“It’s always bad to change opponents on short notice. I prepared for almost four months for Rick Story, then the fight was postponed, then it was postponed again and now this last minute change, only two weeks away from the fight, it hurts my training camp. But we are professionals, we are always ready. The UFC asked us to remain in the card and we couldn’t leave them hanging. Even though we didn’t have much time we were able to study him. He prefers striking over grappling so it changes everything, but it’s no big deal because I’m always ready. In my eyes, I think this is a more favorable fight for me.”

“It’s not that I think Rick is tougher, but his game is more complicated to deal with, he has that smothering style. He can strike, too, he did it for five rounds in his last fight, but his wrestling is better than Magny’s. Magny has a big reach. People say Demian Maia paved the way to beat him, but I don’t see it like that. He did what he does best, which is grappling. I’m better at striking, so I’ll do it in my own way, by striking. I train everything and I believe I’m better than Magny standing up or on the ground. Ever since I heard about the change, I’ve been watching his fights.”

Welterweights Erick Silva and Rick Story were originally set to duke it out at “UFC Fight Night 74” in Saskatoon, Canada, but an injury forced Story out of the bout. Stepping in for “Horror” Story will be none other than Neil Magny who will be looking for redemption of his quick submission loss to Demian Maia. Silva has been training for Story and showed frustration during his interview with Combate, but admitted he believes a bout with Magny benefits him more.

Translated by Lucas Rezende of Bloody Elbow

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