Silva Versus Samuray at 84
Posted by Chad Edward on March 11th, 2008Rising UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva (12-0) of American Top Team has reportedly drawn “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (14-2) of European Top Team for a UFC 84 all-Brazil bout in Vegas.
Silva was rumored to be paired with Rashad Evans (11-0-1) for a top contender eliminator until Evans was tagged for bigger game at UFC 85 in London after “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3) re-injured his knee and dropped his main event match with “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5).
Mendes of Fortaleza, where fighters are born, rides into the fight capital of the world atop an 11-fight “W” trend.
In his last fight in M-1 last July, the ring-side doc waved mercy over his Russian opposite Kiril Sidelnikov (2-1) of Red Devil Sport Club at the end of round two for a TKO.
Silva of Sao Paulo is fresh from exposing hulking Nebraskan Houston Alexander (8-2) to what we in the biz refer to as “the ground game”, TKOing the hyped disc jockey at 3:25 of round one last November.
