UFC Fight Night 40 headliner Erick Silva hoping to win over American fans

(This story appears in today’s edition of USA TODAY.)

While he’s considered one of the brightest young stars in the UFC’s welterweight division, Brazilian Erick Silva is still a relative unknown in the U.S.

With his first UFC main event days away, “Indio” plans to change all that.

“I’m actually really excited,” Silva tells USA TODAY Sports and MMAjunkie. “I want to fight more frequently outside of Brazil so American fans can get to know me because I’m not as well-known here.”

Silva, 29, has all the tools needed to establish himself as a true superstar. He looks the part, and his seven UFC appearances have included two knockouts in less than one minute. Another pair of first-round tap-out wins earned him a “Submission of the Night” bonus each time.

But along the way, setbacks against Dong Hyun Kim and Jon Fitch, not to mention a controversial disqualification loss to Carlo Prater, have hindered his anticipated rise to the top. Silva knows there have been missed opportunities, but he insists they are a thing of the past.

“I’m happy with some of my accomplishments so far, but I’m certainly not satisfied,” Silva says. “I need to have a winning streak.”

On Saturday, Silva (16-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) meets surging contender Matt Brown (18-11 MMA, 11-5 UFC) in the headlining bout of “UFC Fight Night 40: Brown vs. Silva,” at Cincinnati’s U.S. Bank Arena. The six-fight main card airs on FOX Sports 1 (10 p.m. ET) following prelims on FOX Sports 2 (8 ET) and UFC Fight Pass (6:30 ET).

In Brown, 33, the unranked Silva faces the No. 9 welterweight in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings. The Ohio native known as “The Immortal” was once considered a journeyman, but a six-fight winning streak, the longest active run among UFC welterweights, has boosted his stock.

Silva admits he’s impressed by his opponent’s grittiness but believes Brown lacks the refined skills needed to prevail.

“He’s a great fighter, a very aggressive guy, but I think I’m more technical,” Silva says. “I studied his game a lot, and he has some flaws I can take advantage of.”

Fighting on his opponent’s home turf will be a new experience for Silva, who’s contested six of his seven UFC bouts in his native Brazil. This time, it will be Silva – and not his opponent – battling jet-lag. Brazilian crowds are legendary for their support of their countrymen, but he’ll be on the other side of it with the pro-Brown contingent in Ohio.

Silva doesn’t believe it matters.

“We came in a week early so we can deal with the jet-lag and get used to the temperature difference,” he says. “I think I’ll be OK. I’m really focused on the fight, and I think when you have that type of focus, the little things don’t matter.”

Silva, a first-time headliner, hopes a good performance leads to recognition and opportunity.

“I’m really happy with fighting in the main event,” Silva said. “I’m really excited with the UFC’s invitation, and I’m just ready to make sure they know they made the right choice.

“I hope to win this fight and fight two more times this year. A year like that would go a long way toward boosting my career.”

For more on UFC Fight Night 40, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.