Silva departs for Las Vegas with team of 20

 RIO DE JANEIRO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Brazil's UFC world middleweight champion Anderson Silva has travelled to Las Vegas with a team of 20 assistants for next Saturday's title showdown with American Chael Sonnen.

Silva departed Rio de Janeiro's Galeao international airport on Sunday in a relaxed mood, stopping to sign dozens of autographs for fans before boarding his flight.

His team includes jiu-jitsu trainer Ramon Lemos, physiotherapist Angela Cortes and fellow fighter Paulo Bananada.

The title bout¹ comes almost two years after Silva defeated Sonnen with a fifth-round triangle armbar, having been dominated by the American in the early rounds.

Silva, 37, is the most successful fighter in UFC history and is undefeated since 2006.

Sonnen has vowed² to seek revenge against his arch rival, adopting a controversial trash-talking campaign in the lead up to the duel³.

UFC 148 will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena⁴ in Las Vegas. The fight card includes four other Brazilians: Rafaello Oliveira, Gleison Tibau, Demian Maia and Fabricio Morango.

1 bout   

n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛

参考例句：

• I was suffering with a bout of nerves.我感到一阵紧张。
• That bout of pneumonia enfeebled her.那次肺炎的发作使她虚弱了。

2 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

3 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

4 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。