Anderson Silva says UFC 126 bout not personal, eyes Georges St-Pierre, boxing in future

Quote :: LAS VEGAS – What a difference a day makes.

As UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (27-4 MMA, 12-0 UFC) hit pads and grappled in front of fans and media at Thursday's open workout session at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, there was nary a trace of the scowl that adorned his face at Wednesday's pre-UFC 126 press conference.

And why should it be any different? As Silva told gathered reporters, despite the intense staredown that wrapped up Wednesday's proceedings, there's nothing personal at stake when he meets Vitor Belfort (19-8 MMA, 8-4 UFC) on Saturday night.

"It's normal," Silva said through his manager and interpreter, Ed Soares. "I have nothing against Vitor personally. We're both employees of the UFC, and this is our job to get in there and fight and put on a show for everybody. I have nothing personal against Vitor."

Maybe. But with an alleged beef between the two that dates back to their time as training partners in Brazil (but that both generally decline to discuss in public), it was hard not to notice how extremely focused, unquestionably intense Silva appeared while staring nose-to-nose with an equally stoic Belfort.

Nevertheless, Silva insisted there was nothing unique about the exchange.

"It was normal," Silva told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I don't think there was anything different. It was normal for me."

And so it was for Silva on Thursday, who spent time as much time playfully sparring with his 12-year-old son, Kalyl, as he did slamming away on focus mitts with pinpoint precision, and who wrapped up his brief, albeit impressive, training session by taking pictures with fans who clamored for a moment with the champion.

"It's not personal at all," Silva said. "I'm a fighter. I'm hired by the UFC to fight for the UFC, and it's going to happen. There's no secret. It's going to happen."

It's been Silva's motto throughout fight week: Business as usual. Nothing to see here.

But it's been hard not to notice the throngs of Brazilian media that have made the journey to Las Vegas to cover Silva and Belfort's every move. With more than 25 years of professional fighting experience between the two native Brazilians, both are superstars in their homeland, and both are being treated as such by their country's traveling media.

"I think it's great that the Brazilian media is here," Silva said. "It's very good for the sport for the Brazilian media to have taken these many steps to come here and follow us over here. It's very good for our sport, especially with the UFC going to Brazil (in August). It's going to be great."

Just how great will be determined on Saturday night. Both fighters possess the ability to end the fight in a flash with either dynamic striking or black-belt level jiu-jitsu. But with both fighters well aware of the other's capabilities – not to mention the fact that both southpaws would prefer to counterstrike – there is some concern that the fight could turn quickly into a tactical chess match short on fireworks.

Silva isn't sure exactly what to expect, but he does believe it will take a perfect performance to earn victory.

"A fight is a fight," Silva said. "It's hard for me to say, but it's going to be like a chess match. Whoever makes the wrong move is going to lose."

Should Silva deliver an incredible 13th-straight octagon win and eighth consecutive title defense, there would appear to be precious few further challenges in the UFC's 185-pound division. Silva, who turns 36 years old in April, believes professional boxing may still have a place in his future at some point.

"Maybe," Silva admits. "This is my dream."

But should "The Spider" dismiss "The Phenom," it appears a looming superfight with reigning UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre is the next logical step. But with all the fan interest, all the forum posts and talk-show phone calls, all the journalist's suppositions, is it even a challenge that interests the man that UFC president Dana White calls the greatest in MMA history?

Wide-eyed and sporting a grin from ear-to-ear, Silva doesn't even bother with a verbal response. The slight nod of his head, coupled with the look of a boy waking up on Christmas Day tells you all you need to know.

Just to be sure, Soares translates the non-verbal cue.

"Yes."

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I call the BS

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