Anderson and Okami / Photo: publicity

UFC president Dana White confirmed in this Wednesday’s issue of USA Today that Anderson Silva will face Yushin Okami this August 27 at UFC Rio.

The news was announced first by Rodrigo Minotauro via his column in Brazilian newspaper Extra. On the same day GRACIEMAG.com confirmed that Anderson had indeed accepted the challenge, although he had not yet signed the bout agreement.

Now, regardless of any contract, the fight has been set in stone by Dana White. Thus the showdown with George Saint-Pierre Dana White himself had mentioned has now been scrapped.

Currently the best Japanese fighter in the UFC, Okami is coming off three wins in the organization, the last of which was against Nate Marquardt. To add further intrigue to the impending matchup, Okami was the last man to defeat the “Spider,” at the January 2006 Rumble on the Rock event, where an illegal upkick from Silva ended the bout via disqualification.

Also regarding Silva, “Like Water,” a documentary covering the champion’s preparations for his title defense against Chael Sonnen, has already begun to be advertised. The movie directed by Pablo Croce includes scenes from the fighter’s daily life.

It is set to premier April 21 at the Tribeca Festival. Check out an excerpt from the documentary, in the following video:

Anderson e Okami. Foto: Divulgação.

Dana White, presidente do Ultimate Fighting Championship, confirmou nesta quarta-feira em entrevista ao “USA Today” que o adversário de Anderson Silva no UFC Rio, no dia 27 de agosto, é o japonês Yushin Okami.

A notícia foi dada em primeira mão na coluna de Rodrigo Minotauro, no jornal carioca “Extra”. No mesmo dia o GRACIEMAG.com confirmou que Anderson realmente havia aceitado o desafio, só faltava assinar.

Agora, independentemente de contrato, a luta está sacramentada por Dana White. Sendo assim, o desafio contra Georges St-Pierre, especulado pelo próprio presidente do Ultimate na coletiva do UFC 126, fica para depois.

Melhor lutador japonês atualmente no UFC, Okami vem de três triunfos na organização, o último contra Nate Marquardt. Tempero a mais para o desafio, Okami foi o último que conseguiu derrotar o Aranha. Na luta pelo Rumble on the Rock, em janeiro de 2006, Silva acabou desclassificado após um chute ilegal.

Ainda sobre  Silva, o “Like Water”, documentário que mostra a preparação do campeão para a complicadíssima defesa de título contra Chael Sonnen já começa a ser divulgado. O filme, dirigido por Pablo Croce, conta com imagens exclusivas do dia-a-dia do lutador.

A estreia está programada para o Festival Tribeca, no dia 21 de abril. Entretanto, confira um pouco do que vem por aí no vídeo abaixo:

Spider in final instant of Sonnen fight / Photo: publicity

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, considered by many to be the best in the world at present, often displays a personality hard to decipher. However, now everyone can get to know the other side of the “Spider”.

First, read about him in GRACIEMAG #169. The next issue is coming up soon, so better hurry to secure your copy at the book store now or subscribe here. And there’s a new way to figure him out: to head to the movie theater nearest you.

Coming soon is the documentary about the champion “Like Water,” directed by Pablo Croce. The 74-minute film shows Silva getting ready for his tricky title defense against Chael Sonnen and exclusive images from the fighter’s day-to-day life. Now the outcome of all that you already know, but that doesn’t mean it’s not incredible news.

The premier for the show will April 21 at the Tribeca Festival.