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PRIDE FC Heavyweight Grand Prix Tournament Post-Fight Interview Recaps
April 25, 2004 Japan
For all those who don't have the capability to download the post-fight interviews conducted by PRIDE and the media on their website (http://www.pridefc.com/index_j.html), the following are short recaps of the interviews (they do contain results). English interviews only. "Cro Cop" and Leko had no comment.
When asked how is preparation was for this fight? Heath stated that he really wasn't where he would he have like to have been. He stated that he had to do some press conferences so his time was a little shorter than what he would have normally had (to prepare). He also said his conditioning was pretty good but it really wasn't where he would have liked to have it but for this fight it went okay.
When asked how he felt about a choke that was applied to him? Heath said the choke was pretty tight so he just relaxed and put his head through and he (Takahashi) wasn't able to choke him out with it - it was tight but he knew if he relaxed, he would get out of it - he just took his time, got out and went to work.
When asked about his future? Heath said he is going home for a bit and see his family, and then get back and start training.
When asked about his impression of Takahashi? Heath said he thought Takahashi is a very aggressive fighter, a small guy that's quick - he's not an orthodox style fighter, he throws wild punches, and that it is very difficult to fight somebody like that. So for his size and his quickness, he is difficult. Heath also stated he knew he needed to overpower Takahashi and do what he did, so that was the answer to Takahashi (style).
When asked what he thought on how Takahashi was dangerous? Heath stated just because he was wild - he was a small guy, quick - he liked the inside, throw the wild overhand left. Also because he's left handed, it's a different south paw style fighter - it's also a little bit more difficult if you're use to fighting a traditional right hand fighter.
When asked when he was on top, if his punches missed because Takahashi had good defense to avoid his punches? Heath stated he missed a few of them but the biggest part landed on him - he was pretty much out on the ground.
When asked how important this was for him? Heath said it was pretty important. He stated that if you win this this thing, your ticket is set - this is it, this is the best in the world - Heath said this is where they want to be (fighters) - we want to be on top - to take that belt is the goal.
Reporters Thanked Him Heath - Thank You
- Only one question in English (sporting a bandage on the left hand all the way to the wrist).
When asked about a particular move - did he feel he was in control of the fight at that point? Sergei said that from the very start of the fight, he was confident he would win the fight - but it was actually a strange feeling because his training is mainly Sambo and he should be good at ground control but the fight was mainly strand-up and he still won so it was kind of weird.
When asked if he practiced his submission technique? Silva said he trained and went to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school - he's learning Jiu-Jitsu and he's learning submissions. Silva said he wishes to be a good fighter. He said he had two months training at his school he trains at in New Jersey. And Silva also said he's learning step by step to be a good fighter - lost one and won one - that's good.
When asked if he was worried about his opponent being a sumo wrestler? Silva said yeah, Sentoryu is a very good fighter - Silva said he respects him and that Sentoryu did good. Sentoryu tried a single leg and drop down but Silva said he knew that. Silva stated he is going to a Brazilian submission Jiu-Jitsu school to learn because he knows he's big and tall and maybe a lot of fighters are going to try to get his legs and get him down - that's why he trained to defend.
When asked what he thought of the PRIDE Grand Prix? Silva said that there are a lot of good fighters and that they're big guys. He knows he has to wait his time. Silva said he has a long way, to maybe, be champion. He said he's going to take it step by step in learning and he wishes to win better.
Reporters Thanked Him Silva - Thank You
- Only one question in English
When asked how he prepared for the big guy? Sentoryu said - well, me coming from sumo, I'm not really a big sumo type of guy, I fought guys, not as tall as he is, but as tall as Akebono - I've practiced with him a lot, so I wasn't afraid to fight big guys like this. Plus it makes it more easier for me to move and get inside of him - so when I found out I was going to fight him, I was working on trying to take him down, and just try to punch while I'm on top of him but unfortunately, he grabbed my arm before I could start punching for the side so.
When asked how he felt about fighting on his back? Schilt said he felt pretty comfortable on his back. The plan was to keep the fight standing but it didn't work - so it went to the floor. Schilt said he controlled McGee and waited for his chance to do some damage - and then, out of that, the triangle choke came first and then the arm bar.
When asked what the PRIDE Grand Prix meant to him? Schilt said he thought PRIDE fighting was over for him because he didn't fight for one and half years - he said he had a lot of , how you say, bullshit with the contracts - and now he got his chance to be in the Grand Prix, he heard it on Sunday, and he's very, very, very, glad to be back in the PRIDE Grand Prix
When asked how he felt about not fighting for a year and a half? Schilt said he kept on training - he had a chance with another organization that you've heard of, and that chance didn't go through - so he was very motivated to train, but noting came out of it - that really dragged him down a little bit but now everything, this year, is going to be his year - everything is going great now - He's in the PRIDE Grand Prix and he's also in the other organization - he's very happy.
When asked about his victory on such short notice (preparation)? Schilt said he was already practicing for a fight with Alexey Ignashov in Holland so there was where his preparation started - then came the opportunity to fight here in PRIDE so of course you take the opportunity if you get it and now, it work out very well and of course, he will train in his submissions.
Reporters Thanked Him Schilt - Thank You
When asked how he felt about the fight? McGee said: Well, it's king of obvious, once again I wasn't in good enough shape to fight, I gassed out pretty bad. I want to apologize to everyone for that. McGee said he really wanted to fight in this tournament so he was pushing it even though he knew he wasn't quite ready. He said he wanted to fight in the tournament so bad that he fought anyways. McGee also said he wanted to apologize to everyone who supported him, and any fan of the sport for a bad showing. McGee said he was sorry.
When asked what his future plans were for preparing for a fight? McGee said his plans for the future are, if there's not a Grand Prix tournament going on, he's in no rush to fight - If he's not ready to go, if he's not feeling good. McGee said he's been working through a lot of injuries, and things like that that have really hampered his training, so if he's not able to train, not able to compete at this level of fighting, that he'll wait until he is ready to go.
When asked about his opponents strengths? McGee said Semmy Schilt is a great striker, he knew that going into it - he knew this was going to be a tough fight because he wasn't able to train on his grappling really well - for six months probably. McGee said he had a lot of pain in one of his shoulders, and knowing his striking ability was so good, he knows tall guys have a lot of reach, he knew he would have to take him down and it's really hard to wrestle when you haven't been doing it regularly.
Reporters Thanked Him McGee - Thank You
Randleman says hi to everyone in Japanese
When asked about being the underdog and where his confidence is at now and before the fight? Randleman said his confidence before the fight was where it always is, the only thing that changed in his life is that he has a higher respect for the Lord, he's changed a lot of negativity in his life so all the people who saw him losing fights that he should of won, winning fights he shouldn't have won, expect the unexpected from Kevin Randleman.
When asked about his strong punch that put "Cro Cop" down? Randleman said: Well you guys all saw me lose against Sakuraba and I tore my bicep (looking at right bicep) against Sakuraba so chances are I wasn't going to throw any rights and "Cro Cop" has a very powerful left kick to the head. Randleman said he watched "Cro Cop" fight, everyone of his fights he could find, so he kept his hand up. Randleman said his coach, Mark "the Hammer" Coleman, God Bless him, who he believes is the greatest fighter in the world, who should be in his position, who should be sitting in the chair instead of him, gave him a good game plan - go out and shoot on him - and if "Cro Cop" is worried about him shooting, he's going to drop his hands - Randleman said he'd be able to throw lefts and rights and maybe a knee and he followed his game plan finally and it worked.
Randleman made a statement saying that for the fans, a lot of guys, unless you been in there with guys who kick like himself, "Cro Cop," and Liddell, who kick, you don't understand how easy it is to read a fighter - in order for you to kick someone, you must open up your hips - when "Cro Cop" tries to punch, he keeps his feet parallel - when he wants to kick you, he opens up his hips so he can open up and kick you - and Randleman saw that, and when he saw that "Cro Cop" was going to throw the kick, he dropped his right hand and he just didn't hesitate and Randleman said he usually hesitate - He said he usually holds his punches and that's why he loses a lot of fights. Randleman said he followed the game plan and he saw it and he finally got to see what his coaches wanted him to do. Randleman stated that fighting is a technique, and fighting is a sport, and fighting is just like school. You have to learn it everyday, you have to study and if you don't study, you're going to fail. And Randleman said he'd failed many times, and today he pasted the test.
When asked if he expected to win so quickly? Randleman said he never expects to win fights as quickly as he does. He always trains to go the distance - 20 minutes was the fight - He expected 20 minutes of the fight - Randleman stated that he said in the pre-fight interview that he expected to have a broken rib after the fight. He was surprised that "Cro Cop" dropped his hand, but his coaches Matt Hume, Chuck Liddell, and the guys that he worked said shoot the shot, it sets up so many other things - Randleman said everyone knows you have to watch your opponent - you close your eyes once and blink and it's over. And he said today he was fortunate enough to get an "A" on his test - But he expected to win, he doesn't expect to lose.
When asked about his semi-final round and that he might face Fedor or Ogawa ? Randleman said all he knows is that he is the only midget in the PRIDE Grand Prix - Everybody is tall, He's short. He finds it very funny but he's looking forward to it. And it doesn't matter who it is he's going to fight. Randleman said he's a student of the game and he fights anybody, anywhere. He said it doesn't matter who it is, he still shows up to fight. He can beat the best of them and he can get beat by the best of them.
When asked what PRIDE means to him in one word? Randleman responded - Just that, my heart - PRIDE is my heart
Reporters Thanked Him Randleman - Thank You - I fight for you people and the fans
When asked about almost having Fedor (in a possible submission) in the corner? Coleman said the ropes caused him trouble in the corner. He said he couldn't get in a good position to get underneath his throat. He said he didn't have enough room to move. Coleman said Fedor is very good and that Fedor moves very well. He also said Fedor came out of it pretty good but he felt he was in good control.
When asked what his game plan was? Coleman said: You saw it. He said it was subject to change at any moment. Coleman said he knew it was going to be back and forth. He said he knew there was going to be a lot of scrambling going on - a lot of movement. Colman said anything could happen out there, he knew that was possible but he did not think that Fedor was that smooth with the submission skills. He said he was surprised a little bit there. Coleman said maybe he relaxed a little bit but it was a very...very, very good arm bar.
When asked about having four years go by since he won the first heavyweight championship, what changes has he made? Coleman said to be very honest, that's the problem, he hasn't made enough changes. He said he stayed the same and the other people got better. So now, he said, it's time for him to make some changes and he will make the changes. Coleman said that even though he lost and was very disappointed, and a little bit ashamed, a little embarrassed - inside his heart, his confidence, even though he lost, his confidence still went up because he felt there were many things he could have done to win the fight but he didn't pull the trigger - next time, he said, he will pull the trigger.
When asked to give examples about what he could have done to win the fight? Coleman said he felt he could have thrown a lot more punches on his feet, they were right there - Fedor's face was right in front of him for him to hit but he could not throw the punch because it's still not natural for him - he said he's still a wrestler, and he was sticking wrestling out there way too much - Coleman said he doesn't want to use it as an excuse but that his neck for the past three years, after the Grand Prix, that he hurt his neck very badly, and he was not able to train boxing - and many things he had to be careful of because he was in so much pain but now his neck has healed. Coleman said he took some punches and he didn't even feel them so now he is confident that he can take a punch and now he is confident that he can trade with the other guys and knows from what his training partners say, that he has a lot of power in his punches. He said he just has to make it natural (punching) - it has to become instinct and natural and with everybody being afraid of his shot because his take down is so good, they have to worry about his takedown, then he can pop them with some punches. Coleman said he'll be back.
When asked how his neck felt (today) after his surgery? Coleman said his neck felt great. He said this was the first time he had been hit since he had the surgery - maybe a couple of times in practice but he had to make sure he was in the tournament so he had to be very careful. Coleman said he has to watch it on film but he felt he took some good punches and didn't even feel them. He also said now he's going to go back and start sparring - training like a champion again. He said he has had a lot of problems in his life in the past three years, going through a divorce, and this and that - it's very hard on anybody but it is over now and he's Mark Coleman again. He said he's on a mission to be the champion again - and that we'll see that he won't stop until he's champion. He said he's 39 (years old) but that doesn't matter. He felt he was moving very well out there. Coleman said he is very quick, has very fast skills - that he's going to find a way. He said he loves this sport. Coleman also stated that he's going to be a problem for any fighter that faces him. He said anybody that faces him is going to be in a fight - Coleman said he knows this.
When asked if he will back soon? Coleman said he'll be back as soon as PRIDE asks him to fight again - he's ready to fight anytime now.
Reporters Thanked Him Coleman - Thank you
PRIDE FC Heavyweight Grand Prix Results
PRIDE FC Heavyweight Grand Prix Play by Play
(4/25/04)
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