Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva Interview
Back to Japan after two years, Antonio "Bigfoot" will turn around the world to fight after the Athletic Commission has suspended him with the accusation of using boldenona, and the fighter already has a defined challenge. Facing Yoshihiro Nakao, Pezão wants to go back to Japan in great style, but far from the controversial "kiss" of the Japanese. In an interview with TATAME.com, Bigfoot spoke about his expectations for the fight, guaranteed that it won’t be a problem to return to America and also commented the major heavyweight battles at UFC and Affliction. Check below the exclusive interview with Silva to TATAME.
What is the expectation for your debut in Sengoku?
I was just waiting, because everything was on track, needing only some details, that had been settled this week. I’m very happy to return to Japan, where I have many fans that received and welcomed me very well. I had the opportunity to make two battles there in another event and walked away victorious in both, and I’m very happy to come back. I'm already practicing for a while, doing my ground game, which I was recently graduated black belt, Wrestling with Darrel Gohlar and my Muay Thai. I’m emphasizing these three parts now.
Have you studied the game of your opponent?
Man, Yoshihiro is an unpredictable fighter standing, not very technical, try to surprise with some lucky punches, try to take you down, but I have very good professionals of Wrestling here, then the question is just get well-conditioned and it has no mystery. Getting there very focus, I’ll search the victory, maybe submitting or knockout. I will respect him, there’s no easy fight, fight is fight. For a long time, ‘Sukata’ (former coach) said: 'it only ends when it ends". I will fight as if I were fighting against the best in the world.
You need to be careful with the kisses too, huh?
Man, we are training this too. We’re training Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestilng and that too (laughter), maintain a certain distance not to take that risk. My hands are kind of big and I’ll always take care not to get close. Who did once can do twice, I don’t want to have problems, I want to get there and fight. I don’t like jokes, I have no disinclination to any professional who I’d fought, and thank God I like all of them and they all liked me.
Do you think fighting at Japan may be a problem in a possible return to the United States, after the suspension?
No way. We’ve closed with Japan because I’m a professional, I have family, I have a very high cost of living and, besides, I have to fight, be in evidence, and now recently I’ve made further examinations that did not accept, because it was in a particular laboratory, but we’ll do another examination, this time along with a police officer for the Commission of Florida, and will go to the common justice. I simply can’t be accused for something I haven’t done, this story is not over yet. I’m going forward with it and will be solved. I’ll do these fights in Japan until I fix this. They (Athletic Comission) are more flexible now, contacted Alex (Davis, manager of the fighter), saying that after the Armando Garcia’s leaving they don’t want confusion, they want to review the case. They know no one ever fought like I'm fighting for that because they were all guilty, but I’m not.
How do you think will be the fight between “Minotauro” Nogueira and Frank Mir at UFC 92?
Fight is fight, each fight has a certain danger, but, for the obvious, for the technical issue, the fight itself, and not for being a big fan of him, for being my godfather, a great friend, but I'm sure that Minotauro will win, for the grapple he has, perseverance... Frank Mir is no fool, has good ground, is technical, but today there is no ground game like Minotauro’s. Mir’s ground game is good, but Minotauro’s is wonderful, and I bet whatever I have to bet on Minotauro.
What did you think of the victory of Brock Lesnar against Randy Couture?
I will tell you the truth: I was betting on Couture, who has the experience, but I’ve missed that. He got tired, felt Brock’s weight, and I think he didn’t fight well. He didn’t come in being the Randy Couture he always being, who fought five rounds... In the fight with Tim Sylvia, he fought five rounds, finished punishing on the ground, helped Tim to get up and was still jumping in the octagon...
How would be a fight between Minotauro and Brock?
Minotauro will pass through Mir and it doesn’t have a chance to Brock Lesnar win Minotauro. He has no technique, is rough, thick, and is a stone diamond that needs to be polished. He’ll be a great fighter one day, but it will take a while to be cut.
And the fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski?
I will tell you that I’m cheering for Fedor, so he continues unbeaten. Despite Andrei being a good fighter, has a good boxing, is brutal, a good swing in the octagon, but I will cheer for Fedor continue unbeaten for, maybe, who knows a day... I'm in the line and one day who knows. Everyone’s dream is to defeat Fedor, just like Arlovski’s dream is to win him, my wish is this. I have to prepare and expect that opportunity, perhaps returning to the United States or he goes to Japan. I wish he doesn’t think about retirement and continue winning. I admire him a lot, he’s good on the ground, hand, is 100% in everything.
And if UFC and Affliction invite you? The fact of Fedor being in Affliction can weigh more?
To tell the truth, I had contact from both events before this story from the Commission, when the EliteXC was over, but I wanna go where I’m recovered, when threat me well and receive respect as an athlete. If the UFC do that, great, if Affliction does it too, wonderful. As I always say, I’m a commodity for sale, but I have my principles. The only flags I raise are my family and the American Top Team.
