Xande Ribeiro :: TATAME

Two times Jiu-Jiutsu Openweight World champion, Xande Ribeiro is training hard in the United States for his next challenge in MMA. Schedules to Sengoku 8, the black belt will face Keiichiro Yamamiya, athlete with 66 fights in the career. In an exclusive interview to the TATAME, Xande talked about his preparation, the trainings with Wanderlei Silva and André Dida, the strategy for the fight and the plans for the Jiu-Jitsu, looking for the third openweight title. Check below the exclusive interview with the fighter, who expects for another bout with Roger Gracie at the Worlds final.

How is the gym in San Diego?

The University is with everything, getting new students every month, and the trainings are very strong. We’re with a very nice team, Royler and Regis Lebre are helping in the trainings and technical part, and beyond every month we receive students from all around the world to develop their techniques. The University is an open institution to all who want to develop the ground techniques. In addition to Judo, we have a Sensei (Jin Ilzumi) of the Kodokan in Japan, which coordinates in the foot part. I’m very happy with the job and with the life in San Diego.

And how is the preparation to your next fight in Sengoku?

They’re good. I've been training and developing a lot of MMA aspects since my last fight. I’m training with my team at The Arena, witch is our MMA module. Who has been directing my trainings are Saulo (Ribeiro) and Fabrício “Morango” (Camões), and I’m very well prepared, in addition to the work that I do with (André) Dida and Mauricio Veio in Canada, and lately with Wanderlei Silva in Las Vegas.

How were the trainings with Wanderlei Silva in Las Vegas?

Were great. Wand is a super cool and experienced guy, he is the man for me. He went through everything and, of course, is one of the most experienced in this business and the exchange of energy and experience was wonderful, I had the honor to try taking some punches on the face. It was, for sure, an excellent learning.

What did you think of Alejarra’s preparation?

It was cool and useful. Alejarra is from the school of Caruso and Pimentel, who I’ve already worked with and, with certainty, knowing how to mix his job with the one from his preparer, Álvaro Romano (Ginástrica Natural), I’ll be with the heart and lung giants.

And the trainings with Dida in Canadá?

Dida, and his brother Veio, has contributed a lot to my development in the part of Muay Thai. Dida is totally "matrix", knows a lot and is very fast, has a very heavy hand and, besides being a phenomenal guy, is very family, since he and his brother, just like me and my brother, have a big love for the art. I’m very happy with this team I have and we help each other a lot, and this union of Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai is being perfect. This trend, I call it “OssHey" (oss from Jiu-Jitsu, hey from Thai).

What do you already know about Keiichiro Yamamiya, your next opponent?

I know he’s left-handed and likes striking, is a very experienced guy, has 66 fights and has faced many tough fighters, as Bas Rutten, Nate Marquardt, Kondo, Ximú, Nilson, Paulo Filho... He is a guy who has a very high mileage and I have to be very focused and trained to this fight.

Most of his fights were by decision, but most of the losses were by finalization. The strategy is to go the ground?

The strategy is to take the fight to my field, which is the ground, and submit, but I’m prepared to face any situation and, this time, when I get in a position to finish the fight, I’ll do it for sure.

What did you learn with the first fight?

A lot. That I have to train everything and know how to focus and administrate the trainings, but the biggest learning was the experience to have fought three rounds in a main event in Japan. Now is get more experience and continue this journey in MMA.

How is the expectation to the World Championship of 2009? Are you going after the third absolute?

That’s the plan. Jiu-Jitsu is my life, my philosophy and my fuel. For sure, the World Championship is another goal for this year. I will go there to defend my titles and try to be the first and only three times World openweight champion.

Do you believe that Roger will come with some special tactic to beat you this year?

Roger is a guy that I consider a lot and he has his strategy. I don’t know if he will change much the strategy, because we fought eight times and he never changed, but I’m prepared for any situation that he will create. But, in addition, he will have a lot of tough guys on his side and I’ll have at mine, but, as a fan of our fights, I cheer for another final between us, and once again will be a great fight.

Would you like to leave a message to people in Brazil?

I would like to thank all my fans from Brazil and any information about the University of Jiu-Jitsu you can enter www.unijj.com and my website www.xande.tv.