ONE strawweight champion Alex Silva. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.net
BANGKOK — Even as he carried the ONE strawweight championship on his shoulders, Alex Silva is still in disbelief after his stunning unanimous decision win over Yoshitaka Naito in the main event of ONE: Warriors of the World at Impact Arena here.
“I still feel it’s like a dream. Don’t wake me up,” he told reporters after five grueling rounds on Saturday. “I don’t believe that I’m here in Bangkok and I got this belt here.”
But for Silva (7-1), his title win could also be seen as redemption as he got back at Naito (12-1), who took the title away from his Evolve MMA teammate Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke last year.
“The last time I was here, he took the belt away from my friend and my team. I told myself that when I get back here, I will get the belt for my team and I’m just very happy and blessed,” said the Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert.
Fortunately for Silva, all of his hard work bore fruit as he now sits at the top of the strawweight division.
Now a champion, the 35-year-old turns from the hunter to the hunted as a bevy of contenders are out for his belt. Among those in pursuit of his crowd is Team Lakay’s Joshua Pacio.
Silva welcomed the idea of a possible duel with the Filipino upstart, but reiterated that after chasing this belt all his career, any challenger will have to give it their all in hopes to get past him.
“(Pacio) is a good fighter. He’s a young kid, but this is my time and this is just the beginning. I respect every single fighter, but I feel untouchable and I feel I prove everyday that I am the champion since day one,” he said. “Now that I have this belt, I will protect this for my whole life. Everyone who steps against me will have a hard time. I’m hungry. This is just the beginning.”