Jansilva feels he is responsible for boosting the UFC 314 hype.
It didn’t take long for the UFC to book Silva vs. Bryce Mitchell on April 12th. Both fighters were added to the press conference to promote the fight in Las Vegas in early March after Silva called out Mitchell following his latest victory. Silva didn’t touch on Mitchell’s accused Hitler statement during the presser and instead chose to tease Mitchell’s Flat Earth theory instead.
“(This fight) became (the main event for people) because I promoted it,” Silva told MMA Fighting. “Let’s be the real thing, who is carrying this event on his back? When was the last time you saw such a press conference? It was Connor (McGregor). No one else did it. And it’s not a fake. I’m doing it all.
“There’s also the fact that he’s talking a lot of crap. Even Americans hugged me for the shit he said. Go!”
Silva saw comments on social media and said that even before Silva defeated Mercik Baghdasarian in UFC Seattle, he had asked Mitchell to beat him for his comments, but he didn’t feel any hatred towards the other party.
“I didn’t have that desire (beating him),” Silva said. “I make this very clear, I never did. He is the man I love most from now until victory. I pray for his life, for his family, and his dreams come true, and it is no different to the 12th. He even stands in front of me, for those in front of me, I don’t have it.
“I understand everyone because of the shit he said, but I don’t have that hatred. I don’t have it in my heart. Even if you see my fight, the ‘Lord’ is not a coward. He doesn’t keep on hitting when he doesn’t want to fight anymore. Blythe will not quit. We say he’s finished already.
Mitchell made an astonishing turn on social media after the press conference, saying that the Brazilian was sending “legged devils” to plague his dreams. Again, Silva wasn’t bothered by his comments.
“I think he’s promoting (the fight) there,” Silva said. “We’re talking about the 13th place guy. He’s not stupid, he knows what he’s doing, do you know? He has some issues with his head? Perhaps because of the shit he said, it doesn’t bother me a bit.
“If he doesn’t show up, it bothers me. Because then I have to go to his gym and beat him. He has to show up on the 12th. He can say all the crap he wants, brother. He can call my mother’s name, my father, my wife, my son.