• UFC 131

Silva raises doubts over Lesnar withdrawal

ESPN staff
May 17, 2011
Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva: 'That big guy doesn't like being punched' © Getty Images
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Antonio 'Bigfoot' Silva suspects Brock Lesnar is exaggerating the extent of his diverticulitis because he is reluctant to face big-punching Junior dos Santos.

Lesnar pulled out of his clash with Dos Santos, which was scheduled for UFC 131, and has been replaced by Shane Carwin on the bill.

He has suffered from diverticulitis before, and claims that he has "never been above 85%" in his two fights back since he succumbed to the illness the first time.

"I don't want to judge anyone and I really wish it's not a big health problem for [Lesnar], but I have some doubts," Silva told sherdog.com. "That big guy doesn't like being punched. In his last fights, he was put in the fetal position by Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez, which is humiliating for a fighter. I think he pulled out of the fight against 'Cigano,' who is a real heavy puncher and a real tough opponent for someone who doesn't like being punched."

Lesnar is coming off a first-round defeat at the hands of Cain Velasquez that cost him his heavyweight title, one bout after he barely survived a war with Carwin.

While Lesnar has endured problems in and out of the ring of late, Silva's star has been on the rise after he beat the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in his last fight.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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