I feel way better than in my other GP fights, I don't have any kind of injury. In the fight against Yoshida, my both knees were injuried; in the fight against Nakamura I had my worst injury and couldn't even train Jiu-Jitsu.
Q: How are the training session with Ulisses Pereira, coach of Acelino Popó Freitas (brazilian boxer)?
The guy trains Popó, is the best boxing coach in Brazil, and I'm seeing this. Ulisses is a very good coach and his teaching style is close to our team's; always thinking about the victory. He was a good aquisition for our team.
Q: Do you agree that Arona is only one representing jiu-jitsu in the finals of the GP?
Well, what else he could represent with that stand up of his? I practice Jiu Jitsu, I love Jiu Jitsu, but I came from Muay Thai.
Q: Why you don't like Arona?
I don't like his attitude. He's too cocky, it attracts a negative energy. But the way I see it, it's like pro-wrestling, there's the good guy and the bad guy. This is his character and this motivates me even more. I'm training all day long, I eat and I sleep thinking about this fight. Every great fighter needs great challenges. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the victory. I'll knock him out when he goes for the takedown. I know this is his only chance. He always says he wanna fight me. Talk is cheap, now that he has the chance to fight me, I wanna see if he's gonna back it up inside of the ring.
Q: And that stuff that happened in the hotel, when you were having breakfast? (supposedly, Wand trew a plate at Arona)
Here in Chute Boxe, we stand up for each other. When master Rudimar told me that BTT was training the japanese guy that would face Assuério (Silva), I was pissed. Minutes later, Arona went to talk to me. At that time, I saw his gesture as a challenge. To tell you the truth, I realize that I was wrong then. But I don't regret it. Actually, everyone there wants to kick each other asses and, when I don't like someone, I don't know how to pretend, I just say it. I knew that, sooner or later, we would be rivals. I just wanted make the rivalty clear.
Q: Is there some possibility that the fight may start in the hotel?
No... it's more professional now, fater that we even talked to each other. There was a funny fact the other day: I was in the airplane going to Japan and I realized my seat was next to Arona! I asked the filght attendant to change my seat.
Q: What did you think aboth the fight between Shogun and Minotouro?
Shogun already defeated the two toughest guys in this tourney: Rampage and Minotouro. Actually I rank his last fight as the best of the year. They both were winners.
Q: What did you and Shogun bet, if you two advance to the final?
Shogun has a dog named Chacal (Jackal), and it's like a son to him. I told him that if I knock him out, Jackal is mine; if he knocks me out, he's having the dog. (laughs)
Q: What's the knock-down score between you and him in training?
It's a tie: 1 x 1. We're gonna decide that in the GP final.
Q: Do you think of retiring?
HELL NO! When a guy retires, he start talking about how he has 400 fights, street fights and becomes a legend. I'm a real fighter. What makes a real champion are titles and victories. I keep saying that I'm in the middle of my carreer, I have 35 fights and I wanna have 70. Nowadays, I don't have to fight for money, thnak God for that. I fight because I like it and I wanna have 70 fights.
Wyobraziłem sobie tę akcje z talerzem i normalnie prawie się z krzesła zwaliłem.