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Hungry for Action Filho Comes as Confident as Ever! With a solid record in his MMA career, and great credentials in grappling sports, Paulo Filho is a top contender in every organization he fights for although he has been misteriously absent from the game since his PRIDE debut. As intriguing as it can be, the Brazilian Top Team fighter debuted in PRIDE with a quick win over Japanese veteran Akira Shoji, doing what many fighters couldn't do, even in winning efforts against Shoji, and was never invited back to PRIDE till this point. Despite that Filho continued to train hard, and his frustration may only lead to more will to win as he is finally having his chance to perform again at the IFC tournament this September 6th, in Denver. This will be Paulo's US debut, and it couldn't be in better style as a great field of competitors lies ahead with names like Renato Babalu, Jeremy Horn, Mauricio Shogun and even up and comer Forrest Griffin. Despite all those names, Paulo Filho is confident in his skills and sees only the win in front of him, as he prepares to fight in his first ever tournament and square off against a Chute Boxe fighter for the first time in his life. As the date of the show approaches, Full Contact Fighter continues to heat up things for what promises to deliver some tough battles, and Paulão speaks with us in an honest conversation about his next task! FCF: After your solid win over Japanese veteran Akira Shoji at PRIDE 22, you never came back to the show and didn't fight in any event. Was it frustrating for you to keep waiting that long? PF: This was something I was not expecting. I was expecting that all the doors would open after that win but I think this was a backstage problem, not a problem with me. I had some problems with my managers, and maybe that led to this situation. It's unexplainable that I defeated Akira Shoji in two minutes, defeated some of the best Japanese fighters like Minowa, Yuki Kondo. I have a very good Jiu-Jitsu resume, with 3 BJJ world titles and 5 Brazilian Championships. I'm also a Judo black belt and I fought in numerous European circuits, and got medals in all of them. I was 3rd place in the Judo youth world championship, losing in a split decision in the end. I have been competing since very young. But the thing is that I'm not a guy who is very friendly with the media, and I saw a lot of friends getting hindered in their careers by focusing a lot on the media attention. I don't want to take part on this, my job is to train and fight, so sometimes I suffer because of those things. I don't know if you are aware but when Nino fought Sakuraba I was supposed to fight in his place, but they decided to use Nino cause they wanted someone better suited to Sakuraba's style, but in the end things didn't go as expected and Sakuraba got surprised. Now the IFC tourney appeared, and I can't stay without fighting for a whole year so here I am. My first fight is going to be against Mauricio Shogun, and I'm already eager to fight. He has been talking some stuff on his side, and I have been quiet, only opening my mouth every now and then. What I can guarantee you is that I'm ready, as he must be as well, so this will be a war! May the best man at the moment win. FCF: Did this long hiatus since your first fight give you even more appetite to fight now in this tournament? PF: Man, I'll tell you. It gives appetite and it doesn't gives at the same time. I stayed for a whole year getting promises of fights, only to see them not happening with three weeks before the show. So this is a sad situation, cause you start to get left behind, as time is going by. I was supposed to fight Anderson Silva one time and unfortunately I got injured, but now people could see that Anderson is not that great. A lot of comments were made back when we were supposed to fight that I ran from him and stuff like that. I would never run from him weighing 93 kg, and him weighing 83 kg. I would get him and, excuse me for my sincerity; I would break him in half. But since we only grow in life in our tough moments, I let this behind me and didn't pay attention to those things. This is just very sad, cause I fought 5 MMA fights and didn't lose any of them, and I never got an easy opponent. My easiest fight would be against Claudinho das Dores, but I was debuting and didn't know shit back then! I fought out of heart then, and he is somewhat of a dangerous guy either way, if you check what he did against Haroldo Cabelinho and Macaco. Anyway, it was sad and I think it was all about backstage stuff. FCF: Finally the opportunity to fight in the IFC tournament appeared, and you took it. What do you think about fighting three times in one night? Do you like this format? PF: I'll tell you the truth man, I liked my side of the brackets. I liked it cause I'm going to get Shogun in my first fight, and people may think he is the man here in Brazil, but I don't think he is that good. I think he is precipitated in his fights, and when he meets a good Jiu-Jitsu player who can take him down and play a tight game he will be in trouble. There are plenty of guys in this tournament that I think can get him in trouble, such as Babalu, Jeremy Horn or that Team Quest guy that entered the tournament as well. I think I got a very good side of the brackets. Babalu is a friend of mine, and we're going to do a good fight, but I think this may not be a very exciting one. I got a bit upset that we would maybe have to fight each other in the semi-finals, but since the promoters wants to see a final of a Brazilian against an American, it's no problem at all! I'm prepared and I don't give a damn. I'm not afraid of being hurt, suffering cuts, braking my nose or my teeth. This stuff doesn't make any difference for me. FCF: Do you believe having to fight 3 times in one night may force you to change your strategy? PF: I use to say that my game is a very safe game. I never end up hurt in any of my fights. My game my look strange to some people, cause I hold people down, lock them in a position, go to mount them, then I hit them, then I go back to another position and the likes. It's sort of a ground and pound game mixed with some classic Jiu-Jitsu. I know that if I let things go lose, and my opponent have chances of getting up all the time, one time or another I'll eat a huge punch and it'll be over for me! For this event I'll have to be very cool, very smart so even wining the fights I won't get hurt and then I'll be able to comeback for the next one. Things are very clear in my head and I'll be paying attention to everything there, doing a tight game and some classic Jiu-Jitsu. I never felt so well in my life, but fights are only going to be decided when they take place. FCF: Like you mentioned, you're facing Mauricio Shogun in the first round. Does the fact that he is a Chute Boxe fighter give you any special motivation for the fight? PF: You can be totally sure about that. I have nothing against the kid, I think we're on the same road, trying to earn our living in MMA. In fact, in the few times I saw him speaking I didn't find him to arrogant, but I think he is a bit of a coward when he is fighting cause when he sees his opponent in a bad situation he stomps in his face, kicks his head and stuff like that. I think this people lack a bit of notion, I mean, a kick to someone's face in this sort of situation can take someone's life away. I think they should have a bit more of professionalism, and understand that this is a sport and everybody is going after the same goals, buying their own houses, etc. I think no one has the right to want to injury someone on purpose, that didn't do any harm to you. I don't fear any of the Chute Boxe guys. I'm sure the kid is training as hard as hell, but I think there's a lot of difference in terms of genetics between us. I think I'm way more powerful, way stronger and more relaxed as a fighter than he is. I'm also way more used to competing than him, with several competitions in Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and I even won a Grecco-Roman Wrestling championship recently. FCF: Do you fear that the high altitude in Denver may hinder you in any way? PF: No, not at all. I think that if this will be tough for me, it'll be tough for everybody. I think this altitude thing is very questionable. The key is to eat well, do a good warm up, and then the fights will be three rounds of five minutes each, so there's no big mystery about it. I think this time limit will favor me, and also the wrestlers on the tournament. FCF: From all those fighters, who do you believe can be your toughest opponent in your way to the title? PF: Man, all of them are tough fighters, but I heard, although I never saw him fighting, that Trevor Prengley is a very tough fighter. He comes from the Lions Den, and I heard he is a sort of a new talent who will get everybody in the tournament. He is fighting Babalu on the first round, and I trust in Babalu on this one. He is an experienced fighter and already beat some very tough opponents in his career. FCF: After this tournament, if you become the champion, what's the next step in your career? PF: I think a lot of doors will be open after this. You can be sure that whoever wins this one, will be in a good position. I still have one fight in my PRIDE contract, so let's see what will happen. But you know, I'm a guy that don't like to talk a lot, like Ninja did against Arona and ended up losing the fight. Even Shogun, I mean, he is a courageous kid, he doesn't have the same pressure as his brother yet, but in two or three years he will be at the top. He has a good ground game and has everything to be a top fighter. I want the best for everybody man! I want everybody to succeed and hope that God will help us all. FCF: Any final message for your fans? PF: In fact, I think I made so few media appearances that I don't think I have many fans (Laughs). Anyway, I want to tell to those that like my work that I'll only leave that cage dead. I have this very clear in my head, and I'm not going there to participate, but I'm going there to win. I don't see a lot of names that can cause me trouble there, but a fight is a fight so we'll have to fight to see what happens. May the best man win, but I'm going there to win and those who know me know that I won't lack will and technique to win this tournament. FCF: Thanks for the interview! PF: Anytime Eduardo. |
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