Bruno Silva admits that he sometimes feels the need to pinch himself.

“I’m living my dream now,” he told Sherdog.com. “The moment I enter the cage and see what’s happening, I say to myself, ‘Wow, I’m actually experiencing all this.’ I’m very happy with everything. I am very grateful and happy.”

The 34-year-old Brazilian will look to establish himself as a legitimate contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s flyweight division when he takes on former Rizin titleholder this Saturday at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, in an attraction featured by UFC on ESPN 63 Fighting Federation, Manel Kape, competes. Silva enters the Octagon riding a four-fight winning streak. He last saw action at UFC on ESPN 60, where he defeated Cody Durden with punches in the second round of their July 20 encounter. Silva isn’t afraid to toot his own horn.

“I got four wins in a row, all bonuses, all stoppages – three knockouts and one submission,” he said. “Who has made such a run in our weight class?”

Kape seems to be a formidable obstacle. He has four wins in his last five outings, with a July 27 decision loss to undefeated Muhammad Mokaev being his only misstep. The 31-year-old Kape has won 16 of his 19 professional victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission, nine of them within one round. Silva understands what is at stake.

“This fight is undoubtedly very important to me, like everyone else,” he said. “Every fight is important. There is no way around it. In our weight class, anyone in the top 10 could fight for the belt. Kape is a guy that people love to watch. He likes to hit. He is skilled. By knocking out Kape I could be next in line for the belt, or close to it. It’s going to be great.”

Never content with the status quo, Silva has moved to American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, hoping to further his development as he navigates his mid-30s.

“Everyone is new to me – training partners and coaches – so I have to adapt and develop because the level here is very high,” he said. “It’s an academy with a lot of good people. You have to be in shape. We train every day. We agree that we recognize what is needed most. We always formulate strategies to attack our opponents’ weaknesses.”

Should Silva get past Kape, he would almost certainly find himself in the top 10 of the rankings at 125 pounds. His ultimate goal remains unchanged.

“My future plan is to become UFC champion,” Silva said. “I’m looking forward to the next fight and the one after that and the one after that.”