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[Cat--Smasher]

Stephan Bonnar Turned Down Glover Teixeira For Low Twitter Followers

Then last week, when injuries struck both the main and co-main event of UFC 153, Bonnar got the call he'd been waiting for. However it wasn't the opponent he wanted (from MMA Junkie):

My manager hit me up and asked how I feel about fighting Glover Teixeira. And I said, 'You know my rule. If I'm going to do this again, he's got to have more Twitter followers than me.' I know it sounds cheesy, but it's true. That's how I feel. That's a measure of someone's popularity, and I just want a bigger name. The last three opponents, I've had more Twitter followers than them, and I've beat them, and I feel like I deserve a bigger name now. I really don't have an interest in fighting an up-and-comer type, guys who are climbing their way up and people don't really know how good they are. I've done that a lot in my career.

Fortunately for Bonnar, the UFC returned with another offer: Middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

There isn't (anything bigger. He's the best guy on everyone's pound-for-pound list, he's got 15 straight UFC victories, been a champion for six years or so. It's great, though, because I feel like I have nothing to lose. Fighting Anderson in his backyard, I'm a record-setting underdog. I couldn't ask for anything more.

I was thinking about it; if I win this fight, how am I ever going to top that? It's been hard enough trying to top the (first) Forrest fight all these years. Then if I freaking beat Anderson Silva, talk about a perfect storybook ending to a career.

Then on the other side, if I beat Anderson Silva, then voila – I could probably get that coaching gig with Forrest, I could probably get a new contract and get paid a lot of money to fight. It's an interesting dilemma, but one that I'm pretty thankful to be close to having – or just have the opportunity to have.

UFC 153: Stephan Bonnar Turned Down Glover Teixeira For Low Twitter Followers - Bloody Elbow

[Fe1]

He knows he doesn't have many fights left and he wants to fight big names. I get it.

[disposableassassin]

I get it too. He has the desire for one more fight and he wanted it to be a big one. That's fine.

[mmawolverine]

an opportunity worthy of the man receiving it, i'll be rooting for bonnar, if this is to be his last fight what a great oppportunity to go out with a bang, win or lose i just hope he gets to show everything he's got, other than chael's first attempt and maybe dan henderson nobody even looked like they belong in the octagon with the spider, bonnar via tko in round 3

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Nobody at LHW wants to fight Glover, regardless of Twitter followers.

[1inthechamber]

I like Silva but its hard for me to root against an underdog, so im ok with whoever wins. But if he wins and retires, every mma site will explode lol and if he retires it would even funnier. Makes me wonder if Silva would retire with a loss, I mean he's not getting any younger either.

[Mac]

So it's OK for some fighters to pick and choose fights but not others. OK, got it.

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by Mac

So it's OK for some fighters to pick and choose fights but not others. OK, got it.

I think it depends on a few things.

Their ranking in the division, if they hold a title or not, are they retiring or not.

Plenty of factors.

Should the champion of a division pick and choose fights? No. Fight the #1 contender.

[AnchorPunch]

Originally Posted by Mac

So it's OK for some fighters to pick and choose fights but not others. OK, got it.

As long as you're not the champ and you're not demanding title contention, who cares if you pick and choose? I think that's the argument for guys like Bonnar who are near retirement and not going for gold anymore.

In that position, they can't mess up the belt or other challengers. They only help or hurt their own reputation and cash flow. Fine with me.

[Sniggles]

Originally Posted by Fedorlei Gomipierre

Nobody at LHW wants to fight Glover, regardless of Twitter followers.

Has nothing to do with how he is not an established name as of yet?

It is about risk versus reward.