A: I couldn't really hit him, Mirko was more accurate, was trading it well. It really was his night.
Q: Do you think that, as middleweight, going to the HW division had any influence on the result of the fight?
A: Sure, that saying is true, that it's harder to fight someone that is "ajusted" to his weight. The reach is a very important factor. But this isn't an excuse, he beat me because he was better.
Q: When you were on the mat, what did you think?
A: Many things, actually when the referee stopped the fight for the first time I was 'dazed' because his punch hit me on the eye, it was a very precise blow. That blow defeated me. I was thinking that I had to continue, I couldn't stop, I had to see how far I could go.
Q: And what made you continue?
A: I had to overcome my limits, I managed to get up and think that I could win. Actually I was suprised, I managed to push my limits just a bit further.
Q: Did you "break" anything during the fight?
No, just swalling from the punches and a little cut in my head. I use to say that I'm a "blockhead" (stubborn), everytime I get hit on the head, I get smarter.
Q: What about a rematch?
A: Sure, I fought him four years ago, it can happen four years from now, I don't know, but I'm sure this story doesn't end here.
Q: Losing to Mirko CroCop had the same feeling as losing to Arona?
A: Of course not. It's different. Against Arona I didn't do anything... I felt emprty because I didn't show anything I trained, now eiht Mirko was different, I traded punches with him.
Q: Would you still fight in the HW division?
A: It depends. I don't run away from nobody, but it's Pride that organize the fights, so, depending on the deal, why not?
Q: A possible fight with Belfort.
Well, I would fight him. But it's Pride that decides this, everybody knows that I fight anyone and I don't choose my opponents.
Q: When will you fight again?
A: Maybe in November against Chuck Liddell, and I'm expecting to fight in December too. But without a doubt, I'll give my best.
Q: What are your plans now?
A: Travel with my family. I'll rest, go to the beach, and recover from the injuries. I'll dedicate myself to my son and my wife.
Q: Shogun. What did you think about his return to Pride?
A: He used the perfect tactic, he's improving every day and the folks have to pay attention because Shougn is in the house!
Q: Wanderlei Silva still keeps fighting?
Of course, I don't want to retire so soon. I use to say that I'm in the middle of my career and I want to keep fighting for many years.
Q: A message to your fans.
A: I'd like to thank all my fans. It's because of you that I take any challenge, I gave my best and because of that I wasn't so sad about the result of this fight. In life we have hard situations to overcome, but we have to acept it, and that's why I'll train harder.
Also, I'd like to leave a special message to the people that wrote inumerous messages on my website, supporting me, cheering for me. I'd like to tell them that it's in the difficult moments that we see the true friends, I'd like to meet these people in person.
Stay with God and it's on defeat that we learn to deal with the most difficult situations.