Anderson Silva - Photo: Josh Hedges
UFC president, Dana White, confirmed this afternoon (13) that the main fight of UFC Rio will feature the event's middleweight champion Anderson Silva. The Tupiniquim athlete will put his belt up for grabs against the Japanese Yushin Okami in the second Brazilian edition of the organization, which will take place on August 27th, at the HSBC Arena, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Anderson won the belt in 2006, when he knocked out the American Rich Franklin in the second round of the 64th UFC fight. Since then, eight fighters have tried to take the Brazilian's title, all without success. The last to challenge Anderson was his compatriot Vitor belfort at UFC 126, where the current champion won by knockout in less than four minutes of action.
Okami has been undefeated for three fights. The 29-year-old Japanese will try to win the first belt of his career in his second fight against Anderson, as the two have already faced each other in 2006, with Okami winning by disqualification. In his last fight, Okami defeated the American Nate marquardt, in the unanimous decision of the judges, at UFC 122.
The first and only time that the UFC was in Brazil occurred in October 1998 in São Paulo. The show in question was UFC 17.5, which was marked by the quick knockout applied by Vitor belfort about Wanderlei Silva in 44 seconds of fighting. This edition of the event also featured world-renowned athletes, such as Pedro rizzo, Frank shamrock e Tank abbott.
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