• UFC 134

Anderson Silva to emulate football heroes with Rio win

ESPN staff
August 26, 2011
Anderson Silva v Yushin Okami

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has promised the Brazilian public that his fight with Yushin Okami will play out like a football match this weekend.

Silva has won 13 consecutive fights in the UFC, but his clash with Okami is different on account of the fact he will be in front of his home fans. Rio plays host to UFC 134, and spectators arrive expecting something big from their greatest fighter.

As a football-mad nation, Silva knows all too well that he has many sporting heroes to live up to from previous decades. Indeed, he is signed to the marketing company of legendary striker Ronaldo, who won two World Cups.

Silva sees his fight with Okami unravelling like an international match between Brazil and Japan, namely that Brazil win - but with Silva delivering the telling blows.

"I imagine the fight exactly like this: 'The game begins... Brazil v Japan. Bebeto starts from the left, Denilson from the right - shoots and scores. 1-0 Brazil!

"Here we go again, shoots and scores, 2-0 Brazil! Goal! Brazil is the champion!"

If victorious on Saturday, Silva could be heading for a clash with Georges St-Pierre or Jon Jones, with UFC president Dana White admitting the champion is desperate for meaningful fights.

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