UFC Quick Quote: Erick Silva expects to stand-and-bang against Matt Brown in Cincinnati

"I'm really motivated for this fight. This opportunity came in the right time. I had great opportunities in the past against top opponents, like against Jon Fitch, but I wasn't so mature at that time. This is a whole different moment in my career, with a new mindset. I'll talk to my coaches and watch his fights, see what he does well and the holes in his game. I know he's tough and likes to stand and bang, that he has heavy hands, but that's where I like to fight as well. I'm sure that I'll stay calm and give the fans a great show."

-- Matt Brown will put his six-fight win streak up against Erick Silva when the two talented welterweights collide in the main event of UFC Fight Night 40, which goes down this weekend (May 10, 2014) from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio (results here). Despite having the best win streak in the division, Brown came in as the 2-to-1 underdog, something that left "The Immortal" scratching his head. Nevertheless, that likely only fueled him to pick up an impressive victory in his hometown. Given his body of work over his last four bouts, there's a good possibility he'll strive to do it with his striking. And that's just fine with Silva, who tells MMA Fighting that he wouldn't be opposed to a "stand-and-bang" brawl against Brown. After all, it's all about entertaining the fans. But will that strategy prove to be the winning formula against a heavy-handed striker such as Brown? It might behoove Silva to put his jiu-jitsu black belt skills to work against a man whose nine of 11 losses, including his last four, have come via submission. Just a thought.