The BTT star Rodrigo Minotauro talked exclusively to site TATAME about the differences and similarities of his game and Fabrício Werdum's, his adversary in the next July 1st in the second stage of the Pride GP Open Weight. Beyond the fight, Minotauro enjoyed the opportunity to give some advises of the confrontations of the GP, talked about a possible confrontation with Wanderlei Silva and also talked about the current problems of the Pride organization, also commented the event rights bought by the Band TV channel. "We will reach a new public. People that already used to watch the Sportv will change for TVA and it will be good. I will sign the Bandsport. I think it was a big step. Our future will be the open TV, and it will rock", said Minotauro. Check out bellow the complete interview:
Which is the difference between your game and Fabrício Werdum's game?
He is a man that professionalized himself in Jiu-Jitsu and because of that he has more titles. I got the black-belt and followed it, what I didn't do, because I started to fight Vale-Tudo professionally just after I fought my first black-belt championship. Werdum is really good, strong, we have a game alike and we both fight to submit. We both like to fight making the guard, to attack in the triangle, arm bar and on the back.
He is your second opponent in the match and the second Brazilian opponent in your career...
It is true. I have been always proud that I never fought with Brazilians and in this match, if I get the victory, I can also face three (Zuluzinho, Werdum and Wanderlei). I think that the Brazilians are cleverer. To face a Brazilian is harder. The foreigners always follow with the same game, what is good for me. Fedor is also someone that changes the game. He fights as a Brazilian, if the fight is not going well he changes his tactics in the middle of the fight.
Werdum said in Japan that you are his idol and that he would like to face you in the final...
In the press collective of the last Pride we talked all over the collective. It will be a really different thing for me, but we are professionals and this is a world wide match, we must know how to differentiate the things. We just need to say that my worst sparring is Rogério, my brother. I will try to do my best.
What about Wanderlei Silva?
Wanderlei is someone else that I really respect and that I already have a good relationship. I always watch all the Wanderlei's fight, because I know it will be a big fight. I like his fight style that is a little bit aggressive, but if I had to face him would be good because I would train a lot. I know he is a hard adversary so I will try harder to make a good fight.
What do you expect of this match stage?
I think that Wanderlei will KO Fujita. Fujita is a hard fighter, but Wanderlei has more gas, he is top. Marco Ruas is helping Fujita, but Wanderlei has more heart and more experience. I believe that he will pass.
If you and Wand pass, you have great chances to face each other. If you could choose, would you face Wand in the semifinal or in the final?
I would rather to face him in the final. I think that it would be a great fight in the final because he is hard and I will punch him. That was the same thing that happened with Ricardo Arona last year. He fought with him that is a hard and experienced adversary. You must work your psychological, so you won't be very good in the final.
What do you think about the bouts: Josh Barnnet x Mark Hunt and Mirko Cro Cop x Hidehiko Yoshida?
I think that Barnett wins, but he will be punched before putting him down. About Cro Cop and Yoshida, Cro Cop wins.
You already faced Dan Henderson two times and trains with Paulão Filho. Do you think that he can be the champion?
Paulão has the double of his force. I trained with Paulão today and he is really fast and really strong. I know that Henderson is an Olympic wrestler, but I think it is hard to put Paulão down. Paulão used to be immature, today he is an experienced fighter, I can see Denis and him in the final. The Korean has a hard right punch, a good ground, but I think that Paulão puts him down.
Your brother and you trained with Vitor Belfort and you believed in his victory under Overeem, but the Holland fighter won. What do you expect of Rogério's fight?
Rogério is almost one year without fighting, but he is training better than ever. He was the Brazilian Boxing champion and is much better now, stronger, and faster and his ground game is much betters now, also his Wrestling game, I think he will win. He is better than in that fight against Maurício Shogun. Overeem is a dangerous man, but Rogério has more heart and he has an amazing gas.
What do you think about the Pride problem?
Always that something gets famous and success, people talks about. Always when you are on the top, someone will point you, discriminate you. But Pride is the top of all the martial arts events of the world and it will be back stronger after this problem with the Fuji TV. Everyone that already watched the Pride knows that this is the biggest show of the world.
What did you think about Bandsports bought the rights?
I would like to congratulate José Mauricio Costa (B-Tough) and Paulo Zorello (Never Shake) by their initiative. We will reach a new public. People that already used to watch the Sportv will change for TVA and it will be good. I will sign the Bandsport. I think it was a big step. Our future will be the open TV, and it will rock.
How is BTT team for 2006?
I never saw the team so strong. In the heavy category we have nine hard athletes: Antônio Pezão, Rafael Feijão, Edson Draggo, Fábio Maldonado, Vagão and I. Until 93kg we have Rogério, Ricardo Arona and Alexandre Cacareco. In the lower weight we have Paulão, Murilo Bustamante and Rosimar Toquinho. Until 77kg we have Roan Jucão and Danilo Índio. Everybody is training a lot Boxing and Wrestling, I feel that this is the BTT year.
http://www.tatame.com.br/ingles/
Which is the difference between your game and Fabrício Werdum's game?
He is a man that professionalized himself in Jiu-Jitsu and because of that he has more titles. I got the black-belt and followed it, what I didn't do, because I started to fight Vale-Tudo professionally just after I fought my first black-belt championship. Werdum is really good, strong, we have a game alike and we both fight to submit. We both like to fight making the guard, to attack in the triangle, arm bar and on the back.
He is your second opponent in the match and the second Brazilian opponent in your career...
It is true. I have been always proud that I never fought with Brazilians and in this match, if I get the victory, I can also face three (Zuluzinho, Werdum and Wanderlei). I think that the Brazilians are cleverer. To face a Brazilian is harder. The foreigners always follow with the same game, what is good for me. Fedor is also someone that changes the game. He fights as a Brazilian, if the fight is not going well he changes his tactics in the middle of the fight.
Werdum said in Japan that you are his idol and that he would like to face you in the final...
In the press collective of the last Pride we talked all over the collective. It will be a really different thing for me, but we are professionals and this is a world wide match, we must know how to differentiate the things. We just need to say that my worst sparring is Rogério, my brother. I will try to do my best.
What about Wanderlei Silva?
Wanderlei is someone else that I really respect and that I already have a good relationship. I always watch all the Wanderlei's fight, because I know it will be a big fight. I like his fight style that is a little bit aggressive, but if I had to face him would be good because I would train a lot. I know he is a hard adversary so I will try harder to make a good fight.
What do you expect of this match stage?
I think that Wanderlei will KO Fujita. Fujita is a hard fighter, but Wanderlei has more gas, he is top. Marco Ruas is helping Fujita, but Wanderlei has more heart and more experience. I believe that he will pass.
If you and Wand pass, you have great chances to face each other. If you could choose, would you face Wand in the semifinal or in the final?
I would rather to face him in the final. I think that it would be a great fight in the final because he is hard and I will punch him. That was the same thing that happened with Ricardo Arona last year. He fought with him that is a hard and experienced adversary. You must work your psychological, so you won't be very good in the final.
What do you think about the bouts: Josh Barnnet x Mark Hunt and Mirko Cro Cop x Hidehiko Yoshida?
I think that Barnett wins, but he will be punched before putting him down. About Cro Cop and Yoshida, Cro Cop wins.
You already faced Dan Henderson two times and trains with Paulão Filho. Do you think that he can be the champion?
Paulão has the double of his force. I trained with Paulão today and he is really fast and really strong. I know that Henderson is an Olympic wrestler, but I think it is hard to put Paulão down. Paulão used to be immature, today he is an experienced fighter, I can see Denis and him in the final. The Korean has a hard right punch, a good ground, but I think that Paulão puts him down.
Your brother and you trained with Vitor Belfort and you believed in his victory under Overeem, but the Holland fighter won. What do you expect of Rogério's fight?
Rogério is almost one year without fighting, but he is training better than ever. He was the Brazilian Boxing champion and is much better now, stronger, and faster and his ground game is much betters now, also his Wrestling game, I think he will win. He is better than in that fight against Maurício Shogun. Overeem is a dangerous man, but Rogério has more heart and he has an amazing gas.
What do you think about the Pride problem?
Always that something gets famous and success, people talks about. Always when you are on the top, someone will point you, discriminate you. But Pride is the top of all the martial arts events of the world and it will be back stronger after this problem with the Fuji TV. Everyone that already watched the Pride knows that this is the biggest show of the world.
What did you think about Bandsports bought the rights?
I would like to congratulate José Mauricio Costa (B-Tough) and Paulo Zorello (Never Shake) by their initiative. We will reach a new public. People that already used to watch the Sportv will change for TVA and it will be good. I will sign the Bandsport. I think it was a big step. Our future will be the open TV, and it will rock.
How is BTT team for 2006?
I never saw the team so strong. In the heavy category we have nine hard athletes: Antônio Pezão, Rafael Feijão, Edson Draggo, Fábio Maldonado, Vagão and I. Until 93kg we have Rogério, Ricardo Arona and Alexandre Cacareco. In the lower weight we have Paulão, Murilo Bustamante and Rosimar Toquinho. Until 77kg we have Roan Jucão and Danilo Índio. Everybody is training a lot Boxing and Wrestling, I feel that this is the BTT year.
http://www.tatame.com.br/ingles/
