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1-on-1 With "The Axe Murderer!" - 3/7/2004
by Ron Merrill
Forget what you saw in the slasher flicks of the 1970’s thru mid 80’s. That was fake. This is real. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer" Silva is a very real concern for certain people. Most of us have nothing to worry about. The closest we’ll ever come to Wanderlei will be viewing his digitally imposed image from the safety of our homes. But there are those who walk amongst us who don’t sleep with that same sense of security. They are the fighters; the mixed martial artists who must challenge for glory by taking on the 25-3-1 Axe Murderer. For them, the possibility of facing a Muay Thai slashing machine is imminent. And the probability of being destroyed is likely. Caring husband, loving father; Axe Murderer. I got close - almost too close. Wanderlei speaks:
InsideFighting.com: The last time that I interviewed you, I asked you a little bit about future challenges against UFC fighters. I referred to Vitor Belfort specifically. You told me that Vitor would have to earn a title first. Now that Vitor has the title, are you interested in fighting him again?
Wanderlei Silva: Ron, I have too much interest in fighting with Vitor. The people are saying that the fight against Couture was pure luck. I don’t care, he earn the title. Probably he goes to offer a rematch for Couture first and then we will see. I have a contract with the Pride FC. I’m a professional; I don’t choose opponents. Who they indicate, I will fight - Vitor or anyone.
IF: So you would say that a rematch between you two is a possibility in the future?
WS: Of course, Ron! I want this fight so much, this time in another reality. I’m well prepared, more experienced and confident. To knock down Vitor will be a pleasure and I’m sure that for the development of the sport in the Brazil, it would be fantastic.
IF: Let’s talk about your opponents in Pride FC. Many people have been critical of you for fighting what appear to be easy opponents. How do you respond to these accusations?
WS: Sorry Ron, but I totally disagree with these people. Let’s see just three opponents: Dan Henderson, champion in the King of Kings, Yoshida, an Olympic Gold Medal and Rampage. He beat Chuck Liddell, a champion of UFC. No more comments. I don’t want to talk about the Cro Cop fight but I’m sure that you saw that fight. They changed the rules but I know that I beat him. That’s it.
IF: Clearly your fights with those guys don’t fit the description of easy opponents. But do you think that a healthy Rampage would have done better against you?
WS: The final result would be the same, the KO. Nobody told me that he wasn’t healthy. Where did you get this information? I know that I fought more than him. My fight with Yoshida was in two complete rounds.
IF: Yeah, but I don’t think that a tired Rampage fighting a tired Wanderlei has satisfied the desire of the fans that were looking forward to that match.
WS: The fight was great. I’m sure that the fans loved it, as do I. I wasn’t tired. My training for that fight was so hard; I was well prepared for the two combats in the same night.
IF: When you look at that fight, do you think the referee was being fair when he stood both of you up for inactivity?
WS: Yes, he was following the rules. If you remember, the time of the rounds in the Pride Grand Prix was different and the orientation for the referees was to keep the action all the time.
IF: With both of you being so dominant in the middleweight division, your paths will have to cross again. After all, you fought Sakuraba three times. Certainly Rampage is worthy of a rematch. I guess it’s up to DSE though.
WS: I don’t know, Ron. Now I have other goals to achieve and Pride told me that we have some guys on the line waiting for an opportunity. The three fights with Sakuraba were in a different moment. I saw there a great opportunity to consolidate my career in Japan and you know that is fantastic to beat a local hero.
IF: So if you don’t get a fight with Rampage again, how do you feel that your skills would match with Ricardo Arona?
WS: Perfectly. As I told you, I’m prepared to face anyone. He first must challenge Rampage, to do the fight that they didn’t in the Semifinal of the Pride Grand Prix. IF: Tell me a little bit about your new movie?
WS: A totally different experience in my life, I had an opportunity to stay with professional actors in a big production. The name of the movie is Nagurimono, which translates as “one whose nature it is to fight."
IF: So is acting going to be something you will pursue in the future?
WS: I don’t know, my friend. It’s too early to say. Maybe Hollywood discover me? I’m kidding! [Laughter]
IF: How is the little guy [Thor] doing? Is he throwing knees and elbows yet?
WS: Not yet! But he’s OK, I’m so proud of my son. He’s very healthy and for me that is the point. He is IF: Well I hope that you can arrange a visit to the USA real soon. I look forward to getting together with you. Thanks so much!
WS: Me too! I’m just waiting for the invitation. We started to talk about the idea with Pride. You know that probably in September we will have the Pride in Las Vegas and a visit to the USA in the next few months could be a great opportunity to promote the Event and to have contact with the fans and the press. I promise that you and the fans of Insidefighting.com will be the first to know the news, OK? See you soon.
IF: Cool. Well consider yourself officially invited.
by Ron Merrill
Forget what you saw in the slasher flicks of the 1970’s thru mid 80’s. That was fake. This is real. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer" Silva is a very real concern for certain people. Most of us have nothing to worry about. The closest we’ll ever come to Wanderlei will be viewing his digitally imposed image from the safety of our homes. But there are those who walk amongst us who don’t sleep with that same sense of security. They are the fighters; the mixed martial artists who must challenge for glory by taking on the 25-3-1 Axe Murderer. For them, the possibility of facing a Muay Thai slashing machine is imminent. And the probability of being destroyed is likely. Caring husband, loving father; Axe Murderer. I got close - almost too close. Wanderlei speaks:
InsideFighting.com: The last time that I interviewed you, I asked you a little bit about future challenges against UFC fighters. I referred to Vitor Belfort specifically. You told me that Vitor would have to earn a title first. Now that Vitor has the title, are you interested in fighting him again?
Wanderlei Silva: Ron, I have too much interest in fighting with Vitor. The people are saying that the fight against Couture was pure luck. I don’t care, he earn the title. Probably he goes to offer a rematch for Couture first and then we will see. I have a contract with the Pride FC. I’m a professional; I don’t choose opponents. Who they indicate, I will fight - Vitor or anyone.
IF: So you would say that a rematch between you two is a possibility in the future?
WS: Of course, Ron! I want this fight so much, this time in another reality. I’m well prepared, more experienced and confident. To knock down Vitor will be a pleasure and I’m sure that for the development of the sport in the Brazil, it would be fantastic.
IF: Let’s talk about your opponents in Pride FC. Many people have been critical of you for fighting what appear to be easy opponents. How do you respond to these accusations?
WS: Sorry Ron, but I totally disagree with these people. Let’s see just three opponents: Dan Henderson, champion in the King of Kings, Yoshida, an Olympic Gold Medal and Rampage. He beat Chuck Liddell, a champion of UFC. No more comments. I don’t want to talk about the Cro Cop fight but I’m sure that you saw that fight. They changed the rules but I know that I beat him. That’s it.
IF: Clearly your fights with those guys don’t fit the description of easy opponents. But do you think that a healthy Rampage would have done better against you?
WS: The final result would be the same, the KO. Nobody told me that he wasn’t healthy. Where did you get this information? I know that I fought more than him. My fight with Yoshida was in two complete rounds.
IF: Yeah, but I don’t think that a tired Rampage fighting a tired Wanderlei has satisfied the desire of the fans that were looking forward to that match.
WS: The fight was great. I’m sure that the fans loved it, as do I. I wasn’t tired. My training for that fight was so hard; I was well prepared for the two combats in the same night.
IF: When you look at that fight, do you think the referee was being fair when he stood both of you up for inactivity?
WS: Yes, he was following the rules. If you remember, the time of the rounds in the Pride Grand Prix was different and the orientation for the referees was to keep the action all the time.
IF: With both of you being so dominant in the middleweight division, your paths will have to cross again. After all, you fought Sakuraba three times. Certainly Rampage is worthy of a rematch. I guess it’s up to DSE though.
WS: I don’t know, Ron. Now I have other goals to achieve and Pride told me that we have some guys on the line waiting for an opportunity. The three fights with Sakuraba were in a different moment. I saw there a great opportunity to consolidate my career in Japan and you know that is fantastic to beat a local hero.
IF: So if you don’t get a fight with Rampage again, how do you feel that your skills would match with Ricardo Arona?
WS: Perfectly. As I told you, I’m prepared to face anyone. He first must challenge Rampage, to do the fight that they didn’t in the Semifinal of the Pride Grand Prix. IF: Tell me a little bit about your new movie?
WS: A totally different experience in my life, I had an opportunity to stay with professional actors in a big production. The name of the movie is Nagurimono, which translates as “one whose nature it is to fight."
IF: So is acting going to be something you will pursue in the future?
WS: I don’t know, my friend. It’s too early to say. Maybe Hollywood discover me? I’m kidding! [Laughter]
IF: How is the little guy [Thor] doing? Is he throwing knees and elbows yet?
WS: Not yet! But he’s OK, I’m so proud of my son. He’s very healthy and for me that is the point. He is IF: Well I hope that you can arrange a visit to the USA real soon. I look forward to getting together with you. Thanks so much!
WS: Me too! I’m just waiting for the invitation. We started to talk about the idea with Pride. You know that probably in September we will have the Pride in Las Vegas and a visit to the USA in the next few months could be a great opportunity to promote the Event and to have contact with the fans and the press. I promise that you and the fans of Insidefighting.com will be the first to know the news, OK? See you soon.
IF: Cool. Well consider yourself officially invited.
"Don't think; feel. It's like a finger pointing away to the moon.
Don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory."
Bruce Lee in Enter The Dragon (1974)
Krzysztof Piekarz
Anjew
Marian.B.
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tURn
fryzura tesh nowa....
Don Pawson
