“I fight those blood-and-guts fights because I have to, because everything else isn’t working,” he said. “Because if I’m getting hit, and I’ve got to survive. But I don’t need to. If I can work over a guy on the ground and pass his guard a bunch and go for stuff, why put myself in the fire if I don’t have to? When I go in the fire in those fights, it’s because I had to.

“If I could find a weakness or work him over on the ground, that’s great. But if I can’t and I’m forced to fight one of those blood-and-gut fights – I know he’s really accurate with his strikes. I know that. I’m going to get hit. I just need to keep pushing forward. That’s what I do.”

Oddsmakers aren’t giving him much of a chance. Neither are fans. And UFC officials probably view the fight more as a marketable showcase for their Brazilian hero in his home country than a legit and evenly matched bout.

Bonnar knows all that. But he also knows he’s surprised fans, and even himself, before. If someone is ever going to beat Silva, why not him?

“All I do know is when I get in there, I can’t help but fight my ass off,” he said. “I can’t help but just give it everything I’ve got. If I’m not sleeping, I’m going to keep coming. I know no other way.”

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