Glover Teixeira and Antônio Bigfoot get ready for UFC 160. Photo: Disclosed
On May 25, Antonio Bigfoot Silva enters the octagon once again facing Cain Velasquez. This time he’s going for the heavyweight belt in UFC 160 in Las Vegas, Nevada. In order for the title to go back to Brazil, Bigfoot intensified his training at American Top Team in Florida, and called reinforcements for the camp, including heavyweight Glover Teixeira, who will fight on the same card against James Te Huna.
Focused on grabbing the biggest chance of his life, Bigfoot trusts in the potential of his training partners for the last 45 days of training.
“Glover is very strong, can put the opponent down very well, he enters on the front leg very well, very fast. His presence in my camp will be very important,” says Silva. “I believe that he will be the heavyweight champion of UFC soon. We also have excellent wrestlers and strikers here, the training is excellent. I am very confident that I will perform on May 25 very well”.
Besides counting on Glover Teixeira skills, Antonio Silva also bets on tips from Steve Mocco, a former Olympic wrestler, to surprise his opponent. Mocco already faced Velasquez when they practiced wrestling for their respective colleges.
“Mocco is helping me a lot, especially since he premiered last year in MMA. He is applying wrestling in MMA, and that’s great as it is crucial in my preparation process,” says the giant from Paraíba. He also bets on his Muay Thai, the key weapon in his knockout win over Alistair Overeem. “Although I’m training a lot of grappling, I will also emphasize on standup with Katel Kubis and Pedro Rizzo,” he says.
Training only in the US
In his last fights, Silva was part of camp at Team Nogueira. But this time, the quality of the ATT is so great that a return to Brazil is not part of his plans.
“I was almost certain to return to Rio de Janeiro to train at Team Nogueira, but I’m feeling very well here, the training is paying off. I think that by getting close to my family I can do better. I always thank Minotauro for everything he has done for me and for always greeting me with open arms; It is an eternal debt that I have,” concluded Silva.
So, reader, do you think with the help of Glover, Bigfoot will take another step towards the heavyweight belt? Check the UFC 160 card and tell us what you think:
UFC 160
Las Vegas, USA
May 25, 2013
Cain Velasquez vs Antonio Bigfoot Silva
Júnior Cigano vs Mark Hunt
Glover Teixeira vs James Te Huna
Donald Cerrone vs KJ Noons
Stephen Thompson vs Amir Sadollah
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Abel Trujillo
Jeremy Stephens vs Estevan Payan
Gray Maynard vs TJ Grant
Gunnar Nelson vs Mike Pyle
Robert Whittaler vs Colton Smith
