UFC middleweight champion Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva (32-4) will make his third foray into the light heavyweight division inside the Octagon this Saturday when he takes on Stephan Bonnar in the main event of UFC 153.
Silva took the fight with Bonnar, saving the main event of UFC 153 following an injury to UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo.
‘The Spider’ posted some thoughts on taking the fight in a blog for ESPN.com on Thursday, noting that a title fight for UFC 153 was out of the question, and that fighting at light heavyweight lets him enjoy things like Burger King before a match.
I feel good not to have to cut weight to middleweight. I’ve been able to eat some Burger King and some good food. But this is a tricky night for me Saturday. If I have the chance, I will finish this fight in one round. Bonnar always fights so hard. I will have more speed, more agility than him, but I don’t know about the power. That is what makes it tricky. So if I see the chance, I will finish this quickly.
Fighting in Brazil brings its own challenges. I want to be at my best and to perform for my fans and friends, but to be at my best — to be creative in the Octagon — I have to first clear my mind of all distractions. That is a little harder when you want to perform at your best, but these are the pressures of fighting at home. It is a different challenge, to be mentally prepared.
UFC 153 is scheduled to take place this Saturday (Oct. 13, 2012) at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.