By Ed Preuss for MMA Sports. Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.
Undefeated Thiago Silva is 13-0 and on his way to a title fight and will face Lyoto Machida at UFC 94. With only one fight to ever reach a judges decision, he has had decisive wins over Houston Alexander, Antonio Mendes, Tomasz Drwal and James Irvin. MMA Sports caught up with Thiago Silva as he prepares for his challenge at UFC 93 against Lyoto Machida.
MMA Sports – You are about to fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 94. Tell me your thoughts about that fight?
Thiago Silva - I think it will be a great bout. I am now recovered from injury and have been training hard since the end of November. I think this fight will be a great challenge to prove I am title material.
MMA Sports – You mentioned your injury that made you to postpone the fight with Machida at UFC 89. Can you tell us a little bit what happened?
Thiago Silva - Three months before the fight I felt a horrible pain in my back. It was some nerve and I lost completely my strength in that back zone. I had to stop training and I did some recovery physiotherapy to regain this strength.
MMA Sports - Machida has been doing great things in the UFC. How do you indent to stop him?
Thiago Silva - My plan is too simple. I will not give him any time to breath. I will attack him the whole time. I think he still hasn’t faced such aggressive fighter at UFC as me and I am very confident about this fight. It’s going to end by KO in the very first round. You’ll see.
MMA Sports - His counter attack has surprised lots of opponents...aren’t you concerned about that?
Thiago Silva - As I said before, his opponents attacked him and then stopped. And it’s not going to happen with me. I wanna see how he deals with my aggressiveness. How he reacts when somebody is attacking him straight for five minutes…and during three rounds. I do not under estimate him. In my opinion he is a great fighter, but I believe I may win. I am not joking around. I have my goals at UFC and he is in my way.
MMA Sports - Have you watched Lyoto’s bouts? What have impressed you the most?
Thiago Silva - To be honest I didn’t like his fights too much. In my opinion he runs more than fights. He is not a puncher and he will not KO that easily. He wins by points and its going to be harder for him to use the same strategy against me. I have faced toughest opponents and I believe I will have to use my head before my muscles against him.
MMA Sports - In your Record you fought hard fighters as you said. Which ones do you consider tougher than Lyoto?
Thiago Silva - I tell you right now: Houston Alexander, Tomasz Drwal and James Irvin. In fact UFC only gave me tough fighters and I appreciate it. Those fighters defeated top fighters and I am fighting to keep my way to the title. I want this belt badly and it will be mine.
MMA Sports - In case you defeat Lyoto, tell me about your plans... who is also going to be in your way before fighting for the title?
Thiago Silva - If I beat Lyoto, it will be easier to qualify to a title shot. I haven’t lost yet and I think I deserve a chance in case I win. I think I am ready to fight for the title. Me and my manager Alex Davis talked about that. I think there is no need to wait in case I beat Machida.
