Sérgio Moraes :: TATAME

Without participating of any Jiu-Jitsu competition in 2009, the current middleweight world champion Sérgio Moraes (Alliance) is with the focus turned to the MMA. With the contract of Bellator Fighting Championship in hand, the fighter, who has three fights and three victories in the MMA, talked with TATAME about his plans for the year, anxious to start the partnership with the Chute Boxe team. In the interview below, the TATAME interrupted Serginho’s fun on the Xbox to a chat, where the athlete revealed when he should debut in Bellator, why he didn’t participate of the Jiu-Jitsu competitions in 2009, the defeat of Kron Gracie at the Pan American and more.

Rudimar told TATAME that will make a partnership with the Alliance to strengthen the training of Chute Boxe. Is the partnership already happening?

Yes, it is. It seems that we will work with teachers inside the Chute Boxe and that got me interested, because it would be great for me, beyond doing an exchange of Jiu-Jitsu, it would improve my standing part.

Have you ever been in Chute Boxe?

I didn’t, yet, because the proposal is happening and we will see how it will be, how long we will be and, as soon as it sets, I will go.

What is your expectation to train in Chute Boxe, a school that trained some of the biggest names in the MMA?

Some of the biggest in the world... Anderson, Wanderlei, Shogun, Ninja... The expectation is one of the best possible, train with everyone there, making friends and maintaining the family atmosphere, the way I always train.

And how is your situation in Bellator?

We got the contract in hand and only have to sign, but is defined that I will fight May 1^st. For now it will be a super fight, but then I should enter the GP at the end of the year. I want to get experience first.

You haven’t competed in Jiu-Jitsu this year yet... Your focus now is only the MMA?

At the beginning of the year, I'm giving priority to the MMA, but, once I pass this fight, I return the total focus to the Jiu-Jitsu. I will be at the World championship trying to win again and doing the hard training, dedicating myself. The category has lots of hard guys and I have to be prepared.

And the World professional, are you going?

No, I won’t, because the dates coincided with the MMA.

Kron won the European, but ended up with silver in the Pan. Have you followed the championship?

I was following, but it is difficult to say. He has to fight with a lot of people, to only think of me. There are very tough guys for him to fight and know, much thing to get better, for both me and him... Let's wait.

After dominating in 2008, Alliance was third place in Pan. What’s your expectation for the team in 2009?

The expectation is the best possible. Our team is more united than ever, has a very strong guys and you will see some surprises in the World Championship, some guys returning to fight... You'll see.