After holding onto his middleweight belt for the fourth time in the British octagon of Cage Rage 16, Brazilian Muay Thai fighter Anderson Silva flies overseas and will be fighting on June 28 in the hallowed Octagon of the UFC. Now, the Brazilian wonders if he will be able to duplicate his repeat in Cage Rage and hopes someday to fight for the UFC middleweight belt, which is currently owned by champion Rich Franklin. He is cautious in his optimism however, and will patiently wait for his opportunity. "I don’t think about fighting him now because he is the champion and I just arrived now. I know it will take a while before I have a chance to fight the champion, and I will wait for my chance," said Silva to MMA Ring report. The full interview is below:

MMA Ring Report - Tell me about your last fight at Cage Rage

Anderson Silva - It was the forth time I fought for the middleweight belt. I tried my best and I trained for it and in fact I can tell you it was a quick one. We exchanged a little on the feet, we clinched and I hit him with a knee. Then the fight restarted on the feet and I threw my elbow, it was a beautiful movement and nobody had seen it before. I got complimented by my performance in spite of lot of people thinking it was a movie non-effect movement, the elbow hit him in the right spot and I got the KO.

MMA Ring Report - After this impressive victory you signed with American promotion the Ultimate Fighting Championships...

Anderson Silva - Yes. I signed with them and I will be fighting in the octagon on June 28. I will do four matches first and I don’t know what comes next. I am positive the UFC will give all the fight projection I need… I can tell you for sure I will be not doing anything else but fighting in the next five years. I’ll give the best and I hope I can make history when I am in there.

MMA Ring Report - After defending the middleweight title of Cage Rage 4 times, are you going to leave Cage Rage?

Anderson Silva – No, To be honest, I feel like it’s a suddenly "see ya buddies" (laugh). I have in mind Cage Rage is such a terrific organization and the event gave me a lot of projection. But it’s time to move out and I am sure fighting at UFC will be a unique experience.

MMA Ring Report - Fighting as a middleweight in the UFC, who are the tough fighters to be beaten?

Anderson Silva - There are several tough fighters in the UFC… I can tell you the current champion Rich Franklin is the man to be beaten. But also there are other great fighters such as Canadian Carlos Newton, who seems he will return to UFC and many others. I will look for the belt and I am aware it will be not an easy job. I know I have to improve my Wrestling and my ground skill to have a chance ahead the best Wrestlers of the world: the American fighters.

MMA Ring Report - Do you think about fighting Rich Franklin? How would it be a fight between you guys?

Anderson Silva - I don’t think about fighting him now because he is the champion and I just arrived now. I know it will take a while before I have a chance to fight the champion, and I will wait for my opportunity. So I cannot say how it would be to have a fight between him and I. To be honest, I’ve never seen him fight, but I know he is an excellent fighter and if someday I have a chance to fight him, I’ll do my best.

MMA Ring Report - You fought in the ring, but in your last bouts, you have been fighting in the octagon... do you prefer to fight at the cage?

Anderson Silva - Well, I can tell you I have adapted to the cage. But in other hand I feel great fighting in the ring as well. I am a fighter and there is no such a thing as you choosing the perfect spot to fight. We are professionals and in the other side of the ring of the octagon there is somebody trying to beat your ass, so no matter where or what, you have to do your best. I can tell you for sure I already know to defend myself from wrestler’s attacks, when they push you against the cage. This is a great way to annul a striker, but I am aware of it and my four belts speak for themselves.

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