• UFC Rio

Silva claims Okami could have fought on in 2006

ESPN staff
April 19, 2011
Anderson Silva has not lost since 2006 © UFC
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Anderson Silva has broken his silence over his memories of his last loss to Yushin Okami, claiming the Japanese fighter could have fought on in their collision back in 2006.

Silva's 14-fight win streak dates back to a disqualification loss to Okami, when the current UFC middleweight champion delivered an illegal upkick to the jaw of his opponent. Okami had the opportunity to fight on but decided that he couldn't, and he angered Silva by celebrating the "victory" once he had regained his surroundings.

At UFC Rio, Silva gets the chance for revenge, and he promised that bad things happen to people who do not act with respect inside the Octagon.

"I was a little surprised with his reaction to that [upkick]," Silva said in the LA Times. "Do I think he could have continued? I do think he could have continued. But he had the rules in his favour. I did an illegal kick and he chose that it was better not to continue.

"The thing I always demand is respect," Silva continued, having previously labelled Okami a 'Samurai without honour'. "I respect everybody and have a history in the sport and I believe people need to respect me. When they cross that line of respect is when they don't really understand what happens.

"And things happen to them that they never imagined would happen. To me, you have to keep respect. When you don't, not good things are going to happen to you."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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