Wanderlei bets on Thales against Anderson

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Marcelo Alonso

 

 

After the knockout loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 92, Wanderlei Silva decided to move down to middleweight division, and will face the former champion Rich Franklin at UFC 99. After the fight, the Brazilian is anxious to watch two fights at UFC 97, which takes place tomorrow at Canada. Ex-team partners at Chute Boxe academy, Wanderlei and Anderson Silva hadn’t much contact since then, and Wanderlei spoke about the title fight with Thales Leites.

 

“Everybody is saying that Anderson will beat Thales easily, that Thales won’t have any chances. Thales is a tall guy, a young kid, he’s in a great team and André (Pedereiras) is one of the best MMA coaches in the world… This is a life time opportunity for him. He’s young, trained his whole life and his Jiu-Jitsu is different… His BJJ is in another level… If the fight goes to the ground, Thales will get him”, bets the Axe Murderer, commenting on Maurício “Shogun” vs. Chuck Liddell, in the co-main event.

 

“If Shogun shows up life everybody knows, he’ll demolish Chuck Liddell, just like he did against Quinton Jackson at Pride. He beated everybody there, one after the another, Overeem, Arona, everybody. If he comes back in that shape, he’ll shock the world”, says Wanderlei. But, there’s an if. “If he didn’t prepared himself well, it’s more dangerous, because Liddell is tall, punches hard, the glove is small and you have to be careful with the defense, because Shogun’s style is go on top of the guy and the other’s is to fight on the counter punching”, analyzes Wanderlei, who went to Montreal today to watch the show.

http://www.tatame.com/2009/04/17/Wanderlei-bets-on-Thales-against-Anderson