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Post-Fight Interview Recaps
July 19, 2004 Nagoya Rainbow Hall Nagoya, 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). Only Interviews conducted with English translations are listed. Marcus Aurelio, Dean Lister, Kenichi Yamamoto, Giant Silva and Shungo Oyama had no comment.
- Pride Bushido Vol. IV Results
When asked how he felt after the fight? Mishima said his opponent was very good on the ground, as he thought, so he was tired.
When asked about the rumor that Bushido will hold a tournament in the future and what is his enthusiasm is in participating in the event if it happens? He said he hasn’t received any offer and that he also read the report in the newspaper but his name wasn't included on the list. He can’t say anything.
When asked if they did offer, what would he do? He said he’ll take the offer if his physical condition is good.
When asked about his enthusiasm again about the fight (tournament). He said what is the weight class? He expects the weight class to be heavier than his. So if he fights in the tournament, he will use the fights to make adjustments.
When asked about his opponent almost being able to finish him several times, did he feel at risk? He said he didn’t feel at risk. He said Aurelio got his joints and it just looked as though he was finishing him off but he wasn’t. Mishima said he was just waiting for Aurelio to tire out. So it always happens. He did as usual. It was not a game plan but he just waited until his opponent was getting tired.
When asked about the rumor about retiring? He said his physical condition is not 100%. He said he was not conditioned perfectly for this fight. Mishima said he didn’t feel he showed his best to the fans. If he loses with this condition, he feels shame and he doesn’t want to disappoint the fans. If he had lost tonight, he would have retired. But he won’t retire. In the past months, he has fought many fights. He will take some time off to rest and if the time off doesn’t improve his condition, he will think about retiring.
He Thanks everyone
When asked how his opponent was? He stated that it was actually the first time he has faced an opponent who is 82 kg (181 lbs.). So he was very heavy and his punches were very heavy. So he was coming forward, he just happened to win with his technique.
When asked about the difference in height? He said he was very uncomfortable fighting the fight with somebody taller.
When asked about deciding to finish the fight with the guillotine choke that if he knew that it was going to happen? He said he didn’t break, it just happened to decide the fight.
When asked about his opponent trying to counter? "Mach" said he thought he was going to mount him and get on top of him but he thought he could finish the fight, so he did it.
When asked how his opponents ground technique was? He said he didn’t know but his impression was that he was really powerful. Fink threw a lot of heavy punches. So Fink's punches were really heavy but he thought his punches got Fink more than Fink got him. "Mach" also said he went for the knee but Fink was really quick.
He Thanks everyone.
When asked how he felt about the fight? He said he was disappointed in the fight. Not only because he lost but he said he didn’t like being submitted. Fink said if he lost and he got knocked out, that would be one thing. But he’s not happy with being choked. He said he's not supposed to be getting choked. He’s not happy. Fink then asked - (chuckling) Who is happy when they lose ? So that’s that.
When asked about his impression about his opponent? He said Sakurai is a good fighter. Of course, you all know, he choked me man, he’s good. He’s a good fighter.
When asked about the short notice about the fight? He said he took the fight on two weeks notice. He cut 28 lbs. in two weeks. No excuses. He felt all right. He said that if he had two months, he’d have a lot more training. A lot more time to prepare. No excuses. He said he fought like he always fights. Fink said that if he had more time, it probably would have been a better performance.
When asked about the theme of his costume when he made his appearance? He said it was funky. It was fun, just to have a good time, a wild time. To forget the pressure. Just doing it. Having fun. Making people laugh. Just to be cool and shit.
When asked about not fighting in the U.S. for a long time and if he plans on fighting in America? He said he did fight in America. He fought like five months ago. He said he does plan on fighting still…a lot. Fink said this will not slow him down in the least bit way. If anything, he just got more experience. He said he got a taste of bitterness. So it makes him even more hungry to win. It makes him want to be as successful as he can. He said that if he fights in Japan, Guam or America, he’ll still be fighting. He plans on doing a lot more fighting.
He Thanks everyone.
Takashi SugiuraWhen asked about being a pro-wrestler and training for wrestling and martial arts?He said when he is not wrestling, he is always training everyday.
When asked about his opponent being wild after the fight? He said he thought the performance should only be in the ring of the Hustle (Pro-wrestling reference). Tonight he said he came as a pure athlete and he wanted Silva to be an athlete too. Sugiura said actually, he was scared and that’s why he escaped. He didn’t like the way Silva did that.
When asked - after his fight, he said he was a real pro-wrestler, could he expand on that? He said, last night, he was thinking about what to say if he won, But before his fight, he saw Minowa was fighting on the monitor. And Minowa was saying something very cool, so he just changed his statement at the last minute.
When asked if he would fight MMA in the future? He said yes, he continues training in MMA and he would like to take any opportunity to fight MMA.
When asked who his favorite fighter to fight would be? He said he doesn’t have a favorite fighter to fight in the future.
When asked where he trains for MMA? He said he trains with TK, Mr. Kosaka and he also trains at the Takada Dojo and he trains in boxing at the amateur self-defense force in Japan.
When asked what he wanted to tell the president of his company? He said he thinks it was good that he didn’t get hurt in his fight so he just thanks him and ask for his continued support.
He Thanks everyone.
Mirko "Cro Cop" FilipovicWhen asked how he felt with the Knockout victory?He said he felt good. He’s back. He’s in really good shape. He’s ready for the next fight.
When asked what his future plans are? He said he is going to fight on August 15th, then he will fight in October too – doesn’t know his opponent yet. And for New Years event, if everything is good with his health, which he is sure it will be, he will fight for the title, who ever it is - Fedor Emelianenko or Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira but he hopes it's Fedor.
When asked why he wanted to fight Fedor? He said the main reason is that Fedor is one of the best. Second reason, they haven’t fought yet so he feels that Fedor escaped him twice, so he’s sure that the fans are dying to see the fight.
When asked about his opponent wearing a Gi? "Cro Cop" said he had heard yesterday that Ooyama would be wearing a Gi, but he saw no difference…"Cro Cop" said it was easier, even for him, if opponents wear a Gi. He can hold, if it is necessary, the Gi. So he doesn’t know why Ooyama decided to wear the Gi this time…He doesn’t know.
And "Cro Cop" said he can say this was a rematch between he and Ooyama in a way. Before he fought his first MMA fight with Fujita, it was 2001 in August, Ooyama came with Mr. Ishi and they paid him a visit in Los Angeles at the gym where he was training. Mr. Ishi asked Ooyama to show him some moves on the ground. He said he laid down and Ooyama came into his guard and Ooyama wanted to strangle him, He was shocked..."Cro Cop" thought this was training. "Cro Cop" said Ooyama just tried to show him, to prove something that …he almost choke him but nothing happened of course because maybe one or two minutes, and then somebody said, break, break, that’s enough, that’s enough, they are starting to fight each other. So it’s a rematch in a way.
When asked if it was his intention to finish Ooyama off with punches? He said his intention was to finish him, kick, punch, or choke .
When asked about changing sparring partners and reshaping his team if he felt good about having new teammates and if he has high expectations with his new team? He said he is happy with his team. Especially with the new members of his team. He will raise the quality, even though his quality is real high, but he will raise the quality with his new team.
When asked about his plan for training in Japan for the next four weeks? He said in the period leading up to his fight, he plans to train at the Takada Dojo and the Shimada Dojo. He has already spent some time in both Dojos and he likes the atmosphere and he will be able to train good. He Thanks everyone.
When told by a reporter that it was a great victory - Gomi said Thank you very much. He said that after this fight, he can take a little rest. These three Bushido fights are very important to him. And he considers them as a very important job. He said he is very relieved that they are all finished.
When asked about his three fight winning streak - He said his fight with Mr. Ralph (Gracie) was supposed to happen today but it happened in Bushido 3. So this match was a very good match. He said he tried to keep concentration for this match and he did that and that he was very happy. Also, he said he used a lot of combination techniques.
When asked about the punishment both he and his opponent took? He said yes, Mello took a lot of punches and he took some. And he said that both of them tried to use their left hands and arms. Gomi said his cornerman advised him to use three breathing techniques and it worked but everybody is very strong, very good.
When asked - Before finishing his opponent, his knee hit the body of his opponent; did he feel he got a clean hit? Gomi said the knee attack is his favorite. He uses it a lot in training. And Mello is not very tall so ideally, if his knee had hit his face, that would have finished the fight much earlier.
When asked - Before the fight, he mentioned that he wanted to show new techniques and new offenses and defenses - What were they? Gomi said he thought the reporters had seen that by looking at his fight The fight answered the question itself. Because he fought against the Brazilian Top Team, Mello was very good at defense. At the beginning of the first round, when he took Mello down, if he would have finished him, the fight would have been much easier. Gomi said that the break timing by the referee became much quicker than before, so he thought if there is something else he needs to improve, he would like to improve his ground technique so that his fights will be much easier.
When asked about never losing at Bushido and that there is a rumor that this might be the last Bushido - Bushido might be cancelled - Was he feeling frustration? Gomi answered Yes and he wished they could have made the appearance at the end of the event meaning that he wanted his team to win. And he also wanted to stop the viewers from Kanto from leaving the venue. He said it seemed like the fans from Kanto were rushing to the train station to get the last train. That was very sad. And he really wanted his team to win.
When asked about the fans becoming more familiar with his style, and that next time, if he wanted to fight in the main event (and if he thought there is a possibility that he can become a leader in Bushido)? Gomi said that would be nice. Bushido fans really like MMA. They are very easy to please so I would like them to be happy.
When asked about his three fight winning streak with Bushido and his loss to BJ Penn before Bushido - as a PRIDE Bushido fighter, who would he like to fight next? Gomi said after the Ralph (Gracie) match, people came up to him and showed him support. He's a simple man. If the people show him support, he wants to get better. So he wants fans to get to know him. He wants more people to know about him. So he would like to make an appearance. He would like to fight more. And when he feels his appearance will make the fans happier, then at the best timing, he will seek revenge against BJ Penn.
When asked - Mr Takada was a TV commentator for the event and he mentioned over the air that he wanted Luis Buscape to fight against you. He feels Buscape would be a strong competitor for you. What do you think about that? He said, unfortunately, Mr. Abe lost. Mr. Abe is a fighter with a great career. Mr. Buscape is a very good fighter. Also Mr. Aurelio, he lost against Mr. Mishima but he is a great fighter. Gomi said he would like to maybe take this opportunity to fight against Mr. Aurelio. By the way, he said he didn’t see the fight between Mr. Abe and Mr. Buscape.
When asked about the rumor that there might be a Bushido tournament in the future - Did he want to participate? Gomi said Bushido is a very good event for his weight. If there is a tournament, he would like to work hard to become the first champion.
When asked if he was enjoying his three fight winning streak and if it has changed his life? He answered Yes, he is now able to form a team for training and exercises. Now he can have a team with the younger fighters and he appreciates that opportunity.
Thanks everyone
Kazuhiro NakamuraWhen asked - You fought against Nogueira again, did you do anything differently this time and do you have any different impression of him this time? Nakamura said his punches, unfortunately, were not as effective as he wanted them to be. And he lost so he has to be better.
When asked if his game plan was to break through with his striking techniques (punches)? He said Yes, he wanted to pass the guard once but he wasn’t able to do that.
When asked what he thought he was missing so he could have won? Nakamura answered punching, striking techniques.
When asked about his fight being the main event, if he thought he was able to take the responsibility of a main event fighter? He said he wasn’t able to beat Nogueira so actually no.
When asked about after the fight, he was seen talking with Mr. Yoshida, what were they talking about? He said he was sorry but he didn’t remember.
Thanks everyone
(7/19/04)
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