Fabrício Werdum interview
Cut from the UFC after two years of contract with the American event, Fabrício Werdum has accepted the TATAME’s invitation and passed by the challenge of facing the questions of the most demanding interviewers: his fans. Answering to questions from subscribers of TATAME, Werdum spoke about his start in MMA, the defeat for Junior “Cigano” dos Santos in the UFC, his plans for 2009 and the fight of his dreams. Check below the full interview with the fighter, who also spoke about the Chute Boxe and the most important moments of his career in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.
How was your training with Mirko “Cro Cop”? (Rodrigo Franzoni de Lima)
It was a very good experience that I spent in Croatia, were years of experience, especially at the beginning of the career, it was crucial. I saw Mirko’s training, followed it all with him, was a different experience. He is a guy who trains a lot, is dedicated, impressive. I’ve already trained in several places and Mirko is impressive, he keeps his program, trains twice a day, morning and night. We used to wake up 5:30 a.m. to train. He had that business for military, had no enervation, and was pulled. In the morning we did the fitness, him, Igor, his right arm, and me, and then we did an hour of Jiu-Jitsu, I gave him particular classes. We trained output set, reset the guard, one hundred pounds and then we went home... I lived with him at the beginning, his mother made us a coffee and then we rested and went training again, until 8 p.m.
What’s your feeling with Chute Boxe? (Rodrigo Franzoni de Lima)
It's my team. I plan to stay for a long time, until the end of my career I’ll be Chute Boxe. My ex-manager was the same as Mirkos and rolled some rumors that he would go to Chute Boxe, but he called me to go to Croatia and that he would put me on Pride for three years. I called Rudimar and talked with him and he supported me, told me to go, because it would be a great opportunity for me and the doors were always open at Chute Boxe. I was a good time in Pride and, today, I use Chute Boxe’s shirt with great pride, now here in the United States. Trainings here with Rafa (Rafael Cordeiro) are very good. I’m very happy here. I'm going by bike to the trainings at the academy, is a hot sun even in the winter. Chute Boxe forever, until the end of my career.
How is your relationship with Gabriel Gonzaga "Napão"? (Rodrigo Franzoni de Lima)
Napão is the thing. We don’t have that friendship to see each other always, call each other, but it’s a league friendship. We talk on the events, I have nothing against him, we’re professionals. We may be in the same event in the future and face each other, but I have nothing against him, is that reality from the ring.
For you, what’s your biggest mistake in the fight against Cigano? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
It wasn’t a mistake, but he surprised me. The strategy was to put him down, but I couldn’t try too fast because he would prevent the fall, then I had to make something up so he could think that I would strike with him, but was so fast that I couldn’t have enough time has to do my strategy. He really surprised me. I wouldn’t strike, but I waned him to think that I would. He must have trained hard to avoid the drop, the clich, but he came with a very strong punch. It was the hardest punch I took in my career, I had never been knocked out. Even more that I gave a step forward and down my head against his hand. I was in condition, was prepared. Some people said that I was out of shape, but I wasn’t, I did everything right in Curitiba, trained Muay Thai, ground, everything. I really hadn’t done the diet, then it seemed that I was out of shape, but I wasn’t. I would be sad if this had happened in the second or third round, if I had seen that he was over me, but I haven’t had time to show how good I was.
What is the most technical fighter you faced on the cloth? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
Two, actually. Roger Gracie is impressive in technical and calm. He does Jiu-Jitsu, Submission and ADCC always with the same face, doesn’t change his expression. My game closes with his, I'm a big guy, but I don’t use much of force, but the technique. The other is Tererê, who beat me at the final of the World Cup category in 2004. He said that he would win the big guy, break my legs, that was too much, right? (laughs). He is very technical, doesn’t make much strength and uses only his speed.
Do you think about fighting the next ADCC? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
Absolutely. My focus is now ADCC. I'm training all here. As I won in 2007, I’m classified and focused on this, doing my trainings without kimono. It is good to practice with a purpose. We are in negotiations with Affliction, but my negotiation will only happen after the event of January 24. I’ll see if I’ll fight on Sengoku, but my focus now is ADCC.
Fedor, Arlovski ou Josh Barnett. If you could choose, who would you like to face? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
I would fight with anyone, but if I could choose, I would like to make a rematch with Arlovski. That fight wasn’t cool, it was a debut against an ex-champion. Some people said that I won, others that he won or tied, but I want a rematch with him and then fight with Fedor, which is the will of everyone, he is the best in the world. This thing of saying that (Brock) Lesnar is the best in the world doesn’t exist, I’m against that. The guy has four fights and is already the world champion? Everybody knows that Fedor is the best. In heavy, I think the best are in Affliction. Apart from Minotauro, the rest in the UFC are weak. The UFC has what he wanted, two Americans to fight the "final". The marketing is the most important thing, they are good at it. Frank Mir also, this final among them doesn’t exist.
In a future fight against Fedor, what would be the strategy to defeat him? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
I would do something really simple, try to put him down. It is difficult to get the fat go down, but I would be on top, passing the guard and mount, get a kimura... It is hard to beat Fedor in the ass, giving him punches down. It can happen, but it will be very difficult to punch him and stop him, you have to get him at a key for him to surrender. I think he lets his arm broke, but don’t hit. Must be in the neck to put him to sleep. I would train much Wrestling to put him down and, if I were below, I would be with a very close guard.
What is the most significant fight of your career and why? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
There are several, but the most significant was against Minotauro. Not because the fight itself, fight with my idol, but that tragedy happened before the fight, they killed my teacher and I was more concerned with the honor that I would do than with the fight. I’ve lost 10 pounds before the fight because I was sick, I was in hospital until the day before the fight and the doctor doesn’t wanted me to fight. No diminishing Minotauro’s victory, I'm telling what happened.
In your opinion, who will stay with the UFC final belt: Lesnar or Mir? (Felipe Teixeira de Oliveira)
Now it’s difficult, but Mir already has a victory over him and this will count a bit. When Mir won Minotauro, he looked at Lesnar and said that the belt was his. It was able to see that Lesnar was with a strange face, shy, was scared... Mir will get it.
Do you think leaving the UFC when you were even quoted to fight for the belt can hinder your career? (Antonio Rivanildson da Costa Carvalho)
The UFC was very good to me, I had four more fights in the contract, but they wanted to renegotiate. I couldn’t accept what they wanted. It took a while to build my structure for wanting to cut my bag and I cut down my head. The fighter also has pride. It was very good the time I was there, but was well on my part. With them, or is like this or it’s over. It was as if I return to the beginning of my career, when I fought for the first time in England and even wanted to pay to fight, but I had my victories, won prestige and my bag was great, but I couldn’t accept what they wanted. I’ll see if I close with an event that values me, who gives the show are the fighters. Without us, the events are nothing, they need us.
What do you think of the campaign for Jiu-Jitsu in the Olympics in London? Do you think that can happen? (Berzotti Lucas)
Imagine how cool would be Jiu-Jitsu in the Olympics? I think that is possible and it would be very good. I don’t know in how many countries has Jiu-Jitsu, but the whole world knows. Four or five years ago that was impossible, but today everyone knows, it can be done. It would be very nice for the guys to dedicate, I think they deserve an Olympics dedicating themselves for Brazil, It would be very good. The guys likes to train, stay the whole day in the gym and I think they deserve this reward.
Do you think the migration of Jiu-Jitsu fighters for the MMA can take the Brazilian hegemony of the cloth? (Berzotti Lucas)
The guys fight for a medal, but comes a time that doesn’t give more, you have family to support, and than fight for medal isn’t good. It should have a cash prize for the guys get more excited. In 2009 this will change, they have many championships in Jordan and Abu Dhabi with awards, then the guys are trying, request sponsorship and pays the trip in 600x, because now it is worth. The sport is evolving, can’t stop in time. Medal is medal, it’s important, but comes a time that the man thinks twice before going. Some people prefer to fight the kimono, but goes to the MMA by necessity.
Who would you shoot as a strong name for the future of MMA? (Berzotti Lucas)
I think Thales Leites is very good and will now fight with Anderson Silva. He has the opportunity to win if he puts to the ground and make a good Jiu-Jitsu. Another who is very good is Demian Maia. I saw him fighting and he’s well focused, fighting very well.
Apart from the financial issue, you prefer fighting MMA, Jiu-Jitsu or Submission? (Berzotti Lucas)
A while ago, when I still fought in World Cups, European, I liked most of kimono because I hadn’t felt the MMA. Today, I put the MMA first, Submission in second and Jiu-Jitsu in third. I’m better without cloth, prefer it.
When a fight starts and you realize that your opponent is above you, winning the fight, what goes through your head? Do you try to follow the strategy or completely change the plans? (Éderson Silva)
When this happens the guy is not well prepared, but if it happens that the guy is better, I’ll take risks. If I see that he won the other rounds, I will not be stopped looking at him, I’ll risk everything, go to submit.
If your opponent has the same technical level as yours, you prefer to face him on the ground or in striking? (Éderson Silva)
Definitely I would go to my beach, the Jiu-Jitsu. My origin is this, I can’t escape. If I see that the guy is good standing and on the ground, at the same level as me, we’ll go to the ground see who is the best.
Do you believe that, with your conquest of a belt, the Chute Boxe would come back to the top? (Afonso Afrânio da Silva Junior)
Sure, but I will say that Chute Boxe will always be the Chute Boxe, which has already made a lot for MMA and has been the best team in the world and, for me, is still the best. Certainly in 2009 we will change this idea that some people have that the team fell a bit, the guys can expect that I will come with everything. I will train hard to show that Chute Boxe is in active, even with the new talent here from Curitiba and some boys here that will give the talk.
Until what point the difference between ring and octagon influence in an athlete’s game? (Afonso Afrânio da Silva Junior)
For me, it doesn’t make much difference. Being prepared, is the same thing. The difference that I feel is the public of Japan to the United States. The Japanese public understands more, and the American doesn’t like the fight on the ground, prefers up game, more Boxing and Muay Thai. Japanese know how to enjoy and feel the ground, know the movements, stay quiet only looking. When the fight goes to the ground it doesn’t have to get up fast... If it takes a long time stopped, ok, but it has to let it roll, it is a MMA fight, not Boxing or Muay Thai.
Do you think that, in the current level of MMA, the physical preparation makes all the difference? (Afonso Afranio da Silva Junior)
The physical preparation is very important. In the past days the Jiu-Jitsu won everything, but today, everyone know how to do this, Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, then the level is very matched, what makes the difference is the physical preparation. In my opinion, the fight today is 70% of physical conditioning. Who doesn’t make a good physical preparation will stay behind.
What did you think of the victory of Brock Lesnar on Randy Couture? How do you think would be a fight between you and Lesnar? (Jardel Moreira Monteiro)
I would kill Brock Lesnar. He isn’t guilty because they have putted him there, but I would take him on the ground, tire him a lot and give him a ride. He has to get much experience, he’s a little crazy, haven’t got technique. He really goes to the fight, in brute force, but comes a time that the gas ends. I would get him in a leg-lock, kimura, would get him... I would be making myself silly there, wait the gas end and submit him.
Want to send some message to the subscribers of TATAME?
I was very happy for subscribers wanting to know about me, see that everybody is worried about me. There were many questions and I was very happy, that motivated me even more to train to return in 2009 with everything. Fighter’s life isn’t easy, our goal is to make a show, fight well, but that isn’t always achieved. The difficult isn’t the fight itself, if we could we would fight three or four times in one night, but the day-to-day is more complicated. I’m happy to be able to show you guys that I'm in active and that what happened was inevitable.
