Tony DeSouza (Pictures) will face Roan Carneiro (Pictures) at UFC 79 in a middleweight bout that matches two very similar fighters.

"He is a good fighter," DeSouza said of Carneiro. "I think our games looks good, and it promises to provide a great fight. I will show it."

The Peruvian prepared in Hawaii with friend B.J. Penn (Pictures) for the Dec. 29 fight.

"I trained for about four months in Hawaii," DeSouza said. "I was training with B.J. Penn (Pictures) and everyone at his academy. I stay here until Christmas and then travel to the fight. I have the best expectations possible. I am strong and ready to fight."

Although he has not fought since UFC 66 at the end of last year, DeSouza continued training during the break. He was waiting on the UFC to contact him.

"After my last fight, I was some six months in Peru and then came to Hawaii," he said. "I was training all the time because I was waiting to be called by the UFC. And training is a way of life. I feel bad when I'm not training."

On a card full of great fighters and clashes anticipated by the public, DeSouza is proud to be part of the show. When he's not fighting, he'll also be watching as a fan.

"The show will be excellent," DeSouza said. "I am very happy to be on a card with great fighters. The battle of Chuck Liddell (Pictures) against Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) will be great. Chuck is a good friend and I would like him to win, but who will really win is the audience that likes MMA."

After the fight against Carneiro, DeSouza will travel to England, where he will corner B.J. Penn (Pictures) in his lightweight title fight against Joe Stevenson. Having watched Penn train, DeSouza is betting on his friend.

"B.J. is very well, in great shape," he said. "He will win this fight and the belt."

DeSouza also hopes to contend at the top. He is promising fans that they will witness a war when he takes on Carneiro.

"They can expect great explosiveness, courage and heart," DeSouza said, "as I always do in my fights."