UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, impresses in Abu Dhabi exhibition as he chases mega-fight with Jake Paul
ANDERSON SILVA has one eye on Jake Paul after outclassing Bruno Machada with both fists. UFC legend Silva, 47, was a clear if unofficial winner over MMA master Machada on the Abu Dhabi undercard to Floyd Mayweather vs Don Moore. The Spider showed his class the more the eight-round exhibition progressed. And in the closing […]
ANDERSON SILVA has one eye on Jake Paul after outclassing Bruno Machada with both fists.
UFC legend Silva, 47, was a clear if unofficial winner over MMA master Machada on the Abu Dhabi undercard to Floyd Mayweather vs Don Moore.
The Spider showed his class the more the eight-round exhibition progressed.
And in the closing stages he gave Machada, 34, a southpaw battering that threatened a knockout.
Silva said afterwards: “I am so happy to be here again, I feel it is my second home.
“Thank you to Bruno for giving me the chance to come here and fight. He is the king of MMA here in Abu Dhabi.”
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And although he rates a money-spinning, mega match-up with YouTuber Paul as ‘possible’ he joked: “Maybe I’ll fight in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament.”
Silva insists Paul’s record of five wins out of five shows the 25-year-old is a serious and dangerous prospect.
The Brazilian-born American has argued: “People need to respect the Paul brothers.
“Those kids are talented, and they’ve opened people’s eyes about the good and bad in combat sports.
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“I’m preparing my body for a challenge. We’ll see what happens.”
Machado, meanwhile, seemed thrilled to have merely competed against his idol.
He said: “It is very hard to fight someone you love.
“Thank you so much Anderson for giving me that pleasure. I love you.”