Anderson Silva :: TATAME

UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva will put his title in line against Demian Maia at UFC 112. Initially scheduled to face Vitor Belfort, the champion talked to TATAME.com about the changing on the training, a possible ground fight against Maia and a lot more. Check below the exclusive interview.

You would face Vitor, but they changed to Demian Maia. You made your point that you prefer to face foreigners, but there’s another Brazilian ahead... Do you dislike that?

Everything is fine. It’s a great opportunity, not just form e but for him too. I’ll do my job, he does his and let’s see.

Besides Vitor is black belt on Jiu-Jitsu, he plays standing up. Demian is the opposite. What changes on the preparation?

We’re training, we just have to adapt the game. Some are black belts, others are brown, purple... I’m whole black, man (laugh).

On the last fight he changed the strategy and fought standing up with Dan Miller. Did you watch this fight?

I didn’t, man. I’m very focused on my stuff here, I’m not seeing anything... I’m avoiding internet, I’m not giving interviews. I’m very focused to do my work well done and everything is okay. Winning or losing, I’m not worry with that. I’m worried about doing my work.

Sylvio Behring, your Jiu-Jitsu trainer, complemented your ground game a lot and said that if you dedicate to Jiu-Jitsu as you dedicated to Muay Thai, you would be one of the best of the world...

Master Sylvio is supporting me a lot, as all the team that helps me a lot. We have André Galvão, (Ronaldo) Jacaré, (Rafael) Feijão, Ramon (Lemos), who’s coming to help. I have a lot of people helping me. The results appear with the work we do. I train Jiu-Jitsu for a long time. I’ve never fought a big championship as Galvão, Jacaré. The coolest is to evolute. The goal is to learn always, inside and outside fight. Ricardo Demente is here too, helping us. He has a great Jiu-Jitsu. It’s evolution. People can say what they want to, we’ll do our work. I train, I study... I try to do what I train, and the result appear.

Before they confirm the fight, Demian said that you’d knock him out if the fight was standing up and that he’s submit you if it was on the ground. Do you agree?

It’s not Jiu-Jitsu, it’s MMA. It’s complicated to say that. Of course each one is better in something. MMA is a new sport. I think you have to sit your butt on trains, to read and review, watch the trains... I’ll keep studying for the rest of my life. It’s working. I’m not worried about what people will say I want to do my work. It’s MMA, man. We say a lot of things, but things change close to fight. A bad sleep night, something said on the wrong time... The right person have to be by your side.

So, your best train is inside the class...

Man, I’m on the class every day. I have a lot of tough teachers and that’s nice, this knowledge trade.

André Galvão, who trained Demian for a while on Brasa, is now training with you...

We’re training, if it’s God’s willing to me stay as champion, I’ll stay. If he thinks that it’s enough. I don’t feel pressure to fight with Demian or any other on this category. I’m worried about what I’m training each day.