MMANews.com's own Luis Cruz spoke with one of the most talked about new faces in MMA – Antonio “Junior” Silva – earlier today about his upcoming debut with Elite XC at “Destiny” on February 10th (airing on SHOWTIME). Below is a complete transcript of the discussion, with translation provided by Antonio Silva's manager and agent Alex Davis.
Luis Cruz for MMANews.com: This is Luis Cruz at MMANews.com and I'm joined here with Antonio Silva. The new giant who has joined Elite XC's squad of up and coming fighters. Translating for Silva will be his manager/agent/translator Alex. First things first, who has Antonio been training with?
Antonio “Junior” Silva: I'm training with American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida.
MMANews.com: Oh ok, so you have a real good team.
Antonio Silva: Yeah, one of the best.
MMANews.com: How is training for the fight going?
Antonio Silva: Oh training is intense. I'm having a good time really stepping it up, you know and I'm having fun.
MMANews.com: No injuries or anything?
Antonio Silva: No, no. Just the normal soreness here and there. That's it.
MMANews.com: For people who are unfamiliar with you, can you tell us a bit about yourself, what got you into MMA and what kind of style you bring?
Antonio Silva: Ever since I was four years old I started in karate, then I did jiu-jitsu and it was a natural thing for me so I ended up in MMA.
MMANews.com: What are your major goals in this sport?
Antonio Silva: To be the best.
MMANews.com: This is just out of curiosity, what did you do before mixed-martial arts, have you always been a fighter?
Antonio Silva: I've always done martial arts, but before this I was security for armored cars.
MMANews.com: People began to take notice of you during your run in K-1 HERO's and there has actually been talk that people feel you are the guy to end the run of arguably the king of MMA right now – Fedor Emelianenko. Were there ever any talks of getting that fight to happen?
Antonio Silva: Yes, there were. We had an offer to fight Fedor in Bodog and actually Fedor was the one who turned it down.
MMANews.com: Wow, was it a contract dispute with PRIDE or what?
Antonio Silva: No, I think it was because the fight would have taken place in Russia and Fedor decided that there was a risk in that fight.
MMANews.com: Really, ok. That's news to me. I actually didn't know that one. Now you had a bit of a set back in your last fight, the controversial loss to Eric Pele. The referee actually stepped in a little too soon in my opinion and most other people's opinion. How much did that frustrate you and were you physically hurt at anytime during that stoppage?
Antonio Silva: I wasn't feeling hurt, I was looking for an opportunity to sweep or submit him since I have very good jiu-jitsu, but they didn't give me a chance to show it. I learned a lesson and I'm not going to let that happen again.
MMANews.com: How frustrating was it for you? Are you looking for a rematch or are you past that now?
Antonio Silva: It didn't really frustrate me, but it bugged me because I had a perfect record and never lost. Yes, I would like to have that rematch.
MMANews.com: Before you get that rematch you have the big fight next Saturday, taking on “Cabbage” Wesley Correira at Elite XC's debut show. Now, what do you know about Cabbage and what is your game plan going into this fight?
Antonio Silva: I know that Cabbage is a tough guy, he takes a lot of punishment. I'm going to do my same game plan. I feel very comfortable standing up, I just had a little bit of bad luck in my last fight, and I'm going to pretty much pursue the same way I always fight.
MMANews.com: So you're pretty much prepared to stand and trade with Cabbage?
Antonio Silva: That's what my game plan is.
MMANews.com: Is there anything you're worried about in Cabbage's game. Maybe his heavy hands or something?
Antonio Silva: A fight is a fight, I'm not really worried. I'm a professional, I'm going to go in with my head on and do what I have to do.
MMANews.com: Now this is your first fight on major TV in the United States, is there any added pressure knowing this is your big welcoming show here in the U.S.?
Antonio Silva: It doesn't put any pressure on me because in Japan I fought in front of a lot of big audiences for K-1 HERO's. I'm very happy to be here and I'm going to try my best to do a great show. I'm happy to be fighting on SHOWTIME.
Antonio “Junior” Silva debuts for Elite XC on SHOWTIME on February 10th
MMANews.com: If you win, what are you looking for next? Are you looking for anybody specific or what?
Antonio Silva: No, I don't pick my opponents. I'll take anybody that comes. I'm comfortable with anybody, I don't have any specific opponent in mind. If they do put [Eric] Pele in front of me again, I'd like to fight him.
MMANews.com: Let me get your thoughts on some of the other big guys in the sport. I'm talking about guys like Giant Silva, Akebono, etc.
Antonio Silva: They need to train a lot to be the best because what I've seen so far they aren't showing me anything I think is really impressive.
MMANews.com: I'm going to ask you a series of three questions just so people get to know you better outside of the sport. What's a normal meal like for you, like what would be a normal breakfast for you?
Antonio Silva: I have a normal breakfast. I eat a lot of fruits. Pretty standard – eggs, fruit, cereal.
MMANews.com: As far as eggs go, how many eggs do you eat – two or three omlets like bodybuilders? I'm just curious how much you eat for a guy your size.
Antonio Silva: I usually have four eggs, some bread and some fruit juice.
MMANews.com: Oh ok, so nothing out of the ordinary. I was just curious about that. Now, did you ever play any other sports that you might have wanted to pursue that you didn't?
Antonio Silva: I admire soccer.
MMANews.com: Did you ever play soccer?
Antonio Silva: Yeah, I used to play. And I love gymnastics but I don't think I have the body for that.
MMANews.com: [laughs] That'd be a little difficult. Lastly, can you tell us something people wouldn't guess just by looking at you. Something that would surprise us to know about you outside of MMA.
Antonio Silva: They say here in America that Bigfoot doesn't exist. I'm here to prove that theory wrong.
MMANews.com: [laughs] Is there any sponsors you want to mention, anything to say to your fans before we let you go?
Antonio Silva: I want to thank the American Top Team, I want to thank Alex Davis for managing me and I'd like to thank my family for all of the love and support they give me. And my physical trainer in Brazil. And the Nogueira brothers.
MMANews.com: Thanks for taking a few minutes to talk to me.
Antonio Silva: No problem.
MMANews.com: And thank you Alex for translating.
Alex Davis: Oh translating is the easy part, the hard part is warming him up.
Don't forget to catch Antonio “Junior” Silva in action on February 10th on SHOWTIME for Elite XC as he'll be competing against UFC veteran Wesley “Cabbage” Correira. For more information on Antonio Silva and Elite XC, visit EliteXC.com.
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