Jared Cannonier not about to let Anderson Silva injury talk discredit UFC 237 win

RIO DE JANEIRO – Jared Cannonier had the biggest win of his career Saturday night, and he’s not about to let anyone take even the slightest bit of credit away from his moment.

Cannonier felled the legendary Anderson Silva with a ruthless inside leg kick that landed on the back side of Silva’s right knee, causing the end of their UFC 237 middleweight co-feature bout late in the first round.

And while the 44-year-old Silva (34-10 MMA, 17-6 UFC) said afterwards that he had a knee injury going into the fight, Cannonier (12-4 MMA, 5-4 UFC) shot that talk down with the quickness.

“What kind of injury was it?” Cannonier asked during the post-fight news conference at Jeunesse Arena. “Did he have just a boo-boo on his leg, or was it a bruise, or was something torn?  I don’t know. Nobody knows. It is what it is. I went in there and did my job.”

For his part, Cannonier said he injured his ribs right before traveling to Brazil, and that injuries are a part of the game fighter faces.

“A lot of people came in here with injuries,” Cannonier said. “The Thursday before I came here, I displaced my ribs. And I got kicked twice by Anderson, three times by Anderson, you know? So, I didn’t know his leg was injured. I’m just doing my job. If he had an injured leg, he shouldn’t be fighting. You know what I’m saying? But that’s Anderson Silva, he can get in there and continue and do what he’s done.”

The crowd certainly didn’t appreciate Cannonier, who cupped his ear to the the audience after scoring the knockout, then soaked in all the jeers. And while Cannonier said he meant no malice, he wasn’t walking back his actions, either.

“I guess I sort of provoked it by winning,” Cannonier said. “Also by doing that little ear thing, but they already was booing as I was walking out. I didn’t let it get to me. I just responded, sort of like poking the bear. But there’s no animosity toward anybody, you know what I’m saying? I think the crowd booed a lot more because I sort of provoked it a little bit with the ear thing and also some immaturity just sort of let it go and ride and ride. I expected as much. It wasn’t my intent to aggravate anymore or antagonize or anything like that.”

Just don’t tell Cannonier he only won because Silva was injured.

“I’m not going to say his leg was injured, and that’s why I won,” Cannonier said. “No, I kicked him in the leg, and that’s why I won.”

For more on UFC 237, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.