Demian Maia: Steven Seagal-Anderson Silva relationship is all a lie

Steven Seagal’s relationship with UFC fighter Anderson Silva is all a sham, according to another fighter.

Seagal is an MMA fighter and instructor who developed a successful career in the movies. Though he is most known for being an actor, Seagal is knowledgeable about the fight game and was even credited with helping Silva beat Vitor Belfort by teaching him a devastating front kick. Though the relationship between the two has been a notable storyline in MMA the past few years, Brazilian fighter Demian Maia told a Brazilian TV station that the relationship is fake.

“It’s a lie. It’s marketing,” Maia said, according to a translation by MMA.tv shared by Bloody Elbow. “Like every actor from Hollywood, when Seagal saw Anderson’s success, he glued himself to him. He was down on his career and made it up again. It worked because he appeared in the media again. He never taught Silva anything … For everyone who knows about it, it’s a joke.”

Allow me to call b.s. on Maia. Seagal said that Silva reached out to him in 2011. Was that just for marketing purposes? I’m sure marketing has a lot to do with it — Seagal has even gotten Silva into a movie — but why would it be so tough to believe that Seagal actually helped Silva with some moves? Maybe I’m a sucker and getting caught up in the story they’re trying to sell, but I do believe Seagal has helped Silva. I think Maia just has a negative thing with Silva after the way their fight at UFC 112 went three years ago.