Paulo Filho. Photo: Carlos Ozório
The absence of Paulo Filho at Bitetti Combat 6 sparked some controversy. Paulão dropped off the card, but later asked to fight and returned to the event. The organization brought over Japan’s Yuki Sasaki to face him, but the Jiu-Jitsu black belt was nowhere to be found on weigh-in day.
“Since Chael Sonnen situation (postponement of the fight and later his first loss), he is struggling with problems,” said Paulo’s manager, Ed Soares, to MMAJunkie.
“There is only so much we can do. We love Paulo, he is a great person, he’s amazing. But he is going through some problems. He came back against Melvin Manhoef and won some fights, but is still is going through a rough patch, “he said.
According to Soares, after the Sonnen debacle, they tried to take Filho to the U.S., for a change of air. It did not pan out, though.
“It’s obvious this situation didn’t come about in a couple of days and won’t go away in that time, either. It will be a long process to let him out of it,” he added.