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By Eduardo Alonso
Fanning the Flames as the HEAT is Coming:
Time for the "all new Carlos Barreto" to show his magic again!

Use to fighting in the biggest MMA shows on earth such as PRIDE and the UFC, Carlos Barreto has a long story in the sport, being competing as a professional since 1996. A Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Carlson Gracie, and fighting out of the Brazilian Top Team, Barreto has wins over names such as Kevin Randleman, Mikhail Illoukhine, Dan Bobish and Tra Telligman, he was often criticized for being a boring fighter, mostly relying on his ground skills only. As times changed in MMA Carlos found out what he needed to change and started dedicating himself to Muay Thai with an intensity rarely seeing on a pure Jiu-Jitsu fighter, even venturing himself on K-1 Brazil early in 2003. In his attempt to prove his new fighting style the tall Brazilian fighter engaged in a true war against American Ben Rothwell, who fought Tim Sylvia to a decision, at HEAT FC 1, where both fighters traded strikes viciously and he ended up scoring his first knockout ever with a nice high-roundhouse kick in dramatic fashion. Now, with high goals set for 2004 another challenge presents itself in front of Carlao [as he is known in Brazil] facing UFC veteran Travis Wiuff at HEAT FC 2 next December 18th. Feeling more than ready, Barreto shared his views on his fight at HEAT FC 1 and his upcoming task at HEAT FC 2, as Full Contact Fighter is burning high and spreading the fire as HEAT FC 2 is coming up this Thursday!

Carlos Barreto FCF:   Your last fight was at HEAT FC 1 against Ben Rothwell, where you won by knockout. What can you tell us about the experience of fighting in a new show and against someone who accepted an open fight against you?
Carlas Barreto:     Ben Rothwell was a big surprise for me. People told me he was a weak opponent who wouldn't give me much trouble, however nowadays in Mixed Martial Arts there is no such thing. Everybody is well trained and everybody is willing to win badly, and I know I'm a guy that has somewhat of a name abroad so beating me in a fight is always interesting for anyone's career. So, he came after me with everything he had, even reminding me of Sylvester Stallone in Rocky, where I would hit the guy hard and he would always come back, and the harder I would hit him the more he would try to get me! I thought "Oh my God, this guy is a mutant! He is taking all my power!" (Laughs) So I found Rothwell a talented guy, who will have a great future if he trains hard. It was a good fight for me, It pushed me to my limits and showed that to fight me my opponent has to be well prepared, cause I try hard and I believe a lot in my own talent. The event itself was well organized and well ran, and the fight was great for me.

FCF:   You punished Rothwell a lot during that fight, even scoring a knockdown before the final knockout. However, there was a moment where Ben took you down and you seemed to have ran out of gas. What went trough your mind at that specific moment in the fight?
CB:     When I attempted a takedown, already tired, and he managed to sprawl and force me down, getting in side-mount position, I thought "It's time for me to hold him down, cause I have the advantage on the ground, I know all the tricks here, so I'll make him spend some energy here and recover my cardio, to get back to stand-up fighting" Cause I was looking for a KO, since I had trained for that. I didn't get scared at that point, I only knew that if I would keep fighting in that rhythm I would ran out of stamina, since the fight started out with a lot of intensity, which is rare for a heavyweight fight. So I tried not to use any power at that point and just make him spend energy while I was saving it. So this is what happened, we ended up getting to our feet again, and I scored the knockout with a high-kick to his head. I hope this can also happen at HEAT FC 2, and I can show my Muay Thai moves again. But if I can't do it, my Jiu-Jitsu is getting better and better and I'm ready to secure a submission as well.

FCF:   Speaking of Muay Thai, you have been training it a lot for quite a while already, and some people were resisting in believing in your new found Muay Thai skills. What was the importance for you of winning the fight against Rothwell by such a beautiful knockout instead of a submission?
CB:     It was very rewarding without a doubt. It was satisfactory due to all my work and dedication with Muay Thai, all the work professor Paulo Nikolai has been doing with me at Brazilian Top Team. I already have some submissions in my record, and to add a knockout is always good. I got very happy to see that all the work we did paid off. I fought at K-1 Brazil with only seven months of Muay Thai training, risking myself against experienced fighters and managed to do a good showing. Months later I fought MMA in HEAT and was able to show what I learned trough the tough trainings with Paulo Nikolai. I hope in my next fight I'll be able to show even more of my Muay Thai, since I think I'm not a bit better of a Muay Thai fighter than I was at HEAT FC 1.

FCF:   Speaking of HEAT, you have a fight against Travis Wiuff coming up at HEAT FC 2 next December 18th. What do you expect of Wiuff as an opponent?
CB:     I don't have much info about Travis Wiuff. The only fight of his I saw was against Vladdy Matyushenko at the UFC. Travis is a big guy, a heavy and strong guy, but I think he lacks a bit on the stand up fighting. He is however very strong physically. I think it's going to be a classic match-up, against the technique of Jiu-Jitsu and the explosive power of Wrestling. I think we're going to do a good fight, and if the fight goes to stand up action I trust my Muay Thai. I hope he has been training stand up cause he is going to eat some shots.

FCF:   Are we going to get back to the old days of Kevin Randleman vs. Carlos Barreto?
CB:     Maybe! Who knows, maybe I'll get a triangle choke. The thing is that I trained a lot for this fight, a lot of Muay Thai and a lot of wrestling. I trained a lot of Greco-Roman Wrestling, which is something that I love doing, and I can tell you first hand that next year I'll be competing in some Greco-Roman events in 2004.

FCF:   Speaking of training, how was your preparation for this fight, and what changed in your preparation for your fight at HEAT FC 1 in relation to this fight now at HEAT FC 2?
CB:     At HEAT FC 1 I was changing my physical trainer, so I was adapting to his style and we weren't exactly on the same pace. Now I'm more used to his work and I'm sure I'm in better shape than I was at HEAT FC 1. Technically we are doing the same work, since at Brazilian Top Team we have nowadays a section for Jiu-Jitsu, a section for Wrestling and a section for Muay Thai. We have been doing it all to be able to do the best possible in the ring. Winning is a consequence of the work, and we've been working hard. I trust myself, I trust my team and I trust in God. I'm sure that everything will go well on December 18th, with one more win to the Brazilian Top Team and one more win to Brazil.

FCF:   You have been fighting as a heavyweight in MMA for a long time already, and this is one of the most appealing divisions for the fans. How have you been following the heavyweight scene in MMA as of now, and where do you see yourself placed in this field for 2004?
CB:     I'm seeing a lot of good people that have been keeping themselves among the top heavyweights in MMA for a long time already, like Pedro Rizzo and Minotauro, who are very good fighters with a high technical level. I think Tim Sylvia is also a extremely tough guy! You also have Cro Cop who have been improving a lot and Fedor who is a nightmare for any contender. I think the level is very high and the fighters are getting always better trained and stronger, and nowadays we Brazilians have to train even more cause they are already knowing our ground tricks. As for myself, I think that first I have to defeat Travis Wiuff. This is one more step in getting my career back to the top, so if I beat him you can count that Carlos Barreto will be back to the top shows abroad. I hope that in 2004 I'll be fighting either for the UFC or PRIDE, but my first goal now is beat Travis Wiuff in great fashion.

FCF:   Your name has been appearing a lot in the MMA press in Brazil lately. People have been talking about a fight between you and Assuerio Silva, others are talking about new shows wanting you over. So, what can you tell us about your future after HEAT FC 2?
CB:     Look man, my main objective now is HEAT FC 2. This is what I have been thinking about. I have a commitment with HEAT FC 2, and I have been training very hard for this, not only for my personal satisfaction but also for my fans. After HEAT FC 2 you can ask me this question again, but now my target is called Travis Wiuff, who is a huge American wrestler who I'll have to beat anyway.

FCF:   You are very well known and have a lot of supporters in the city of Natal, where HEAT takes place. What do you expect from the fans there for your fight against Wiuff?
CB:     I think they have to be there doing a lot of noise and supporting me, cause I'll give my blood and my soul inside the ring next December 18th. I know he is coming with everything he has, cause he is a young and strong guy who is willing to conquer his space in the scene, but man there'll be no other way! I'm going after him with a lot of aggressiveness and a lot of will, either on the ground or standing up the fans can expect a great spectacle!

FCF:   The show will also feature other great match-ups, such as your teammate Allan Goes facing Gustavo Ximu from Ruas Vale Tudo, bringing back the old Luta-Livre vs. Jiu-Jitsu rivalry. What do you expect from the other fights of the show?
CB:     I think the fighting card of the show is top level and is living up to international standards. I hope the fighters will do well, put on a good showing and please everybody. Allan has been training hard, and is showing amazing cardio. I think Ximu will have to do something unbelievable to beat Allan Goes. I believe a lot in Allan, cause he is a great fighter who fought in the best shows in the world, and is going to come back to the top with everything he has. I think this will also be a classic fight, and I bet my chips on Allan Goes.

FCF:   Any final messages for the fans abroad who didn't have the chance of watching you fighting with your new fighting style yet?
CB:     I'm a guy that thinks ahead a lot. I'm sure the fans abroad will have the chance of seeing my fighting live a lot of times in the future, cause I'm coming back for real. I changed my training completely, I changed my way of thinking about fighting, and I'm sure the fans in the USA, Japan, Europe and even here in Brazil will see a Carlos Barreto getting always stronger, faster, more aggressive and a fighter who is willing to give a good spectacle for the fans, putting on entertaining fights and going after the opponent no matter what. I hope the fans will support me and wish me good luck, cause I have been working hard to give them entertainment. Carlos Barreto is back and working hard, so I count with your support next December 18th for HEAT FC 2, where I'm going to kick some ass!

FCF:   The best of luck for you and thanks for the interview!
CB:     Thank you Eduardo!
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