• UFC Rio

Okami 'not intimidated' by Anderson Silva

ESPN staff
May 6, 2011
Yushin Okami is the last man to defeat Anderson Silva © UFC
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Yushin Okami has vowed not to be intimidated when he fights Anderson Silva at UFC Rio.

Silva is yet to lose in his long UFC career, and he is widely considered the best pound-for-pounder in the world. Certainly he reigns supreme in the middleweight division, and few expect Okami to change that.

However, Okami is the last man to defeat Silva - albeit via disqualification - and significantly he has a wrestling base. Silva's toughest UFC fight came against another wrestler in Chael Sonnen, and Okami is adamant he will succeed where Sonnen ultimately failed.

"My opponent is the champion Anderson, the fight is in Brazil, and I am the challenger. I'd say that the table has been set," he told MMA Fighting.

"He's got an aura that intimidates any opponent. I'm going to take that aura away from him. I will guarantee that he will not be bored when fighting me."

Silva was disqualified in the pair's first meeting due to an illegal upkick, after which the champion believes Okami could have fought on.

"It doesn't matter what he thinks," said Okami. "All I think about is defeating Anderson."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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