Lyoto Machida's interview

Why haven´t you been in Rio this time? Are you still in Black House?

I didn´t went because I was in a hurry, with all these changes of the training center. I think it´s very important to concentrate and I know Rio more or less, so I preferred to stay here where I already know, to keep the concentration. I am still in Black House but I preferred to stay here this time for a moment of immediacy with the things that were happening.



Do you think you lost much without training in Black House?

You always lose something, but also gain others. I gave a call to Carlão Barreto and he sent me Nino Schembri, to train ground techniques, and Daniel (Francês) in the part of Muay Thai to train with me.



Besides Nino and Daniel, who is training with you?

Here I train with Walter Broca, who teaches ground techniques and gave me the black-tie two months ago. There is the Pai-de-Santo, which is not well known in national MMA, but he´s well known here in the northern region, where he made several fights. My brothers Shinzo and Takê also are always helping me, along with my father, who always stops with the training to correct some things.



What will be the strategy to face the Sokoudjou?

The strategy will be the same of other fights. The main thing is the Karate, but then, during the fight, I see the chances that he will give me, see what´s the pace, the distance and then adjust the game.



What is your expectation for this fight?

He is already talking a little out. It seems that in a French site he said that he would use the Jungle Karate ... Let's see, because fight is fight and everything is decided inside the ring. Big names promised much and done little. I am prepared and that is the most important fight of my life, as all the others were also.



He has knocked out Arona and Minotouro, who has trained with you, both at the beginning of the fight, and many people commented that he´s very strong physically. What would you do to prevent this?

He´s really strong. I have trained with many tough guys and have fought in the weight above. He may even be stronger, but I will attack his weak points. . I don´t demerit Sokoudjou, his fights ended very fast, but nobody can keep the explosion from the beginning to the end of the fight and I believe in what I am doing”.



What do you have to do differently from the two of them?

I do not know what happened with Minotouro. Sokoudjou was not known at that time and surprised everyone. I have to be patient to see the progress of the fight. Arona is also very strong and tried to impose his game, but in an error Sokoudjou got him. He was opportunistic, although I think Arona and Minotouro are more technical.



How was the training with Rodrigo Minotauro in front of Dana White?

Minotauro is always very friendly with everyone and whenever I have the opportunity, I train with him. When we were training at UFC´s academy, Dana White suddenly arrived by surprise. Minotauro came and said: "The boss is there, let´s train properly" (laughs). It was a hard train, very good, with ground, standing up, everything. Dana came, stayed looking, then he leaved and returned to see us again in surprise.



In your last victory, Dana White said that you were among the three best in the category. Have he commented with you the possibility of you disputing the belt?

The goal of everyone is to reach the top and the top is the belt that is with Quinton Jackson, but in no time he (Dana White) talked about this. We talked about other things, but not about the belt dispute.

There are rumors that the winner of the fight Wanderlei x Liddell can dispute the belt against Quinton. Don´t you think that now is your turn?

I believe that I have condition to face any fighter of my category. I never picked anyone, everyone who put in front of me I faced. If they feel that my path has to be longer, because I do not have the baggage that they had in Pride, there´s no problem. My hour will come. I love what I am doing and this helps a lot..

source: tatame.com