source: www.tatame.com.br (in portuguese) and Combate show in SporTV (brazilian cable network, Globosat system)
During an interview given in the show Combate from SporTV last weekend, Ricardo Arona had no doubts when asked about a possible fight against his team mate Rogério Minotouro: "Minotouro is my brother, we train together in the same team. There is no possibility of me trading punches with him. If we face each other in a stage or in the GP finals we will do something beautiful, but we won´t get it on", assured Arona.

In the case of a fight against his ex-team mate Vítor Belfort, Arona said that professionalism will prevail. "Inspite the fact that we have trained together during our time with Carlson and then in the BTT, today Belfort represents another team. I´ll face the fight with professionalismo and I hope that he also does it", he resumed. Bebeo Duarte, the only BTT leader that has not gone with the team to Japan, said that the team still has not taken a position regarding a possible fight between Arona and Minotouro.

- We will work backstage so that this fight Minotouro x Arona only occurs in the GP finals. This would be a minor issue. But in case they have to fight sooner, we will have to decide what to do. We still haven´t thought about it. On the other hand, in case of a fight against Vitor, there´s all that affective side, but he´s a man to be beaten just like any other. As Arona put himself, we will face it professionally and we hope that he does the same - explains Bebeo.

I think it's bull****, they shouldnt both be in the tournament if thats the way they're gonna be. Chute Boxe dont care, Wanderlei already said if him and Shogun meet in the tourny they are gonna throw down. ****in BTT....

I don't know, bro. I am very tight with the guys I train with and I always apologize whenever I hit them too hard... I can see your point as a fan who wants to see 2 fighters go at it, but I can also understand why Arona would think like that.

I understand, but this isnt training, this is the Pride GP. The Japanese may not care, but now we will be wondering "What if?" if one lets the other one win.....

Last time I heard something like this it was Tamura talking about Yoshida before they fought in the GP. I concur with Kaps first post.

Sounds like some bullshido to me. What are they gonna do, play grab-ass for three rounds?

In the old UFC days Macias "jobbed" to Taktarov since they were boys and all... So, it has happened before.

Macias is a tool, he would've lost anyway....

Another thing is you dont see the Chute Boxe guys being sissys about it. They know it's there job to fight, so they will go out and have a fight. Not play tag for 20 min.....

Might as well make that match Abu Dhabi rules.

Anyway, I can understand if they're bros and all. I'd feel bad caving in my teammates skull, too. But fans pay to see guys throw down and not hold back. In a way, they'd be cheating the fans.

Even if they both went at it, I dont think Arona has to worry about hurting Nog with his stand up. It's not that good. He has some good leg kicks, but that's about it.....

Once one of them get hit it'll be on. They're pros, they know it's just a job.

****in BTT....

shut your asslips, you ****in reject.

I don't think Arona will make the finals anyway. He is far too passive for some of the fighters in this tournament. In fact, if one of the favorites is going to lose in the first round, I think it will be Arona. Yeah, I don't like Lister ethier but he matches up pretty well against Arona, espically if Arona is his normal passive self after the takedown. Lister likes to finish and he will be looking for one.

shut your asslips, you ****in reject.

Ahh, I forget that you are training at the BTT place in LB, are they teaching you to make excuses after you lose, or do you have to be a purple belt first?

I don't think Arona will make the finals anyway. He is far too passive for some of the fighters in this tournament. In fact, if one of the favorites is going to lose in the first round, I think it will be Arona. Yeah, I don't like Lister ethier but he matches up pretty well against Arona, espically if Arona is his normal passive self after the takedown. Lister likes to finish and he will be looking for one.

I think your wrong and you will se it this week end. eat **** dumb ass american nutthugger.

Ahh, I forget that you are training at the BTT place in LB, are they teaching you to make excuses after you lose, or do you have to be a purple belt first?
do you even know what your sayin anymore or do you just have to type to make some sense of your life? who the **** is making excuses after they lose? and isnt this about arona saying he wont punch nog? way to stay on the subject (as you so eloquently put in the "Chuck poked another opponent in the eye thread"). if you're gonna type, the least you could do is take your own advice, asshead.

and at that, you make it sound like BTT is a ****ty team to be under. well of course I'm gonna say somethin, I'd be a ***** if I did'nt. I strongly believe we are one of the best. the remark you made is asking for some kinda drama or "internet retort", and you're obviously tryin to downplay my team. whatever BRO. i dont know if you consider Paco and the barn you train in a team, but we both know you're way far off from talkin **** on mine. i mean after all, your the whinning little woman that quits over someone talking **** to you over the internet... I couldnt imagine what youd be like after you lost a fight, regardless what belt your holding.... blue, purple, black... your still a *****. work on that before you go TRYING to clown on others that have smaller issues than you.

do you even know what your sayin anymore or do you just have to type to make some sense of your life? who the **** is making excuses after they lose? and isnt this about arona saying he wont punch nog? way to stay on the subject (as you so eloquently put in the "Chuck poked another opponent in the eye thread"). if you're gonna type, the least you could do is take your own advice, asshead.

and at that, you make it sound like BTT is a ****ty team to be under. well of course I'm gonna say somethin, I'd be a ***** if I did'nt. I strongly believe we are one of the best. the remark you made is asking for some kinda drama or "internet retort", and you're obviously tryin to downplay my team. whatever BRO. i dont know if you consider Paco and the barn you train in a team, but we both know you're way far off from talkin **** on mine. i mean after all, your the whinning little woman that quits over someone talking **** to you over the internet... I couldnt imagine what youd be like after you lost a fight, regardless what belt your holding.... blue, purple, black... your still a *****. work on that before you go TRYING to clown on others that have smaller issues than you.

Damn ... Holy ****! Just ...

Holy ****!

do you even know what your sayin anymore or do you just have to type to make some sense of your life? who the **** is making excuses after they lose? and isnt this about arona saying he wont punch nog? way to stay on the subject (as you so eloquently put in the "Chuck poked another opponent in the eye thread"). if you're gonna type, the least you could do is take your own advice, asshead.

and at that, you make it sound like BTT is a ****ty team to be under. well of course I'm gonna say somethin, I'd be a ***** if I did'nt. I strongly believe we are one of the best. the remark you made is asking for some kinda drama or "internet retort", and you're obviously tryin to downplay my team. whatever BRO. i dont know if you consider Paco and the barn you train in a team, but we both know you're way far off from talkin **** on mine. i mean after all, your the whinning little woman that quits over someone talking **** to you over the internet... I couldnt imagine what youd be like after you lost a fight, regardless what belt your holding.... blue, purple, black... your still a *****. work on that before you go TRYING to clown on others that have smaller issues than you.

You're telling me to stay on the subject when you are the one who got off in the first place. I never said brazillian top team was a ****ty team, I have a btt wallpaper on my computer, I said they make excuses after they lose. Bustamante, Arona, Nog, they've all done it. The fact is you dont see Chute boxe saying they are gonna not punch eachother. This is a fight, if you wanna watch your team mates roll around and play grab ass, they can keep it in the gym. Nobody wants to see that **** in Pride. "the remark you made is asking for some kinda drama or "internet
retort", And your remark wasnt?

You're telling me to stay on the subject when you are the one who got off in the first place. I never said brazillian top team was a ****ty team, I have a btt wallpaper on my computer, I said they make excuses after they lose. Bustamante, Arona, Nog, they've all done it. The fact is you dont see Chute boxe saying they are gonna not punch eachother. This is a fight, if you wanna watch your team mates roll around and play grab ass, they can keep it in the gym. Nobody wants to see that **** in Pride. "the remark you made is asking for some kinda drama or "internet
retort", And your remark wasnt?

Okay, you guys are friends. It's hard to express **** on here sometimes without it coming across exactly like you meant and that's what happened here. Both of y'all are respected and respectful of each other generally but even blood brothers fight sometimes.

I hope that if they aren't gonna have a sincere fight that they don't meet cause that ain't right. I agree that it'd be hard to really go all out and bash in a real bud's head or try to, though. I bet PRIDE would have issues with any "submission grappling" contest even though there's probably been similar **** that's occurred before.