Paulo Thiago :: TATAME

After impressing the world with a first round knockout victory against Josh Koscheck, Paulo Thiago won’t have easy job in his second UFC fight. After signing the contract to face Jon Fitch at UFC 100, Paulo Thiago spoke with TATAME.com about his preparation for the fight, his training and his thoughts for the fight. “He has a solid Wrestling, knows how to fight standing, is good on takedowns and knows how to fight on the ground, but we’ll do a good job to annul it. It’ll be a chess fight again”, said Paulo, who also commented his professional situation, once that he’s an officer of Brasilia’s special police team (BOPE), and the upcoming fight between St. Pierre and Thiago Alves.

What did you think about your fight against Koscheck?

We’ve studied his game a lot, we were expecting him to do what he did. Of course it was a surprise, he’s really a tough guy, but the team trained a lot for that.

Were you expecting a knockout that fast?

I wasn’t expecting that fast, on the first round, but I went there prepared to the striking and for the fight on the ground. Wherever the fight goes, I was ready.

Your next fight will be against Jon Fitch, another top contender. How do you think will be the fight?

He’s the third on the welterweight rankings, after Pitbull (Thiago Alves) and (Georges) St. Pierre, so we’ll do a very good job for this fight. He has a strong Wrestling, knows to fight stand, good on takedowns and plays well on the ground, but we’ll do a good job to annul it. It’ll be a chess match again.

You just arrived in the UFC and faced a top five and now a top three. How do you see that?

Thanks God. I think the promoters liked my fight and I just have to thank Dana White and Joe Silva for this opportunity, besides fighting at UFC 100, which will be huge, a great party. Everybody wants to be there and thanks God I got my spot.

How is the preparation for the fight?

The training is hard, the whole team has fights to do, like Rani (Yahya) at WEC, Alex at Jungle Fight, Gabriel at Shooto Brazil… The team is working hard here. Another fighters are negotiating their fights and we’re training hard, everyday is a war.

You’re a police man from BOPE, the Brazilian special police squad. How does it help you on training and fighting?

My superiors are supporting me a lot. They’re happy with my job, help me in everything that they can. One thing increases the other, being a MMA fighter makes my work at the police even bigger and more important. They’re proud of having a police man representing them, they’re with me and I’m with them.

Winning another top welterweight, what else do you wait for you in the octagon?

Man, it’s just the beginning of a long walk. I want to set myself in the UFC, show my job and I’m just an employee. Who else they put against me, I’ll fight. I don’t have anything to ask, just to thank. I haven’t done anything yet, I just did one fight until now, and I’m just thinking in Jon Fitch now, nothing else.

How do you think it’ll be Georges St.Pierre’s fight against Thiago Alves at UFC 100?

I won’t risk any results, let the best win. Of course I’ll cheer for the Brazilian, but St. Pierre is a tough opponent and it’s a high level fight, and I’ll be there watching to see who’s gonna be the best.