Bigfoot: Another title shot is ‘inevitable’
Bigfoot: “When you beat everyone and there’s no one left, it’s inevitable. They have to give you another shot at the title. I will win my fights…”
UFC heavyweight Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva recently spoke with the media ahead of his headlining fight with Andrei Arlovski on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 51, live from his hometown of Braslia, Brazil, on UFC Fight Pass.
Bigfoot has only two losses in the UFC, both to heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez; he holds impressive wins over Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem, as well as a draw for the ages with Mark Hunt, that was later changed to NC, after Bigfoot tested high for testosterone.
Velasquez fights Fabricio Werdum in November; Silva thinks with a win over Arlovski, he is one more win from a title shot.
“I believe that I will stay in the same spot I am today with a win over Arlovski,” said Silva as transcribed by Guilherme Cruz for MMAFighting.com. “I’m ranked No. 4 in the UFC, so I believe they would give me an even tougher opponent next, and then I think I would be able to fight for the title again.”
“There are not many fighters in the heavyweight division, it’s not like the lightweights, so two or three big wins can get you a title shot. It’s not about how many wins can you get, it’s about who can you beat. I earned a title shot with wins over Browne and Overeem. After I fight Arlovski, they will probably give me another one and then I can fight for the title.”
“When you beat everyone and there’s no one left, it’s inevitable. They have to give you another shot at the title. I will win my fights, and I ‘m sure I will have another chance even if it’s Velasquez.”
“But a lot of things can change until it happens. Velasquez has a great opponent ahead, and Werdum can complicate a lot and take his title.”
“[Arlovski and I] fought in 2010 and I won via decision, but a lot of things changed in four years. We both changed a lot. He did some good fights, had some big wins, and returned to the UFC. He’s a former UFC champion and knows how to fight under pressure, so I believe it’s going to be a great fight. I’m really hungry. We’re different fighters today. I have to be trained and focused because I have to prove myself again when I step inside the Octagon.
“It’s not a rematch for me. It’s a rematch for Arlovski. For me, it’s like we’re going to fight for the first time. I trained for five rounds and I don’t expect this fight to go that long. I don’t know how this fight is going to end, but I know how I’m going to fight. I’m hungry to win, and I want the finish.”
“He’s more dangerous today, but so am I. I had many fights since, fought big names that helped me evolve as a fighter. I fought guys like Fedor, Werdum, Travis Browne, Overeem and Hunt. I’m more mature now, a better fighter.”
“I never imagined I would be fighting at that arena. Never, in my whole life, I thought this could happen. It’s my sixth fight in the UFC, and it’s my fourth UFC main event… It’s an honor, and I want to thank them by giving the fans a great fight.”