With a trifecta like that, how could he not?

Of course, there is that small matter of his opponents status as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the entire sport ... maybe even in the history of the game.

No biggie.

Oh, and he's also behind enemy lines, taking on the middleweight champion in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, in front of what will unquestionably be a raucous crowd calling for his head.

Still, Okami maintains he's bringing the "thunder" to "The Spider" on Aug. 27 and not only will he take his title and hand him his first UFC loss, he will "smash" him in the process.

And he'll use three keys to victory to do it, as told to O Globo (via ESPN):

I don't like that fight being down as a victory of mine but I had lessons there and I want to use everything. I hope that now we will have a real end. I know he is a complete fighter and has no weak points. But, if I use all my technique, power and speed, I will smash Anderson Silva. Of course I promise I will defeat Anderson. I will use all what I learned in life to accomplish this objective. I know Brazil is one of the great countries in MMA. I insist, it's an honor to be able to face him here. I hope they will be able to look at me as the man who defeated Anderson Silva and begin to be my fans. My only thought is to become the first Asian champion in UFC."

Silva and Okami first met inside a cage back in 2006, with "Thunder" scoring a controversial win over "The Spider" via disqualification (illegal upkick). Silva has not lost since, winning an astonishing 14 straight fights and cementing himself as among (if not the) best mixed martial artists in the world along the way.

This will mark a record ninth time (and counting) Silva will defend his middleweight title inside the Octagon.

Okami, meanwhile, has built an impressive UFC resume of his own, winning 10 of his 12 fights with the promotion, the most recent of which, over Nate Marquardt in Germany, earned him a long-awaited shot at the middleweight crown.

The Japanese import now finally gets his chance to become the first man to defeat the Brazilian within the not-so-friendly confines of the eight-sided playground ... in hostile territory no less.

If the judo player is on his game, and brings the technique, power and speed he's planning, will it be enough to dethrone the longtime king of the 185-pound weight class? Or no?

Sound off, Maniacs.