Away from fights since his loss at Pride 34 at 2007, when was knocked out by Thierry Sokoudjou, the athlete from Brazilian Top Team, Ricardo Arona, told in exclusive interview to TATAME about his life, the time away from rings and his training to come back to the MMA, commented Rodrigo Minotauro’s and Wanderlei Silva’s fight at UFC. Check below the complete interview with Ricardo Arona.
You’re away from fights… What have you been doing? Are you training, have any contract?
I have some options to fight, but this time away was very important to me, getting some things right on my life too, but the important is that I really wanna fight and come back ready to the ring.
What’s your focus? USA, Japan?
I was invited from events of both countries, but I’ll fight where comes the better proposal. I’ll think what’s the best to me. Actually, I don’t have anything in mind for now, some Japanese come, but there’s nothing right yet.
How is Paulo? You’re close friends...
Paulo had this moment that everybody knew, went to the internet too… Everybody can pass from what he’s passing, it’s natural, but now he’s coming back, getting ready to come back and everybody knows how he is, he’ll come back to do his job. There’s no mistake, on the right time he’ll get into there and do his job.
Did you see Minotauro’s fight at UFC?
Rodrigo always fights this way. Always pass trough problems, but he always faces the difficulties and reverts it… I wasn’t worried about it, I knew it was a matter of time, I saw where Tim Sylvia could go and saw it was just a matter of time Minotauro pass over him. He got a lot of fighters on this kind of combat. I knew it was just a matter of time, he got everything ready, I was pretty sure of it.
And the athletes going to United States… Do you think about going too?
I’ll try to do everything I have to do always here. Niteroi , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, I like to fight here, that’s other energy, it’s our home. I won’t say that I’ll never move there, but I’ll stay here the most I can.
You’re fans keep saying that you’ve disappeared, that don’t fight anymore… Do you think you can lose the competition timing?
Undoubtedly, if you compete all the time you’ll get always better at the ring, but I’m not worried with this kind of challenge. Although I don’t get into the rings, I’ve faced challenges all day in my life, in everything I do. Being well prepared, the mind will be ready too and I’m not worried about that, I’m worried of being 100%.
What kind of training are you doing now?
I keep doing my physical training, training that I like, but I’m mixing a lot with the mental part, to come back strongly to everything go right. I’m pretty optimist and this time will be important to me too, because since I’m 14 years old I’m competing.
Wanderlei faced Liddell and now will face Keith Jardine… What do you think about this fight?
Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei I knew pretty well, I knew every movement of each one and it was easy to describe how the fight would be, I almost predicted it. On his next fight, I don’t know his next opponent well, I only saw one quick fight and it’s hard to say. I keep saying, until Wanderlei keeps his predictable game, it’s easier to beat him. It’s a good fight for Wanderlei, standing up, but I think the better way for him is to keep change the game. Until he shows the same thing, he’s predictable and easier.
You continue at Brazilian Top Team just waiting to close come contract, right?
I continue the same way.
source: tatame.com
