MMA Sport issue 12 interview exclusive with Thiago Silva
MMA Sports: Tell us about your thoughts about the fight with Alexander Houston?
Thiago Silva: I thought Houston was strong and a way explosive fighter. I trained hard and did specific training to annul his game. He has a strong punch and he is a knock-out machine! I imposed my game and my base, which means, I was planning to take the fight to the ground. Watching his fights, he won them all exchanging punches. He never went down in a fight and I decided to test him. I imposed my game and won the game.
MMA Sports: How did you start to train at American Top Team?
Thiago Silva: I’ll be honest with you. I’ve reached some high training levels in my career and I kind of needed a better training structure. My old gym, where I was training in São Paulo, with Jorge Patino Macaco, was not good enough… anymore. By the way the financial part was also not great too. We started to disagree about some issues and I decided to live in the U.S. I am friends with Alex Davis and now he’s my manager.
MMA Sports: When did you meet Davis?
Thiago Silva: He is such a friend. In fact I know a friend who knew him in childhood. So he introduced us and I renegotiated my contract with UFC and he offered to train me. I confess I was curious to know the whole structure and team and I realized the training was amazing. Team was very professional and so far I am loving it. This is my new home now.
MMA Sports: How is your Chute Boxe’s leaving?
Thiago Silva: Unfortunately was not good. Macaco and I had a disagreement about money and that’s not great, ever! In my opinion I thing everybody needs to earn honest money. He as a trainer and manager and I as a fighter. But unfortunately he wanted to make more money than he was supposed to. And I started to feel bad and decided to leave. That’s the truth. He told the press I abandoned him but behind the scenes he was forcing me to sign a contract that wouldn’t be good for me.
MMA Sports: So, tell us about this new contract?
Thiago Silva: I am closed with American Top Team, with Alex Davis. I cannot say too much, but I can tell you it’s a long and interesting contract. In my point of view it was great for both parts. Everybody is happy.
MMA Sports: Tell us about your training at ATT?
Thiago Silva: I like training with everybody, but especially with Wilson Gouveia, Jorginho, Antônio Pezão, the heavy ones. They make part of my training day… training is awesome. Talking about the trainers, Wally trains our Muay Thai, who is doing a great job with us. There is André, our physical trainer, Howard, who teaches Boxing, Carmelo, who trains Wrestling and Ricardo Libório, who trains Jiu-Jitsu. There is a great structure and you see the results in really few time. You have to keep following the evolution of the sport… so I am having a great time at ATT.
MMA Sports: Talking about UFC. How is your relationship with Dana White?
Thiago Silva: I love UFC and my relationship with Dana White is wonderful. I really like him. He treats me well and I don’t have reasons to complain. I do my job and I train hard to do it well. In my opinion, who trains hard always gets in the top. I have traced my goal and I am determined to reach the top.
MMA Sports: Who do you think is the strongest fighter in your division?
Thiago Silva: I am good friends with American Top Team’s JZ Cavalcanti and I was telling him there are lots of ups and downs in the division and it’s hard to point a single fighter. I really like to watch Forrest Griffin matches. However I am training to be the best and I will fight anyone.
