RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- American mixed martial artist Stephan Bonnar has vowed "to rough up" Brazilian legend Anderson Silva in their UFC light heavyweight showdown in Rio on Saturday.

The duel was only confirmed last month when both fighters responded to an emergency call from Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White after a series of injury-enforced withdrawals threatened the cancellation of the UFC 153 event.

"I'm going in there to fight him, not to just go in there and think it was cool to compete against Anderson Silva," Bonnar said on Friday.

"He's the most accurate striker in the sport so I know I am going to get punched and kicked and I'm cool with that. But he's going to get roughed up too. He's getting punched and kicked by a much bigger man."

Silva, who is undefeated in the middleweight category since 2006, will be competing for only the third time in the light heavyweight division.

"For me, it is very important to retire undefeated and I want to retire undefeated in the UFC," said Silva, who added the bout was "a tricky night for me."

"If I have the chance, I will finish this fight in one round. Stephan Bonnar always fights so hard. I will have more speed and more agility than him but I don't know about the power. So if I see the chance I will finish this quickly." Enditem

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