How are the trainings after the bout with Jon Jones?
Actually I’m taking it easy, I’m recovering from it. I’ll go to the US to train, I’ve talked to Rafael (Cordeiro), and we’ll meet again. It’ll be fine.
Why did you decide to change your trainings?
Because I want to become better and better. I’ve talked to my coaches, who had been there all along, and I decided I had to go. Curitiba is a good place for me because there’s where my family is, my house and all that stuff, but I don’t have a training plan set, and now it’s more important than the comfort I have when I’m at home, so I’ll go to Los Angeles to look for a better training. I’ll look for a better training for me.
You trained without a coach for Jones. Against Liddell you had Cunha, then Dida came and leaded your trainings for Lyoto, but he left the team before this fight against Jon Jones. Was it a decisive factor for you?
Absolutely. Everybody needs a coach, a guy to guide you, a guy that tells you what to do on your training. They all left and I stayed in Curitiba, which was a mistake I made. But we learn from our mistakes, and now I’ll look for a better training for me.
What mistakes you think you did against Jon Jones? Were you surprised by the game he presented you?
No. actually, I don’t see any flaws. He’s a good guy, he earned my respect and I don’t discuss my losses. I always look at it so that I can grow from it, so he deserved that.
After being defeated you asked for a rematch against Forrest Griffin in UFC Rio. Does that motivates you?
My biggest motivation is that I’ll fight Forrest Griffin, who’s a top athlete, one of the bests. Of course I’ll be another fighter for this bout, I’ll do it all over again, that’s my dream. Now we talk to each other, we are colleges… But he’s a good fighter, he’s a big name on the division, a strong guy, so he’s a guy that, in case I win, it’ll bring me closer to the belt. So that motivates me.
The first time you fought him you were coming from an injury and he submitted you. Does that fight bring anything different to you?
Of course I want revenge, so that’s my chance to revenge that loss, and that’s an extra motivational factor. But I’ll be focused because I need a win, not only because of the revenge I want. I want the win.
There’re four Brazilians confirmed to be in UFC Rio, and you’re one of them. How do you see this coming of the event to Brazil?
I’m happy. It’s a thing that, when I loss, I was pretty upset, sad, but it’s been a while and now I’m motivated, knowing I’ll fight again. They’ve offered me that bout and that’s a fight I’d ask them, so it was perfect. For me it’s great: fighting in my country, close to my family. That a dream coming true, especially being in UFC, which is a mark for MMA history in Brazil.
The main event will be Anderson Silva vs. Okami, another rematch. What are your thoughts about it?
Anderson’s the favorite. I was there in Hawaii when Anderson fought Okami. Anderson was dominating the fight... Okami is a good wrestler, but I believe it won’t be a problem for Anderson beating him up.
Leave a message for your fans, who’ll see you fighting in Brazil after a long time...
I’d like to thank all my fans for the support. They always push me a lot, even too much… I really see it in a good way. I’d like to thank you, I owe it all to you, and I’d like to say I’ll always do my best to bring the win home and to put on a good show for you. Thank you guys from Brazil and from all over the world.
Actually I’m taking it easy, I’m recovering from it. I’ll go to the US to train, I’ve talked to Rafael (Cordeiro), and we’ll meet again. It’ll be fine.
Why did you decide to change your trainings?
Because I want to become better and better. I’ve talked to my coaches, who had been there all along, and I decided I had to go. Curitiba is a good place for me because there’s where my family is, my house and all that stuff, but I don’t have a training plan set, and now it’s more important than the comfort I have when I’m at home, so I’ll go to Los Angeles to look for a better training. I’ll look for a better training for me.
You trained without a coach for Jones. Against Liddell you had Cunha, then Dida came and leaded your trainings for Lyoto, but he left the team before this fight against Jon Jones. Was it a decisive factor for you?
Absolutely. Everybody needs a coach, a guy to guide you, a guy that tells you what to do on your training. They all left and I stayed in Curitiba, which was a mistake I made. But we learn from our mistakes, and now I’ll look for a better training for me.
What mistakes you think you did against Jon Jones? Were you surprised by the game he presented you?
No. actually, I don’t see any flaws. He’s a good guy, he earned my respect and I don’t discuss my losses. I always look at it so that I can grow from it, so he deserved that.
After being defeated you asked for a rematch against Forrest Griffin in UFC Rio. Does that motivates you?
My biggest motivation is that I’ll fight Forrest Griffin, who’s a top athlete, one of the bests. Of course I’ll be another fighter for this bout, I’ll do it all over again, that’s my dream. Now we talk to each other, we are colleges… But he’s a good fighter, he’s a big name on the division, a strong guy, so he’s a guy that, in case I win, it’ll bring me closer to the belt. So that motivates me.
The first time you fought him you were coming from an injury and he submitted you. Does that fight bring anything different to you?
Of course I want revenge, so that’s my chance to revenge that loss, and that’s an extra motivational factor. But I’ll be focused because I need a win, not only because of the revenge I want. I want the win.
There’re four Brazilians confirmed to be in UFC Rio, and you’re one of them. How do you see this coming of the event to Brazil?
I’m happy. It’s a thing that, when I loss, I was pretty upset, sad, but it’s been a while and now I’m motivated, knowing I’ll fight again. They’ve offered me that bout and that’s a fight I’d ask them, so it was perfect. For me it’s great: fighting in my country, close to my family. That a dream coming true, especially being in UFC, which is a mark for MMA history in Brazil.
The main event will be Anderson Silva vs. Okami, another rematch. What are your thoughts about it?
Anderson’s the favorite. I was there in Hawaii when Anderson fought Okami. Anderson was dominating the fight... Okami is a good wrestler, but I believe it won’t be a problem for Anderson beating him up.
Leave a message for your fans, who’ll see you fighting in Brazil after a long time...
I’d like to thank all my fans for the support. They always push me a lot, even too much… I really see it in a good way. I’d like to thank you, I owe it all to you, and I’d like to say I’ll always do my best to bring the win home and to put on a good show for you. Thank you guys from Brazil and from all over the world.
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