Curly Howard
03-07-2003, 01:43 PM
From Pride FC (http://www.pridefc.com)
A press conference was recently held with Kazushi Sakuraba at Takada Dojo. His opponent at PRIDE 25, March 16th at Yokohama Arena, will be Nino "Elvis" Schembri. Sakuraba says that his right knee is at "80%" now and was all smiles for the reporters.
PRIDE Fighting Championships: You look like you've gained weight.
Kazushi Sakuraba: Yes. I'm thinking about fighting as a heavyweight this year! (laughing) I'm about 90 kilos right now.
PRIDE: Are you intentionally trying to increase your weight?
Sakuraba: No, I just eat and drink too much (laughing).
PRIDE: From when were you able to train normally?
Sakuraba: A started lightly a few weeks ago and now I'm back to normal.
PRIDE: What percentage would you say that you are at now?
Sakuraba: About 80%.
PRIDE: Are you going to be 100% by fight time?
Sakuraba: Yes.
PRIDE: Your opponent is Nino Schembri. What's your impression of him?
Sakuraba: He's good on the ground. In the beginning, I thought he was too light and I said I didn't want to fight him. Then, I heard that he's usually around 80-90 kilos, so I said I don't mind. I felt like we would be a good match. It was suggested to me that he would be a good opponent and so it was decided.
PRIDE: Have you seen any videos of him?
Sakuraba: I've received some videos but I haven't watched them yet.
PRIDE: Do you do research?
Sakuraba: I might watch a little but you can get too excited watching them. I want to stay relaxed. When the fight gets closer, I'll probably watch them.
PRIDE: He's called the 'second Rickson."
Sakuraba: I only know that his sideburns are really long (laughing).
PRIDE: Anything special for your entrance?
Sakuraba: I'm going to grow my sideburns out.
PRIDE: No change in feeling from your other fights?
Sakuraba: That's right.
PRIDE: Do you think PRIDE is in danger?
Sakuraba: You think so? I think they're fine. I'm not really worried about it.
PRIDE: I think many of the fighters want to fight every more now.
Sakuraba: In that sense, I do want to do even more now. Recently, Japan hasn't been able to win. I'd like to do more.
PRIDE: How do you want to win?
Sakuraba: I haven't created an image of my win yet. Of course, I'd like to win by Ippon. It would be good to have a match with a lot of action.
PRIDE: How's your right knee?
Sakuraba: It's mostly fine. There's nothing I can do about the places that are already torn. Now I'm training so I don't have to use that leg as much and putting a lot of emphasis on warming up.
PRIDE: Are you trying to build up muscle around the injured areas?
Sakuraba: Exactly. Also, taping it well. It's been bad for a long time now so it doesn't both me much. It was probably already torn in half and just finally tore the rest of the way. I went to the doctor and he said since there's no swelling, I had probably just been tearing it a little bit at a time over the years and the last piece finally snapped.
PRIDE: Does it affect your movement?
Sakuraba: A very slight change. My way of moving has changed slightly. But it's still basically the same.
PRIDE: What's your goal for 2003?
Sakuraba: Go up to 100 kilos and fight in the Heavyweight Grand Prix….ok, that's a lie (laughing). I haven't though of anything special at all.
PRIDE: What about the Middleweight title?
Sakuraba: Haven't thought about it. I've already got a belt.
PRIDE: How about another belt for your collection?
Sakuraba: I can just make one for myself (laughing). I'm not interested in the belt itself at all.
PRIDE: What about Silva?
Sakuraba: I'm a little interested.
PRIDE: Are you getting a little rounder?
Sakuraba: My stomach's sticking out.
PRIDE: How about gaining some weight and fighting Bob Sapp?
Sakuraba: You shouldn't say such stupid things (laughing). I'm aiming for Nogueira but by the time I get there, my stomach will be huge (laughing). I've already beaten Silva and Nogueira in the PRIDE FC game (for PlayStation 2) so I'm happy with that for now (laughing).
PRIDE: Any message for your fans?
Sakuraba: I will do my absolute best.
A press conference was recently held with Kazushi Sakuraba at Takada Dojo. His opponent at PRIDE 25, March 16th at Yokohama Arena, will be Nino "Elvis" Schembri. Sakuraba says that his right knee is at "80%" now and was all smiles for the reporters.
PRIDE Fighting Championships: You look like you've gained weight.
Kazushi Sakuraba: Yes. I'm thinking about fighting as a heavyweight this year! (laughing) I'm about 90 kilos right now.
PRIDE: Are you intentionally trying to increase your weight?
Sakuraba: No, I just eat and drink too much (laughing).
PRIDE: From when were you able to train normally?
Sakuraba: A started lightly a few weeks ago and now I'm back to normal.
PRIDE: What percentage would you say that you are at now?
Sakuraba: About 80%.
PRIDE: Are you going to be 100% by fight time?
Sakuraba: Yes.
PRIDE: Your opponent is Nino Schembri. What's your impression of him?
Sakuraba: He's good on the ground. In the beginning, I thought he was too light and I said I didn't want to fight him. Then, I heard that he's usually around 80-90 kilos, so I said I don't mind. I felt like we would be a good match. It was suggested to me that he would be a good opponent and so it was decided.
PRIDE: Have you seen any videos of him?
Sakuraba: I've received some videos but I haven't watched them yet.
PRIDE: Do you do research?
Sakuraba: I might watch a little but you can get too excited watching them. I want to stay relaxed. When the fight gets closer, I'll probably watch them.
PRIDE: He's called the 'second Rickson."
Sakuraba: I only know that his sideburns are really long (laughing).
PRIDE: Anything special for your entrance?
Sakuraba: I'm going to grow my sideburns out.
PRIDE: No change in feeling from your other fights?
Sakuraba: That's right.
PRIDE: Do you think PRIDE is in danger?
Sakuraba: You think so? I think they're fine. I'm not really worried about it.
PRIDE: I think many of the fighters want to fight every more now.
Sakuraba: In that sense, I do want to do even more now. Recently, Japan hasn't been able to win. I'd like to do more.
PRIDE: How do you want to win?
Sakuraba: I haven't created an image of my win yet. Of course, I'd like to win by Ippon. It would be good to have a match with a lot of action.
PRIDE: How's your right knee?
Sakuraba: It's mostly fine. There's nothing I can do about the places that are already torn. Now I'm training so I don't have to use that leg as much and putting a lot of emphasis on warming up.
PRIDE: Are you trying to build up muscle around the injured areas?
Sakuraba: Exactly. Also, taping it well. It's been bad for a long time now so it doesn't both me much. It was probably already torn in half and just finally tore the rest of the way. I went to the doctor and he said since there's no swelling, I had probably just been tearing it a little bit at a time over the years and the last piece finally snapped.
PRIDE: Does it affect your movement?
Sakuraba: A very slight change. My way of moving has changed slightly. But it's still basically the same.
PRIDE: What's your goal for 2003?
Sakuraba: Go up to 100 kilos and fight in the Heavyweight Grand Prix….ok, that's a lie (laughing). I haven't though of anything special at all.
PRIDE: What about the Middleweight title?
Sakuraba: Haven't thought about it. I've already got a belt.
PRIDE: How about another belt for your collection?
Sakuraba: I can just make one for myself (laughing). I'm not interested in the belt itself at all.
PRIDE: What about Silva?
Sakuraba: I'm a little interested.
PRIDE: Are you getting a little rounder?
Sakuraba: My stomach's sticking out.
PRIDE: How about gaining some weight and fighting Bob Sapp?
Sakuraba: You shouldn't say such stupid things (laughing). I'm aiming for Nogueira but by the time I get there, my stomach will be huge (laughing). I've already beaten Silva and Nogueira in the PRIDE FC game (for PlayStation 2) so I'm happy with that for now (laughing).
PRIDE: Any message for your fans?
Sakuraba: I will do my absolute best.