Tim Boetsch Believes He’ll Eventually Fight Anderson Silva for Belt

After stopping Yushin Okami for his third straight win as a middleweight, Tim Boetsch thinks he’ll have to score one more victory before getting a crack at UFC champion Anderson Silva.

Of course, first Silva has to defend his title against Chael Sonnen at UFC 147 on June 29. Sonnen nearly beat him in their first encounter, but Boetsch doesn’t like the challenger’s chances in the rematch.

“I think he’s going to have Chael’s number this time,” Boetsch told the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I think he’s not going to make the same mistakes twice … especially after seeing Chael’s performance against [Michael] Bisping. I was surprised to see him get beat up that bad by Bisping. I think Chael’s probably going to end up getting knocked out by Anderson.”

Boetsch added that Sonnen did surprise him with his performance in the first fight, though, and even drew up a kind of blueprint for beating the Brazilian. In fact, Boetsch thinks he could use a similar strategy against Silva if he ever fights him.

“Chael showed a strong wrestler does well against him,” Boetsch said. “The only thing that Chael failed to do was damage Anderson throughout the fight, and that’s kind of my specialty. I will deliver a high amount of damage from start to finish, and that would make a huge difference in the outcome of the fight.”

Another difference Boetsch sees between himself and Silva’s other opponents is that he’s not scared of the champion.

“A lot of fighters out there are,” Boetsch said. “They think of him as an invincible superhero. If you’re thinking that way about your opponent, you’ve already lost. I think that’s what happens to a lot of guys. They lose that fight before they even get in the cage with him.”

That’s not the case with Sonnen. He was less than two minutes from a likely decision over Silva in August 2010 before succumbing to a triangle-armbar submission. If he employs a similar game plan in the rematch, Sonnen might be able to pull off the upset. Boetsch won’t be rooting for him, though.

“I want Anderson to hold onto that belt until I get there,” Boetsch said. “He is obviously a legend in the sport already. That being said, everybody has to lose eventually and I want to be the guy to take that belt from him. That’s been a dream of mine for a long time.”

Listen to the full interview (beginning at 1:14:27).