vtserafin
Chuteboxer recognizes bad fight against Ricardo Arona and fires: “I think about this rematch all the time"
Having recently come home from Europe, Chute Boxe star Wanderlei Silva thinks of nothing but preparing for this year’s last Pride edition, scheduled for the night of December 31st, in the Saitama Super Arena. And in that mood he has already chosen the ideal opponent for the fight: Ricardo Arona, against whom he intends to put his belt at stake. After hearing critiques on his performance and nearly weeping as he returned to Curitiba, with the homage given him by the teammates after the dramatic loss, Wand spoke to GRACIEMAG.com, among other issues, about the relation between his losses to Arona and Belfort, the plan of competing among the heavyweights in 2006 and what it was like to play ball with no one other than the greatest football player in the world, Ronaldo Gaucho, his fan (and idol).
gm:
In the fight with Arona, which defined one of the Pride GP’s finalists, what was your tactical mistake? Why didn’t you play aggressively from the start?
ws:
I used a completely wrong strategy. I was waiting for him to attack, which he didn’t; I remained in this dilemma and got the worst of it. And when we hit the floor I should have played a little more Jiu-Jitsu. But I’m not here to whine; when it comes to me it’s “you win, you win," or “you lose, you lose." There’s no crying over losses, nor saying, after losing, that it was due to hitting my head against the ground.
gm:
Do you agree with those who say, as he did himself, that Arona beat you both standing and on the floor?
ws:
Except he didn’t fight anything either, it was an awful match. Of the two takedowns he applied, on one I slipped and on the other he just ran in my direction and I ended up falling. And standing I got a few kicks right, but that was pretty much it. Actually it was a bad fight, we both fought poorly.
gm:
What went through your mind in the first few moments after the fight?
ws:
At the time I was upset, when I got off the ring my only desire was to leave the place, but the boss [Rudimar Fedrigo] talked to me and calmed me down. He is a tremendous coach, a perfect leader, he knows just what to say at the exact time. Soon I cooled down and went on to support Shogun, which was the right thing to do at the time. The moment he was stepping into the ring I yelled, “Finish that guy," and we all know he did just what I requested [laughs].
gm:
After the loss, were you disappointed at yourself?
ws:
I was sad for my performance, after all the fight was ugly and boring, quite unlike the way I like to play. At home I watched it twice and decided I’m never watching it again. Not because of having lost, as I’ve stated, but for my attitude. However, this ill success made me reconsider a couple of deficiencies. Losing is always a bitch, but I’ve drawn a few conclusions from it. I also realized that this year I had a tough routine, with a bunch of injuries, which did hinder me a bit. I was well prepared, but a little tired from all the fighting and injuring.
gm:
Soon after the match you declared not to be all that interested in fighting Arona again. What happened?
ws:I said that because I had just been knocked out. But I have already asked the boss to schedule the new year’s eve fight with Arona as soon as possible, and now with the title at stake. I think about this rematch all the time - earlier today I was beating the bag thinking of Arona. And I know he’ll accept to fight me because he thinks he did a terrific fight, when what actually happened was that we both fought terribly.
gm:
Despite the sadness, you had something to celebrate with your teammate’s win. How do you evaluate Mauricio Rua’s exhibition throughout the Grand Prix?
ws:
His victory was undisputed, there was no doubt he was the best this year. He beat the toughest guys and displayed his talent impeccably. After he defeated Quinton Jackson he went on showing the finest fighting skills. He took part in the fight of the year against Rogerio Minotouro and if he keeps it up he’ll remain at the top for a long time. There’s something very positive about him, that is, not to see much difference among the guys he faces. Shogun takes on anyone he is put up against and lets his game loose. In spite of being newer than me in the academy, he’s got a lot to teach me.
gm:
What did you feel as you returned home? Was it any different?
ws:
I saw that that some things happen for us to perceive we have friends beside us. Both my family and my co-workers gave me a lot of support. I arrived at Chute Boxe after coming from Japan thinking people were going to treat me differently, but it was just the opposite and that was really moving. Everyone there applauded me and I realised they are on my side in the bad moments as well. This reception in Curitiba was very comforting and gave me a lot more will to show my potential, which stimulates me into training even more.
gm:
Do you consider this moment as dramatic to your career ass your loss to Belfort? Can you trace a parallel between theses fights?
ws:
They’re different moments, but they were both really hard. The loss to Vitor was quite complicated, but the lesson that issued from the one against Arona was knowing that I’m a much better fighter than I showed there. This time I was truly disappointed at my Jiu-Jitsu. When the fight ended I was sure I had lost. I’m really hard on myself, I can’t accept such an exhibition. I can hardly wait to fight again.
gm:
Were you disappointed at the criticism from the fans? What would you like to tell your critics?
ws:
I’m never shaken by criticism. I’ve been competing for a long time now and I take it as normal. I doesn’t happen only to me, you know, but with many athletes in all sports. And some of the criticism is good - as well as sincere when they come from my friends and fans. What I want is to apologize to the fans, not for having lost, but for having fought that way. I’d like to tell them that now I’m gonna show them all my potential and do what they all expect from me, that is, to give a spectacle.
gm:
Next year there’s the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Are you really thinking of taking part, and how do you see your prospects?
ws:
My contract with Pride ends in and I’ll see what they offer to negotiate from there. If I win on new year’s eve it will be a lot easier, we’re always in evidence after winning. If it’s a good offer, I’m in, I want to take on those guys next year. And they might actually match me against Cro Cop, whom I’ve already fought, but there are plenty of new guys arising who can make good fights against me.
gm:
During your stay in France you played ball with Ronaldo Gaucho before Barcelona’s game with Saint Ettiene. So now he is a fan of yours?
ws:
[Laughs.] Ronaldo is a nice guy. He told me he watches my fights and likes MMA. I played some ball with him, tried to pull something out, but felt that football isn’t really my calling, it’s hard for me to get a kick right when I’m in the pitch.
src: http://www.graciemag.com/?c=147&a=2854
Zmieniony przez - vtserafin w dniu 2005-12-02 22:25:38
Having recently come home from Europe, Chute Boxe star Wanderlei Silva thinks of nothing but preparing for this year’s last Pride edition, scheduled for the night of December 31st, in the Saitama Super Arena. And in that mood he has already chosen the ideal opponent for the fight: Ricardo Arona, against whom he intends to put his belt at stake. After hearing critiques on his performance and nearly weeping as he returned to Curitiba, with the homage given him by the teammates after the dramatic loss, Wand spoke to GRACIEMAG.com, among other issues, about the relation between his losses to Arona and Belfort, the plan of competing among the heavyweights in 2006 and what it was like to play ball with no one other than the greatest football player in the world, Ronaldo Gaucho, his fan (and idol).
gm:
In the fight with Arona, which defined one of the Pride GP’s finalists, what was your tactical mistake? Why didn’t you play aggressively from the start?
ws:
I used a completely wrong strategy. I was waiting for him to attack, which he didn’t; I remained in this dilemma and got the worst of it. And when we hit the floor I should have played a little more Jiu-Jitsu. But I’m not here to whine; when it comes to me it’s “you win, you win," or “you lose, you lose." There’s no crying over losses, nor saying, after losing, that it was due to hitting my head against the ground.
gm:
Do you agree with those who say, as he did himself, that Arona beat you both standing and on the floor?
ws:
Except he didn’t fight anything either, it was an awful match. Of the two takedowns he applied, on one I slipped and on the other he just ran in my direction and I ended up falling. And standing I got a few kicks right, but that was pretty much it. Actually it was a bad fight, we both fought poorly.
gm:
What went through your mind in the first few moments after the fight?
ws:
At the time I was upset, when I got off the ring my only desire was to leave the place, but the boss [Rudimar Fedrigo] talked to me and calmed me down. He is a tremendous coach, a perfect leader, he knows just what to say at the exact time. Soon I cooled down and went on to support Shogun, which was the right thing to do at the time. The moment he was stepping into the ring I yelled, “Finish that guy," and we all know he did just what I requested [laughs].
gm:
After the loss, were you disappointed at yourself?
ws:
I was sad for my performance, after all the fight was ugly and boring, quite unlike the way I like to play. At home I watched it twice and decided I’m never watching it again. Not because of having lost, as I’ve stated, but for my attitude. However, this ill success made me reconsider a couple of deficiencies. Losing is always a bitch, but I’ve drawn a few conclusions from it. I also realized that this year I had a tough routine, with a bunch of injuries, which did hinder me a bit. I was well prepared, but a little tired from all the fighting and injuring.
gm:
Soon after the match you declared not to be all that interested in fighting Arona again. What happened?
ws:I said that because I had just been knocked out. But I have already asked the boss to schedule the new year’s eve fight with Arona as soon as possible, and now with the title at stake. I think about this rematch all the time - earlier today I was beating the bag thinking of Arona. And I know he’ll accept to fight me because he thinks he did a terrific fight, when what actually happened was that we both fought terribly.
gm:
Despite the sadness, you had something to celebrate with your teammate’s win. How do you evaluate Mauricio Rua’s exhibition throughout the Grand Prix?
ws:
His victory was undisputed, there was no doubt he was the best this year. He beat the toughest guys and displayed his talent impeccably. After he defeated Quinton Jackson he went on showing the finest fighting skills. He took part in the fight of the year against Rogerio Minotouro and if he keeps it up he’ll remain at the top for a long time. There’s something very positive about him, that is, not to see much difference among the guys he faces. Shogun takes on anyone he is put up against and lets his game loose. In spite of being newer than me in the academy, he’s got a lot to teach me.
gm:
What did you feel as you returned home? Was it any different?
ws:
I saw that that some things happen for us to perceive we have friends beside us. Both my family and my co-workers gave me a lot of support. I arrived at Chute Boxe after coming from Japan thinking people were going to treat me differently, but it was just the opposite and that was really moving. Everyone there applauded me and I realised they are on my side in the bad moments as well. This reception in Curitiba was very comforting and gave me a lot more will to show my potential, which stimulates me into training even more.
gm:
Do you consider this moment as dramatic to your career ass your loss to Belfort? Can you trace a parallel between theses fights?
ws:
They’re different moments, but they were both really hard. The loss to Vitor was quite complicated, but the lesson that issued from the one against Arona was knowing that I’m a much better fighter than I showed there. This time I was truly disappointed at my Jiu-Jitsu. When the fight ended I was sure I had lost. I’m really hard on myself, I can’t accept such an exhibition. I can hardly wait to fight again.
gm:
Were you disappointed at the criticism from the fans? What would you like to tell your critics?
ws:
I’m never shaken by criticism. I’ve been competing for a long time now and I take it as normal. I doesn’t happen only to me, you know, but with many athletes in all sports. And some of the criticism is good - as well as sincere when they come from my friends and fans. What I want is to apologize to the fans, not for having lost, but for having fought that way. I’d like to tell them that now I’m gonna show them all my potential and do what they all expect from me, that is, to give a spectacle.
gm:
Next year there’s the Heavyweight Grand Prix. Are you really thinking of taking part, and how do you see your prospects?
ws:
My contract with Pride ends in and I’ll see what they offer to negotiate from there. If I win on new year’s eve it will be a lot easier, we’re always in evidence after winning. If it’s a good offer, I’m in, I want to take on those guys next year. And they might actually match me against Cro Cop, whom I’ve already fought, but there are plenty of new guys arising who can make good fights against me.
gm:
During your stay in France you played ball with Ronaldo Gaucho before Barcelona’s game with Saint Ettiene. So now he is a fan of yours?
ws:
[Laughs.] Ronaldo is a nice guy. He told me he watches my fights and likes MMA. I played some ball with him, tried to pull something out, but felt that football isn’t really my calling, it’s hard for me to get a kick right when I’m in the pitch.
src: http://www.graciemag.com/?c=147&a=2854
Zmieniony przez - vtserafin w dniu 2005-12-02 22:25:38
Krzysztof Piekarz
Chinaman
