Legendary UFC fighter Anderson Silva has had his struggles with media commitments in the past, but he has offered a unique and timely take on the increasingly acrimonious split between Conor McGregor and the UFC.
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Silva defended his UFC middleweight a record 10 times and it was well known, during the height of his powers, that he struggled with the media circus that often surrounds the world's foremost MMA promotion, often making it known that he was attending press conferences reluctantly.
McGregor, arguably the UFC's biggest star behind Ronda Rousey, refused to travel to New York for a UFC 200 press conference, looking to focus on training after his devastating first UFC loss to Nate Diaz.
This led UFC president Dana White to sensationally pull McGregor from his headlining rematch with the Stockton fighter.
The dispute has largely played out on Twitter, where McGregor announced his retirement and then his comeback in the space of three days.
Last week he tweeted that he was back on the UFC 200 card, a statement immediately shot down by Mr White.
Happy to announce that I am BACK on UFC 200!
Shout out to @danawhite and @lorenzofertitta on getting this one done for the fans. #Respect— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) April 25, 2016
Pulling McGregor from the card, which will now be headlined by a light heavyweight unification bout between champion Daniel Cormier and interim champion Jon Jones, may cost the UFC an estimated $45 million dollars, but neither side is prepared to back down.
Fighters have been quick to comment on the situation, but Silva, once considered the pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world, had remained quiet until now.
Silva told Fairfax Media McGregor had signed a contract, and he should abide by that agreement.
"I think that neither the UFC nor McGregor are 100 per cent wrong," he said.
"I do think that once you sign a contract, which includes promoting an event, then that's what you have to do."
The Brazilian legend said attending press conferences, even reluctantly, was part of the job, regardless of how McGregor felt about the situation.
"I understand, I've gone through this in the past many times.
"As a fighter, we think our job is to go in there and fight ... I know as a fighter how hard it is to leave your country in between camps to go on promotional tours.
"I've done all that and I've disagreed with it a few times, but I understand both of their sides."
Silva will take on explosive Jamaican-American fighter Uriah Hall next Sunday at UFC 198.
