Paulo Filho :: TATAME

With opponent set on Dream 12, Paulo Filho is focused to put his Jiu-Jitsu one more time and beat the Dong Sik Yoon on November 25. In an exclusive interview to TATAME.com, the black belt talked about his expectations to the fight. “The guy is a judo champion, he has a dangerous ground, but I think he’ll play my game and I think that, because my strength, I’ll have an advantage”, bets Filho, who also talked about his mistakes on the preparation to his last fight and the next combats in UFC and Strikeforce.

What do you expect from the fight against Dong Sik Yoon?

The guy is a judo champion, he has a dangerous ground… On his fight with (Gegard) Mousasi, he didn’t take the arm for a detail, because it was fit. He’s a tough guy, but I think he’ll play my game and I think that, because my strength, I’ll have an advantage. Jiu-Jitsu’s is more efficient than a Judo... I’ll take advantage on that. He’s a great guy, a good man, very competitive, makes his work. It will be a nice fight.

How are the training for the fight? Will you train with Anderson and Minotauro?

Now I’m training with Máster Oswaldo Alves, training more the things that will happen on the fight. He’s not a striker, neither am I, so I have to work the Jiu-Jitsu game, to get to a better position and put my game and, who knows, to submit.

Looking back, which were the mistakes you made before and during the fight on Bitetti Combat?

We can’t justify... What happened is that I accepted the fight. Nobody wanted me fighting with (Melvin) Manhoef and I suffered a big psychological pressure and I wanted to breath. Everybody thought that I would be defeated by Manhoef and I got a little tired. I wanted to have fun, I stop training for a while, didn’t care that much. Not because I thought that my opponent was less important, I just needed some time. The high level athlete gotta have a break in every three months between one fight and another. I made fights in a row and wasn’t satisfied. I didn’t run away from my commitment and I know it wasn’t a wonderful fight, but I faced the challenge.

You were rumored to fight Mousasi for Strikerforce’s title, but he’ll face o Sokoudjou. Who do you think that will take this fight?

Sokoudjou is extremely dangerous, he has really heavy hands and that’s more than proved, but Mousasi is a great athlete. I think Sokoudjou is more healthy. I think (Renato) Babalu was out of parameter, he’s a high level fighter, but he was a bit nervous, unfocused, something happened and he didn’t give his best. I think Babalu, well prepared, would kick Mousasi’s ass. Mousasi will be as good as people think he is, but it will take some time. He’s young, immature and too much confident. Sokoudjou can hit one and he'll go down.

After this fight, will you go to Strkeforce?

I don’t know... I’ll “cry” to see if I can get there and hit that crook-back (laugh)... He’s really abused.

How do you think the fans from USA will welcome you after the bad fights you did in WEC?

I wasn’t very focused, excited. It’s not about Japan or United States, it was a moment on my life when I wasn’t applied to the training as I should. I think I’m independent of their opinion, mine’s is more important. I know that when I’m prepared I’m tough, my record is 18-1, I don’t have to prove anything to anybody. I know that, when I’m trained, I’m a trouble to anyone. The thing is to have the head on the place and do my work.

Your wish is go to the UFC?

My goal is fight, fight and fight, don’t matter where. The opponent is the most important thing. There are a lot of better guys in other organizations. Fight is fight, everybody deserves respect.

The Brazilians are doing a great job in UFC’s light heavyweight division, with Lyoto, Shogun, Cane, Minotouro, Thiago Silva and Anderson. How do you think that would be you coming in this category?

Undoubtedly, it’s really hard, this division is very tough. UFC is a big event, but Americans do what they can for you can’t apply your technique. They match incompatible games, preferably with whoever they want, everything to take you down. American is American, they want Americans with the belt and eliminate the Brazilians, but they’ll have to work hard because we’re the best.

What are you expecting for the fight between Lyoto and Shogun?

It’s a hard fight... Lyoto works on strategy, Shogun is brave. They both are great, but I’d bet on Lyoto because of the strategy. Fight is fight and we’ll just know when it’s over. It will be a great fight.

Anderson will probably face Vitor Belfort in 2010. How do you think that fight is gonna be?

It’s really hard... Vitor have a very good sight, Anderson has nothing else to prove... They’re both great athletes, they both can win. It’ll depend of each one’s spirit on the fight’s day. Who gets there more focused will win.