EXCLUSIVE | ‘Honored’ Jared Cannonier says he will ‘knock out’ Anderson Silva

Anderson Silva has his next fight booked as he will return to Brazil to take on Jared Cannonier at UFC 237.

“I never thought it was going to happen, I got the call today, but hell, the UFC has already announced it so I assume Silva has agreed to it as well,” Cannonier said to BJPENN.com. “Right now it is just verbally agreed to. I think Silva is going to take it.”

When Cannonier received the news, he didn’t believe it at first. However, he knows this is a great opportunity and accepted right after telling his coaches about it.

“I was chuckling a little bit because I knew it was going to be something big,” he said. “Then I saw and it was like okay let’s do it. I then talked to my coaches and they are definitely on board. I told my manager lets do it and the UFC is telling everyone now.”

Although this is a huge fight for Cannonier, it may also be Silva’s final fight. For Cannonier to possibly be the last person to share the Octagon with him is surreal.

“It is an honor to potentially be his last fight,” Cannonier said. “A guy like him with his career, a prominent name, and a superstar in Brazil. It is an honor to definitely be his final fight in his home country. I am going to do my best and put on a show.”

Putting on a show is what Cannonier is known for. The knockout artist knows a win over Silva is huge for his career and can skyrocket him into title contention.

“I would think so,” he said. “Adesanya just got a title shot after a decision win over Silva. Imagine me going into Brazil and knocking him out. Imagine what that will do for my career. It can only be good for my career.”

Cannonier is ready for the fight. The training camp will start soon, but his early prediction for the fight is simple. He is going to make a lot of Brazilians upset as he knocks out the legend in Silva.

“The way I fight I don’t go out there to dance and move around, I’m going to put my hands on him and try and knock him out,” Cannonier explained. “When people see it, it will be exciting for them. As much as people will want to see Anderson win, but when they see me knock him out they will be oohing and ahhing. When they watch it they will be like damn that guy is good. I can knock out anybody. This is just another chance to do so. This is huge name so it is only good for my career.

“I’m going to knock him out. I have to knock him out, that is how I fight,” Cannonier concluded.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/20/2019