EliteXC confirmed rumors today that they had officially signed middleweight Murilo "Ninja" Rua and the 6-foot-5 265 pound Antonio "Big Foot" Silva to long-term contracts.

Gary Shaw, president of EliteXC, appears to have big plans in store for his giant heavyweight, calling out anyone in his weight class, specifically mentioning the octagon.

“I believe Silva is the No. 1 heavyweight in the world which is why I wanted to make sure he stayed with us,’’ Shaw said. “If there is a UFC heavyweight or, for that matter, any heavyweight out there that feels they are the best then lets make a match.

“We can do the fight in an Octagon, in the EliteXC cage or any venue. I truly believe ‘Big Foot’ will kick any heavyweight’s butt and look forward to giving him the opportunity to do it.’’

A terrific triumph over Wiezorek came in the six-foot-five-inch American Top Team Fighter’s first match in eight months and first since he opted to drop 35 pounds and campaign as a heavyweight.

Silva, who had fought at 300 pounds throughout his career, plans to make a make a permanent move from super heavy (265 pounds-plus) to the heavyweight division.

“My goal is to be heavyweight champion,” said Silva, whose lone blemish in 10 starts came on a controversial defeat to Eric Peele on Dec. 2, 2006. “I want to stay active and fight all the great fighters. I would be comfortable fighting any of them right now. Maybe organizations will start to fight each other so we can have just one champion.’’

Silva recently made the claim that Fedor Emelianenko, the man considered by many to be the greatest heavyweight fighter in the world, had turned down an offer to fight him. To read more about this story, click here.