Alexandre Pantoja is adamant that he’s going to perform like the great Anderson Silva when he meets Kai Asakura at UFC 310.
The flyweight champion will attempt to defend his throne on December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Alexandre Pantoja wants to put on a show like Anderson Silva at UFC 310
Born and raised in Brazil, Alexandre Pantoja grew up watching the legendary Anderson Silva cement his place as one of the greatest of all time.
With electrifying movement and unrivaled aura, ‘The Spider’ would make his opponents miss before ultimately making them pay with his devastating array of kicks.
However, with Silva now retired, the hopes of a nation lie on the shoulders of Pantoja, an animal in the cage, who’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the victory.
And with his fight against Kai Asakura just a week away, the icon is positively salivating at the prospect of emulating his hero.
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In an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow, he said: “I think about what Anderson Silva did before.
“Dana White said why everybody loves Anderson Silva, because when he had to belt to defend, he gave a show for everyone.
“In that exact moment, when people were watching, he put on a show. I think a lot about that and what I want. I want to be great, and that’s what I’m going to do on December 7.”
Alexandre Pantoja reveals the one reason he’s feeling so confident he can beat Kai Asakura
While the former Rizin champion undeniably presents a complex puzzle for Pantoja to solve, the 34-year-old has a secret weapon that could help him secure the victory.
He explained: “My confidence is not about my opponent, it’s about myself. I’m training at American Top Team, it’s the best gym in the world.
“I train a lot with Kyoji Horiguchi and Yuki Motoya, who have fought Kai Asakura. That’s good for me to train with those guys and see how that goes.
“He has very good striking, but I have a background in Muay Thai. I can definitely strike with him, and everybody knows what I can do on the ground.”
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