DHAB H-AND

UFC legend Anderson Silva, 47, impresses in Abu Dhabi exhibition as he chases mega-fight with Jake Paul

ANDERSON SILVA has one eye on Jake Paul after outclassing Bruno Machado with both fists.

UFC legend Silva, 47, was a clear - if unofficial - winner over MMA master Machado on the Abu Dhabi undercard to Floyd Mayweather vs Don Moore.

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Anderson Silva impressed in the exhibition fight with Bruno Machado
Ex-UFC middleweight king Anderson Silva piled on the pressure late in the bout

The Spider showed his class the more the eight-round exhibition progressed.

And in the closing stages he gave Machado, 34, a southpaw battering that threatened a knockout.

Silva said afterwards: "I am so happy to be here again, I feel it is my second home.

"Thank you to Bruno for giving me the chance to come here and fight. He is the king of MMA here in Abu Dhabi."

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And although he rates a money-spinning, mega match-up with YouTuber Paul as 'possible' he joked: "Maybe I'll fight in a Jiu-Jitsu tournament."

Silva insists Paul's record of five wins out of five shows the 25-year-old is a serious and dangerous prospect.

The Brazilian-born American has argued: "People need to respect the Paul brothers.

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"Those kids are talented, and they’ve opened people’s eyes about the good and bad in combat sports.

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"I’m preparing my body for a challenge. We’ll see what happens.”

Machado, meanwhile, seemed thrilled to have merely competed against his idol.

He said: "It is very hard to fight someone you love.

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"Thank you so much Anderson for giving me that pleasure. I love you."

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