Bzob
05-13-2003, 09:25 AM
From www.pridefc.com
PRIDE Fighting Championships: How's your health?
Kazushi Sakuraba: So-so.
PRIDE: Are you able to fight?
Sakuraba: Yes, I'm ready to fight.
PRIDE: What are your feelings on fighting in the next PRIDE?
Sakuraba: I haven't really though about it (laughing). If I can fight, I'd like to fight but I don't have an opponent.
PRIDE: So, you're okay to fight in July's PRIDE 26 Bad To The Bone?
Sakuraba: If I was told to fight, I could. No problem.
PRIDE: Did you give any advice to (Kazuhiro) Hamanaka?
Sakuraba: He was in an amateur wrestling competition recently so I want him to change his feelings a bit. He's got a lot of power so if he can just adjust some small points, he'll be fine.
PRIDE: What do you mean by change his feelings?
Sakuraba: For example, if you add striking, your distance and stance is different. Amateur wrestling has a sports feeling but when you're in PRIDE or some other vale tudo match, it can become more about destroying the other guy. If you let your guard down for a second, your arm will get broken or you will get knocked out. He's got to begin thinking that way.
PRIDE: What do you think are his strong points?
Sakuraba: He's much stronger than other fighters at his own weight. He's an amateur wrestling go he's got good balance on his feet.
PRIDE: Do you think he's got a future in PRIDE?
Sakuraba: Definitely. He's got things that I don't, like power. He's straight as an arrow but I'm kind of bent (laughing). He's very determined.
PRIDE: Have you put any thought into fighting in the PRIDE GP 2003 middleweight tournament?
Sakuraba: That's too far in the future. I wouldn't mind being a reserve fighter (laughing). Maybe if someone will get an injury in the final match, I can come out and fight then (laughing). Hamanaka would never think of something like that (laughing).
PRIDE: You talked about becoming a heavyweight a few months ago.
Sakuraba: If my weight naturally went that high, I would fight as a heavyweight.
PRIDE: What's your weight now?
Sakuraba: About 89 or 90 kilos, I guess.
PRIDE: Do you want to fight?
Sakuraba: It really depends on how your last fight is. Like my last fight, I wanted to fight the next day (laughing).
PRIDE: If you're not happy with the way you lose, it makes you want to fight again?
Sakuraba: Yes. My last fight with Mirko was the same way. Some losses I can understand, but others…
PRIDE: So, that means you want to fight?
Sakuraba: Yeah, I guess so (laughing). But, DSE and Mr. Takada also have a say in it. Even if I want to fight, there're a lot of things that have to be dealt with.http://www.pridefc.com/interviews/sakuraba_10/sakuraba.jpg
PRIDE Fighting Championships: How's your health?
Kazushi Sakuraba: So-so.
PRIDE: Are you able to fight?
Sakuraba: Yes, I'm ready to fight.
PRIDE: What are your feelings on fighting in the next PRIDE?
Sakuraba: I haven't really though about it (laughing). If I can fight, I'd like to fight but I don't have an opponent.
PRIDE: So, you're okay to fight in July's PRIDE 26 Bad To The Bone?
Sakuraba: If I was told to fight, I could. No problem.
PRIDE: Did you give any advice to (Kazuhiro) Hamanaka?
Sakuraba: He was in an amateur wrestling competition recently so I want him to change his feelings a bit. He's got a lot of power so if he can just adjust some small points, he'll be fine.
PRIDE: What do you mean by change his feelings?
Sakuraba: For example, if you add striking, your distance and stance is different. Amateur wrestling has a sports feeling but when you're in PRIDE or some other vale tudo match, it can become more about destroying the other guy. If you let your guard down for a second, your arm will get broken or you will get knocked out. He's got to begin thinking that way.
PRIDE: What do you think are his strong points?
Sakuraba: He's much stronger than other fighters at his own weight. He's an amateur wrestling go he's got good balance on his feet.
PRIDE: Do you think he's got a future in PRIDE?
Sakuraba: Definitely. He's got things that I don't, like power. He's straight as an arrow but I'm kind of bent (laughing). He's very determined.
PRIDE: Have you put any thought into fighting in the PRIDE GP 2003 middleweight tournament?
Sakuraba: That's too far in the future. I wouldn't mind being a reserve fighter (laughing). Maybe if someone will get an injury in the final match, I can come out and fight then (laughing). Hamanaka would never think of something like that (laughing).
PRIDE: You talked about becoming a heavyweight a few months ago.
Sakuraba: If my weight naturally went that high, I would fight as a heavyweight.
PRIDE: What's your weight now?
Sakuraba: About 89 or 90 kilos, I guess.
PRIDE: Do you want to fight?
Sakuraba: It really depends on how your last fight is. Like my last fight, I wanted to fight the next day (laughing).
PRIDE: If you're not happy with the way you lose, it makes you want to fight again?
Sakuraba: Yes. My last fight with Mirko was the same way. Some losses I can understand, but others…
PRIDE: So, that means you want to fight?
Sakuraba: Yeah, I guess so (laughing). But, DSE and Mr. Takada also have a say in it. Even if I want to fight, there're a lot of things that have to be dealt with.http://www.pridefc.com/interviews/sakuraba_10/sakuraba.jpg