Gouveia Sees Anderson In His Near Future

[JuniorVT]

http://themmafiend.com/2009/02/16/fun-q ... ar-future/
Wilson Gouveia may be less than a week away from squaring off against one of his toughest opponents to date when he faces Nate Marquardt this weekend at UFC 95, but he is already beginning to mentally prepare himself for what he sees as the inevitable: a title shot against current Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. From UFC.com:

I’ve been training harder than ever for this fight. I’m focused on Marquardt and not looking past him at all. He’s a very tough fighter, but once I beat him I don’t see anybody between me and Anderson Silva. He’s next as far as I’m concerned.

I can’t say I disagree here. A win over Nate, especially a definitive win (ie, not like how Leites won), should put Wilson on the fast track to a title shot (after the winner of Henderson vs Bisping gets their shot, that is). Personally, I like Wilson’s chances against Marquardt, so I am really looking forward to the fight this weekend.

In an interview with CagePotato, Wilson was very respectful of Nate as an opponent, but he was also quick to point out that he sees flaws:

I think he’s good in everything, but I don’t think he’s great in anything. I think his jiu-jitsu is good, but it’s not amazing. His wrestling, I think, is his greatest strength. But even with that, I don’t think he’s the best wrestler in the UFC. His striking is good, but if you watch his last fight with [Martin] Kampmann, he spent like ten or more punches to put him away. I really don’t need ten punches to put someone away. I just need one.

It should be a sweet fight.

[keithlewis]

Let him get past Nate before he thinks of the Spider!!