Anderson Silva Leaves Door Open for Jon Jones Bout: 'We Are UFC Employees'

Anderson Silva, who once claimed that it would be "impossible" for him to face Jon Jones, for the first time admitted that the fight could happen. At a promotional event on Thursday, the middleweight champion reiterated that he did not want to face Jones, but said that the fight is in the hands of the UFC.

"People are talking so much about this fight ... I have no such intention, it isn't something that motivates me, just because we have other athletes on my team who are in his weight division. My weight is 185 pounds; this is my title. But people talk so much, and we are UFC employees,” Silva said. “Of course, I can say that I don't want it, but what if he goes there and accepts the money that Dana will give him to take the fight? It'll be difficult. It's not the money that motivates me to fight. I fight because I like it.

“So, I don’t know,” he continued. “I wouldn't like it. But if it happens, it would be at a catch-weight -- not for the belt. I already have mine, and I do not want to leave a title dropped."

When asked if he would be favorite in a fight against Jones for having defeated Vitor Belfort and Stephan Bonnar faster than the American, Anderson downplayed the victories.

"At home we have a tree of ‘almost.’ Never give anything, always is almost. When you go to fight a champion, you have to be physically and psychologically prepared to face a champion,” Silva said. “[There is a reason] he is the champion. You have to train hard and be prepared. You must have a champion's mind to fight a champion. You can't have a loser’s mind. All champion’s opponents must have the mind of a champion, not just a challenger."

*Alan Oliveira contributed to this report