Kempo Chris
11-29-2003, 12:48 AM
http://www.pridefc.com/pictures/pride23/pride23_03_12.jpg
from www.adcombat.com
Interview: Ricardo Arona
Submitted by: Team TATAME
Posted On 11/29/2003
By Marcelo Alonso / Team Tatame
Ricardo Arona missed the most important opoortunity of his career when he broke his foot three days before the PRIDE GP. Now, he tries to put that dissappointment behind him, Arona declares that he is back in his best shape ever. In this interview, he talks about the Pride GP, his future challenges and his desire to fight Wanderlei: “There is no way out. He has to fight me this year”.
Are you ok from the foot injury that took you out of the Pride GP?
Now I´m back 100% . I passed thru the most difficult time of my life. I was really in excellent shape, and I was ready to win the Pride GP when I broke my foot and tore some ligaments 3 days before the first round. It took me two months to recover but now I´m back. I´m getting prepared for February´s edition of Pride. This time off from training was very important for me to learn to have more discipline, and train more. I´m returning better than ever in February.
I´ve heard you almost took 'Minotauro' out of Pride GP... My only intention was in helping him against Cro Cop. I was training heavily with him and unfortunately I hit his eye with an elbow and opened a big cut.
What is your impression in that match against Cro Cop?
I knew the fight would go that way, first because Fedor is a top striker and second because he is left handed. I knew it would be difficult for Rodrigo, but as soon as he put him on the ground he had a great chance to win. Rodrigo was very well trained and proved once again that he is the best in his category.
What did you feel seeing Murilo losing to Henderson? That´s the most sad part of this story. We know Henderson is an excellent fighter, but we always want our fighter to win. Unfortunately Murilo took that headbutt, followed by a knee that changed the way the fight would go. But I think the referee shouldn´t have interrupted it at that moment - Murilo was reacting at that moment.
Do you think if you had been in there the story would be different? Man, I cried like a child in the first phase of the Grand Prix. I was there in Japan, in the best shape of my life having great conditions to win this event, but that injury took me out. It was really hard for me.
Yoshida impressed you? Yes, the guy showed a lot of heart. When I saw him fighting for the first time I thought he could not deal with Wanderlei´s game. But he did the right thing, he clinched and got it to the ground, and anulled Silva´s game. I think that if he had Vale-Tudo training inside he could have won. He did not show the appetite to knock out Wanderlei.
What did you expect from in the second part of the GP? I thought Wanderlei would win. Maybe because I really want to fight him and facing him undefeated would be much better. Among the finalist I thought Wanderlei and Chuck were the ones who had the best chance. I did not believe in Quinton because I think he is the kind of the guy who talks more than he works. Wanderlei can say anything but we know that he does what he says. Liddell is the kind of fighter who doesn´t talk too much but does a great job in the ring. The Japanese is a great judo player but he didn´t have any Vale-Tudo expierence. I think that after he beat Liddel, Quinton stepped in the ring already defeated by Wanderlei. I think he felt the pressure of his first tournament. When He held Wanderlei almost one minute with a guillotine, I knew he would get tired sooner or later. Actually I´m very happy Wanderlei won. First because he is brazilian, second because I want to face him this year still undefeated.
Wanderlei told me that to face him the opponent has to have a belt. How do you think you will get this fight? I don´t think this fight will take too long to happen. He already fought the best guys in our category, just missing me and maybe one or two other guys, so who He will fight against? I´ve already beat 3 top opponents in Pride. There is no way out this fight has to happen in 2004.
What do you think about him fighting against Randy Coulture?
I think Randy Coulture has all the elements to beat Wanderlei. He gets you down and keeps punching and he never gets tired. I think he has a good chance against Wanderlei.
Even in a ring? That´s a very important question, because Randy plays very well with the fence. But I believe even in the ring he has advantages over Wanderlei.
What is your opinion about all those fighters changing their teams? I think that everybody has to look for what is best for them when the subject is financial interest. Anyone has the right to have his own opinion and I cannot judge. Even though we passed thru a very similar situation here in BTT but we came to an agreement because we are very good friends.
How is your training routine? I´m training three times per week at BTT in Rio and three times in Niterói, where I live. I´m training Muay Thai with Tonico and doing my physical training with Marcelo Saroldi.
from www.adcombat.com
Interview: Ricardo Arona
Submitted by: Team TATAME
Posted On 11/29/2003
By Marcelo Alonso / Team Tatame
Ricardo Arona missed the most important opoortunity of his career when he broke his foot three days before the PRIDE GP. Now, he tries to put that dissappointment behind him, Arona declares that he is back in his best shape ever. In this interview, he talks about the Pride GP, his future challenges and his desire to fight Wanderlei: “There is no way out. He has to fight me this year”.
Are you ok from the foot injury that took you out of the Pride GP?
Now I´m back 100% . I passed thru the most difficult time of my life. I was really in excellent shape, and I was ready to win the Pride GP when I broke my foot and tore some ligaments 3 days before the first round. It took me two months to recover but now I´m back. I´m getting prepared for February´s edition of Pride. This time off from training was very important for me to learn to have more discipline, and train more. I´m returning better than ever in February.
I´ve heard you almost took 'Minotauro' out of Pride GP... My only intention was in helping him against Cro Cop. I was training heavily with him and unfortunately I hit his eye with an elbow and opened a big cut.
What is your impression in that match against Cro Cop?
I knew the fight would go that way, first because Fedor is a top striker and second because he is left handed. I knew it would be difficult for Rodrigo, but as soon as he put him on the ground he had a great chance to win. Rodrigo was very well trained and proved once again that he is the best in his category.
What did you feel seeing Murilo losing to Henderson? That´s the most sad part of this story. We know Henderson is an excellent fighter, but we always want our fighter to win. Unfortunately Murilo took that headbutt, followed by a knee that changed the way the fight would go. But I think the referee shouldn´t have interrupted it at that moment - Murilo was reacting at that moment.
Do you think if you had been in there the story would be different? Man, I cried like a child in the first phase of the Grand Prix. I was there in Japan, in the best shape of my life having great conditions to win this event, but that injury took me out. It was really hard for me.
Yoshida impressed you? Yes, the guy showed a lot of heart. When I saw him fighting for the first time I thought he could not deal with Wanderlei´s game. But he did the right thing, he clinched and got it to the ground, and anulled Silva´s game. I think that if he had Vale-Tudo training inside he could have won. He did not show the appetite to knock out Wanderlei.
What did you expect from in the second part of the GP? I thought Wanderlei would win. Maybe because I really want to fight him and facing him undefeated would be much better. Among the finalist I thought Wanderlei and Chuck were the ones who had the best chance. I did not believe in Quinton because I think he is the kind of the guy who talks more than he works. Wanderlei can say anything but we know that he does what he says. Liddell is the kind of fighter who doesn´t talk too much but does a great job in the ring. The Japanese is a great judo player but he didn´t have any Vale-Tudo expierence. I think that after he beat Liddel, Quinton stepped in the ring already defeated by Wanderlei. I think he felt the pressure of his first tournament. When He held Wanderlei almost one minute with a guillotine, I knew he would get tired sooner or later. Actually I´m very happy Wanderlei won. First because he is brazilian, second because I want to face him this year still undefeated.
Wanderlei told me that to face him the opponent has to have a belt. How do you think you will get this fight? I don´t think this fight will take too long to happen. He already fought the best guys in our category, just missing me and maybe one or two other guys, so who He will fight against? I´ve already beat 3 top opponents in Pride. There is no way out this fight has to happen in 2004.
What do you think about him fighting against Randy Coulture?
I think Randy Coulture has all the elements to beat Wanderlei. He gets you down and keeps punching and he never gets tired. I think he has a good chance against Wanderlei.
Even in a ring? That´s a very important question, because Randy plays very well with the fence. But I believe even in the ring he has advantages over Wanderlei.
What is your opinion about all those fighters changing their teams? I think that everybody has to look for what is best for them when the subject is financial interest. Anyone has the right to have his own opinion and I cannot judge. Even though we passed thru a very similar situation here in BTT but we came to an agreement because we are very good friends.
How is your training routine? I´m training three times per week at BTT in Rio and three times in Niterói, where I live. I´m training Muay Thai with Tonico and doing my physical training with Marcelo Saroldi.