Soares backs Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva’s manager Ed Soares claims the Brazilian’s fight with Thales Leites in the main event of UFC 97 in Montreal ‘was not a bad fight’.

Anderson Silva has come under fire, following his performance in his ninth consecutive UFC victory, but Soares has put the blame on the poor fight on Leites.

“The thing is that I think people have gotten spoiled seeing [Silva] finish his fights so quick,” Soares told MMAjunkie.com Radio. “Sometimes things don’t go that way. It just doesn’t happen.”

“I honestly don’t think it was a bad fight,” Soares said. “And I think [Silva] went out there and performed. He was attacking all five rounds.

“Why, just because [Silva] didn’t go to the ground with [Leites] to finish him? That’s why it wasn’t a great fight? He was attacking. He was kicking. He was striking – all five rounds. The challenger didn’t engage. What is he supposed to do?”

“It’s funny; people want to see a devastating knockout,” Soares continued. “But yet, [the UFC] put a one-dimensional ground fighter against him. [Silva] went to the ground with him in the second round. The guy didn’t do anything with him. So then what? Look at the rest of the fight. [Leites] would dodge a punch and go to his back. It was ridiculous.

“After watching the fight on TV, I thought [Silva] fought a good fight. He didn’t finish him, but I thought he fought a good fight. Technically, I really didn’t see anything wrong with the way he fought. Who goes in there and fights five rounds with somebody and doesn’t even have a mark on his face? Not too many people can do that.”

“I think maybe [the UFC] should take a look at who the competitors are they’re putting [Silva] up against,” Soares said. “At the end of the day, he’s the champion. Some guy is walking in there trying to take his belt. You need to take the belt from the champion.

“I take nothing away from Thales Leites. He did everything he possibly could. But if [the UFC] wants to see engaging, if they want to see an exciting fight, then put somebody that’s going to charge him and fight. It’s not the champion’s responsibility to fall into the challenger’s game to make it seem like an interesting fight. He’s the champion.”

Tags: Anderson Silva, UFC