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Anderson Silva is 'MMA's greatest' - Dana White

Anderson Silva: The greatest mixed martial artist ever? © Getty Images

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Anderson Silva reiterated his intention to see out his UFC career in the middleweight division on Thursday, but that did not stop president Dana White labelling the Brazilian "the greatest mixed martial artist ever."

White and Silva were in Rio for the official announcement of UFC 134, which sees Silva meet Yushin Okami for the middleweight title in the main event. Also on the card, former light-heavyweight champions Mauricio Shogun Rua and Forrest Griffin square off, heavyweights Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Brendan Schaub throw down, while at lightweight England's Ross Pearson meets Edson Barboza.

Silva received the usual questions about superfights at the press conference, but he ruled out an assault on the 205lb division, saying: "I intend to stay in this division, at this weight."

President White usually takes issue with fighters not taking on the greatest challenges possible to them, but he reserved huge praise for Silva, whom he has always said is the No. 1 pound-for-pounder in the world.

"He hasn't lost a fight in five years," White said. "He's never lost in the UFC. The last time he lost was to Yushin Okami in October 2006. He's got the most title defences ever, with eight. He's got the longest [UFC] win streak ever, at 13-0. And in my opinion, he's the greatest mixed martial artist ever. Ever, period."

Silva had a warning for the non-Brazilians on the card at UFC 134, revealing his compatriots are treating it like a team event, meaning pride is very much on the line.

"In my opinion, me and my colleagues, this is the Brazilian team," Silva said. "Like the Brazilian soccer team against the world, basically. I'm very happy to be here in Brazil. It's motivation. For sure, I'm going to give it all to represent my country, my Brazilian fans and my family as well."

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