Anderson “The Spider” Silva is arguably the best pound for pound fighter in the world. His pin point accurate striking has seen a devastating result for everyone who has crossed paths with him in the UFC. Rich Franklin, Chris Leben, Dan Henderson, Patrick Cote, James Irvin, Nate Marquardt and Travis Lutter have all fallen victim to this outstanding athlete. With his undefeated UFC record, Anderson Silva looks to continue his reign as he prepares for his next fight at UFC 97.

MMA Sports: Your last bout with Patrick Cote was different than your previous performances. How did you see that fight?
Anderson Silva: I think it was a good fight, but it was a shame he got hurt. We train, lose weight, get injured, bruised…but it was a great fight, very interesting to watch. I assumed a strategy to mess up with his head, but unfortunately I couldn’t complete it.

MMA Sports: Lots of people didn’t understand your strategy and said you were kidding with Cote. What do you have to say about that?
Anderson Silva: Talking about me is easy. Hard is to walk in my shoes. I’ve reached the top training and no joking around. I imposed serious work to be where I am. In my fight with Cote, I didn’t underestimate him or disrespect him at any time. I was applying a strategy to mess with his head and confuse him. I wanted him to commit a mistake and then I would KO him.

MMA Sports: Your previous bouts ended much sooner and against Cote the fight lasted three rounds until he got hurt…
Anderson Silva: Exactly. We trained to fight five rounds. My idea was not KOing in the first or second round. I wanted to valorize my win. My training was focused on that. We were focused on his mistakes. Unfortunately I was not able to end the fight as I planned. The experience was worth it, our strategy worked somehow. All my moves hit him and I didn’t waste punches. We were winning by points so far, but my idea was KOing him.

MMA Sports: And why did you opt for this strategy?
Anderson Silva: We decided after watching some of his fights. It was a strategy built for his game. He gets better round after round and that’s the reason.

MMA Sports: After the fight, Cote stated you were afraid to exchange punches with him. What do you think about that?
Anderson Silva: As I said before: talking about me is easy. Hard is to be me. I will not bother about his statement. He couldn’t land any blow on me. I put him down, he got hit in the face…knee, elbow. So I did everything I could do at this time respecting my strategy. I was not getting into a crazy exchanging punch game with him. I would risk myself to suffer a lucky punch on the chin…as Wanderlei by the way…and be defeated. I fought my way and it was working good for me.

MMA Sports: Would you be interested in a rematch?
Anderson Silva: I think it’s not up to me this decision. If Dana White considers he deserves a second chance, he will get it. I am training to fight the best fighters and I am not kidding around.

MMA Sports: Who would you like to fight?
Anderson Silva: I don’t pick a name. I don’t choose opponents. I see some good fighters that have been working hard to get a chance to reach the top and I am waiting for them. Try me!

MMA Sports: You are going to fight Brazilian Thales Leites at UFC 97 for the belt. What do you think about that fight?
Anderson Silva: It’s hard to say. I hope he is training hard because the winner takes the belt. I know I have been doing my part. Fighting a Brazilian is always complicated, but we are professionals and I know it will be an awesome fight.

MMA Sports: How have you been training for this match?
Anderson Silva: Training sessions are good as usual. I already started my training for my next fight. I recently returned from United States were I was training with Randy Couture and Manny Pacquiao’s Boxing trainer. In Brazil I intensified my training in Curitiba… sharpening my Muay Thai and now I am in Rio de Janeiro with my whole crew…André Galvão, Ronaldo Jacaré, the Nogueira brothers also.

MMA Sports: Talking about Nogueira, how do you explain his performance at UFC 92 against Mir?
Anderson Silva: I didn’t spend too much time with “Minotauro” in the last couple of months. I was busy managing my things. As far as I know Rodrigo had a health issue and was at the hospital for a while. I know it’s not an excuse, but I don’t really understand what happened. I’ve never seem him that way. I think he is the only one who has the answer. But I know it was just a fight and it belongs to the past. We have to think ahead and learn with our mistakes and improve. He is an excellent fighter and I am sure he is going to reach the top.

MMA Sports: Minotauro also trained with Wanderlei Silva in Vegas for this match. They used to be rivals…what do you think about this meeting?
Anderson Silva: I don’t have opinion. I think it’s cool to train once in a while with old friends and it’s always good to train with new people also. I think it does not mean too much the fact they were rivals in the past. We are all professionals.

MMA Sports: And you? Would you train with the Axe Murderer in Vegas?
Anderson Silva: We used to train together at Chute Boxe for several years. Life turned us apart and gave us different paths. But if I have an opportunity and if I was welcomed to train at his gym in Vegas, I will be there for sure. There is no noise between us.

MMA Sports: In the heavyweight division, how do you see a second match between Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar?
Anderson Silva: Dude, at this time I don’t know what to expect. The fact is Frank Mir already beat Brock once. But I don’t have a bet on this fight.

MMA Sports: After Patrick Cote, you’ve reached the record of eight consecutive wins at UFC as Royce Gracie and John Fitch. What do you think about that?
Anderson Silva: I think it’s cool. I thank God for the strength he gave me each fight and I hope I can increase this mark.