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Vanderlei Just Wants To Brawl! By Eduardo Alonso 
PRIDE Middleweight Champion, Vanderlei Silva became a true star of the sport, especially in Japan! The 25-year-old Brazilian Fighter never dreamed he would emerge from the peaceful city of Curitiba to achieve fame and success overseas, and conquer an ever-increasing number of fans in the most diverse countries of the globe. After his impressive and devastating win over Japanese hero Kazushi Sakuraba at PRIDE 13, "The Axe Murderer" fought all the Japanese contenders that PRIDE had to offer and, needless to say, beat them all. Now Vanderlei is about to face possibly the toughest challenge of his career in recent years, fighting against the already feared Croatian striker Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. "Cro Cop" stunned much of the NHB world with a TKO victory over Inoki's protégé Kazuyuki Fujita, who was still undefeated in NHB by then, and was considered some sort of an indestructible fighter. With some impressive K-1 credentials, Mirko Filipovic is seen by many as the best striker in the game today and, being a striker himself, Vanderlei Silva will probably meet his most intriguing challenge since his fight against Vitor Belfort back in 1998. "The Axe Murderer" talked to FCF just one day before his trip to Japan, and shared his views on how he approaches this fight, as well as his career, and much more. With a few days left for PRIDE 20, FCF gets as heated as ever ad continues to deliver the best fight coverage in the world!FCF: after so many wins in Japan against Japanese idols, like Sakuraba and Tamura, how do you feel the Japanese fans look at you? VS: In fact I'm very popular over there! They love my work in Japan! When I walk in the streets there I even get impressed with all the siege from the fans! I mean, sometimes the people that sees me there will even run to buy a camera and take pictures and stuff like that. They really love me there. FCF: Do you feel they admire you over there, or there are people who hate you because of your wins over their idols? VS: I believe that nowadays there's not that sort of idol thing anymore. People are Really wanting to see the fighters brawling. FCF: Inclusively you beat Kyoshi Tamura by KO in your last fight, who's also very popular in Japan. Did he surprise you in any moment during the fight? What did you think of him as a fighter? VS: He is a very tough fighter. He's a very good fighter. What really surprised me in fact was that he took a lot of punishment and was able to keep on going. He took a lot of punches from me, and I was hitting him with everything I got, but he endured everything and he really showed a lot of guts, like all the Japanese fighters use to show. I think there are no cowards there, or if they have any I didn't fight them yet! [Laughs] FCF: This time you won't be fighting a Japanese fighter; instead you'll face a fighter with K-1 background, who's also considered a great stand-up fighter. What do you know about Mirko "Cro Cop's" style? VS: From "Cro Cop" I know, just to change things a bit, nothing! [Laughs] To tell you the truth I have never seen one of his fights. I just saw his fight against Takada, but that wasn't much of a fight, so it doesn't count to analyze his potential. And as always I don't care to know about his style either, it would hurt my way of fighting. FCF: Does the fact that he's also striker like yourself, motivate you even more for the fight? VS: For sure! I believe that the better your opponent is, the better the fight will be! As for him being a good stand-up fighter, he didn't trade with me yet, so let's see if we'll make "a good trade" [Laughs] FCF: Do you like to face fighters with an aggressive style such as yours, or do you like to face fighters with an opposite style from your style of fighting? VS: I like to fight against brave guys! Because then I can fight my game at its best, and it gets easier for you to connect with your strikes you know! At the same time that you can take some strikes, you can also connect some of your own much easier! When the guy comes right at you, and you're counter-striking you can also hit him! So when both guys are on offense it makes a much better game! But when you fight against someone who is only willing to grab you, man, it gets ugly. I think about the public you know! The people that are watching wants to see good fights, they don't want to see a snooze-fest. FCF: Did you change your preparation for this fight due to your opponent's style? VS: No, I just got a bit stronger for this fight. I'm waiting 98 kg. FCF: In our last interview you mentioned that you were lifting weights more seriously now, training at a new gym. How has your physical preparation going lately? VS: It's going well! The gym is really a great training center, and now I finally got to train for free there [Laughs] so now things are great! I have been running a lot, training hard! Man, I'm hitting hard now! If I hit him fair and square I'm going to turn him off! FCF: This fight will have a different weight division, a bit heavier than what you're used to fight at PRIDE. Do you feel comfortable fighting a bit heavier than what you use to fight? VS: Good question. In fact this will be the fight that I'll be fighting at the heaviest weight I ever fought in my career. I already fought heavier opponents but I fought them weighing much less. So I think it'll be a new experience! It's like I told the guys, I'm going to do a little gig at the heavies to see how it goes, and watch out if I'm not going to steal the scene! [Laughs] FCF: You may enjoy the taste of fighting among the heavies…[Laughs] VS: I don't know! There's nothing wrong with it! [Laughs] FCF: But are you feeling good with that extra weight? VS: No, in fact some days I even weighed 100 Kg! And then I was feeling a bit heavy you know. But now I got used to the weight and I'm dropping a bit of weight. In fact I'm loosing some weight to fight at 97 Kg. FCF: This time you're going to Japan a bit earlier than usual, because of Nilson de Castro K-1 fight, and you're going to end your preparation there. Do you think this will help or hinder your preparation? VS: I think this preparation in Japan will be an outstanding experience! I'll spend more days training there, and therefore my performance will be much better! I try to look at the good side of everything that happens to me. And also my training there will be great, because it'll draw attention from the press and stuff, and when there are people watching I train even harder! [Laughs] FCF: This fight will also have some different rules, the K-1 vs. PRIDE rules, with five rounds of three minutes each. What do you think of those rules? VS: I believe a fighter can't demand any sort of rules! A fighter is paid to fight! If he starts with things like "I don't want it this way, or I want it that way!" he should be doing another thing in life! A fight is a fight, so if the guys tells us that this is legal in the fight, and this isn't, then be it! No problems! It doesn't matter! FCF: But do you think that those rules favors Mirko's game in some sense? VS: I think it also favors my game, because while he's resting I'll be resting too! In fact nothing favors one or another in a fight, because a rule isn't for only one of the fighters, it's for both! So this is all non-sense. FCF: I know it's hard to make a call, but how do you believe this fight is going to unfold? VS: Man! To be honest with you, I think it's going to be a barnburner! I think it's going to be a great brawl you know! Because, to tell you the truth, I know how I am. If this guy lays a finger in me, I'll go out to brawl with him! I don't have fear at all, there's no such thing with me. It doesn't matter who it is, whoever steps in the ring with me I'm going to brawl with him no matter what! I'll punch his face, if the guys falls in front of me I'll stick my foot in his mouth, it doesn't matter! I'll knee him in the face and stuff! So I think it's going to be a stand-up war! It's going to be a huge brawl! I'll brawl with this guy! FCF: The fact that this will be a non-title fight will increase or decrease the pressure on your shoulders this time? VS: It's normal. In fact nobody wants to lose in a fight! So, about the pressure, if you fight any type of fighter is always the same! It's a big responsibility when you fight for the belt, but I believe it's the same responsibility this time, because I'm defending my country and my academy. FCF: Don't you fear that if you lose the fight people are going to say that you're not the real champion because you lost a non-title fight? VS: Not at all. It's normal; I'm training to fight as much as I can! So, the more fights that appear, the better for me! I just want to fight as much as I can! FCF: A lot of people have been talking about "Cro Cop's" superior striking skills, considering that he comes from K-1. Do you think that there's a big difference between trading strikes in a K-1 fight, and trading strikes in an NHB fight? VS: There you have it! In fact when you trade with a guy with Muay Thai gloves on, and when you trade with a guy with NHB gloves on things are totally different! And in Muay Thai, when you clinch the guy the fight is stopped! In NHB the fight continues and you try to take the opponent down, or you keep on punching him and stuff like that. So I think it's different to trade in NHB and in K-1. To be totally honest with you about my next fight, I think that who touches the other with a clean shot first will get the knockout. FCF: Your teammate Murilo Ninja will be facing Mario Sperry from the Brazilian Top Team in the same card. What do you expect from this fight? VS: I think that Mario is going to quit. I think he won't be able to handle Ninja. When Ninja starts to punish him, I think he'll quit. I'm sure that he's not going to take it till the end. Pay attention to what I'm saying, he won't take till the end. Because Ninja hits very hard and something tells me that he will give up before the end of the fight. I think he's going give up before the end, and if he does it it's because he's a coward, but if he fights Ninja till the end he'll earn my respect! FCF: Do you believe that this fight between Ninja and Mario Sperry will increase even more the rivalry between the Chute Boxe and the Brazilian Top Team? VS: It's not really a rivalry because so far we only won! I didn't see any win from Top Team over Chute Boxe so far, and I believe now it's going to be another win for Chute Boxe. There's no revenge or rivalry, they have to run after what's best for them, and we're doing the same. FCF: You'll be on the corner of your long time friend Nilson de Castro at K-1. Being a fighter, what is toughest for you? Be a cornerman, or fight? VS: When you're on the corner you usually scream too much because you know the guy's potential and you want him to perform his best! So when your friend takes a punch or something like it you feel it too! I mean, if you pay attention all the people from Chute Boxe fight together with you when they are in your corner! So it's very difficult in fact! We try to pass some energy to the fighter, but it depends on each one. It's tough! You're there as a cornerman, and your friend takes a punch! Man, you get crazy! You want to get inside the ring and fight right there! FCF: I heard that you have been training very hard for this fight, even trading a lot with Assuerio Silva during practice! How were your training sections lately? VS: We have been trading a lot during training, even because I want to take as much punishment as I can during practice! Like I have been doing, I mean, I even let some hard punches connect so I can check how is my recovery coming along! Assuerio is weighing 110 Kg nowadays, and I was training boxing with him the other day you know! Assuerio was wearing a helmet, and I wasn't! Because when I spar I never use helmets… FCF: Why don't you use helmets Vanderlei? VS: To really take the punches! But when they manage to hit me I get a bit pissed you know! [Laughs] So Assuerio hit me once, twice, and when he hit me for the third time he left me a little dazed! And I thought "Man, son of a bitch!" [Laughs] but trying to no show that I was angry and keeping my composure [Laughs], but then, man! When I went right at him I hit him with one, two punches, and then when I hit him with a huge straight punch, I did it with so much power that I almost sunk a bone of my hand! And I was wearing three bandages and a sixteen ounces glove! [Laughs] It was a very hard punch! He was wearing a helmet with that looks like a Hockey helmet, and I almost broke the helmet and my hand! [Laughs] FCF: Are you hitting that hard? [Laughs] VS: Man, I'm hitting very hard! My punch is becoming bomb! Man, Bobby [That training doll used like a punching bag] better watch out! I'll rip his neck off! [Laughs] FCF: How about the traditional sparring sections with Anderson Silva? [Laughs] VS: Anderson was a bit hurt lately; he had a small problem in his shoulder. So I was sparring more with Nilson, and with another student from Chute Boxe who weighs 100 Kg and his nickname is "Truck"! [Laughs] He is a huge black guy! I have been brawling with him a lot! In fact I have been brawling with everybody there! When someone appears at the academy to chat a bit we're getting him to brawl too! [Laughs] If anyone wants to train with me, please be my guest! Just drop by the academy and you'll all feel at home! [Laughs] FCF: Man! Now nobody will want to train at the Chute Boxe academy! [Laughs] VS: But I have to explain that we don't do this on purpose! We train very hard here! Sometimes some people from other places appear to train here, and we train hard as we always do and they think we're doing it to make some fun of them, or hurt them! And this is not the case! It's just the way we train every day! FCF: Is it true that you started to train Jiu Jitsu with the gi on lately? VS: Yeah! I have been training a lot with the gi on! We have a private professor here now, so we're doing it all the time! With only one week of training I was already a professional at it! [Laughs] I'm very modest, ain't I? I'm kidding! The thing is that we did it for two weeks all the time, with the gi on, and I was doing a lot of things! I was already finishing, sweeping! I have been doing good on the ground! FCF: Now you finally have the chance to tell everyone what's your real belt in Jiu Jitsu! Since there are people who insist you're a brown belt! VS: I'm a purple belt, but I'm a tough purple belt! [Laughs] But I'm a professional fighter, so I don't care much about belts! I will not teach Jiu Jitsu, so what I care is about learning the techniques, not about the belts. FCF: Pride will be releasing a videogame very soon, and of course, you'll be a character in the game. Did you ever think that you would be a videogame character one day? VS: Man! To tell you the truth I never thought I was going to be a fighter! [Laughs] In fact all those things that are happening to me are just incredible! There's no other word to describe! Because I'm just a regular guy, I mean, just like all the guys from my age! So, I do all the things that all the guys do and stuff like that! The only difference is my profession! So, in fact, all those things that have been happening are very cool! I'm enjoying it a lot! I didn't expect a tenth of all those things that are happening! FCF: And what do you expect from your videogame character? VS: I expect that he beats all the other characters! [Laughs] I expect him to brawl a lot! He can't be a coward! I'll sue the videogame company if they made my character a coward! [Laughs] I'll tell everybody that this is not me! [Laughs] My character has to rule the game! Even if he needs some magic powers! [Laughs] FCF: Talking about fights, Sakuraba mentioned once more the desire to fight you again, because he doesn't accept the result of your last fight, and he feels that he has a chance of beating you in a future meeting. What do you think of his constant desire to face you? Would you fight him again? VS: Man! Of course! [Laughs] Anytime he wants! Not only him, but also anyone else for that matter. I think he is showing that he is not a coward by any means, and that's what I respect about him! I believe that he has a lot of merits, and I can never say that he is a bad athlete! So I believe he will beat a lot of people when he comes back, but if he crosses my way I'll go right at him one more time! FCF: What are your plans for after PRIDE 20? VS: I want to fight at PRIDE 21 too! If God helps I'll win my fight at PRIDE 20, so I want to fight at the next one too. I can't expect a lot, because PRIDE usually plans the next event with the results from the last one, so I can't know what will happen next. FCF: Finally you were ranked as the number one light heavyweight fighter in the world by one of the MMA Rankings on the Internet. But other rankings insist on ranking you as the number two fighter in the world. What do you think of those rankings? VS: I think rankings are cool so the fans can know a bit better who are the fighters and contenders. I think just being in a ranking is already very good! And if you're among the top is even better! I believe a lot of new athletes are coming, and from there on there'll be lots and lots of new fighters from new generations appearing! So, I want to mark my name in NHB's history and I want to fight a lot in the future! I don't mind being ranked number two, because this won't affect anything. A fight is a fight, and I'm being successful at the event that I fight in, so that's what matters the most. FCF: Any final message for your fans? VS: Keep following my work because I have been training very hard for my fights, and I'm trying to make the quality of the NHB fights increase! So the public can have always better spectacles! I believe that NHB fans around the world doesn't want to see any stalled fights anymore, people want to se fighters brawling! So I'm trying to make my fights always exciting, so the other fights will fight more exciting fights as well! I also want to tell people to believe a lot in God, because this is what really gives us strength! I think people should try to look for a religion and be more polite in their everyday life! And I don't want to sound like a demagogue; I have been doing this in my life nowadays! Things like "Thank you", "Please" and words like that won't ever hurt, and maybe people nowadays are forgetting about those things. Nobody likes people who are arrogant or pretentious, and this sort of behavior will only get people away from you! So, education and religion won't ever hurt anyone. FCF: Thanks a lot for the interview, and the best of luck in your fight! VS: Thanks a lot! |
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