Mr. Beelzebub
04-03-2003, 12:03 PM
Short Circuit: Interview with Pride middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva
Submitted by: Luca Atalla
Posted On 04/02/2003
The Champion, Wanderlei, took PRIDE 25 off this past month, but promises to return ... PIC: Courtesy of PRIDE FC
You knew in advance that you would be challenged by the winner of Quinton vs.
Randleman. Why did you explode when Quinton challenged you? The guy acted like an *******. He was speaking too close to me and I did not like that. He finished the fight and did not celebrate, came straight and pointed at me. I said no way. I'm the champ and he must respect me! At night, Randleman came to kiss my ass, said that I was the champion and that he respected me. But in truth, I dislike him even more than Quinton, because he's always wanting to show off too much.
So, if he had won, it would be worse? I think I would have punched his face right there.
The audience probably thought it was normal, since they are used to watching
such things in pro-wrestling shows, don't you think? The difference is that this was no joke. Pride is a real event and there's no fake stuff here.
You say that never watch your opponent's fights, you don't care about that. But this time you cannot say that, since you were at ringside. What did you think about your next opponent? Great! Actually, Quinton's victory was great, I think our fight will be very exciting, because we both like to exchange punches and kicks, and I love opponents that have the courage to do tha against me. To fight like Randleman was doing, pushing his foe against the ropes and stalling is really boring.
If Quinton fights like he promised, the match will be like you are talking! He just said that you always complain the fighters avoid exchanging against you, and that he will not take you to the ground! That's what I want, that is the way I like it. Sometimes you win and can't give the fans a good show though, because the opponent does not allow that. But when you face a guy who ight straight forward, it is delicious!
And that fight will happen at the next show, in June? No, I will probably be back only in August.
August? I did not know your injury was so serious? Yes it was. I was feeling pain in my knee since Pride 10, when I fought Mezger and hurt myself on the fight's eve. I was training, went too strong and got hurt. Thanks God I won anyway. Then came several invitations to fight and I did not stop to heal my knee. I should have take care of myself a little more.
But it was exactly at the most important period of your career. How could you stop? Yes, I couldn't. If was for me, I would fight Quinton up there in the ring now. I want to come back as soon as possible, because a fighter lives of his victories.
Submitted by: Luca Atalla
Posted On 04/02/2003
The Champion, Wanderlei, took PRIDE 25 off this past month, but promises to return ... PIC: Courtesy of PRIDE FC
You knew in advance that you would be challenged by the winner of Quinton vs.
Randleman. Why did you explode when Quinton challenged you? The guy acted like an *******. He was speaking too close to me and I did not like that. He finished the fight and did not celebrate, came straight and pointed at me. I said no way. I'm the champ and he must respect me! At night, Randleman came to kiss my ass, said that I was the champion and that he respected me. But in truth, I dislike him even more than Quinton, because he's always wanting to show off too much.
So, if he had won, it would be worse? I think I would have punched his face right there.
The audience probably thought it was normal, since they are used to watching
such things in pro-wrestling shows, don't you think? The difference is that this was no joke. Pride is a real event and there's no fake stuff here.
You say that never watch your opponent's fights, you don't care about that. But this time you cannot say that, since you were at ringside. What did you think about your next opponent? Great! Actually, Quinton's victory was great, I think our fight will be very exciting, because we both like to exchange punches and kicks, and I love opponents that have the courage to do tha against me. To fight like Randleman was doing, pushing his foe against the ropes and stalling is really boring.
If Quinton fights like he promised, the match will be like you are talking! He just said that you always complain the fighters avoid exchanging against you, and that he will not take you to the ground! That's what I want, that is the way I like it. Sometimes you win and can't give the fans a good show though, because the opponent does not allow that. But when you face a guy who ight straight forward, it is delicious!
And that fight will happen at the next show, in June? No, I will probably be back only in August.
August? I did not know your injury was so serious? Yes it was. I was feeling pain in my knee since Pride 10, when I fought Mezger and hurt myself on the fight's eve. I was training, went too strong and got hurt. Thanks God I won anyway. Then came several invitations to fight and I did not stop to heal my knee. I should have take care of myself a little more.
But it was exactly at the most important period of your career. How could you stop? Yes, I couldn't. If was for me, I would fight Quinton up there in the ring now. I want to come back as soon as possible, because a fighter lives of his victories.