It’s been a while since you last traveled to Japan. How many
trips have you made to the country?
I came (to Japan) 27 times as a coach and twice as fighter,
including this trip. It's a place that I love. I like being here a
lot -- the smell of Japan. I've received many messages from old
friends from back in the Pride days. One who always talks to me is
“Bebeo” (Luis
Roberto Duarte). He always describes my feelings perfectly. He
told me that I was home, and I am. I'm in the same hotel that I
stayed at when I was first here in Japan. Wanderlei is here too. It
brings back good memories; I am very comfortable.
Have you ever thought of living in Japan?
Yeah, I have thought about living here, but that was some time ago.
Now fight the market is no longer here. All these times I have come
to Japan, I had to leave too quickly. When I retire, I'll come here
more often, so I can learn more.
You are from Rio de Janeiro and fought at UFC 153, but now you
are back in Japan, where you were present for the peak of the Pride
era. Which experience was most memorable for you?
Dude, I'll always remember Pride. I do not know, I may even faint
from excitement. Wanderlei’s intro song will also bring back many
memories. The audience will be thrilled, I'll be thrilled. Only
those who lived through the time of Pride know what I'm talking
about, what I'm feeling. It was 10 years of a different emotion,
without equal. I am very happy to have been a part of Pride, the
UFC, “The Ultimate Fighter,” and to have coached champions. I'm
lucky.
Will make your entrance with the Pride theme song, as Quinton
“Rampage” Jackson did?
No, that was a lot of "poderosidade" (Carlson Gracie’s term for
swashbuckling). I'll go with one that I listened to in my training.
I like to go with the music that I used in practice because it
reminds me of everything that I did there, and I seek that
emotion.
What have you learned from studying your opponent, Kazuki
Tokudome?
He has a wrestling background and is a highly-ranked lightweight in
Japan. He likes to take the fight to the ground and use
ground-and-pound. He's an MMA fighter. He comes to fight hard.
People here told me that he will not want to grapple with me. I'm
prepared for every situation, and I want to finish the fight.
Imagine returning to Japan and finishing the fight? It would be
lovely.
How is the Japanese audience different from the usual MMA
crowd?
You can hear your punches, but they understand the fight. You may
face a Japanese fighter, but if you do something technical, they
will appreciate it and applaud.