Props: MMARated.com
Quoteworthy:
"... we just don't see the advantage of fighting a UFC newcomer. The (Thiago) fight made a lot of sense and it was the one we wanted.... We would like to wait for Thiago to heal up. They are both 13-0, so let's see who gets to 14 first.... Nothing personal against Thiago. It's going to be a bummer to have to stand across the Octagon from him, but sometimes you have to fight your friends.... I text messaged (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva right after the fight on Saturday night and said we would fight Rashad next. But these guys know what they are doing. (UFC president) Dana (White) was saying that if Chuck (Liddell) got by Rashad, he would get a title shot but then Rashad beat Chuck and in that fashion (so) maybe that is the fight to promote. We would like to get a shot. (But) it's a business and they think that that fight makes more sense right now. We don't feel slighted."
Ed Soares -- the manager who represents top light heavyweight contender Lyoto Machida -- says that he and his fighter would prefer to wait until Thiago Silva heals from a back injury and fight him rather than someone else. Machida and Silva were booked to compete at UFC 89: "Leben vs. Bisping" in a 205-pound fight between two of the top contenders in the division who happen to also both be undefeated. It would have gone a long way toward establishing a number one contender after Rashad Evans gets his crack at division kingpin, Forrest Griffin. Soares makes a good point; however, Rich Franklin has also emerged as a great high-profile match up if Silva takes longer than expected to recover. And we all know that besides Anderson Silva, "The Dragon" is the only other man who has handed "Ace" a loss.