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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- A spectacular light heavyweight mixed martial arts (MMA) match up will kick start 2010 as up and coming fighter Thiago Silva battles former Ultimate Fighting Championship king Rashad Evans in UFC 108.

Silva, who demolished light heavyweight contender Keith Jardine in just 95 seconds, sees Evans as his stepping stone towards fighting reigning UFC 205-pound champ Lyoto Machida.

“Every fight, I fight like it's my last fight. I fight for the title in every opponent that I had. What's important is that it's putting me into the direction of the title and I'm ready for it,” the Brazilian MMA fighter said in a UFC promo video.

The fight will be held at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on January 2 (January 3 in Manila).

In preparing for the fight, Silva said he spends most of his time trying to figure out how to solve the fighting style of Evan, who specializes on takedowns.

“Every fighter has a different style, we prepared camps for fighters,” explained Silva. “This camp is designed and structured to beat Rashad and his style.”

Silva, who has 14 MMA wins against a loss, said he will foil Evans' campaign to winning the light heavyweight title, and will use it fuel his own campaign.

“I see him as a challenge… This is exactly what I've wanted. If I have to climb mountains to get there [to the championship], I'll do it,” he said.

Evans, who compiled 18 wins against a loss and a draw, is on his track to recover the UFC title he lost to Machida in May 2009.