Big Tim Sylvia (born Timothy Deane Sylvia on March 5, 1976) is a long-time veteran of the sport and a five-time UFC heavyweight champion. Despite being possibly the greatest UFC heavyweight champion not named Randy Couture, the fans have never really taken to Tim for a variety of reasons, such as his freakish size, his passion for hunting, and other trivial reasons.
It seems most fans simply do not know the real Tim Sylvia.
It is especially sad to see some of the abuse he takes from so-called MMA fans that make fun of his looks. They call him fat, slobby, flabby, ogre, ugly, and other foul names. I wonder how many of them realize that Big Tim was physically and mentally abused by an alcoholic mother growing up?
The following are a few quotes from Tim about his abusive childhood:
"The rough life growing up plays a lot into what I do today. She is still in the back of my mind. I still got that spot inside me where I'm that fat piece of [expletive] that's never going to amount to anything; that she told me every day."
"She was very physical, abusive, you know, until I was about 12. And then I just grabbed her one day and said: Enough's enough. You're not hitting anymore. When she realized she couldn't hit me anymore she decided to mentally abuse me. I almost think I would rather get hit than be talked to the way she talked to me."
Big Tim admits that he is scarred from the verbal abuse of his mother, and that the fans reiterating some of the same old hateful insults his mom constantly used against him was the reason he took steroids before the Gan McGee fight.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The fans were calling him fat and flabby. He later admitted that the steroid usage was for shedding excess weight to look better. Sylvia apologized and made no effort to claim innocence, voluntarily giving up his belt.
Tim has also been criticized as a "boring" fighter, but one has to wonder how many of Sylvia's fights have these critics watched? Tim has been involved in some of the most exciting heavyweight matches the UFC has ever seen. His fight against Cabbage, the second bout against Arlovski, and the Minotauro Nogueira fight were all exceptional.
Tim has only put up one performance that could be labeled "boring" by some, and that is the third Arlovski meeting. But most true fans of the sport should be able to appreciate a 25-minute technical boxing match.
Big Tim has been the butt of jokes on MMA forums across the web for his unusually honest answers during TV and radio interviews. The most infamous is probably when Tim admitted to a reporter that he was sick going into his fight against Assuerio Silva and, at some point during the bout, he said he "sharted" himself a little bit. Ewww!
Another infamous Sylvia moment came during a Sherdog radio interview:
"I’ve had sex before with the belt on. That was back in the Ricco Rodriguez days. The night I won the belt I had a sexual experience with the belt on. But hey, I was 25 years old and it was the biggest thing that ever had happened to me in my life. The girl was like hey, are you going to take that thing off. And I said no, I’m not…I’m wearing it and if you have a problem with it, then I’m leaving."
In bed was not the only strange place that Tim would wear his belt. When he was reigning as champion, he made it a point to take his belt everywhere. And I mean everywhere. He took the belt to all the UFC events that he attended. He was rarely seen in public without it. There were sightings of Tim at the supermarket with his belt.
Other events in Tim's past that only add fuel to the fire include appearing on the TV show Blind Date, baring his bottom in a prison shower scene in the movie The Death and Life of Bobby Z, selling his PlayStation on eBay, appearing in a dance contest Youtube video, and having a fling with supermodel Patrycja Mikula (Andrei Arlovski's long-time girlfriend, shown in photo).
In summary, I would simply like to state that Tim Sylvia is a great fighter and a nice guy. Tim, like most fighters, does charity events that usually go unnoticed, and he always takes time out for fans for autographs and pictures.
I'm not sure exactly when it became the "cool" thing to make fun of Tim, but I sincerely hope that some of those that have made Sylvia-bashing remarks in the past will re-evaluate Tim. He's a champion that gets hot chicks and has a sweet ride!
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about 1 month ago
Nice article, Goober,
I was physically abused by my alcoholic mother till age 12. I, too, finally held her off and said, "No more. That was your last shot."
She also passed on her alcoholic genes onto me.
Mental abuse? Tim Silvia, me, and millions of others went through years of that. Chicks and a sweet ride didn't control my PTSD. Years of therapy and meds do that. Maybe Tim took care of himself and he's feeling pretty good these days. I took care of business years ago, and I've felt fantastic ever since.
from about 1 month ago
Kurt Vonnegut once said, "I'm a monopolar depressant, that's how come I write so good."
about 1 month ago
Excellent read. I'm not the biggest Sylvia fan and don't agree with the amount of money he was paid to fight Fedor, but people should really let up on him in other areas.
about 1 month ago
Ha, great article man. Sad, funny, and somehow uplifting as the same time. Great supporting quotes too. Any thoughts on whats next for the Big Man?
from about 1 month ago
A couple weeks back there were reports that both DREAM and Sengoku were interested in signing Tim. If Tim decides to go over to Japan, then the most likely fights for him are with Overeem, Cro Cop, or Sergei. All three of those fights would be fun. And, of course, the Japanese love their freak show matches...so maybe a Tim vs. {random big Japanese pro wrestler}? :)
about 1 month ago
I wasn't a big Tim Sylvia fan until now...Having sex with the belt on is hilarious!!! Best thing I've heard all day!!
from about 1 month ago
lol, I agree that was classic. He is a total Napoleon Dynamite (as the article references). Tim, are you going to have sex with your belt on today: Maybe I will, GOSH!
from about 1 month ago
Another one of those foot-in-mouth moments happened in the following interview (about sex before fights):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYMqPlyVA7w
about 1 month ago
Bashing Tim Sylvia is a popular thing to do. Those who think he sucks as a fighter need to ask Couture, who tells you the opposite in an interview. Nog was nearly finished by Tim, and that fight could have easily been stopped with a different ref. Also, I strongly doubt that AA, Vera, Ricco or Rothwell would agree that Tim is not a good fighter.
Also, bashing Tim is a popular way to discredit Fedor. Before the Fedor-Tim fight Randy, Crocop, Nog and several other top fighters gave Tim at least 50% chance to beat Fedor.
Here is a BR poster stoker's "article" where he states that Tim "can do it" (beat Fedor) etc etc etc
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/37461-tim-sylvia-upset-possible
I think Tim will silence some of his critics with his next few fights.
from about 1 month ago
lol, you had to go and jab stoker didn't you. Where do you see Sylvia landing next?
from about 1 month ago
Hey Bry!
I was under the impression that Tim is still with Affliction and was planning to fight Rothwell again or someone like that.
If there were any changes in Tim's plans, than I was not aware. I don't keep up with his website :)
Also, I, by no means meant to take a shot at stoker. I was simply giving an example of just how many people gave Tim a good shot at Fedor. In particular, there was a VERY popular video on youtube, which specifically stated that Fedor is AFRAID of Tim Sylvia, and this was reported by Dave Meltzer, and made front page of Sherdog.
Well... as we have learned, this is not entirely true :) I mean, Fedor didn't look afraid, did he? So, now MANY people are quick to discredit Tim. This is not fair to Tim OR Fedor. Think about it, Fedor and Tim fought each other. No other fighter was involved in the fight. So how can BOTH fedor AND Tim lose credibility after that fight? People now say Tim is not good, and fedor fought a no-good fighter LOL
from about 1 month ago
I actually have an article I would be interested in seeing you right Anthony- and of course its about Fedor, with a twist that I am sure only you could pull off. Let me know if your interested in hearing the concept =)
And your right about the Tim-Fedor thing. Sylvia is still at Top 10 HW. Anyone who says different is just posturing.
from about 1 month ago
What's your idea for an article Brian?
I'd love to see Tim fight someone else in Affliction. It would be a pity if he leaves after just one fight and less than a minute in the ring :(
And like you asked earlier, Fedor-Lesnar is very unlikely. Mostly because Nog will probably take care of Brock :)
(Strangely enough I'll be rootin for Lesnar in that fight, and for Mir VS Nog, but I don't think that either of them can beat Nog. I like all 3 fighters thou.)
from about 1 month ago
check your profile page for the answer =)
about 1 month ago
Timmay
about 1 month ago
Good article and good read. I'm not an advocate of Tim Sylvia but do believe he is underrated and this new side of him certainly makes me view him differently.
about 1 month ago
Tim and Dream would be a great marriage.
I hope Tim makes the right decision.
from about 1 month ago
Technically he could fight for both right. Affliction and Dream dont put their fighters on lock down like the UFC does.
from about 1 month ago
Correct. Affliction doesn't do exclusive contracts because they may only be able to put on a handful of shows a year, so there fighters need to be able to earn some money outside of Affliction as well. So Tim could go to Japan and fight for Dream and still come back to the states and fight for Affliction when they have something for him.
about 1 month ago
You guys thought Tim's fight with Vera was exciting? I must have been watching the wrong fight.
My mother who was never an alcoholic, but a highly educated woman, was physically and mentally abussive. It is apparently related to something genetic in our family that skips every other generation. Her grandmother was a living terror who killed baby chicks and kittens in front of her and made her cry and fear for her own life. This type of abuse is perpetuated throught the generations, possibly as a learned behavior, and is as destructive as alcoholism or sexual abuse. It is tragic, hidden and more common than believed, but thank God people can survive and overcome it.
about 1 month ago
Tim, is that you?
Just kidding. This is an excellent article Goober. You'll find that the MMA community on here is much more responsive and respectful than on Sherdog :)
As for Sylvia-Arlovski II, that was one of the most exciting fights I've ever seen. Watching that match live was intense and shocking. One of the best comebacks ever no doubt. My jaw dropped for about half an hour after the fight ended. Tim Sylvia was hurt baaaaad!!!
Too many people forget that Tim had a back injury in the Couture fight. I think a rematch would play out differently. I'd like to see Tim fight Cro Cop and Aleksander Emelianenko. As for his last contest, I wouldn't mind stepping into the ring with Fedor for 800k either :)
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