Luis “Banha” Cane was getting closer to a title shot, but the loss to Rogério “Minotouro” Nogueira will delay the Brazilian’s plans. One of the leaders of American Top Team, Conan Silveira believes that the setback suffered on UFC 106 will be a fuel to make stronger, making him come back with more will. “He’s going to work hard now and to plan everything to go for it again”, Conan guarantees, talking with TATAME.com about Thiago Silva and Kimbo Slice’s training to their next fights in the UFC.

What did you thought about the fight between Banha and Minotouro?

It was a tough fight, I thought that both fighters respected each other and that’s that thing, who wins is the best of the night, and Minotouro had the initiative. It’s hard to give an opinion about the fight because are two tough fighters, you don’t know which way the fight goes.

Do you think that Banha respected Minotouro too much?

I think both respected each other a lot, but Minotouro took the initiative. That’s what I say to you, it’s hard to give an opinion, could have been Banha, who goes first take the advantage.

Banha was close to a title fight, if he has won. How is the expectation to his return on UFC?

That’s a part that nobody likes, the defeat, but we have a thought that this is the right way to work. We’ll come back to the base and work, to fix what didn’t work, what wasn’t done, and let’s move on. The expectation is always to fix the mistakes. We’ll work harder, to plan everything and go for it. That’s our team’s mind.

Banha is very young and very tough, is the expectation that he turns around soon?

That’s for sure, it’s not the end for him, it’s the opposite, it will make him stronger, will make him to come back with more will. That’s American Top Team’s mind, and he’s gonna work hard and plan everything to go for it again.

How’s ATT’ schedule to this end of year?

There are a lot of fights, there’s Kimbo (Slice), Wilson Gouveia coming, will fight on December 12, and then there’s Thiago Silva, who fights January 2.

How do you see Thiago’s fight against Rashad? With a victory he’s close to the belt again…

That’s an opportunity not just for Thiago Silva, but for Rashad too. It’s a tough fight, but as I said before, after the fight that Thiago lost to Lyoto, everyone was going to see a different Thiago and I think that he’ll show more difference on this fight that’s coming. Everyone can expect for a tough fight, but clever.

How is Kimbo Slice, who’ll debut on UFC against Houston Alexander?

The expectation is huge, we’re working hard with him, improving his game, sharing our experiences of training… I believe that he’s gonna get this victory. People will see a better Kimbo.

You just came back from Australia. How was Hector Lombard’s fight up there?

It was against Kalib Starnes, a former UFC and TUF fighter. He started the fight and the guy got in the clinch with Hector, and Hector took him down and fell inside the guard, exploding on ground and pound, he hit three elbow and on the third he asked to stop.