LAS VEGAS >> Anderson Silva has been in this position more than any other UFC champion.

The middleweight champion has made a record 10 successful title defenses and he’s looking to make it 11 against top contender Chris Weidman at UFC 162 on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

"Whatever I should have already done in this sport I’ve done," Silva said through a translator. "Win or lose I’ve already done everything there is to do and now it’s just a matter of doing what I love to do."

Silva has not only won, he has done so with such dominance that he has left an impression on the entire sport of mixed martial arts, including his next opponent.

Weidman is a former collegiate All-American wrestler who has amassed a 9-0 record since his first pro fight just over four years ago, including five wins in the UFC.

When asked if he admired Silva, he didn’t equivocate: "I’ve been a big fan ever since I got to the sport and he was the champion. He’s a guy I’ve been keeping my eye on since day one."

Despite the task he faces of trying to dethrone the UFC’s most dominant fighter, Weidman is confident.

"I know what type of mindset I need to have to walk in that cage," he said. "The biggest thing is just staying confident, staying relaxed and making sure I dictate the fight once I get in there."