"Thursday, November 10, 2005
Below is an interview Fedor Emelianenko did for the mainstream Japanese sports magazine called 'Sports Number' (translation by Igor S.):
Interviewer: Looking at your fights, we are always surprised that you can remain so calm.
Fedor: When I am in the ring, I clean all emotions. I have developed this mindset in training.
Interviewer: Clean emotions? It seems to me that most other fighters show some sort of emotion...
Fedor: There are fighters who, on the contrary, get very excited before a fight. For me, my way is the most suitable. If I can not keep my head, then I wouldn't be able to give my best. I do not have a scientific degree, but to some extent I am like a scientist/psychologist, in that I've developed a way to clean the emotions. In developing this mindset, I was helped by conversations with trainers about their experiences.
Interviewer: Your composure, the indifferent look, seems to be one of your attractive features as a professional.
Fedor: And the fans know it, therefore I can not change my style anymore. I do not want to become similar to Bob Sapp. (smiles)
Interviewer: We heard that in the first round of PRIDE Grand Prix, you used a submission on Mark Coleman because you did not want hurt him.
Fedor: I respect him. We became good friends during our time in PRIDE, so I really did not want to hurt him in a fight. But I needed to win in order to advance. So I decided that if I had the chance, I would use a submission to win.
Interviewer: the Japanese fans were surprised that you could do submissions so well too.
Fedor: Thank you. To satisfy the fans, I shall try to show even more.
Interviewer: Your background is in judo and sambo. Where there ever any doubts whether you would be able to transition well into MMA?
Fedor: It was not a problem to adapt my training to the new rules. Besides, when I first started out in RINGS, I also I started to study combat sambo.
Interviewer: Is it true that you have only shown half of your potential? Do you have more techniques which we have not seen yet?
Fedor: In the ring you choose the techniques which need to be used, making instant decisions. There are still more many techniques which I have not used yet, but hope that I will be able show them in the near future.
Interviewer: I think that before the fight, you make a strategy for winning the fight. What plays more of a factor, the fight strategy or the instant decisions made during the fight?
Fedor: Basically, I try to adhere to the plan which my trainers and I develop before the fight. But depending on the fight, sometimes the plan changes during the fight. In those instances, I decide what solution is most suitable.
Interviewer: You can probably do it because you possess magnificent base techniques. You don't usually show your submissions, but this not because you do not want to use them, correct? For example, like Rikson Gracie.
Fedor: It does not occur meaningly. To tell you the truth, the style I like to employ most of all is to strike my opponent while he's laying on a floor, because it is the most effective way to win.
Interviewer: It's been said that your opponents should try to put you on your back and try to win from a position from above. What would your tactics be in this situation?
Fedor: In this case, it would probably be better to attempt submissions from below. To tell you the truth, depending on a situation, it is possible to strike blows from your back.
Interviewer: To strike blows from your back... is this a technique of sambo?
Fedor: No, it is a personal way of conducting a fight. I have not had to use this style yet, but if the opportunity arises, I would like to show it during a fight.
Interviewer: Your trainer Voronov says that you have only showed 50% of your potential. I would like to hear your opinion on this.
Fedor: (Smiling) I always believe what the trainer speaks.
Interviewer: Do you feel your own force?
Fedor: Certainly. But to tell you the truth, I do not think my will is any stronger when compared with other people. I want to live a normal life in society, not recieving any special attention."
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