LAS VEGAS – At just 20, [autotag]Igor da Silva[/autotag] is the newest addition to the UFC flyweight division.
Jungle Fight champion da Silva (8-0) earned his contract Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 63 when he finished Jhonata Silva (8-2) by second-round TKO at the UFC Apex.
Despite being so young, the undefeated Brazilian received high praise from UFC CEO Dana White, but da Silva isn’t looking to rush his way to the top. He wants to make his UFC debut against someone with similar experience as him.
“I want to start against someone who perhaps is debuting in the UFC, as well,” da Silva said through an interpreter at the DWCS 63 post-fight press conference. “Or someone who’s got some experience of a couple of fights but not many of them. I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew, but I do feel that I want to start fighting as soon as possible because at the end, I want to be a champion as well.”
Da Silva is open to competing before the end of year and sees UFC Sao Paulo in November as an option.
“I’m going to go home, check if there’s any damage or anything,” da Silva said. “See if everything is alright. I’m going to go back home to training immediately and just recover, regroup a little bit, and if the UFC calls up December, January, I’m ready to go. Maybe UFC in Brazil? I’m ready. Why not?”
Check out the full interview with da Silva in the video above.
[lawrence-related id=2681050,2680845]
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Dana White’s Contender Series 63.