| VISIT THE REST OF OUR SITE BY CLICKING THESE LINKS | |||||
| SUBSCRIBE | FCF SHOP | HOME | PICTURES | VIDEOS | FCF TV SHOW |
Warning: all pictures on this site belong to Full Contact Fighter/Joel Gold and are copyrighted.
They are not for use on other sites or other commercial use without the written consent of FCF
|
Pride 12 Pre-Fight Interviews By Josh Gross |
How does one deal with a fight in which many people thought you lost yet it was ruled a "no contest"? The world will find out Saturday as Mark Kerr takes on Igor Vovchanchin for the second time in his career. Kerr has been on the forefront of progressive training. He was one of the first wrestlers who looked to add submission and striking to his imposing physical talents. One thing was missing, conditioning, and he paid the price. After examining his problems, Kerr now believes he's ready to return full force to the fight game. One thing is for sure he'll be tested.FCF: Mark, you've already fought Igor Vovchanchin once before. It was ruled a no contest. Did you take anything from that fight and incorporate it into your training for the second fight? Mark Kerr: I didn't do as much film study last time. I looked at the films a lot more and kind of narrowed it down to the basic points on the ground I have to keep. It's great that there are two examples of (Mark) Coleman and (Kazushi) Sakuraba fighting him and giving some really good insight on how to fight him. FCF: Did you take anything away from your first fight with him that might have surprised you the first time around? MK: No, you know the first fight I took on ten days notice. I was supposed to fight Gary Goodridge up to that point. If I took anything from the fight was there are certain fighters in this league that you can't fight on short notice. You need good preparation time for a lot of the fighters out there. FCF: What did you focus on in your training for this fight? MK: I focused on some really basic, basic stuff on the ground. I realized he doesn't really have that tight a guard and doesn't play that tight guard game. He throws some really big bombs, which I have to guard against. FCF: It seems like you've been working on your striking and stand-up game, are you willing to do that with Igor this time or do you want to work the ground game? MK: No, I mean I can't. He's been doing it his whole life. That would be sheer stupidity. FCF: How is your conditioning? Is it where you want it to be? MK: Yeah, it's right where it needs to be. It's one of those things where I'm 32 now, just had a birthday; so training has to be really precise. I appreciate my training more now than I did a couple years ago. FCF: Is this your first rematch? Does that offer a different dynamic for this fight? MK: Yeah it's my first rematch but it's interesting because I don't know what's really going to set in. I'll soon find out how I really feel about a rematch. FCF: What is your game plan? Do you have a prediction? MK: My game plan is two points; I'd like to have the referee stop it or I'd like to stop it. If it goes the distance, it goes the distance. In this business the hardest thing is putting out a prediction because it truly is unpredictable. |
Ricco Rodriguez is turning into the golden-boy of the Pride FC. It was just announced that he signed on with the Takada Dojo and will make his home in Japan for the foreseeable future. He takes on former training partner John Marsh in a fight that announced roughly one week ago. The fight should be a barnburner because Marsh is no cupcake and Rodriguez knows it.FCF: Ricco, you were scheduled to fight at King of the Cage 6 but that fell through because you're opponent wasn't healthy. Did you keep training or did you take time off and how is your conditioning? Ricco Rodriguez: I was actually training. I wasn't really in great shape for my fight at the King of the Cage because I had caught a little flu before the fight. One-week prior I was shut down but I was still in good shape to fight. I'm definitely in better shape right now to fight this fight. They told me to train hard and be prepared for this fight so I'm definitely prepared. FCF: At the KOTC you were supposed to fight Scott Hawkins who was known as a striker, now you're scheduled to face John Marsh who is a very good grappler. Did you have to change anything in your training to prepare for Marsh? RR: To be quite honest, John Marsh and I were training partners in the beginning of our careers when we both started in NHB history. He started the game a little before I did so he definitely has the experience even though he's never fought in the top professional aspect of it as far as the big shows. However he's fought against some top athletes and I consider him quite dangerous. He's fought in SuperBrawl and other events, bottom line is he's a dangerous fighter and he's also done some amateur boxing as well. He's done semi-pro boxing as well as training with Royce Gracie and Beau Hershberger. He's very deadly on the ground and probably it's going to be a very good fight because we're both complete fighters who are going to scrap. There's some history. He's stronger. I'm basically going to try and wear him down, fight my fight and when he's tired then I'm gonna have to go in after him. FCF: Obviously you know his style pretty well. What are you expecting from him? RR: I'm gonna take it as I go. It depends if he takes the fight to me I just have to pick up the pace some more. If he's relaxed and waits for me to make the move it's going to be a little more difficult. My strategy for this fight is wait for him to take the fight to me and then I'm going to try and take him out of his game. You never know with the fight and you have to go with the flow. I'm just going to make sure I start the fight out on the right foot and make sure I can get it go my way. FCF: Do you have a prediction? RR: I think it's going to go two rounds and hopefully it will be submission. If there's not a submission within the second half of the round it will probably be a judges decision. He's experienced so if we don't get a submission off the bat it'll probably go to the judges and whoever has the most aggression will win. It will be a great fight. John Marsh is a great fighter it's just he hasn't had the publicity and now he has a shot to come up. I'm happy he does. We're friends, I'm happy he has a shot, we're friends I like him a lot and hopefully we can sit back and laugh at it in a couple years. |
John Marsh has taken on some of the better fighters, yet most people haven't heard of him. Pride is giving the big break he's been hoping for. Marsh, built like a solid rock, trains with Royce Gracie and has some boxing experience. He's a very dangerous, hungry fighter looking for a solid performance on the world stage and he gets his shot against Ricco Rodriguez on December 23rd.FCF: John, this is a big opportunity for you. How did you get in contact with Pride? John Marsh: Through Royce's [Gracie] manager. He called me up, gave me a couple weeks notice and asked if I wanted to do it. I said hell yeah. FCF: You've had a lot of experience with Ricco. You used to be training partners. What are you expecting from him? JM: A quick takedown. I think he's going to try and go to the ground. FCF: Why do you think that? JM: It's his background and training with him I've seen it before. Anything can happen but my idea is he'll want to go to the ground. FCF: What are you planning to do? JM: I'm just waiting for the fight to happen, I don't really have a game plan. Whatever he does I'm just going to counter it. FCF: You only had a couple weeks to prepare, what did you concentrate on? JM: A little bit of everything but a lot of cardio and conditioning. FCF: Were you in decent shape before you knew you'd be fighting? JM: Yes, I was already in pretty good shape. FCF: Do you have a prediction? JM: No prediction, I'll just let the fight come to me and see what happens after that. |
Carlos Newton is returning to action after a six-month layoff. Carlos was stabbed about a year ago and has only fought once since then. Finally recovered from injuries the exciting Canadian fighter is scheduled to face Johil De Oliviera a man who is hoping for a good return performance of his own. Newton hopes a victory could be the springboard for many more fights in the upcoming year.FCF: Are you happy to be back in the ring? Carlos Newton: Yeah, for sure. I'm very happy to be back and I'm really excited. FCF: Tell me about your training from the point where you were injured to where you are now. CN: From the point I was injured, things were very difficult. I realized how lucky I was it could have been more serious. I took that into account and I took my time. I focused on my lower body, swam a lot and things to slowly build my spirit up. As a result of my injury I didn't strength train very much until my later sessions. I was really concentrating on my cardio more. I did a good job of doing my cardio because I had a lot more time I could allocate to that. FCF: Your opponent, Johil De Oliviera was scheduled to fight in Pride before but he was injured by pyrotechnics on the way to the ring. It seems like this is a redemption fight for both of you guys. Specifically, how did you train for him? CN: I know Johil is a good striker, good grappler and a well-rounded Luta Livre fighter. I concentrated more on watching his shoot, my footwork, being able to maintain the range I need to effectively strike and also to avoid his counters. He may be looking for the shoot I believe and I'll be prepared for that. I believe my groundwork can match with his and if he wants to strike I believe. FCF: Do you have a prediction for how the fight will go? CN: Well, I hope to land a few body shots and take the will away from him. From there work upstairs and from there really pressure him to make a move and make him very hasty. From there, because of the type of technique I have, it's going to allow me to take advantage of any hasty movement in the sense that he needs to keep it clean. |
Coming off one of the largest upsets in Mixed Martial Arts history, Heath Herring hopes to keep the momentum he gained after defeating Tom Erikson at Pride 11. He displayed newfound kickboxing skills against Erikson and signaled to many that his goal of becoming a complete fighter is drawing near. Now he faces another dangerous fighter in Enson Inoue. This fight has the possibility of being one of the best on a very impressive card and Herring is ready.FCF: Heath, you're coming off a big win against Tom Erikson. A lot of people in the states didn't give you much of a chance. What did the win do for you emotionally? Heath Herring: The main thing was it helped to prove to myself that I deserved to be and I could compete on this level. It was a gauge for me if I could and should fight on this level or not. FCF: Erikson was an older ground and pound style fighter, now you're taking on Enson Inoue. He's younger and has a lot of submission experience and some stand up skills as well. How did you change your training and game plan from one fight to the other? HH: In this fight I feel like I have more advantages than when I fought Erikson. In this fight I'm bigger, stronger, a better wrestler and I think I'm also a better stand up fighter. With Enson you have to be careful because he's very aggressive and he's also quick with the arm-bar. With this fight it's totally different and you can't compare the two. We try to keep our game plan steady and try not to vary it too much. FCF: Initially you had a wrestling background but during the past year you've trained really hard on your kickboxing in Holland. How has that changed your game? HH: Its added a lot to the game. With Erikson it won the fight for me. Before when I got on the ground that's where I wanted to stay no matter what. Now I feel much more comfortable standing up. Of course, on the floor is where I feel at home and if I really get in trouble I always go back to the ground but now I'm getting more comfortable and confident in my stand up game. Hopefully, I'm on the way to becoming a complete fighter. FCF: Where do you see your fight with Enson happening, standing or on the ground? HH: I see him doing the same. He runs out very aggressive throwing the right hook. So maybe we can keep it up or maybe we go to the ground, it's hard to say. FCF: It seems like you've studied his game quite a bit. Is there anything you planned according to what you saw him do on the tapes? HH: Of course we have plans. What I'm trying to do is keep out of is his arm-bar and to be ready for his right hook. |
RINGS King of Kings champion Dan Henderson makes his Pride debut on Saturday. Due to injury Henderson's original opponent, Vitor Belfort, had to bow out however Vanderlei Silva stepped in. The fight is a contrast in styles. Both men are great at what they do and each wants to stay out of the other's element. Henderson has been training with UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture and U.S. Olympic silver medalist and is in great shape.FCF: You've had great success in RINGS where they don't allow striking to the head on the ground however Pride does. You're fighting a very aggressive striker in Vanderlei Silva. Have you changed anything in your training that gears the fight more towards Pride rules? Dan Henderson: Well, in terms of adapting for Vanderlei Silva his main striking is on the feet. My training didn't change that much on the feet but my game plan would be to take him down and it's to my advantage to be able to hit on the ground. With them not breaking it and standing it back up I think that's also to my advantage just because I can pick at him on the ground and try and get submission. When I was training for RINGS I had to hold back a little bit when I go to the ground. It was a little bit of a change but I got used to it. I started out fighting with striking on the ground so it wasn't that difficult changing back. FCF: How much do you believe striking on the ground will help you? DH: Yeah, I think it will definitely aid me. I plan on being in good position on the ground. On our feet is his strength with his striking zone and that's what I want to stay out of. I either want to get in tight with the clinch or stay away and take him down. FCF: Once you're on the ground, if you're in his guard will you make an effort to pass or will you be content to sit in it and strike? DH: That depends. Sometimes it's tough to start to pass when you put your hands down you get drilled in the head. I have to see. Sometimes with a lot of my takedowns I end up on the side mount right to begin with. I don't bother to go to the guard if I can help it. That's going to be my main objective when I take him down. If I do end up in the guard I don't know how actively I'll try and pass. FCF: Do you want to continue fighting for Pride after this show or does it not matter whom you fight for? DH: I'm not picky whom the money comes from. As far as organizations, the Japanese ones seem more organized at the moment. I'd like to fight for the UFC again as well since they are more recognized in the United States and that's where I live. I'd rather be more popular in the U.S. than in Japan but I don't really have a preference. I have a one fight contract right now and I'm kind of like a free agent. I'd like to keep it like that with one-fight deals. I don't want to sign my life away for a year. I'm only going to fight two more years. FCF: What are you expecting out of Silva? Does anything specific stand out about him that worries you? DH: I expect him to strike from the open and once guys get in the clinch with him he likes to knee, and knee, and knee. I'm not too worried about that. Once I get in the clinch I have a different posture than most guys because of my Greco-Roman background. I tend to stand more straight up which is harder to knee. So I think that's to my advantage. Once I get in the clinch it kind of shuts his game down from there. The only thing I'm expecting from him that I'm worried about is his striking range. I don't want to stand there and trade shots with him. FCF: Sakuraba is in the same weight class as you and he's considered by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Do you have any aspirations to fight him? DH: Yeah, that's originally why I was talking with Pride to begin with. I wanted to fight Sakuraba. They approached me about fighting him and we came to an agreement on a price but I guess Sakuraba wanted to take it easy for a while and fight and easy fight which he did in the last Pride. Then they came back for this Pride and didn't want to offer him to me at all. I wanted a two-fight deal with them, one guaranteed fight with him within a year and they said no. I just signed a one-fight deal and we'll see where it goes from there. I'd like to fight him. |
When you think about murderous strikers in Mixed Martial Arts competition the first name many experts will bring up is Igor Vovchanchin. The superstar Ukrainian fighter has battered, bruised and KO'd almost everyone put in front of him. When he fought Mark Kerr it was billed as the best grappler against the best striker MMA could offer. The end result was a "no contest" but many fight fans believed Igor had won. The rematch is Dec. 23 and Vovchanchin looks to be highly focused and in great shape for another battle.FCF: Igor, this is your second fight with Mark Kerr. Did you do anything differently in your training for this fight than the first time? Igor Vovchanchin: Of course I trained hard. In my training I paid a little more attention to ground techniques, especially for Mark Kerr. FCF: Mark Kerr is known for his wrestling but he's also worked quite a bit on his striking. You had success against him on the ground in your first fight. Do you have a preference for this fight? IV: I would prefer standing position of course but I am ready to fighting in ground position as well. FCF: When on the ground, will you look for submissions or will you try to keep busy striking and keep his weight off of you? IV: Well, I prefer striking even in the ground position. I know how to use submission techniques but I learn submission for self-defense. I learn to use them for when my opponent tries a submission, I don't like to use them myself. FCF: How long did you prepare for this fight? IV: Well, more than one month from the previous Pride. I had a short rest then I started training again. FCF: When Mark Kerr fought Fujita he tried to stand and strike with him. Do you think he will try and do with that you? IV: Well, I hope he will try to stay in the standing position with me also because it would be better for me. FCF: Do you have a prediction for the fight? IV: Of course I hope to win but you never know. |
| © All materials contained in the Full Contact Fighter web site are protected by copyright and to be used only for personal and noncommercial uses. Public display or copying for sale or public distribution of any of these materials is strictly prohibited. |