MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Cat--Smasher]

Bigfoot Silva Q&A: Wants a crack at Alistair Overeem

Fighters Only/Eduardo Cruz: What has changed on your career since you were hired by the UFC?

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva: My goals have changed and also my thoughts are to train even more, to look for a victory.

FO: You were knocked out in your last fight at Strikeforce. What did you learn from that loss to Daniel Cormier?

I learnt we have to respect and take every fighters seriously. I will never take the shine of Daniel Cormier’s victory away. If he beat me it was because he was better and in his night but I was feeling my shoulder too bad and had to take two shots to be able to fight.

Besides this, I also thought that because I had defeated Fedor [Emelianenko] that [Cormier] would not be able to beat me. I paid dearly for those thoughts.

FO: Did you re-evaluate the aspects of your career that needed to be worked on?

Yes. First off, I need to stay humble and second, I have to work hard on my speed and striking skills.

FO: After Brock Lesnar’s retirement, what fighter has turned out your principal rival in the UFC?

I don’t have rivals. We’re professionals but as for my wish… if I have the chance one day, I want to fight Alistair Overeem.

FO: What is your opinion about team mates fighting each other?

It is hard, after all, training partners train every day together and it won’t be a good fight for the public because both know each other and recognize where the other is good at.

FO: Would you fight Junior dos Santos or Rodrigo Nogueira for heavyweight belt?

I was instructed by my management not to talk about this subject at all.

FO: Does Fedor Emelianenko deserve to fight for UFC yet? In your opinion, is he still able to be the champion?

Yes, he does. He was a great fighter and he still can be a great fighter but being the UFC champion? I think it is difficult for him.

FO: How many victories do you believe are necessary to get the title shot?

I think today to get to the title shot, its necessary to win at least three times.

FO: What do you make of your opponent for your debut in UFC?

It was a great choice. He is a man who always puts on good fights and has already faced the best of the divison. He is very experienced but I want to win and I will win.

FO: Junior dos Santos hit him for three rounds and could not knock him out. Do you intend to follow the same strategy standing, or perhaps the way to the win is on the ground?

I gotta be in great condition to fight on the feet and on the mat if it is necessary.

FO: Your statements regarding the UFC title contention between Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem have been confident. Why you have afirmed with so much conviction that “Cigano” will be the winner?

Junior has cardio to fight for five rounds if necessary but Overeem doesn’t. Junior has a better conditioning, agility and he is very strong as well. I watched and participated in ground trainings with Junior dos Santos and you will be surprised when you see him fight on the ground.

FO: Bigfoot, thanks one last time. What would you like to say to your fanbase in Brazil and in the rest of the world?

I want to send a big hug for all my fans and promise I will give my best in the upcoming fights.

Bigfoot Silva Q&A: Wants a crack at Alistair Overeem - Fighters Only

[sproggy]

Never heard about the shots for his shoulder. What did he take and why didn't interviewer ask about it?

[Sniggles]

Bigfoot is more humble than the title insinuates.

[Cat--Smasher]

Back with American Top Team, Antonio Silva primed for UFC debut | MMAjunkie.com

"I am honored to be in the UFC, where the best fighters in the world are," Silva told MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) through a translator. "I want to face the best, and I will give it everything I have."

Silva's first step toward righting the ship was to address a nagging shoulder injury. He underwent the process in November, and he said physical therapy was a complete success.

"My shoulder was really giving me a lot of trouble," Silva admitted. "I was fighting and training in a lot of pain."

Next was a new (old) training camp, as the arrival of Alistair Overeem to Florida's Blackzilians camp led Silva to seek a return to American Top Team. While there has been some speculation that Silva's departure from the Blackzilians came with great tension, "Bigfoot" insists it was simply a professional decision based on the idea that he may one day need to face Overeem, the UFC's current No. 1 heavyweight contender.

"First of all, I was never part of the Blackzilians team," Silva said. "I would go there to see and train with my friends. The moment I heard that they had signed Overeem, I stopped going there. I might fight him in the near future, so I don't want to train with him. I have good friends there, though.

"I came back to ATT. I spoke to Dan Lambert, as he is one of my managers. I have many friends there, and they received me with open arms."

Following Silva's loss to Cormier, Strikeforce officials announced they would disband the heavyweight division. Silva was brought to the UFC and initially was linked to a potential matchup with ex-champ Cain Velasquez. Instead, he now meets Roy Nelson (16-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC) at May's UFC 146 event.

Nelson is just 1-3 in his past four fights and is in desperate need of a positive result. Meanwhile, Silva also hopes to rebound from his recent loss and expects fireworks in the matchup.

"Both of us need a victory," Silva said. "I have been training hard since December, and this fight will be a war.

"Roy is a great and tough fighter. He has fought the best, and I want to start with the right foot in the UFC."

Silva was once the EliteXC heavyweight champion before that organization closed its doors. He was considered one of Strikeforce's top contenders before he was eliminated by Cormier in the grand-prix matchup. Now, with his career again pointed in a different direction, Silva has his sights set on UFC gold.

That said, he refuses to look past Nelson in what he considered one of the most important bouts of his career.

"I will only concentrate on Roy – with the same determination I had with Fedor Emelianenko," Silva said. "All I want to accomplish are good fights for my fans, and I want the UFC happy with me. I need to establish myself in the event. There is a long road to a title shot.

"I want to thank first of all God. I thank the UFC for giving me this opportunity, and I will always give my best when I enter that cage. I want to thank my managers, Alex Davis and Dan Lambert, ATT and Team Nogueira. I will be constantly looking for a knockout or a sub."

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by Degenero

Bigfoot is more humble than the title insinuates.

I've been a big fan of Silva for years. He gets an undeserved bad rap because of the way the CSAC screwed up his juicing case [Armando Garcia might be the worst thing to happen to combat sports since Don King] but he's a bonafide monster, and has potential to beat anyone on the planet.

rh

[krayven]

I can see why beating Fedor especially the way he did would make you feel kind of invincible. Can't be mad at him for that.

[IceCold48]

big foot is biting off more than he can chew...i'd be surprised if he lasts as long as lesnar did against reem.

Originally Posted by krayven

I can see why beating Fedor especially the way he did would make you feel kind of invincible. Can't be mad at him for that.

but getting floored and almost finished by mike kyle who is over 50 pounds lighter should keep him more humble.