“With that [fight], there were little positions where you think you’re in a good spot, because you are, but you’ve got to remember they can still smoke you with an elbow from whatever dumb spot they’re in, and that’s your bad.
“Stuff like that will only come through experience... and just knowing that these girls are like veterans in the sport compared to me. They’ve got game, they’ve got strength, they’re durable, you can’t trick them easily; they’re not some random person from nowhere who just popped up.”
Silva (10-6) certainly falls under that description, with the 34-year-old Brazilian making her 14th UFC appearance and having previously fought for the bantamweight title.
Losing that bout for the belt against Raquel Pennington was the first in a four-fight skid for Silva, however, and Montague (7-0) suggested the two were at different stages in their careers.
“She’s on the last fight of her contract and getting ready to go through the process of her wife having a baby, and I’m over here in my second UFC fight with my mum and dad next to me, so it’s very, very different ends of the stage. I feel good about it.”
While it’s only Montague’s second fight in the UFC, she and Silva are no strangers to each other.
The pair were formerly training partners at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, with Montague, who fights primarily from the orthodox stance, providing Silva a southpaw look in sparring before the Brazilian’s bout with former champion Holly Holm in 2023.
Working with one of the most talent-rich MMA teams in the world, Montague has had plenty of quality sparring throughout camp despite current UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison being out of action because of injury.
Montague has worked with the likes of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion and current UFC No 15-ranked bantamweight Bia Mesquita during this camp, and said she was coming in with all her bases covered.
“We’ve had perfect looks the whole camp, and obviously we’ve repped a s*** ton of what we need to with what [Silva] does best, because there’s some stuff she does really well and it surprises her opponents and she gets them with it,” Montague said.
“For me, it’s a beautiful opportunity. I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes right now.”
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
