Back to Brazil after defending the UFC belt for the sixth time (a record on the event), Anderson Silva talked to TATAME about the duel with Demian Maia and his expectation and the training on his return on the octagon which has consecrated him, against the American Chael Sonnen. On the chat, the champion talked about the MMA growth on the grand media, with his participation on Domingão do Faustão and the cover article on the newspaper O Globo, besides the meeting with Demian on TV Globo’s backstage.

What did you think about the fight?

It was nice, I liked it. Thank God everything went my way and now I’m focusing on my next opponent, Chael Sonnen.

Sonnen likes to talk a lot before the fights. How are you dealing with it?

Our thing is to train, get there and do our job. Mission given is a mission accomplished, there’s not much to talk about. We’re going to work.

How do you intend to do this preparation? Will you train here in Rio and then sharp your boxing in the US?

I’m beginning my training in Thailand, I’ll stay there two week for practicing, then I’ll go for America. Stay there for two months and finish my trainings here on Brazil. I’ll go there and train with a good friend of mine, Rodrigo (Minotauro), then I’ll come back here.

What did you think of Sonnen’s last fight against Nate Marquardt?

It was a tied fight until some point, but it was nice, a tough fight for both of them. Chael Sonnen is a great champion, a tough guy, who has fought with great Brazilian fighters and now it all about keeping the focus.

Did the UFC say anything about the date of the fight?

Not yet, bet we’re training and we’ll wait to see what will happen.

What do you think about the growth of the MMA coverage, with your interview being the cover of the sports piece of O Globo on the gay of the grand finale of a soccer championship?

It was really, really nice. We’re trying to show our work. One way or another we keep trying to make a difference so people star to follow our sport. We have great champions here in Brazil, so we try to do our part to keep on having this kind of return from the local media.

What did you thing of being on Domingão do Faustão?

It was a huge step that the sport was giving. Our great champions as Pedro Rizzo, Minotauro, Minotouro, Wanderlei, Shogun, Ninja… Our great champions, the Gracie’s family… Is good to continue the process, keeping the Brazilian hegemony outside the country and to show it in front of the cameras and to the public, to have the media support… Fausto is a nice person, he supports the sport, shows he knows a bit about it and is following the trajectory of the Brazilian’s champions that are taking the sport abroad. It’s pretty cool, we are a reference for the youth that is starting their journey on the fight’s world. It has been really rewarding, I’m really happy I went to Fausto’s TV program.

How was your meeting with Demian on the backstage?

Cool, man. Inside the ring we have to act that way, the finale of the World, so it’s like “sink or swim”. Inside there that’s a natural rivalry, healthy, but when it’s over, it’s over.  Each one lead it’s particular way, has an own family and goals. Outside the ring we respect each other, inside is we showing our work. Each make a strategy, an own game. He had the opportunity to fight for the belt, was a real warrior, a valiant man who showed why he was there. There’s not much to say, now we have to think about the future. I’m sure he will have other opportunities to fight for the belt and I believe that, in the future, he can be the champion on this category. He has conditions and skills to do so.

What can the fans expect from this fight of yours against Sonnen?

Man, I’ll keep doing my work as always. How it’s going to be, when and in what way I can’t say because I do not know, but I’ll train so I can keep the belt. That’s my goal, to keep the belt and to keep myself victorious. We’re working on it.