Atlantic City – It isn’t lost on UFC middleweight Bruno Silva that the man he’s fighting at UFC Atlantic City on Saturday night defeated a Brazilian legend years ago, but he’ll put that to the side when he meets Chris Weidman.
“It’s the biggest fight of my career. I’m fighting a former champion, a guy who’s a legend,” Silva told Cageside Press among other reporters through a translator on Wednesday.
“It’s an honor, and I’m really blessed.”
Silva (23-10) was a very young up-and-comer when Weidman was UFC champion, and still trying to make it to the big show. That was also around the time that Weidman defeated a legend to earn the title.
“In July of 2013 that’s when Weidman fought Anderson (Silva) for the first time when he knocked him out. I was still living in Paraiba, Northern Brazil, I was working as a security guard, and I fought in a grand prix that night,” Silva said.
“I had two fights that night, and I knocked out both guys. Then I rushed home to watch the Anderson Silva fight and we all saw what happened. 11 years later here I am fighting that guy in a big arena in the states in his region.”
“MMA’s a sport where everyone goes through highs and lows. Very few guys who don’t go through that. I’m more cautious of an experienced guy than a new guy, and I’m sure he has all of his weapons,” he said.
“But I’m going in there to fight Chris Weidman and to knock him out.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Bruno Silva above. He takes on Chris Weidman at UFC Atlantic City on Saturday night.
