Silva seeks inside knowledge
UFC legend Anderson Silva has called on the only man to knock out Israel Adesanya in any discipline to help him prepare for their anticipated clash in February.
Silva, a former UFC middleweight champion, is training with fellow Brazilian Alex Pereira, who twice beat Adesanya during the Nigerian-born Kiwi’s decorated kickboxing career.
The pair first met in China in 2016, which Pereira won by unanimous decision. He was even more convincing in the rematch on home soil a year later, dropping ‘The Last Stylebender’ with a left hook in the third round.
Adesanya has since gone on to become one of the brightest stars in the UFC, tearing through his first four bouts in the octagon to extend his overall mixed martial arts record to 15-0.
While Anderson is widely regarded as one of the greatest in MMA history, he hasn’t fought in almost two years and Adesanya is a strong favourite for their bout in Melbourne on February 10.
But Pereira, the reigning Glory kickboxing middleweight champion, is confident he can help Silva overcome the odds.
‘‘I’m very excited to be participating in Anderson’s camp. I’ve always been a big fan of Anderson and I think Anderson has all the tools to get this fight done,’’ Pereira said at a press conference with Silva in Los Angeles. ‘‘I’m not speaking strictly from my heart, I believe that Anderson has the skills and I think that the experience I’ve had against Israel, when I get in there, I’m gonna be able to help him. I believe this is gonna be a success.’’
With their unorthodox, flamboyant striking styles, many see Adesanya as a younger version of Silva.
The 43-year-old admitted there are similarities between the two and he is excited by the matchup, but backed Adesanya to make his own name in the sport.
‘‘Israel is a great fighter,’’ Silva said. ‘‘I think he’s super talented, he’s young, he has a brilliant future ahead in this sport. I believe he might be a version of him and he’ll become a better version of himself.’’
Silva holds the record for the longest title reign in the UFC when he carried the middleweight strap from October 2006 to July 2013.