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.