Paulo Filho: I Won't Fight Anderson Silva

Whatever fate awaits the WEC's middleweight division, current champion Paulo Filho is uninterested in a fight with teammate and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Filho recently today told Tatame.com he was not considering the bout despite recent comments from Ed Soares, manager for both Filho and Silva, to the contrary.

"Definitely no," Filho said of a potential bout with Silva. "We're close friends and I believe there's space for everybody [in the UFC]. It's definitely out of my plans."

Discussions of the bout first began with UFC President Dana White's recent comments that Zuffa LLC - owners of both the UFC and WEC - will merge the WEC's 205-pound and 185-pound divisions into the UFC.

The undefeated Filho is ranked second in WAMMA's most recent middleweight world rankings. Only Silva is ranked higher.

Filho has not fought since a controversial verbal submission win over Chael Sonnen in December 2007. Personal problems, including a reported chemical dependency issue as well as depression, have kept the 30-year-old out of the cage.

"I'm a new person now," Filho said of his recovery. "The depression is over and I'm ready for the war."

The war will be a second bout with Sonnen on Sept. 10 at World Extreme Cagefighting 36: Faber vs Brown in Hollywood, Fla.

Sonnen's comments that Filho's claims of needing time off for recovery from his personal challenges were unfounded have added fuel to the already-raging fire leading into the bout.

"Sonnen should have said it to me and not put [these] things in the media," Filho said. "I think he doesn't want to fight me again (and) lose another arm."

Despite being mentally ready for the fight, Filho admitted he still needs to cut additional weight before next week's bout.

"I have to train more," Filho said. "My real fight is with my weight. ... I need to lose weight. I'm with 93 kg (205 pounds), and I still have a lot to lose."

Source: mmajunkie.com