Current Strikeforce light-heavyweight champion Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante (10-2) has had a chance to train with UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva and UFC #1 contender Vitor Belfort in the past. He doesn’t see Belfort defeating Silva when both meet at UFC 127 this coming February.
“Feijão” spoke to Tatam.com about the upcoming UFC middleweight title bout, offering his thoughts on both fighters.
“I’ve had the opportunity of training with both of them and to see them training with each other. I’ve never seen Vitor beating Anderson…I believe a lot on Anderson’s game, not because he trains with me, but because he’s a hard guy to fight against, and I taste a bit of it every single day. He’s a very versatile guy, changes his style a lot, has the capacity of playing any kind of game, he can play standing up or on the floor…He will be on his peak, it’ll be the fight of the year.”
Cavalcante earned the Strikeforce light-heavyweight title in his last fight, defeating Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal at the Strikeforce: Houston event last August. The victory was the Brazilian’s third win in a row and sixth victory in seven bouts. No schedule has been set for his first title defense, but it’s likely that “Feijão” will meet the winner of the Dan Henderson vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral bout.