Anderson Silva thinks Nick Diaz has been very respectful during UFC 183 lead-up

If there is one thing that Anderson Silva has grown accustomed to, it is ignoring disparaging title challengers, and tolerating their incessant slander during the promotional build-up to his pay-per-view title fights.

However, it appears things are slightly different ahead of UFC 183. While Silva is faced with one of the sport's trademark trash-talkers in former welterweight title challenger Nick Diaz, things have been awfully quiet over the last few weeks.

"He hasn't talked much," said Silva's manager, Ed Soares. "He's been very respectful."

This does not surprise Silva, who never bought into the Diaz image that the media had carved out for him over the past few years. Nevertheless, he does expect Diaz to live up to his reputation as a relentless fighter, and will help Silva produce a entertaining fight for the fans.

"I see all the time, Nick this, Nick that," Silva said. "I don't have problems with Nick. I think this fight is the best for martial arts. Nick has the technique, I have my technique. It's the same conditions. Nick don't fight for long time, I don't fight for long time. I think this is a great fight for the UFC, for his fans, for my fans here, in Brazil, in the world."

While the UFC brass has suggested that a win could propel Silva to a third title fight against Chris Weidman, the former pound-for-pound great refuses to look that far ahead.

"This is a good question for Dana White, not me. My focus now is for Nick Diaz. When I finish the fight, I'm winning, I go training for next fight. I don't know to have the chance to fight for the belt. But Dana gives me one more chance for the belt, I go fight."

Transcription taken from MMAFighting.com.

For more on the buildup to UFC 183, here's the recent conference call with Nick Diaz and Anderson Silva: