Anderson Silva: Everything that I've done has all led up to UFC 134

A Middleweight title clash between reigning division Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva and challenger Yushin "Thunder" Okami will headline the landmark UFC 134 card, set for August 27th from the HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A Light Heavyweight rematch between former champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Forrest Griffin will serve as co-main event, while rising Heavyweight contender Brendan Schaub will go head to head with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Also featured will be a Lightweight showdown between Edson Barboza and Ross Pearson, as well as Luiz Cane taking on Stanislav Nedkov.

Below are highlights from today's UFC 134: Silva vs.Okami Conference Call, which included UFC President Dana White, as well as Anderson Silva, Yushin Okami, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Forrest Griffin. (Complete Audio at Bottom)

Dana White
MMA and the UFC's popularity has exploded in Brazil. And obviously the guys we have fighting in the UFC and on this card are icons in the sport's world down there. So, it's a big deal and we're very excited about it. We have a 14,000 seat arena down there and 350,000 people were online looking for tickets.

Anderson Silva
It's very emotional to think about fighting back here in my home country of Brazil. I've fought all over the world and not only just in the UFC, but other events as well. I feel that all my hard work and everything that I've done has all led up to this moment. It's very nice to be fighting in my home country and being recognized by the people around me for all the hard work and everything that I do. I'm very excited and I'm very motivated to be fighting in Brazil.

Yushin Okami
Chael (Sonnen) fought Anderson once before and it's huge to have him in training to learn what kind of fighter Anderson is. By training and talking with him, I have learned so many things from him and his experience.

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
Ultimately, we always get sad with the losses we suffer. But, as athletes we have to be used to it.  Obviously, Forrest is a very good fighter, he's a top fighter, and being a top fighter myself, I knew that I could fight him again eventually. I think he's a fighter that has evolved a lot, he's gotten a lot better since our last fight and so did I, I've also evolved a lot. I think it's going to be a great fight for the fans.

Forrest Griffin
(Beating Shogun) is up there with my biggest accomplishments. It's below, obviously, winning TUF, which is the biggest thing I've ever done and then winning the belt, which is the second biggest thing I've ever done. But, obviously it was pretty big at the time - it's what got me the title shot... I don't know if I can take anything from the first fight. Guys don't change at their core, but he looks a lot different. That was his first fight in the UFC and in a cage. That was his first fight without kicks on the ground, etc. So, it's different.

Further Reading: Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami prepare for their upcoming bouts, discuss their alliance

Photo: Anderson Silva celebrates his victory over Travis Lutter at the Ultimate Fighting Champion Championship UFC 67 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas on Feb. 3, 2007. Photo credit: Francis Specker