Chael Sonnen Calls Anderson Silva’s PED Defense Ridiculous

All-time great and former long-time UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva finally went in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission last week regarding multiple failed drug tests surrounding his UFC 183 unanimous decision win over Nick Diaz.

Silva, after an almost shockingly embarrassing defense, was handed a hefty fine, and a one year suspension from fighting. Fans, and the media were baffled by Silva’s answers and responses at the hearing, and it seems as if one of “The Spider’s” old foes, Chael Sonnen, is no different.

Recently speaking with MMAMania, Sonnen, who has also popped for performance-enhancing-drugs (PEDs) during his career, although clearly admitting it, stated that fighters who lie and deny using PEDs are the ones who receive a harsher punishment.

“The American Gangster” also said that Silva’s defense was silly and ridiculous:

“Guys who dig their heels in and come out and deny and lie and refuse to admit the findings of the test have always been treated more harshly. In Anderson’s case, he went down swinging all the way to the end … the defense was very silly and ridiculous. I’m just not sure why he thought he needed to put it up there.”

UFC 183 was actually Silva’s first fight back from a gruesome leg injury that he suffered against current middleweight champion Chris Weidman at UFC 168. Sonnen believes that it would be understandable for Silva to use PEDs to help his leg heal, but if so then “The Spider” shouldn’t have competed.

The former multi-time title challenger also claimed that Silva insulted people’s intelligence at the hearing:

“These tests are bulletproof. It was found in his system and that’s the end of it. The reason why it was in his system is simply irrelevant. Guys that end up in this spot — and I’m one of those guys, I can tell you from firsthand experience — like to make a big case and a big show about why it was in their system. But look guys, it’s pass-fail. You took and you competed. You’re in violation…. I think ethically, he had the right to turn to the free market or black market if he’s trying to heal his leg. What he cannot do is also compete. He’s got to choose one. He didn’t need to touch on five different dimensions and insult everyone’s intelligence. Just tell everybody, ‘Yeah, I did it.'”

Should Silva have simply owned up to his mistakes like Sonnen says he should have?