Cain Velasquez hitting Junior dos Santos (photo via David Becker / Associated Press)

By Kelsey Mowatt

Heading into this Saturday’s UFC 160 card in Las Vegas, much of the pre-fight talk has focused on who Cain Velasquez will fight next, rather than if he’ll defeat Antonio “Big Foot” Silva on May 25th. Of course, this is not entirely unexpected, since Velasquez quickly bloodied and stopped Silva at UFC 146 one year ago. Velasquez is also coming off a one sided, unanimous decision win over Junior dos Santos to reassert his position as the sport’s top heavyweight fighter.

If Velasquez is looking past Silva, one certainly couldn’t conclude that based off what he’s been saying heading into his rematch with “Big Foot.” It’s also extremely difficult, if not impossible, to look past the man who sent a shockwave throughout the MMA world in February, by stopping Alistair Overeem.

“This is a whole new fight. Obviously we saw what “Big Foot” can do in his past two fights,” Velasquez noted on a recent media call about Silva, who prior to facing Overeem also stopped Travis Browne. “You can’t take him lightly. He’s a tough competitor; he is really dangerous in the Octagon. I don’t see this as anything less than a hard, grueling fight. That’s what I’m expecting.”

Another reason speculation as to who Velasquez will fight next has been so widespread, is due to the fact that the former champion dos Santos is scheduled to fight Mark Hunt in the co-headliner. Of course, dos Santos is the only man to defeat Velasquez to date, so talk of a rubber match continues to persist. UFC President Dana White has relayed that the winner of the dos Santos-Hunt fight, particularly if it’s the former, will receive a title shot.

“No preference for me at all,” Velasquez responded when asked if he would rather fight dos Santos or Hunt next. “I think the best man will win, but hey, I’m not thinking about that fight at all. I’m thinking about the fight with “Big Foot.”

Cain Velasquez

“This is the position I want to be in,” the 30 year-old Velasquez added later on in the call. “I have to go out there and perform.”

Velasquez cruised to victory over Silva last May by promptly taking the powerful Silva to the mat and punishing him with a vicious ground-and-pound assault. With their previous encounter in mind, it will be interesting to see how Velasquez approaches Silva in the rematch.

“For me, the game plan is to stay in his face but on this one, I have to be ready for everything,” said Velasquez. “Whatever his game plan is, if he comes out more aggressive…I’m looking for different stuff out there, but I’m looking, as far as my game plan to be the same.”

“Obviously there may be a different game plan from “Big Foot”; that’s the only thing that’s different in this fight,” the American Kickboxing Academy fighter said while discussing his outlook heading into the rematch. “As far as being hungry, and wanting this win, I’m 100% there.”

UFC 160 will be hosted by the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada and the main card will be available via pay-per-view.

Stay tuned to Full Contact Fighter for more on UFC 160 as the event approaches.

Antonio "Big Foot" Silva (left)

By Joshua Molina

Friday night is a big night for the other Silva from Brazil.

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva will step into the cage Friday night against Travis Browne in. UFC on FX card.

Like the mythical creature he’s named after, Silva is sort of an enigma in MMA. He’s either totally overrated or totally underrated. But nobody can quite figure him out.

With a record of 20-4, he’s is considered a formidable heavyweight. He should be marketable. At 6 foot 4, With a humongous face and name like Bigfoot,” Silva has the potential to scare a lot of people into wanting to see him fight.

He has sort of an Andre The Giant appeal.

But if he doesn’t win Friday night, he may go down as the worst fighter to ever beat the great Fedor Emelianenko.

What we do know about Silva is that he is inconsistent. Against Fedor he looked, fast, fearless and mobile. Part of that may have been Fedor reaching the end of his career. Or maybe Bigfoot was just that good that night.

After upsetting Fedor, Silva got destroyed by Daniel Cormier and then pummeled into a bloody mess against Cain Velasquez.

Silva didn’t look like he belonged in the same arena as those guys, much less the same cage.

How could Silva TKO Fedor, but look like a scared amateur in his next two fights?

Since upsetting Fedor in February of 2011, Silva has fought only twice. It’s possible that Silva has trouble drumming up the fire to fight at a high level consistently.

And now Silva could be in even more trouble. He will fight the undefeated and impressive Browne, who is coming off a stunning submission victory over another rising star, firefighter Chad Griggs.

How much fire does Bigfoot have left in his step? Can he muster up the drive and will to assert himself as one of the sport’s big-time players?

Silva might be fighting for more than a paycheck and respect. His UFC career could be on the line. We all know Dana White isn’t fond of treating stars well if those stars rose to fame first outside of the UFC.

Silva can’t afford another knockout loss.

Or just like the real Bigfoot, people will always be wondering if he was ever for real.