As Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva gears up to fight Frank Mir tonight in Porto Alegre, Brazil, he hopes to dedicate a win to Big Nog.
Bigfoot hasn’t fought since September of 2014, when he was KO’d by Andrei Arlovski. Mir on the other hand hasn’t fought since February 1st of 2014, when he lost a unanimous decision to Alistair Overeem, extending his losing streak to 4. His last win came over Bigfoot’s friend, MMA legend Minotauro ‘Big Nog’ Nogueira, who’s arm Mir broke in his winning effort back in 2011.
Bigfoot spoke to MMAFighting to discuss the bout, what it’s like fighting in Brazil, and his plans to dedicate the win to Big Nog.
“There’s nothing like fighting in Brazil. I’ve watched a few UFC shows there, I fought there once, and I’ve never seen a crowd like that. When they offered me to fight there, I didn’t think twice. I want to erase that loss in September and start all over. It’s going to be great for me.”
“The negative side of fighting a guy in this situation is that I have the obligation to win. You can’t lose. The positive side is that he’s a former champion and everybody respects and admires him in the United States.”
“Every fighter has ups and downs in his professional career. He’s coming off losses, but he’s not losing to a bunch of nobodies. He lost to top 10 heavyweights. There’s no easy fight in the top 15 of the UFC heavyweight division. I believe he’s coming hungrier to win. I’m also coming off a loss, and I want to bounce back up.”
“‘Minotauro’ is a good friend so the win will taste better, just like when I beat Fedor Emelianenko, but I don’t see it as vengeance because we are professionals. I fight for my family, he fights for his family. He beat ‘Minotauro’ because he worked hard and deserved it. I don’t see this as revenge, but I obviously want to win, and I will dedicate this victory to ‘Minotauro’.”