EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with "MINOTAURO" NOGUEIRA

By Ed Preuss for MMA Sports. Photo by Josh Hedges, courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.

MMA Sports caught up with "Minotauro" Nogueira as he prepares to battle Frank Mir at UFC 92. "Minotauro" owns victories over some of the top heavyweights including Tim Sylvia, Heath Herring, Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, Mirko Crocop, Bob Sapp, Mark Coleman and Gary Goodridge.

MMA Sports: Rodrigo, what are you expecting of this next fight with Frank Mir?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - I have been training hard and I am going to do my best. At this time I will be more aggressive and I will attack him. On the feet and on the floor. My best defense will be my attack and I will take over the center of the octagon and impose my game. I will use my Boxing to control the distance and if the fight goes to the ground I’ll submit him.

MMA Sports: So can we expect from you the same strategy you used in your last fights… studying your opponent in the first round?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - My idea is ending the fight as soon I can. It’s always nice, but sometimes it’s not possible to achieve it. I always try to be a little cautious in the beginning of the fight because a heavyweights hand is not light and a hard punch in the beginning might be fatal.

MMA Sports: You seem focused for this fight. Fighting Frank Mir, is there a special motivation?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - I am very focused. I have been living a 100% for this fight. I go straight to train at the gym and them I go home. Since I first stepped in the octagon, when I signed in the UFC, I have been dreaming for the day I’d become champion. In fact I was champion, but the dream was not complete until I had my chance with the champion. So, now UFC has given me the opportunity to fight for the belt…I just need to get Frank Mir and besides he is a dangerous fighter, I will move forward.

MMA Sports: Mir has submitted the current champion, Brock Lesnar…how hard will this fight will be in your opinion?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - I am sure Mir deserves the chance to fight for the belt. He has proven it already. As I said before he is very strong, explosive and a seriously dangerous fighter. In my opinion he is a complete fighter. He improved his game on the feet, is exchanging better, kicks well too.

MMA Sports: How do you plan to defeat him?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - I have watched some of his fights and I realized he becomes gassy after the three or four first minutes of the fight. So I believe he is more dangerous during this first round. So I am in better shape than him and I am more experienced also.

MMA Sports: Some people say he has been training to surprise you on the ground…
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - He is not going to submit me. No way man! If he wants a piece of me, I want the same thing also and we are going to solve it in the octagon. This is what’s gonna happen.

MMA Sports: You said UFC has given to you another chance to fight for the belt…what can you say about Fedor? He is out of the question…
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - Well, he is one of the best heavyweight fighters on the world. But I do not lose my sleep thinking about the day I will have another chance to fight him. I am a professional fighter and I have been writing my history in MMA. In each fight I write a new chapter. So if someday we meet in the future, I’ll be ready for him.

MMA Sports: Your guard has been feared for lots of fighters Word-wide... but against Fedor it was not an advantage. Do you agree with that?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - Yes, in part. To beat Fedor is necessary to fight on the top. It’s one way to defeat him, but my last fight with him belongs to the past and I am sure nowadays if we met I would feel more confident to fight him, even though from below.

MMA Sports: What would you change in your game?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - I see myself as a complete fighter and prove of that I have the UFC interim belt and I am fighting for “the one”. For me each fight is a chess match. If the opponent gives you a chance to submit him…you enjoy the situation and accomplish it.

MMA Sports: Have you thought about a possible fight against Lesnar?
Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro - I would lie to you if I say I don’t, but I’d rather be focused to fight Mir. Then we talk about Lesnar.

Shooto Brasil 9: November 29, 2008. Photos and Recap

By Ed Preuss. Photos by Eduardo Ferreira.

The final edition of Brazilian MMA show Shooto Brasil 9 went to a hot special place to celebrate its champions. On November 29, nearly 6,000 people went to the Paulo Serasate, in beautiful Fortaleza, Ceará to check out five title bouts and international challenges involving fighters from Argentina and the United States.

In the main event of the night Brazilians showed his best skills against American Team. In the first fight of the challenge, Nova União lightweight Leo Santos put his Jiu-Jitsu on the side and exchanged punches with Corey Edwards. The American fighter, surprised by the three strong low-kicks applied by the Brazilian black-belt fighter, got no reaction and got KO’d with a high-kick in early round 1.

In the second match of the challenge, Danilo Cherman did a balanced first round with Mike Bonnette. The American defended all of the Brazilians submission attempts in the first round. However in round two, Danilo imposed his game. Applied a beautiful take-down on Bonnette, passed his guard and reached the mount. As the American was defending, Cherman went for the arm-lock and from there submitted Bonnette with a triangle choke.

Supported by the local audience, local fighter Willamy Chiquerim exchanged punches with American Randy Steinke and in his first opportunity, took his opponent to the ground and punished him. Closing the fight with style, the fighter from Fortaleza fixed an anaconda choke to submit his opponent.

Brazil Vs Argentina

The classic duel from Soccer was switched to the ring during this final edition of Shooto. And this time Brazilians overcame their neighbors easily. BJJ brown belt Guybson Sá gave no chance to Argentinean Diego Lopes and used a katagatame to submit his opponent. Then it was time for Vítor Miranda who showed the reason he was called by Mirko Cro Crop to train Muay Thai in Croatia. With sharpen knees he obliged Gustavo Moia to give up the combat.

During the title bouts, Juciê Formiga (Kimura/ Nova União) overcame Maicon Willian (Nocaute Fight) in the -56kg. Dudu Dantas showed he has no opponents in Brazil and gave no chance to Carlos Alberto Betão (RFT), who tapped out.

The second belt went to Renan Barão, who needed three rounds to defeat Alexandre Pinheiro and rule the belt -65kg. During the -76kg title decision, Igor Chatubinha defeated Hernani Perpétuo by referee’s decision and closing the event, André Chatuba submitted Dinarte with an anaconda choke in the first round, taking home the -83kg belt.

Here are the complete results below:


COMPLETE RESULTS:

Shooto Brasil 9
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Paulo Serasate, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Super-fight:
- Jamil Silveira (Nocaute Fight) defeated Rivanildo Aranha (Hikari) by unanimous decision.

Title bouts:
-56kg: Juciê Formiga (Kimura/ Nova União) defeated Maicon Willian (Nocaute Fight) by split decision;
-60kg: Dudu Dantas (Nova União) submitted Carlos Alberto Betão (RFT) via armlock in R2;
-65kg: Renan Barão (Kimura/ Nova União) defeated Alexandre Pinheiro (JP Caverna) by TKO in R3;
-76kg: Igor Chatubinha (Minotauro Team) defeated Hernani Perpétuo (Nova União) by split decision;
-83kg: André Chatuba (Minotauro Team) submitted Dinarte (Kimura/ Nova União) by anaconda choke in R1;

Desafio Brasil x Argentina:
- Vitor Miranda (M-13) defeated Gustavo Moia by KO (knee) in R1;
- Guybson Sá (Sá Team/Nova União) submitted Diego Lopes via kata-gatame in R1;

Desafio Brasil x EUA:
- Willamy Chiquerim (Nocaute Fight) submitted Randy Steinke by anaconda choke in R1;
- Danilo Cherman (Nova União) submitted Mike Bonnette by triangle choke in R1;
- Leo Santos (Nova União) defeated Corey Edwards by KO (kick) in R1;

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with MARCUS AURELIO

Interviewed by Ed Preuss for MMA Sports

MMA Sports caught up with Marcus Aurelio to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC 90 with Hermes Franca (click here to read Hermes Franca's response interview) and talk about the tension and dislike between the two fighters.

MMA Sports - How do you feel facing a former teammate inside the Octagon?
Marcus Aurélio - I am a professional fighter, so I don't choose opponents. In natural basis fighting a former teammate would be awkward, but Hermes and I are no friends form a long time and I am ready for this challenge.

MMA Sports - How is your training preparing for the fight?
Marcus Aurélio - It's great! I am doing a great job and I feel good. I am very conditioned and training a lot of Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai and Wrestling. I am doing whatever it takes to give the best in the Octagon.

MMA Sports - Your history with Hermes França comes way before then American Top Team... is true that you brought him to American Top Team?
Marcus Aurélio - Hermes learned Jiu-Jitsu with me since he was a blue belt. He stayed with me until graduate black belt. When I brought him to train in United States, he was a brown belt, years before American Top Team was created. We used to train at Silveira Brother's Marcelo...Conan. In that time with Ricardo Libório we gave Hermes his black belt. After that American Top Team was born and then he integrated the team.

MMA Sports - And what happened next?
Marcus Aurélio - Then after a while he did a lot of bullshit in the team and was sent home. Then we gave him second chance and he spoiled it too. At this time he messed up with Ricardo Libório and was banished from the Team. Then he went to Team Armony, but also screwed things up there too.

MMA Sports - So I assume that was the time the friendship got broken…
Marcus Aurélio - Yes. He left the team and moved with a lot of anger. But I can tell you by that time we weren't friends for a while. In my opinion he does not have the quality when the subject is character. So he got several people upset. I am not afraid to tell nobody in the team likes him. To be honest it’s not only at ATT that França collects enemies.

MMA Sports - What do you mean?
Marcus Aurélio - Some people outside the team offered me help when they knew I would fight him. They called me and said. "Marcus, if you need any kind of help, please let me know... I want to see you kicking his ass".

MMA Sports - Who asked for the fight?
Marcus Aurélio - I didn't. And I believe he didn't either. As far I know, he would fight Brazilian Gleison Tibau, but Tibau got his shoulder hurt and needed surgery. And I was fragile due to my loss at UFC. So ATT owner Dan Lambert advised me about this fight with Hermes and I couldn't say no. So I had to accept and I am going to do my best.

MMA Sports - You both trained together and know the game... what can we expect of this fight?
Marcus Aurélio - Besides being a trouble maker, he is a great fighter. Proof of that he already disputed the belt (fought for the lightweight title). But I am ready for all kinds of situation. I will have no surprises. I know his game on the feet, on the ground...I know how he exchanges punches, his head. My mind is focused to do a 15 minutes bout of pure action. But do not be amazed if the fight ends in the first round.

MMA Sports - You came from Pride as the man who submitted Takanori Gomi, but somehow didn't repeat the good phase at UFC. What happened?
Marcus Aurélio - I can't explain for sure...I kind of froze out. US is very different from Japan when the subject is fighting. Over here, fighters like to score, differently from fighters as Gomi or BJ Penn, who do their best all the time looking forward to ending the fight.

MMA Sports - What do you mean? Could you be more specific?
Marcus Aurélio - Well, Tyson Griffin played his game against Tibau and he used this score system against me. In my opinion, those fighters are limited. They have good Boxing skills, three or four take downs and a lame ground game. That's the reason they use the UFC rules to fake attacks on the ground. They don't play loose…they just hit you once in a while. They kick and take you down to score. But I know I lost…and I got defeated by points.

MMA Sports - Talking about the team, how is ATT nowadays?
Marcus Aurélio - I see ATT as a family. It's the backyard of my home. To be honest I spend more time training in here then staying in my house. And I don't even mention the friends I made in here. You look around and you see fighters as Marcelinho Garcia, Gesias Cavalcante, Thiago Silva, Antônio Pezão, Thiago Pitbull Alves, Gleison Tibau. I am not afraid to tell you nowadays here is the best training camp in the world.

MMA Sports - How is the team after André Benkei's leaving?
Marcus Aurélio - Man, I tell you it was a sad moment. Benkei was the heart and soul of American Top Team. He now is a freelancer and my relationship with him didn't change a thing. I see him as an important part of the group. He is more than a trainer, he is like a father for us. All the guys at American Top Team respect him and wishes for his return… who knows?

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with HERMES FRANCA

Interviewed by Ed Preuss for MMA Sports

MMA Sports caught up with Hermes Franca as a reply to Marcus Aurelio's MMA Sports interview (click here to read) to discuss his upcoming fight at UFC 90 with Marcus Aurelio and talk about the tension and dislike between the two fighters.

MMA Sports Mag - It's obvious you and Marcus Aurélio have some unfinished business to deal. What are you expecting of this fight?
Hermes França - I think Aurélio talks too much, but if he is ready as he was against Clay Guida and Tyson Griffin…I think UFC will see the same movie.

MMA Sports Mag - How did you receive the news you would fight Aurélio?
Hermes França - I was very surprised! I also thought about calling UFC's matchmaker Joe Silva trying to find another opponent. I am fighting an unknown fighter in the US and who did horrible fights in the event. I say all my fights in the UFC were exciting and for several times I received prizes for the best KO or submission of the night. Even when I got defeated my fights were exciting. So I think I should have a chance to fight a better phase athlete. But I thought: What the hell? I will fight him and I don't respect him as a person and I will be well paid to kick his ass. Let's do it!

MMA Sports Mag - And he said he was the one who brought you to train in the US, how did that happen?
Hermes França - It's not true. I came to the United States own my own. Marcus has never brought me to the US. I came through UFC's Wilson Gouveia, who is such a friend and I owe him big time. I came to the US to work. I washed cars for several months, until someday Wilson introduced me to Marcelo Silveira and Conan and I started training. Marcus Aurélio reached ATT through me and Wilson. I even waited for him in the airport and placed him in my house. From there we went to Silveira's Brother’s gym and he started training. I feel very upset with the stuff he made it up.

MMA Sports Mag - So, you and Marcus Aurélio have serious personal issues…
Hermes França - He accuses me of a lot of things, but he forgets he left behind his first teacher Sazinho and left his first team Nova União. He abandoned his gym and pupils in Fortaleza... it's a shame.

MMA Sports Mag - So, you join ATT and then you ended up leaving the team. What is your version of the facts?
Hermes França - Differently of what he said. I've never did bullshit at ATT. I've always did good things for the team. I left because I had a little disagreement with Marcelo Silveira, but then we talked privately after that and it's alright.

MMA Sports Mag - So, after this talk you decided to join the team again?
Hermes França - No. I've never asked for a second chance. In fact I received a call from Ricardo Libório and he told me he would like to have me back and to put behind my disagreement with Silveira. I said yes. I moved on.

MMA Sports Mag - But then something new happened, right?
Hermes França - Yes, in the second time I left because I graduated Kurt Pelegrino to black belt… by that time he was my pupil at Team Armory. I thought he deserved it...not only because of the fights, but because he was a good instructor. He is a great fighter and during a submission event, with his blue belt, defeated Marcus Aurélio. So Libório got upset because I gave Pelegrino the black belt. I didn't understand the reason he got upset. I was a black belt for four years and Kurt was training with me over one year. I considered it fair to graduate him and this created a lot of noise. I warned Libório I wasn't able to take it back because it would create an awkward situation. And it was the beginning of the end. Then Kurt and I left to Team, Team Armory and after a while we decided to create our team. That's it.

MMA Sports Mag - I imagine you are hurt with your old team…
Hermes França - I've never left motivated by anger. At Armory, when I only trained with Kurt and my pupils, I did eight fights and won them all by submission and had a title shot. About my character, I've always been loyal to Silveira's Brothers and they were my family. I shared several unforgettable moments until the arrival of the "spoilt oranges".

MMA Sports Mag - Talking about ATT, how is your relationship with the team?
Hermes França - I got really surprised when Aurélio said nobody liked me anymore. Every time I meet somebody from there we talk normally. I ran into Gleison Tibau, who was my opponent and I didn't realize this indifference. I feel very upset with his words.

MMA Sports Mag - Aurélio also said he received phone calls supporting him to fight you. Did you receive calls also?
Hermes França - I bet he received two or three calls. On the other hand I was very supported by several fighters. I also received an invitation from BJ Penn to help him in his training and accepted. I also received invitations from Spencer Fisher, Joe Stevenson and Billy Rush, who trains Jeremy Horn. But I knew Jeremy would fight Wilson Gouveia and I had to refuse. This is my character man!!!

Just to have an idea…Meanwhile Marcus Aurélio is not welcome in any gym of Fortaleza, I have open doors in many teams and fighters in the US. As Pat Miletich, Dan Henderson, Xtreme Couture, Greg Jackson, Chuck Liddell and others. I also talked to Saulo Ribeiro during a submission tournament and he invited me to train at Universidade do Jiu-Jitsu (Jiu-Jitsu's University). This is like going Disneyland for the first time!

MMA Sports Mag - What do you mean?
Hermes França - I mean... can you imagine training with Diego Sanchez, Jeremy Stephens, Ronaldo Jacaré, Xande Ribeiro, Fabrício Morango, André Galvão, Pablo Popovitch, Brandon Vera and Barret Yoshida? It's just awesome!

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with THIAGO TAVARES

Interviewed by Ed Preuss for MMA Sports. Photo by Josh Hedges, courtesy of Zuffa, LLC

Thiago Tavares entered the UFC as an undefeated fighter having won all 10 fights. His UFC debut win over Naoyuki Kotani and then Jason Black kept his perfect record at 12-0 before suffering his first loss against Tyson Griffin at UFC 76. He bounced back at UFC Fight Night 12 to defeat Michihiro Omigawa to only then suffer his second loss in his career to Matt Wiman. For a chance to redeem himself he is set to face the always tough Kurt Pellegrino this weekend at UFC 88. MMA Sports caught up with Thiago Tavares to get his thoughts on his upcoming fight and previous loss.

MMASPORTS: Do you already have a strategy planned to defeat Kurt Pellegrino?
THIAGO: I do consider our game alike. But it becomes different when the subject is Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. My ground game I consider stronger than his, but I have to admit his wrestling is superior. In my opinion, I have better chances to win on the ground and that’s the way I plan to defeat him. This fight will be decided on the ground.

MMASPORTS: You’ve come from a KO loss to Matt Wiman, at UFC 85, are you worried about exchanging punches with Pellegrino?
THIAGO: Well, I don’t see myself worried about exchanging punches, because I am a professional fighter and that loss is just a loss and I need to get over it and show my game. I think Pellegrino and I have similar skills when the subject is exchanging punches. I will do my best at this time. I am betting on my physical conditioning, training a lot of Muay Thai and Boxing. My Jiu-Jitsu is excellent and also I have been training a lot of Grappling. Let’s see what happens…

MMASPORTS: Talking about Wiman...tell us your thoughts about the fight.
THIAGO: I’ve always respected him a lot, but I committed a mistake that was fatal during the fight. I underestimated him for a moment. I thought the fight was under control… I was better than him and relaxed. Inside the octagon you cannot relax! Ever! And I learned that in the hardest way...being punched on the chin and suffering this terrible loss.

MMASPORTS: This fight of course slowed down your path to the title shot… what do you think bout that?
THIAGO: Well, I believe in the case if I had won the fight with Matt Wiman, my situation would be much better now talking about a title shot. I think I might have two or three fights until having a chance to face the champion. The following fight was also already planned, but once I got defeated everything has changed.

MMASPORTS: So, what’s your opinion? How many fights separate you from the title now?
THIAGO: I do not think about the belt right now. One step at a time. Now I am focused to win my next fight. I will do my best to defeat him and then I will keep training harder and harder to the next challenges. I think the lightweight title for me is just a matter of time. And I am living each day and so far I am very happy because I extended my contract with the UFC for another four fights.

MMASPORTS: You hold a great record of 13-2-0. What loss was harder for you to face? Against Matt Wiman or Tyson Griffin at UFC 76?
THIAGO: Well, losing is always a tough thing to deal. Especially for me who until my 12th fight had never loss professionally. So, I don’t think one loss was worst then the other…they happened! I learned a lot from each one…however I’ve never been knocked-out before and this impresses people.

MMASPORTS: You represent Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro’s team... how is training there?
THIAGO: Besides representing Minotauro Team, I have been training in my born place, Florianópolis, in my own gym. My sparring crew is also here to give me a hand such as Thiago Jambo and Fábio Maldonado, so I do consider I am having great training for this next challenge.

ANTONIO SILVA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

interviewed Ed Preuss for MMA Sports
photo courtesy of Tom Casino/EliteXC

Standing 6’4” you certainly need to look up when talking to Antonio Pezao Silva. With only one loss on his almost perfect MMA record, the Brazilian giant from Paraíba (Northeaster’s city of Brazil) shared his hard times in England and moments of joy. He talks about the future, how much he looks forward at a chance to fight Russian Fedor Emelianenko and how much he avoids a confrontation with his personal friend Rodrigo Minotauro. Get to know a little more about the American Top Team fighter during this exclusive interview with MMA Sports magazine.

MMA Sports: Tell me about your training at American Top Team?
Antonio Silva: It has been over one year I lived in the United States, training at American Top Team. My manager Alex Davis invited me to join the team and I am glad. We are a complete gym, with a great structure. We have it all, all kinds of training. We have a Wrestling specialist, Boxing, Striker and also we learn Jiu-Jitsu techniques with master Ricardo Libório, who sometimes is like a father for us. I consider American Top Team as the best place for a real champion to be born.

MMA Sports: Tell me more about American Top Team. Why do you think training in there is so different?
Antonio Silva: I believe everything spins around friendship and organization. We care about each other and there is mutual respect. We do not care about how much the other made in the fight or if one of us gets more attention from the media and fans. About the organization, we do have a tight schedule and we take it really serious. So, in my opinion this is the difference between American Top Team and other academies.

MMA Sports: So, what is next for you?
Antonio Silva: Well, I do have a fight scheduled for this July 26, at EliteXC, and it is for the belt.

MMA Sports: If you could choose your opponent, who would be?
Antonio Silva: Well, if I could choose, it would be somebody good, like top ten fighters rank. I have been waiting in line to join this select group and my goal is to see myself in the top three rank.

MMA Sports: There are some awesome Brazilian fighters in this division like Rodrigo Minotauro. In case you fight him, how it would be?
Antonio Silva: Well, this fight has never crossed my mind! Rodrigo Minotauro is a training partner and more that that. He is a personal friend. I’ve faced a bad situation in England with my wife and daughter and he was the one who offered me shelter and took me out of there. I would rather quit fighting than face Rodrigo Minotauro. I wouldn’t be able to close my fist to attack him.

MMA Sports: Could you tell us about this bad situation in England?
Antonio Silva: I was hired to fight five times in England by Brazilian Mario Sucata, who gave me chance to debut abroad. Everything was fine until I got a chance to fight in Japan, at Hero’s. So my old managers got really upset and decided to mess with me, not paying for my last fight. They didn’t pay for the flight tickets and I had no budget to return to Brazil. That happened because I met Aras and signed to fight in Japan. So, was in that time I counted on Aras and Rodrigo Minotauro sheltered me and my family and I am forever grateful.

MMA Sports: And about Fedor Emelianenko? Would you like to fight him now?
Antonio Silva: Which heavyweight wouldn’t? I was very anxious when he left M-1 and rumors said he would fight at Pro Elite. I finally saw us fighting in the ring. But then he signed with other events and this dream got a little farther. However I have an opened contract and in the meantime I don’t have the chance to fight Fedor, I’ll train more and more and fight to get more experience.

MMA Sports: Have you thought of how you would defeat him? Have you thought about a strategy?
Antonio Silva: He is the champion and he is a complete fighter He already showed this before. He proved he is a great fighter on the top and also on the ground. So, I haven’t though about a specific strategy to beat him. It all depends on the fight. As I said before, I am focused in the heavyweight division and I believe someday I’ll have a chance to face him.

MMA Sports: As soon you arrived in United States doctors detected in you some tumor… what was that?
Antonio Silva: Yes, in fact my body produces high levels of some hormone called “GH”, which means growth hormone. So I had no chances but operate and remove the benign tumor, which was responsible for this hormone. Right now I feel good and only stayed out of training for a few months.

MMA Sports: So, lots of people buy hormone to develop muscles and grow and you did the opposite?
Antonio Silva: Yes, kind of funny, right? I wish I was like everybody and needed to increase my physical with hormones, it would be less expensive… but I am glad the surgery was good and after that I have already fought twice and I am living the time of my life.

MMA Sports: How is life in US now? Is it true your wife is pregnant again?
Antonio Silva: In the beginning everything was very hard, pretty much because of the language. But with time things get right, and I am able to feel like home… you know the city you live in. My daughter is already speaking English and it is true. My wife is pregnant again and she will give me the second joy of my life.

MMA Sports: You said your daughter is already speaking English... and you?
Antonio Silva: Oh God! I have to say it’s harder for me. My little daughter says few words in English and I have been here over one year and I am still trying! I confess I do need to practice more, but my time is short out the gym and I rather stay with my family. But I know it is important and that’s why when I am at the gym I try to develop my English skills.

MMA Sports: So, you weight 127kg... is it hard to lose weight to fight at heavyweight division?
Antonio Silva: Not really. It isn’t a sacrifice to a heavyweight to lose 7kg. In my last fight I did it really well. I just wore regular clothes and did the habitual sauna. So I had no trouble to lose weight. Who knows someday I might be able to fight at the 93kg division.

Really? Is that possible for somebody like you?
Antonio Silva: André Benkei says it is possible, but I was just joking around. I said it would be my next goal and my friends freaked out (laughs). I am focused in the heavyweight division and I feel like I‘ll do a lot in this division during my career.

MMA Sports: Tell us about your past. What you use to do when you lived in Paraíba?
Antonio Silva: In Paraíba I used to work as a car salesperson. I started as an assistant, but then people gave me a chance and I became a salesman. Then I did some bank security. I used to carry the money bags inside the safe car. Thank God I’ve never had to react to any robbery when I was working.

Anderson Silva - Exclusive interview

interviewed by Ed Preuss for MMA Sports. Photo by Josh Hedges, Courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.

UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva steps up to Light Heavyweight to face James Irvin on July 19 at UFC Fight Night. In this exclusive interview, he tells us his thoughts on the fight, his upcoming title fight against Yushin Okami and the other competitors in the middleweight division.

MMA Sports: Are you worried about your next challenge?
Anderson Silva: I am very confident about this fight.

MMA Sports: So, what do you think about doing the main fight of a show that is suppose to compete with Affliction?
Anderson Silva: Well, I am a fighter and my job is fighting. In fact, this fight was a personal request of Dana White and it has its value. I have been training hard and I wish I do a good job in the octagon.

MMA Sports: So, what do you know about James Irwin?
Anderson Silva: I know he is a tough fighter and likes to exchange punches. I need to be careful. But I am not worried. I am confident everything is going to be alright. I will try to do my best as I always do, no matter the result. I am going to test myself… to challenge myself.

MMA Sports: He commented saying that the middleweight division is way different than fighting among the light-heavyweights... what do you have to say about that?
Anderson Silva: I believe and respect the weight divisions. But when I used to fight at Pride there was no division such as 83kg. I've always fought among the 93kg fighters. And I didn't have the same technique and physical condition I have today. It’s an experience for me and as I said before, I am doing it for a lot of reasons… including a request of Dana White.

MMA Sports: So, if you win the fight, everyone will be wondering whether you will be looking to fight for the light-heavyweight title?
Anderson Silva: No, no. I do not have intention to fight for this belt. In my opinion it belongs to a man called Lyoto Machida and he has proven it! I will fight Irwin because I like fighting and challenges.

MMA Sports: After the fight you return to Brazil and then you have another challenge ahead: Yushin Okami…
Anderson Silva: I am going to train harder for this challenge. In the first fight we met at Rumble on the Rock, the rules weren't clear for me. I ended launching an illegal kick and got disqualified. Everybody saw I was winning that fight. In case I didn't get disqualified, I believe he wouldn't last one more round.

MMA Sports Mag – So, what do you think about this next meeting with him?
Anderson Silva: He is a great fighter and he is very skillful. Prove of his value is that he is fighting in the UFC. And I think he showed enough to fight for the belt. I had my chance once and he now has his. But I warn him it's going to be easy… some of the best fighters tried, but the belt is still with me.

MMA Sports: What do you think of Patrick Cote?
Anderson Silva: I think its great everybody wants a piece of me. They will challenge me and my technique and if I deserve to remain the champion, just time will tell. I know I won’t be a champion forever, somebody will eventually beat me and this makes me stronger to postpone this day. I just know I train to show my game and the result is focused in the whole work. As I said, everybody wants a piece of me and my title and I will train harder and harder to retain it.

MMA Sports: Is there anyone in particular that you would like to fight?
Anderson Silva: I don't know… but if it was possible I'd like to fight my clone (laughs), but I think it's just possible in the videogame… but it would be funny. The other day I got myself thinking about that.

MMA Sports: Some people wonder about fights between you and Georges St. Pierre, or Paulão Filho… what do you think about fighting them?
Anderson Silva – Well, what can I say? I think a fight with Georges St. Pierre would be very interesting. The same thing with the Brazilians... I really admire Paulo Filho's job and I don't refuse fights, I don't choose opponents. Also Ronaldo Jacaré is such a rising star and I think he is also doing a great job at Dream and I would not be surprised if someday we meet in the ring in the future.

MMA Sports: So, tell me about your training at the “Minotauro” Team…
Anderson Silva: It's very cool. Rodrigo “Minotauro” got a place in Miami and everyday of training is a different day for me. Its a daily transformation… the whole crew is awesome. I just train with fighters heavier than me. And to be honest, I've always trained like that. We did a special training schedule and physical preparation and I am confident it will work fine.

Pedro Rizzo interview

MMA Sport interview exclusive with Pedro Rizzo

interviewed by Ed Preuss for MMA Sports

A new Pedro Rizzo is emerging. After two loses in Pride, Brazilian UFC living legend Pedro Rizzo has found on his family a new path to keep moving forward in the fight business and bounced back with two bug wins in the Art of War promotion. His first victory was over Justin Eilers and his most recent TKO win over Jeff Monson.

According to Rizzo, the key of this change has a name and surname: Laila Rizzo. At age of one, Pedro Rizzo's daughter has changed the mind of the warrior. "On last June 19 we celebrated her first birthday. I am blessed with this God gift. She brought to me a lot of happiness and now I feel motivated to get in the ring and use all my strength to overcome any bad situation", says Rizzo.

Now the family's man has a chance to regain the gold times of the past. On July 19, he will have his chance to face Josh Barnett again, on the Affliction show, held in the Honda Center, in Anaheim, California. In their first fight Pedro Rizzo knocked out Josh Barnett back in 2001.

MMA Sports Mag's crew met Rizzo (and Laila) at a coffee shop in Rio de Janeiro to bring you this exclusive interview with Pedro Rizzo.

MMA SPORTS MAG - So, what do you think about this rematch with Josh Barnett on the Affliction card?
PEDRO RIZZO - It has been seven years since we faced each other and now we have a reverse situation. In the first fight I was the favorite and now people are calling me the underdog. I am very pleased with this fight and I feel blessed.

MMA SPORTS MAG - You have faced hard times during your last fights…
PEDRO RIZZO - I've been always a Christian and I passed through a bad professional time. But I believe it just had to be. I gave up my life in God's hands and I train supported by my faith. I train hard because I want to be ready for the worst. And this fight against Barnett is the hardest fight of my career.

MMA SPORTS MAG - What can we expect from this fight?
PEDRO RIZZO - This fight will be the one where I am going to show I still can fight anyone. That will bring me to the top ten best heavyweight fighters again. I'll be ready for the battle… I will enter in the ring as if it was the last fight of my life.

MMA SPORTS MAG - And how do you intend to do it?
PEDRO RIZZO - I have been training hard with a great structure, what I did not have few months ago. I have been training with 12 heavyweights sparring, good at wrestling, who enjoy exchanging punches and kicks. I believe Josh will start on the feet and then he is going to take the fight to the ground. But I am going to surprise him on the feet. Josh is a versatile fighter and as far as I have seen, he sharpened his game on the feet. He always counts on good take-down attempts and also likes to apply leg-locks. Everybody knows that and I have been training a lot of it.

MMA SPORTS MAG - Talking about training… you always counts on K-1 star Peter Aerts’ support. Tell me about him.
PEDRO RIZZO - He is such a good friend. So that is true, he brings his family and we travel as a big family. And every time I train with him I learn a lot. We're always learning some new tricks.

MMA SPORTS MAG - You said you want to come back to the top ten of the heavyweight division. Do you think in case you defeat him you return to the ranking?
PEDRO RIZZO - Josh nowadays is the fourth place. I don't know if I beat him I will be ranked, but what makes me glad is facing a top 10 athlete. There are some people that say I should retire, but I say no!

MMA SPORTS MAG - So, what do you think about this new Affliction show?
PEDRO RIZZO - I hope for the best. The event has a great card, featuring Vitor Belfort, Rogério Minotouro, Renato Babalú and Fábio Negão among others. So, what can I say more? We signed for three bouts and I know the next show is scheduled for October. So I hope people buy the pay-per-views and have great fun with our bouts. Affliction has launched the best card of the year and the only top heavyweight out of the tournament is Rodrigo Minotauro, who fights in the UFC.

MMA SPORTS MAG - Talking about UFC, it will perform a show in the same day… what do you think about that?
PEDRO RIZZO - I think UFC might be a little concerned. They analyzed the card and saw Affliction as a potential concurrent. I think it's positive for the sport, and great for the athletes. Affliction has sold a lot of tickets as far I know and as I said before, is supported by an excellent card. I don't know about the UFC plans, but I tell you it's going to be hard to feature a better card than Affliction's one.

MMA SPORTS MAG - Talking about challenges. Few months ago some rumors say you would fight Fedor Emelianenko... and he is the main star of the show... Was there discussions?
PEDRO RIZZO - Yes. There was some contact to fight Fedor, pretty much because all heavyweights are fighting at UFC. So the list of top heavyweights outside UFC include names like me, Josh Barnett, Jeff Monson, Brazilian Antônio Pezão... however I think he signed with Elite. The M1 event was having a hard time finding an opponent Fedor and I was named. My manager called after the contact and I accepted. It's such a great opportunity and an honor to fight Fedor, who is the best fighter in the world.


MMA SPORTS MAG - Talking about the best heavyweight of the world, how is it possible to defeat him? Any tips for Sylvia?
PEDRO RIZZO - I say he is a complete fighter. He exchanges punches like few heavyweights, he applies good take downs and knows how to fight on the ground. I think one of the ways to defeat him being on top. He is very explosive and has good sprawls, so its hard to take him down… he trains a lot Judo. And I am not a good wrestler, and it may be a problem. I think I need to improve my training and my game to fight him. In case of this fight is signed, I will build a strategy. I have been watching his fights and he handles the very bad situations smoothly.

KO SILVA - Thiago Silva interview

MMA Sport issue 12 interview exclusive with Thiago Silva

MMA Sports: Tell us about your thoughts about the fight with Alexander Houston?
Thiago Silva: I thought Houston was strong and a way explosive fighter. I trained hard and did specific training to annul his game. He has a strong punch and he is a knock-out machine! I imposed my game and my base, which means, I was planning to take the fight to the ground. Watching his fights, he won them all exchanging punches. He never went down in a fight and I decided to test him. I imposed my game and won the game.

MMA Sports: How did you start to train at American Top Team?
Thiago Silva: I’ll be honest with you. I’ve reached some high training levels in my career and I kind of needed a better training structure. My old gym, where I was training in São Paulo, with Jorge Patino Macaco, was not good enough… anymore. By the way the financial part was also not great too. We started to disagree about some issues and I decided to live in the U.S. I am friends with Alex Davis and now he’s my manager.

MMA Sports: When did you meet Davis?
Thiago Silva: He is such a friend. In fact I know a friend who knew him in childhood. So he introduced us and I renegotiated my contract with UFC and he offered to train me. I confess I was curious to know the whole structure and team and I realized the training was amazing. Team was very professional and so far I am loving it. This is my new home now.

MMA Sports: How is your Chute Boxe’s leaving?
Thiago Silva: Unfortunately was not good. Macaco and I had a disagreement about money and that’s not great, ever! In my opinion I thing everybody needs to earn honest money. He as a trainer and manager and I as a fighter. But unfortunately he wanted to make more money than he was supposed to. And I started to feel bad and decided to leave. That’s the truth. He told the press I abandoned him but behind the scenes he was forcing me to sign a contract that wouldn’t be good for me.

MMA Sports: So, tell us about this new contract?
Thiago Silva: I am closed with American Top Team, with Alex Davis. I cannot say too much, but I can tell you it’s a long and interesting contract. In my point of view it was great for both parts. Everybody is happy.

MMA Sports: Tell us about your training at ATT?
Thiago Silva: I like training with everybody, but especially with Wilson Gouveia, Jorginho, Antônio Pezão, the heavy ones. They make part of my training day… training is awesome. Talking about the trainers, Wally trains our Muay Thai, who is doing a great job with us. There is André, our physical trainer, Howard, who teaches Boxing, Carmelo, who trains Wrestling and Ricardo Libório, who trains Jiu-Jitsu. There is a great structure and you see the results in really few time. You have to keep following the evolution of the sport… so I am having a great time at ATT.

MMA Sports: Talking about UFC. How is your relationship with Dana White?
Thiago Silva: I love UFC and my relationship with Dana White is wonderful. I really like him. He treats me well and I don’t have reasons to complain. I do my job and I train hard to do it well. In my opinion, who trains hard always gets in the top. I have traced my goal and I am determined to reach the top.

MMA Sports: Who do you think is the strongest fighter in your division?
Thiago Silva: I am good friends with American Top Team’s JZ Cavalcanti and I was telling him there are lots of ups and downs in the division and it’s hard to point a single fighter. I really like to watch Forrest Griffin matches. However I am training to be the best and I will fight anyone.

George St Pierre sharpens BJJ in Rio

Text Interviews
MMA News Written by F. Machado
Friday, 13 June 2008

Georges St. Pierre in BrazilUFC welterweight champion, Canadian George St Pierre is enjoying some well deserved free time in Rio de Janeiro. But he is not just enjoying just a vacation at the beach. The UFC champ has been sharpening his Jiu-Jitsu with some of the most traditional BJJ teams in Rio de Janeiro: Nova União and Gracie Barra. "If I knew how good was it, I would come here earlier", said a relaxed George St Pierre, who watched the May 31st edition of Jungle Fight Warriors, held in Rio de Janeiro at the UFC heavyweight champion Rodrigo Nogueira Minotauro's facility.

George talked about his impressions of the training. "It has been an wonderful time. I am really impressed with the high quality of the training", stated the Canadian, who visited and did not care about the BJJ rivalry between Nova União and Gracie Barra on the mats. "I was welcomed in both places. To be honest, in Canada BJJ has been getting developed and there is no such as rivalry between teams. So this is a kind of new thing for me", said St Pierre, adding: "I started in Jiu-Jitsu by Wagnney Fabiano's hands and training with the guys at Nova União was very good. I learned good positions", guaranteed the fighter.

Besides Jiu-Jitsu, George talked about UFC and Anderson Silva. "I know Silva and he is a nice guy. A great fighter inside and outside the octagon. I respect him a lot and he is in a great phase of his career. But the truth is nobody is unbeatable, but if he keeps doing the same job he has been doing be sure he will keep his belt for a long, long time", said the champion.

With a fixed eye on the octagon of Jungle Fight Warrios, Georges saw great bouts and few knock-outs, such as Johnny Eduardo's over Erinaldo Pitbull and Alan Frois's over Ricardo Pessanha. Check out the full results of the event which George St Pierre saw from the ring side:

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Jungle Fight Warriors
May 31st, 2008
Nogueira Brothers Facility – Rio de Janeiro

- Ronnys Torres (Nova União) submitted Francinei Farinaze (Minotauro Team) by RNC at 2R.
- Paulo Thiago (Constrictor Team) submitted Paulo Cavera (Macaco Gold Team) by kata-gatame at 1R;
- Thiago Jambo (Minotauro Team) defeated Everton Santana (Macaco Gold Team) by referee's decision;
- André Tadeu (Clube de Luta) KO'd Daniel Moraes (ICJG) at 2R;
- Johnny Eduardo (Boxe Thai/ Nova União) KO'd Erinaldo Pitbull (Gracie Fusion) at 1R;
- Eric Silva (Alliance-ES) submitted Carlos Eduardo dos Santos (RFT) by RNC at 3R;
- Alan Frois (MGT) KO'd Ricardo Pessanha (Alliance - Campos) at 1R;
- Leonardo Tangerina (Gracie Fusion) defeated Bruno Menezes (Champion - BA) by split decision.