American Top Team head trainer Marcus “Conan” Silveira has high
hopes for two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla
Harrison and 13-time world jiu-jitsu champion Marcus
Almeida.
Silveira is confident that Harrison, a two-time Professional
Fighters League champion and perhaps the biggest free agent in MMA,
is already a difficult matchup for Bellator featherweight queen
Cristiane
Justino.
“I have no doubt that Kayla would be a terrible matchup for Cris,”
Silveira told Sherdog.com. “Cyborg has been doing the same game
since she started in MMA, so it wouldn’t be a problem for Kayla to
take her down. If that fight happens today, I would say that Kayla
would submit Cris for sure.”
Almeida, meanwhile, is 2-0 under the One Championship banner since
making the transition to MMA, with a pair of first-round submission
victories to his credit. Silveira says Almeida isn’t ready to face
top-level competition just yet, but that time is arriving
quickly.
“I’m really impressed with how ‘Buchecha’ is evolving, and I have
no doubt this kid will go far,” Silveira siad. “He arrived here as
an MMA beginner and is already sparring with some of our best
heavyweights. He didnt win 13 world jiu-jitsu titles by chance.
“This kid works hard and has a great team sense. He helps
everybody, so everybody likes him and are glad to support him. He
is learning fast and I truly believe that, step by step, he will go
far.”