In a recent interview with O Globo, a Brazilian news publication, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (28-4-0) gave his thoughts on the training partnership between number one contender Yushin Okami (26-5-0) and former 185lbs title challenger Chael Sonnen. The Brazilian was critical of the Japanese stand-out for aligning himself with the Team Quest representative, a relationship that was established prior to the recent convictions that have shamed Sonnen's public profile.
“You have to find the best people to train with, and I think [Okami] chose wrong,” Silva said. “I’d never align myself with a loser, a loser in every sense. He didn’t win the fight [between us] and got caught doping. You want to be a champion? Get with good people, with winners. Moreover, Sonnen wasn’t a tough opponent for me. I was injured with cracked ribs and fought five rounds. If I hadn’t been injured, the fight would have been different.”
The reigning UFC champion will defend his promotion title against Okami on August 27, 2011 at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Okami represents a rare opportunity for the Team Nogueira fighter; a chance to avenge a previous defeat - the most recent on his record - which dates back to January of 2006, over half a decade ago when "The Spider" was disqualified for hitting Okami with an illegal up-kick, one that would render him unable to continue resulting in the loss.
For Okami, the contest provides him with a stage to prove the doubters wrong. The Judoka out of Kanagawa, Japan who now utilizes a more greco-roman wrestling style, has ran through the majority of the 185lbs division on the back of superior strength and grappling technique. Since their last encounter, Okami has posted a 12-3-0 record, including three consecutive victories over Linhares, Munoz, and Marquardt respectively. His only losses came at the hands of Jake Shields, Chael Sonnen, and Rich Franklin (a bout that he arguably won); the Team Quest alignment makes sense for the perennial top-ten, as out-wrestling the champion is likely to be his only path to victory, and despite their recent troubles, the pedigree in the discipline is everywhere you look at the Portland, Oregon camp.
Be sure to tune-in on PPV or UFC.tv, August 27, 2011, to witness this highly anticipated rematch.
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