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Back in Action! Tony de Souza Finally Returns to MMA. By Eduardo Alonso After an impressive career start, including even two wins in the UFC, the first top quality MMA fighter Peru ever produced suddenly got away from the game and enjoyed sidelines for about three years. However, time has come for Tony de Souza to get back in action as a interesting challenge lies ahead this coming Saturday, June 5th at MECA 11 in Brazil. When Tony enters the ring in a few days, Shooto veteran Luis Azeredo will be waiting for him on the opposite corner, in a fight that has the tools to be the best fight of the event. Azeredo will be doing his Chute Boxe debut, and he is already a proven veteran with his only loss coming to Hayato Sakurai by decision, and having beaten Anderson Silva already in his early days as a fighter. However, when Tony de Souza fights, he is not only doing it for his career, or his ego, he is doing it for the love of it and for Peru, a country where he is trying to build some MMA tradition. As we start to heat things up for MECA 11 and it's intriguing and interesting card, FCF had the chance to catch up for some quick words with the Peruvian fighter! FCF: You have been away from the game for quite a time already, as your last known fight was in 2001. What caused your absence from the MMA game? TDS: It has been bad luck that has left me out of the game for such a long time. Starting with Gil Castillo getting sick in London, and about 3 months ago my opponent hurting his shoulder 2 days before the fight here in Brazil. I am just hoping things go great and I finally get to enter a ring and fight. FCF: I know you recently did a pretty long trip getting all the way down to Brazil! Tell us a bit about the trip, and what interesting things did you see on your way to Rio de Janeiro? TDS: I crossed the Amazon river from the start in Yurimaguas, Peru, to the end in Belem [a city way up in the North of the country], here in Brazil. From Belem I took a bus to Rio de Janeiro. The trip took me a month and a few days, and all I can say is that the Amazon feeds you all day. FCF: By the way, everybody knows at least a little about the MMA scene in Brazil, however other countries in South America are not that much into the sport. Coming from Peru, what can you say about the growth of MMA there? TDS: The growth of the MMA scene here in South America is going strong. We have countries like Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela where there is already a good amount of tourneys being done yearly. As far as Peru goes, we have about 8 "Vale Tudos" per year, in which I have many students competing. FCF: You have been training with Andre Pederneiras at Nova Uniao in Rio de Janeiro. How's the training going? TDS: Training always goes great when I get to Rio. There is not much I can say about traning with Nova Uniao that the record does not speak for itself. We have great champions and tons of talent coming up. FCF: What do you feel changed in your game ever since you last fought? Do you feel you're a better fighter now? TDS: Well, for one my location changed, and living in South America is a blast. That influences my fighting style in actually being in the place which I represent, eating my food, and being around people living in the same situation. FCF: Nova Uniao has a partnership with Ruas Vale Tudo. Have you been training Wrestling and Muay Thai there? TDS: Yes, of course I train with Ruas Vale Tudo. When you have such an opportunity to train with people like Pedro Rizzo and Roberto Leitao [Ruas Vale Tudo and Brazilian Olympic wrestling team trainer], it would be crazy for me not to be training with them. FCF: You're fighting Luis Azeredo from the Chute Boxe team at the next MECA this coming June 5th.. What do you know from him as a fighter? TDS: I have seen his fights. He is a great fighter with a lot of energy. FCF: Are you already feeling 100% ready, or would you say you're not at a 100% yet in terms of condition from the long time you've been away from fighting? TDS: I am a 100 percent. FCF: Azeredo is a very well-rounded fighter, with a fast-paced style and is also already experienced. How do you expect the fight to unfold? TDS: I train for every fight and enter into every fight to win. FCF: There we have it. You already fought a number of times in the UFC in the past, and now is working on re-building your career. What are your plans for the future? What's your ultimate goal now? TDS: My plan has always been to fight the top people in the world, and to bring Peruvian talent into the MMA mix. FCF: Any message for the fans? TDS: Don't worry about looking pretty! FCF: (Laughs) Thanks a lot and the best of luck in the fight Tony! TDS: Thank you! |
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