• UFC 134

A lion always beats an elephant - Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva has made an irrelevance of claims that Yushin Okami will be stronger than him at UFC 134, insisting: "If that's the big difference, then the elephant would be king of the jungle - not the lion."

Silva is preparing to defend his middleweight championship in front of his home fans in Rio, which may well provide the ideal setting for the Brazilian's best performance to date. The champion smells a big occasion better than anyone, and Okami arrives as the last man to have defeated him.

After 13 straight wins in the UFC, there are few question marks over Silva, but one remaining doubt exists over his ability to stop a world class wrestler. Chael Sonnen came within a whisker of beating the Spider, and now the American has trained Okami for Saturday's fight.

Okami claims he will be stronger than Silva, which may well be true, but Silva has always been about speed, precision and technique, and he believes those factors will always win out.

"If he thinks he's stronger than me, then that indicates what he's going to try to do in the fight. I don't think strength plays that big of a difference," Silva predicted.

"If that's the big difference, then the elephant would be king of the jungle - not the lion.

"I believe Okami will come very well prepared. I have no idea if he will stand with me or try to take me down.

"One thing I know is I will come very well prepared. Anything can happen, but I can guarantee I'll come well prepared. I want to tell the world that this will be a fight you're not gonna want to miss."

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