in good company, Tim. Don’t let it get into your head any more than it already has.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on May 26, 2010 12:05 PM EDT reply actions
Fighters consider winning a title fight as winning the belt again, that’s what he’s talking about. Similar to Nate Marquardt being a 7 time King of Pancrase. Matt Hughes calls himself a 9 time champion.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
by Tim Burke on May 26, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think being a multi-time champ says much more about you other then you’ve won it and lost it several times. That’s what I think is funny when people mention that about Couture. Being 5 time champ means he won the title and lost it 5 different times. I will give credit to Randy though since it shows that you can bounce back and improve your game to get the title back. In today’s title landscape that seems to be much harder to do now then it was before.
When you classify it as being you won and defended it several times that is a significant statistic of controlling the championship.
As well they should
In effect their is no champion until that one fight is decided. Retaining the belt is far more impressive than winning it.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
by Chris Barton on May 26, 2010 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
BJ Penn as well, unless you are only counting in a single weight division.
by PapaBumpants on May 26, 2010 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Oops, sry. As much as I dislike Penn, he is indeed a 2-time champ.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on May 26, 2010 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
When the hell was he a five time ufc champ? If my memory is right he only won the belt twice.RAndy won the belt 5 times.
It's like how they used to say Matt Hughes was a 5time champ
He’s defended the belt 5 times.
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by Matthew Roth on May 26, 2010 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah he defended five times. Sylvia is reveling in a skewed perception of reality
It’s like when ric flair, hogan etc. always stated they were 13 times heavyweight champ….well that means you lost it minimum 12 times….
by Jonnycaz2.0 on May 26, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Well if that is the case
Isn’t Randy being a 5 time champ less impressive than defending the belt 5 times? Just playing devil’s advocate.
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by Matthew Roth on May 26, 2010 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions
If we’re counting title defenses too, Randy’s a 9-time champ.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on May 26, 2010 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Not the same
These guys didn’t lose the belt. They won title defenses. It would be like Ric Flair calling himself a 24632 time world champion, because he defended it so many times.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
by Tim Burke on May 26, 2010 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
comparisons to Ric Flair (and any other pro wrestler) are not particularly relevant. Especially from back in the day, Ric Flair could have “defended” his title 100-200 times a year, that kind of stuff is just not realistic for boxers or mixed martial artists.
Tim isn’t the first person to count championships this way, and it’s the way it should be done for real combat sports.
I know that it has no relevancy
I was just making the point for Mr Caz up there. And I agree that it should be counted that way. As stated above, defending a championship is as at least as hard as winning it in the first place, and should be recognized.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
I’ve never once in my life heard of Joe Louis being referred to as a twenty-something time heavyweight champion. That’s just some strange terminology that certain fighters use to booster their title count.
by joshyboy708 on May 26, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe he’s the Ric Flair of the UFC?
"Even the Swedes are getting mad."-Randy Hahn
"It's very cozy in the sin bin."-Randy Hahn
by 49er16 on May 26, 2010 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
no, you're right
Tim is stretching reality, but good for him. How many times has Brock “won” the title? twice? I don’t think it will be long before someone does defend it 5 times without losing.
by cagefightonacid on May 26, 2010 3:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Anderson Silva.
Defended against Marquardt, Franklin, Hendo, Cote, Leites, and Maia.
(I’m excluding winning it from Franklin, Lutter’s missed weight, and the 205 fights)
If you're not watching Treme, you're a bad person.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on May 26, 2010 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions
"is instead training with Team Wolfpack"
Sounds like a One Man Wolfpack to me.
THREE MUSKATEERS BAR P4P BEST HALLOWEEN CANDY
by BloodbathAndBeyond on May 26, 2010 12:07 PM EDT reply actions 6 recs
Well if his new dayjob is police officer
I’d say he has mastered the donut eating part of the job.
"It's fourth and fifteen and you're looking at a full-court press." - Lt. Frank Drebin, Police Squad
Haters gonna hate
War timmeh. All these keyboard warriors wish they could be as awesome as you.
by MMAGuard on May 26, 2010 12:43 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
Kinda sorta true – I wouldn’t mind being a former UFC Champ. Even if he was the champion of a weak division, he was still The Champ.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on May 26, 2010 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not a huge Sylvia fan but the dude has a point, he has held the belt 5 times. The fact all these guys are on here are saying, oh he only defended the belt 5 times is ridiculous. There are tons of damn good fighters out there that may have only defended a belt once, or never even fought for one in the UFC, guys that you people wouldn’t say a word about…people just love to hate Tim Sylvia, whether its logical or not.
by Portland Raider fan on May 26, 2010 12:49 PM EDT reply actions
He actually only defended 3 times. And won the belt twice. He was 5-4 in UFC title fights overall. Good, but not great.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
BJ Penn is 5-4 in UFC title fights overall. Good, but not great.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
He won a belt in 2 weight classes (as did Couture). To me, that’s much more significant.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
why?
Sure, BJ moved up in weight and took the title from Hughes, but he got his title shot after losing to GSP. I’m not saying that BJ is an undeserving champion, but what about his moving up a weight class makes his championship record any more compelling than Sylvia having a legitimate reign as the UFC heavyweight champ? Sure, the argument can be made that BJ has won or defended his title against tougher competition, but these weren’t the arguments that you made. You simply pointed out that a 5-4 UFC title record isn’t that great, which I take issue with.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
Uh, he took the title from Hughes before he ever fought GSP, and never lost it in the cage. His 2nd shot at Hughes, when he got hurt in the 3rd and lost after dominating the first 2 rounds, was after the split decision loss to GSP.
First off, moving up a weight class and defeating the top talent there is very impressive. I don’t see how you can say Sylvia beating Jeff Monson and Gan McGhee as anything close to that. Second, I didn’t make any arguments because I didn’t think anyone would come back with “well, BJ has the same record” because it’s a ridiculous argument to me. You’re equating Tim Sylvia with BJ Penn. There’s nothing to equate, BJ’s a much better fighter overall.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
Of course BJ Penn is a better fighter. That’s not a question. By arguing that a 5-4 record is meh, ridiculous arguments such as those that equal BJ Penn to Sylvia come into play because, objectively, BJ Penn has a 5-4 record in UFC championship bouts. Arguing that Sylvia is weak due to his opposition isn’t the argument that you were making.
"The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world..."
Is my math that bad?
Tim won 4 Title Fights:
Ricco
Arlovski (twice)
Monson
Tim lost 4 UFC Title Fights:
Mir
Arlovski
Couture
Nogueira
He beat Gan McGee, but tested positive (and admitted to intentional use!). No way that counts as a win, right Tim?
Also he lost to Fedor for the WAMMA title (stop laughing).
My count is 4-5 in UFC title fights, 4-6 overall.
by PapaBumpants on May 26, 2010 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Bad boys, bad boys
Imagine Timmy guest appearing on an epidsode of Cops! That would be interesting to see.
"If your going to come on then come on!" - Harold Howard
Why do I get this image of Officer Cartman in my head all the sudden.....
La naiba cu Monkey Rally !!!!!
by Captain Fubar on May 26, 2010 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
If TIM wanted respect.
He’d work for it, I guess.
I’m sure he’s happy in his life so why does the MMA community seek to legitimize his current life so badly?
Because he was a champ once, and if he is a joke it makes us all look bad? No.
If he’s happy doing what he loves is he a joke? or just a guy getting by?
Seriously bloodyelbow, you look a little desperate trying so hard to argue that he was great for the sport, once.
Let it go and talk about a fighter we care about.
Excellent commenting as always.
"It's fourth and fifteen and you're looking at a full-court press." - Lt. Frank Drebin, Police Squad
How many people would pay to see Tim Sylvia fight now? Tim doesn’t even have the kind of love/hate relationship with fans Tito Ortiz has, people just don’t care to see Tim Sylvia anymore and tend to view him as a big joke now. It’s sort of sad being as he was a very good fighter and has accomplished a heck of a lot but he has brought a lot of this on himself too. I would love to see him take the sport seriously again and try and build back to his former level but I just don’t see it happening now. It is what it is.
Team Wolfpack…yeah, it does look like he has been training with Scott Hall.
by bigstupidsmile on May 26, 2010 2:04 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Thats a Rec
Twitter @i_c_u_hater
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by Thats It For you! on May 26, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Cmon hall don’t look that bad now that was during the boozing he looks a lil better now
by ldglass on May 26, 2010 7:03 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That’s his mugshot from getting arrested last weekend in Florida, dude. Seriously.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
Damn then my bad saw him on that tna crap a month or so ago didn’t think he looked that bad
by ldglass on May 26, 2010 11:22 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Didja know that Sean Waltman has a bald spot now?
Seriously though I think that’s what a lot of people dislike about the “olden” incursion into TNA…
I’ve never really understood the Sylvia hate. It almost seems like he’s the goofy fat kid in school that everyone loves picking on.
He always seems pretty decent and honest and tries his best. His fights aren’t always the most entertaining, but he’s in pretty good company there. And saying that he’s kind of a legend is kind of right I think. He’s fought all of the best heavyweights of the last couple of years and done quite well (Couture decision, beat up Nog before getting submitted). So he didn’t fare very well with Fedor, there’s no shame in losing to Fedor, I’d gather to say he’d probably do a lot better in a rematch. He looked pretty surprised in that fight to be honest.
I also think it’s cool that he’s developed a career in something else other than fighting. It’s smart. He just doesn’t seem to me like the douche everyone wants him to be.
by Dooda on May 26, 2010 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Surprised?
So he didn’t fare very well with Fedor, there’s no shame in losing to Fedor, I’d gather to say he’d probably do a lot better in a rematch. He looked pretty surprised in that fight to be honest
If by surprised, you mean scared shitless, I’d have to agree.
i don't think its that people think he's a douche
more that he’s lazy and tossed away opportunities. Also that he’s kinda fought scared since winning the belt
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on May 26, 2010 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
no one likes a lazy athlete
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on May 27, 2010 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Really? Late George Foreman? John Kruk (I think that’s his name. Old Phillies slugger). Babe Ruth. Tank Abbot?
But I think I see what you’re getting at.
Late George had the added plus of being in his late 40s and making a huge comeback. All 4 of those guys benefited from being outgoing personalities as well. Ruth was a partier and a larger-than life icon. Tank was the everyman barroom brawler – who also used to be a hell of a workout guy at least on weights at one point. I remember a vid of him benching something ridic like 550 or some shit.
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on May 27, 2010 5:59 AM EDT up reply actions
tank benching 600 lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZsx-IQrkME
http://mixedmartialartsblogger.wordpress.com/
by Cory Braiterman on May 27, 2010 6:04 AM EDT up reply actions
It almost seems like he’s the goofy fat kid in school that everyone loves picking on.
Actually I think I read in an interview that he was that growing up.
Even got picked on by Matt Hughes and company
According to Matt Hughes’ own auto-bio… though his version treats it as more of Sylvia’s own fault, with Jens Pulver calling him out on whatever it was.
Good to know that Tim is coming to hate me.
Dude. It's Anderson Silva.
If he gives a damn he will end Sonnen’s night by either sub or KO.
-SSreporters
By Monday morning Chael Sonnen will be pissing out of his neck.
-Also SSreporters
haha at your sig
Pissing out his neck…is that even physically possible? (Little Giants reference)
by Body Triangle on May 27, 2010 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
“the legend”……wow.
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on May 26, 2010 4:00 PM EDT reply actions
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