S. Northcutt (left) was challenged by F. Silva (right). Photo: Montage / Reproduction
After debuting by knocking out Shane Campbell in the UFC Vancouver, on the 27th, Felipe Silva wants to take the next step. Aware of the importance of promoting himself outside the octagon, the Minas Gerais native from Juiz de Fora set his sights on a name that could put him in the spotlight: Sage Northcutt, treated as one of the “UFC’s favorites”.
“I saw a report from Sage when he was about to have his third fight in the UFC. He said he hadn't shown his all yet, because the UFC had only pitted him against grapplers. So there's a good opportunity for him to show off his striking, because I'm a striker. The UFC is betting a lot on him, and I'm there to be tested too. It would be a good fight, there would be a lot of quality striking and people would really enjoy watching. He said that the UFC hadn't given him the opportunity to fight a striker, so nothing better than putting me against him”, challenged Silva, in an interview with the website Combate.com.
Felipe stated that, if he faces the North American, he will be looking for a knockout all the time, and emphasizes that despite both being strikers, the confrontation would be a duel of style. “If this fight happens, I will be looking for the knockout every time, I can guarantee it. He uses kicks a lot. If I can corner him, I think he'll end up getting lost. It would be a duel of styles, even between two strikers. He, in that aggressive way, using kicks, and I focused more on my boxing and my muay thai”.
Felipe Silva, 32 years old, has an undefeated record in MMA in the eight fights he has fought – six victories by knockout, one by submission and one by decision. Sage Northcutt, just 20 years old, has a similar record, with eight wins and one defeat. In the UFC, he has already had four fights, with three positive results and one setback.
