RIO DE JANEIRO — Erick Silva meets Dong Hyun Kim on Oct. 9 in Barueri, Sao Paulo, and he’d like nothing better than to add another finish to his UFC record.
Coming off a 71-second submission victory over Jason High at UFC on Fuel TV 10 in Fortaleza, Brazil, the promising welterweight is focusing on his takedown defense to nullify Kim’s best weapons and get the win in UFC Fight Night 29’s co-main event.
“I’m working hard on my techniques to bring Kim to my game and not fall into his traps,” Silva told MMAFighting.com after a recent workout session at X-Gym. “His game is basically to hold you down, but I’m going forward as I always do, to be the aggressor.”
Silva impressed in his first three UFC appearances before losing a decision against Jon Fitch in what was a barn-burner at UFC 153. That decision loss put him back in the welterweight pecking order a little bit, but it also reinforced the idea that he shouldn’t be tentative in the cage.
“It’s not like I learned a lesson, but I realized I can just go ahead and fight,” he says. “I shouldn’t fear the wrestling game. I was a little hesitant to go full speed against Fitch, but it won’t happen again.”
Silva will co-headline a UFC card for the second time in his career. In June 2012, “Indio” dominated Charlie Brenneman at UFC on FX 3 to score a first-round submission victory. Sixteen months later, he’s looking to leave a similar kind of impression.
“I showed my qualities to the UFC, and they saw it,” he says. “I’m happy to be the co-headliner again, and I’m doing my best in training to get the win. I’m in the best shape of my life.”
Following the impressive win over High, Silva surprised some people by saying he wouldn’t care if he had to fight 20 more times before getting a shot at the UFC title. He maintains that stance, but realistically is open to fight anyone, regardless if they wear a gold-plated accessory or not.
“I’m not worried about the belt,” he says. “What’s important is how the UFC sees me. It’s too soon to think about that. Maybe in two years, I don’t know how I’ll be by then. All I can do is keep winning. I will sign on to fight anyone they want. I’d rather get more experience [before fighting for the title], but I’ll be ready whenever the UFC wants.”