FIGHTSPORT 24-7

PRIDE: 'Itadaki'
December 31st, 2005
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan


Hidehiko Yoshida defeats Naoya Ogawa by armbar, RD 1.
Vanderlei Silva defeats Ricardo Arona by split decision.
Mark Hunt defeats Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic by split decision.
Kazushi Sakuraba defeats Ikuhisa Minowa by keylock, RD 1.
Takanori Gomi defeats Hayato Sakurai by KO, RD 1.
Dan Henderson defeats Murilo Bustamante by split decision.
Fedor Emelianenko defeats 'Zuluzinho' by TKO, RD 1.
Alexander Emelianenko defeats Pawel Nastula by rear naked choke, RD 1.
Sanae Kikuta defeats Makoto Takimoto by unanimous decision.
James Thompson defeats 'Giant' Silva by TKO, RD 1.
Kazuhiro Nakamura defeats Yuki Kondo by unanimous decision.
Charles Bennett defeats Ken Kaneko by armlock, RD 1.

K-1: 2005 Dynamite!!
December 31st, 2005
Osaka Dome
Osaka, Japan


K-1 matchups:
Semmy Schilt defeats Ernesto Hoost by TKO, RD 2.
Masato defeats Akira Ohigashi by KO.
Musashi defeats Bob Sapp by decision.
Remy Bonjasky defeats Sylvester Terkay by split decision.

MMA matchups:
Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto defeats Genki Sudo by KO, RD 1.
Royce Gracie drew with Hideo Tokoro.
Bobby Ologun defeats Akebono by decision.
Katsuhiko Nagata defeats Remigijus Morkevicius by decision.
Heath Herring vs. Yoshihiro Nakao declared a no contest.
Jerome Le Banner defeats Alan Karaev by KO, RD 2.
Shungo Oyama defeats Peter Aerts by heel hook.

(Repost for our North American readers who are yet to see the Pride show.)


Hosted by Scoop McTroll live in Japan, this Podcast features such FS 24-7 legends as the axemurderer, Rainbowthief, Josh Grossman, Tape Lord and our new UK correspondent, William Rhys-Jones.

This show includes our expert panel's Pride predictions, interviews with UFC President Dana White and the legendary Zulu, father of Fedor's latest opponent, Zuluzinho.

The Podcast can be downloaded at the following locations.






DOWNLOAD LINK 1


RSS Feed I


Download Site II


RSS Feed II


MP3 Download Site III



MP3 Download Site IV

Vanderlei Silva (left) and Ricardo Arona facing off in their first fight.

Vanderlei Silva was recently interviewed by Japanese journalist Takimoto. Here's what Vanderlei had to say:


Interviewer: In your opinion, what was missing from your game in your recent loss to beat Ricardo Arona?

Vanderlei: What lacked for me was more of a decision to impose my game plan on him. I ended up respecting him too much. However, this time it is not going to happen again. I am going to knock him out. I am going to mess him up.

Interviewer: Do you have any kind of bad feelings towards Arona because of the scream he gave right after the ending of the fight?

Vanderlei: I do not have any bad feelings towards anyone, and this time I'm going to give him the payback.

Interviewer: So this time, for your planned victory, you will go for the knockout?

Vanderlei: That is what I want. I trained very hard and I want the knockout, even if it happens at the end of the fight. This time I will get it.

Interviewer: How is your preparation for the rematch?

Vanderlei: It is very intense for this bout. I am in really good shape. I trained a lot on the ground with Nino "Elvis" Schembri and Cristiano Marcelo. I trained a lot of wrestling, and I am good with my reflexes to defend his takedown attempts.

Interviewer: What are the possibilities of seeing you fight heavyweights?

Vanderlei: This is the last fight of my PRIDE contract. Whomever they want me to face, I will face. I do not see any problem fighting at heavyweight, as of today I am 99 kg (218 pounds) with a lot of stamina.

Interviewer: Who in the Chute Boxe team do you think will be the man to take over once you stop fighting?

Vanderlei: There are many fighters that already can. We have Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, who is for real. We also have Cyborg, Daniel Acacio, Murilo "Ninja" Rua, and others. The team is really good and I also include myself with that list of names.

Interviewer: What about the younger and not-so-recognized guys?

Vanderlei: We have Fabio Silva, Dida, and Mauricio "Veio".

Interviewer: What do you have to say about Rickson Gracie's statements in which he talked about the "low level" of the current MMA scene?

Vanderlei: I think that it was wrong to say, but in an interview he did right after the statement you are talking about, he was justified by saying that he was misunderstod. And I thought it was a good that he is promoting a new event, because after all, everything he is today is because of the fight world. A fighter can not hide himself from others -- he has to always spread the sport.

Interviewer: Please give your fans a message.

Vanderlei: Keep rooting for me. I trained a lot for this fight and I will try even harder to show my work. In this fight, you will know the real Vanderlei Silva.

Murilo Bustamante (far left) and Dan Henderson (far right).

Brazilian magazine 'Tatame' asked Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira to give his opinion on the upcoming Murilo Bustamante vs. Dan Henderson matchup, which will take place on the PRIDE card on December 31st. Here's what Pequeno had to say:


"Murilo is more technical, very experienced, and has a fast ground game. Henderson has good boxing and wrestling, but he can't afford to fall underneath against Murilo. If Murilo finds himself in the top position, I believe he will win with an armlock." -Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira

Takanori Gomi (far left) and Hayato Sakurai (far right).

The Japanese media reports that the predictions amongst both fans and professional fighters regarding tonight's Takanori Gomi vs. Hayato Sakurai matchup is split. According to the Japanese media, roughly half the fans and fighters polled think Gomi will win, and the other half think Sakurai will win.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and "Zuluzinho".

Brazilian magazine 'Tatame' reports that Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson and 'Zuluzinho' became friends during their stay at the same hotel in PRIDE 30, and that Jackson will now visit Brazil in January to train with Zuluzinho and his team.

DSE/PRIDE recently officially announced that they will be producing their second movie. Unlike their first movie, 'Nagurimono', their second movie will not be about fighting. The movie will also feature an appearance by Nobuhiko Takada.

Hosted by Scoop McTroll live in Japan, this Podcast features such FS 24-7 legends as the axemurderer, Rainbowthief, Josh Grossman, Tape Lord and our new UK correspondent, William Rhys-Jones.

This show includes our expert panel's Pride predictions, interviews with UFC President Dana White and the legendary Zulu, father of Fedor's latest opponent, Zuluzinho.

The Podcast can be downloaded at the following locations.






DOWNLOAD LINK 1


RSS Feed I


Download Site II


RSS Feed II


MP3 Download Site III



MP3 Download Site IV

Murilo Bustamante

Murilo Bustamante was recently interviewed by the PRIDE website. Here's what Bustamante had to say:


Interviewer: First, congratulations on advancing to the 183-pound Grand Prix final.

Bustamante: Thank you. I'm very happy.

Interviewer: Did the Brazilian Top Team review your fights as soon as the opening round fights were finished?

Bustamante: Yes. I quickly discussed the fight with my teammates. Everyone said that I moved much better than they expected.

Interviewer: Please tell us what you thought of your fights, beginning with Suda.

Bustamante: I was worried but it was a good start. I knew about him before our match and I was careful of his punches. He was faster than I expected and I was probably a little slower than I should have been. Honestly, there were times when I was in a bad position but I was able to stay calm and counter-attack.

Interviewer: You were calm.

Bustamante: Yes. It's a high-level match, and you can't win if you don't always have a grasp of your opponent's movement and condition.

Interviewer: You said before the fight that you were in great shape. That really left an impression.

Bustamante: I was in control of the fight but you never know what's going to happen in the martial arts. That's why it's important to be in great shape for the fight. In the ring, you always have to grasp your opponent's speed, movements, and your own feelings. Winning the first match gave me more confidence though, because it was proof that all of my training until then, and my conditioning, was good. My mind and my body were both really prepared at that time.

Interviewer: How about your fight with Minowa in the semifinal round? You taught Minowa at BTT.

Bustamante: He's become stronger. I think Minowa fought very well in the semifinal, but I was in the best condition of my life, technically and physically, for this tournament. My stamina was great, too. I continued to pressure him technically and made him tired.

Interviewer: Has Minowa grown from before?

Bustamante: As a human, he is really great. All of the Top Team members like him as a human. That's why, in my heart, I didn't want to fight him. If Minowa says he wants to come to BTT and train again, and he trains for a long time, he will be a stronger fighter.

Interviewer: Minowa has been using nature in his training lately. Is that a correct training method?

Bustamante: Of course. Nature is wonderful. I think it's important to train in that kind of beautiful environment. My own opinion is that it would be better to create an environment where you are surrounded by friends and strong fighters and make yourself better. There is a limit to what you can do by yourself.

Interviewer: You did a Chute Boxe-style stomp. Do you train stomps at BTT?

Bustamante: That came from realistic training. Everyone at BTT, not just me, thinks of all the techniques that we can use within the rules. We research fights, create new techniques, and use them in our fights. Our motto is to try, and we will continue to try new things in fights.

Interviewer: You are 39-years old but you don't seem to be declining at all.

Bustamante: The reason I have been able to continue this long is my heart. I've always continued to chase after my dream of becoming strong, no matter how old I am. Other than soccer, there was no sport in Brazil that I could make my livelihood from. The reason that I was able to continue for tens of years in this sport, until I could make a living from it, was my love of jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts. It's important to continue doing what you love. In order to do that, I choose natural foods and work hard. I believe that teaching young people, as a BTT instructor, is entrusting my dream to them. That's also very important.

Interviewer: Your next dream is to become the PRIDE 183-pound champion on December 31st?

Bustamante: That's exactly right. I have dreamed of becoming the PRIDE champion since the first day that I fought in PRIDE. Dan Henderson and I will settle things and I will be the one that wears the belt.

Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson was recently interviewed by the PRIDE website. Here's what Henderson had to say:


Interviewer: I would like you to look back at the PRIDE 183-pound GP. The Ryo Chonan fight ended in seconds.

Henderson: The fight was short so it probably looked like I won easily, but I studied him a lot before the fight. Chonan is very tough and I knew he is an all-round fighter. When I hit him with the right punch in the match, it just happened to hit a really good spot and I was able to carry the fight at my own pace.

Interviewer: You looked at the referee after Chonan went down.

Henderson: When that one punch connected, I knew it was over but the referee might not have seen it. So I hit him 2 or 3 more times and the referee stopped it. I thought that it might have been a little too much. The fight was over with the first punch.

Interviewer: The fight with Gono in the semifinals of the GP was a close fight.

Henderson: I don't think it was a close fight. I took some good punches and kicks from Gono, but I was the one pressuring him and I was the one that controlled the flow of the fight.

Interviewer: After seeing you and Bustamante, I thought that Japanese fighters can't win in this weight class.

Henderson: Of course I think there are many Japanese fighters that can succeed. The Japanese fighters than fought in this tournament all fought well. I think that if Sakuraba fought in this weight class, he would have great fights.

Interviewer: Did you know that Gomi said he wants to go up a weight class and fight you?

Henderson: No, I didn't know that. I wonder what he's thinking? Tell Gomi that he needs to beat Sakurai and get the belt before he challenges me. That's better, right? I'm the same way. First, I have to beat Bustamante on New Year's Eve and get the welterweight belt. I'll be glad to fight him after that. I'll accept his challenge. I've already dropped down from 205 pounds so he has to increase his weight, right? He's still going to be small compared to me, no matter how much weight he gains. Gomi has punching skill and his striking is particularly great. But, fighting me?

Interviewer: The GP Final will be jiu-jitsu vs. wrestling, a historic rivalry in MMA.

Henderson: It definitely has a jiu-jitsu vs. wrestling aspect, but I don't get tied up in jiu-jitsu vs. wrestling, because I study jiu-jitsu, too. Bustamante also does wrestling and boxing, right? I just happen to have a wrestling base.

Interviewer: Which do you think is stronger, MMA fighters with jiu-jitsu bases or wrestling bases?

Henderson: I think that fighters with a wrestling base are strong. Wrestlers have punching strength and I am proof of that. Jiu-jitsu is better in submissions, but to get a submission you've got to take your opponent down first. I wonder if Bustamante will be able to take me down.

Interviewer: Even though you both having wrestling bases, I think the strengths of your team, Team Quest, and Coleman's team, Hammer House, are different.

Henderson: We do have the same base but there are differences between our teams. That's because we have different ideas about MMA. Team Quest tries to evolve as MMA continues to evolve. We have a wrestling base but we are an MMA team. We research new skills and strategies daily to win in MMA. The Hammer House guys seem like they are still wrestlers fighting in MMA matches. It seems like they think that it will be enough to use their wrestling base.

Interviewer: Do you want to see MMA become a major sport like wrestling?

Henderson: I hope that MMA continues to spread in the world. As you know, it's very popular in Japan and it's continuing to spread in America. I believe that it will continue to spread and become a mainstream sport.

Interviewer: Are you done with wrestling or do you think you will make a comeback?

Henderson: I want to continue doing MMA as long as my strength holds. I plan on continuing to fight in MMA as long as I can keep training hard. My feeling now is that I definitely want to win this tournament. I've never wanted the belt as much as I do now.

Takanori Gomi

A press conference was recently held in Tokyo to reveal the event poster to be used in Japan for the PRIDE card on December 31st. The creator of the poster is Takehiko Inoue, who is a famous manga comic artist in Japan. The model for the poster was Takanori Gomi.

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Genki Sudo at the weigh-in for their upcoming fight.

The Japanese media reports the following weigh-ins for two of the main event matchups on the K-1 card taking place tomorrow:


Genki Sudo: 70 kg (154 pounds)
Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto: 64.5 kg (142 pounds)

Masato: 71.5 kg (157 pounds)
Akira Ohigashi: 72 kg (158 pounds)

Genki Sudo (right) in training.

The following pictures are from a recent open training session that Genki Sudo did for the Japanese media. Sudo will face Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto on the K-1 card on December 31st.

Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (right) in training.

The following pictures are from a recent open training session that Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto did for the Japanese media. Yamamoto will face Genki Sudo on the K-1 card on December 31st.

Vanderlei Silva (left) after arriving in Tokyo.

Vanderlei Silva was recently interviewed by Brazilian journalist Denis Martins. Here's what Vanderlei had to say:


Interviewer: Your belt is on the line this time. What is your preparation like for this upcoming rematch against Ricardo Arona?

Vanderlei: I am very well prepared and very motivated. I'm feeling like myself, and I haven't felt this way in a long time. I'm training and preparing more, and I hope to provide a good show for the fans.

Interviewer: What do you intend on doing different this time around?

Vanderlei: Everything. Our first fight didn't please me nor the fans, so I hope to fight with my well known style and take it further. I'll show the real Vanderlei Silva, which was forgotten in the last fight. That night, in that fight, that wasn't me.

Interviewer: What did you think went wrong in that fight?

Vanderlei: I think I wanted to avoid a stalling game and it made me too cautious. I respected him too much and this is a situation that will not occur again on December 31st. This time I will go ahead and knock him out.

Interviewer: There are fans and reporters who talk about the difference between your game and Arona's game. They say that his style isn't a good matchup for you. What can you tell us about this?

Vanderlei: It can be tough, but at fight time things will connect perfectly. I thought about it last night and I realized, if Arona has good takedowns, I have the heavy hands to knock him out. So I should have thought about that in our first fight, and I would've knocked him out when the fight was standing. I would've put him on the canvas in an unconscious state. This is what I will do now! I will not let this opportunity escape. If he takes me down, it's okay. I'm good with Jiu-Jitsu and I've been training a lot. If the fight stays standing, I'll land my bombs to knock him out. This time, he'll go down.

Interviewer: This time, the fight will feature one 10-minute round and two 5-minute rounds. Your opinion?

Vanderlei: I have more of a chance to knock Arona down. My chances are better than the last time we battled each other.

Interviewer: How is your training routine for this title fight?

Vanderlei: It is very good. Master Rudimar Fedrigo, along with Rafael Cordeiro, Cristiano Marcelo, and Nino 'Elvis' Schembri are preparing me for all situations in this title fight. This time, I will do things that I didn't do yet, including more cardio conditioning. My stamina is better and improving with each training session. Rafael Alejara is my new physical conditioning coach and he's a very good professional. He understands a lot of this stuff and his methods are making me better leading up to this fight. I'm in a good phase of my career and I hope to start this new phase off with a victory.

Interviewer: You told us about your physical training, but what else are you sharpening up on in training?

Vanderlei: My punches. Fans and insiders thought this was already impossible to do, but I'm sharpening them up. I'm going for more accurate and heavy punching than in my previous fights. My Jiu-Jitsu game is also improved.

Interviewer: We are speaking about this title fight now... Is there much more responsibility this time with Arona than the previous encounter?

Vanderlei: Sure, the responsibility is huge. I'm facing this fight as one of the more important fights in my life because I lost the first one to Arona, and this time there is only one result which interests me - a victory!

Interviewer: PRIDE and K-1 are battling for TV ratings on December 31st. Do you hope your performance helps PRIDE to beat K-1 in the ratings war?

Vanderlei: I hope that during my fight, the ratings win goes to PRIDE. I'm really expecting good support from my Brazilian fans that live in Japan. They support me a lot and root loudly for me. I expect the same from the Japanese fans. I know they like my style and their support is important for one more victory. This is an honor for me to fight in Japan. I feel like I am at home when I am there. The fans from Brazil will have positive thoughts in their minds. I have several fans here and I know they are on my side for this fight. Their support gives me strength.

Interviewer: Do you have any plans set for 2006?

Vanderlei: My contract with DSE will be finished after this fight against Arona. I do not know what DSE will propose for me afterwards. I need to wait for DSE's plans to determine my career in 2006. I hope for good things.

Interviewer: How was Kazushi Sakuraba's last trip to the Chute Boxe Academy?

Vanderlei: It was good. Sakuraba is a tough and disciplined person. He's really intelligent and skilled. He learned what the training means quickly. It was a big pleasure to have him come here to our gym. I hope he gets several victories and that he improves with our training here, too. Rafael Cordeiro guided him a lot in the training. Rafael is without any doubt one of the best MMA coaches in the world. I trained with Rafael recently and he is very good. We can see examples of fighters like Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua, who is a creation of Cordeiro. Shogun has trained with him since he was a white belt, and we saw what Shogun has become. Cordeiro can train anyone to become a tough MMA fighter.

Interviewer: Cordeiro does a good job, right?

Vanderlei: Without any doubts. I trained with him since my beginning. I always took part in his training sessions and my abilities improve -- all aspects for fights are at 100%. He knows everything!

Interviewer: Do you have any final message for your fans?

Vanderlei: I want to thank all fans around the world. The Japanese fans are special for me, but I have fans spread around the world. So, I want to give a message for all of them. I hope everybody has a nice Christmas and that on December 31st, I can unite with my Japanese fans and give them a gift. I expect the support of the fans, because they know when I'm in Japan I feel at home. I'm motivated for this fight against Arona and I'll give my best to provide a superb performance for the fans. I'm 100% sure that the show will be unforgettable for the fans!

Ricardo Arona (left) and Murilo Bustamante in Tokyo.

Ricardo Arona was recently interviewed by the PRIDE website. Here's what Arona had to say:


Interviewer: You were the unfortunate runner-up in the PRIDE 205-pound Grand Prix. How do you feel when you look back on that match?

Arona: I hate it. I came to Japan to become the Champion. That's why I trained, but my dream didn't come true because of bad luck.

Interviewer: Didn't you achieve some success with your win over Silva?

Arona: Of course, beating Silva has been a desire of mine for a long time, so I am satisfied with that. However, that would have been a perfect night if I had become the champion. I feel unhappy because I wasn't able to do that.

Interviewer: What was your strategy against Silva, and what was the biggest factor in your win?

Arona: It was vital to just keep moving. If you stop, even for a little, you give Vanderlei a chance. Vanderlei has become good at defending against takedowns, so it was crucial to keep moving around and striking, looking for a chance to take him down.

Interviewer: So you weren't really thinking about trying to submit him?

Arona: I was thinking to do that on the ground if it was possible, but Vanderlei's closed guard is tough and Vanderlei will punch you if you try to pass. That's why I wasn't able to move around on the ground.

Interviewer: It looked like Vanderlei's low-kick hurt you.

Arona: No, it didn't hurt that much.

Interviewer: You lost to Shogun in the final. Does he seem like he will be a tough rival for you?

Arona: Of course. I think of him as my rival, but the reason I lost against him in the Grand Prix final was just bad luck. I hit my head against the mat one minute after the fight began, Shogun fell on top of me and my head was sandwiched. I lost control of the fight because of bad luck. That is the entire reason.

Interviewer: How strong do you think Shogun is?

Arona: I don't really know Shogun personally but I respect all fighters, and he seems to have respect, too. That's the most important thing for me. I think he's a good guy, unlike Vanderlei.

Interviewer: After the Grand Prix press conference, you said that you want to fight for the 205-pound title next, and then fight Shogun in a rematch. Are you interested in any other fights?

Arona: No, there's no one else to fight. I did hear that Sakuraba wants a rematch, though. If so, I would accept.

Interviewer: Why is that? You beat Sakuraba.

Arona: I still respect Sakuraba. He's a great fighter and he's very popular in Japan. If he wants to prove that he can beat me, I will respect Sakuraba and give him that chance.

Interviewer: Your striking skill seems to have surprisingly improved. Who is teaching you?

Arona: I'm learning muay thai from a French trainer.

Interviewer: Your low kick is very strong.

Arona: Because I practice it in particular. And my legs are strong, so my low kicks are going to continue to get stronger.

Interviewer: What kind of fighter do you want to become now?

Arona: I'm practicing boxing and wrestling, but I am a jiu-jitsu fighter. My heart is always in jiu-jitsu and I don't want to forget that. I want to train harder until my next fight and become a fighter than can win by submission.

Interviewer: I see. Finally, a message for the fans.

Arona: Thank you for always supporting me. I love fighting in front of you and I always fight for you. I want to keep fighting until I die. I want to beat Vanderlei again on December 31st, and then beat Shogun to prove that I am the true champion.

Takanori Gomi (left)

Takanori Gomi held an open training session for the Japanese media on December 22nd at the Kiguchi Dojo in Tokyo. Gomi then answered some questions regarding his upcoming match against Hayato Sakurai:


Gomi on his preparation for the upcoming fight: "I've been doing a lot of kick defense and punching practice for this fight. And physical training. I've been training karate at Mushinjuku and when I train, my body remembers how it felt when I fought Kawajiri. I started feeling that way 2 weeks ago. I'm aiming to push even farther during these last 2 weeks. I'm not at my max yet at all. I will be at my max on December 31st. In terms of feelings, I feel the same but I can definitely see improvement."

Gomi on the December 31st PRIDE card: "I think it's a great card. Everything is luxurious, but we are fighting because we fought our way up the tournament. The value (of the fight) is different. I'm excited to see how that will show up in the ring. This is a place for serious battles and everyone will eventually say that this was an amazing card."

Gomi on having trained with Sakurai in the past: "We haven't trained together for about two years. We went together with Mr. Kiguchi to the hot springs last year. I hope he is prepared, because my current training environment is top-class, the best in the world."

Gomi talks about his secret training with a famous martial artist: "I can't say what we are doing but we met at a place that is very good luck for me. As I was going here and there, always trying to improve myself, I ran into a great person... and I began training with a great martial artist. He transcends the December 31st show. For someone that's trying to be the best in the world, I feel that I've already won by training with this person. I can say that he's a national treasure. I plan on training with him once more before December 31st. You can learn more by training once with a top-class fighter than you can by training 100 times with the same old guys. The things going on in this dojo are even bigger than the Saitama show! Really, I want to say who it is. I do, but I can not because it would cause problems for him."

Gomi on his prediction for the fight: "I will be the Champion. I am the Champion. I'm just training with great training partners for this match and I will beat Sakurai. That's all. Then I will relax next year."

Gomi on Norufumi 'Kid' Yamamoto saying that he would fight the winner of Gomi and Sakurai: "I don't know anything about that but, hey, I'm a tough guy, too."

Gomi on some of his plans for next year: "I want to make a place where I can train anytime I want next year, my own gym. I want to rent some space and make a place that is created by a martial artist, for martial artists."

Mark Hunt

Mark Hunt arrived in Japan on Tuesday and told the Japanese media that he would be coming into his fight at around 126 kg (275-280 pounds).

Hunt added that he would be more than willing to participate the PRIDE 2006 Heavyweight GP in 2006.

Fightsport.com will be premiering its own radio show on December 31st.

The show will be in Podcast format. More info will be announced tomorrow.

Peter Aerts

Peter Aerts was recently interviewed by Japanese journalist Takimoto. Here's what Aerts had to say:


Interviewer: How was your passage through Brazil?

Aerts: It was pretty good, I came to Pedro Rizzo's marriage and I trained for my fight on December 31st.

Interviewer: What is your expectation for your fight on December 31st? Do you want to keep fighting MMA?

Aerts: Sure. MMA is not the style that I usually fight, but I will fight to win.

Interviewer: Talk a little about your last fight against Jerome Le Banner, in the K-1 finals.

Aerts: I did not train much because I was recovering from a cold. I won the three rounds, but the Japanese gave the draw and I won on the extension again. I consider Le Banner one of the top fighters in K-1, he is one of the best, so I am satisfied.

Interviewer: What did you think about Semmy Schilt's victory in the Grand Prix? Is he really one of the top K-1 fighters?

Aerts: He was the best one that night. I do not know if he is one of the best, but with this victory, he is part of that list now.

Interviewer: How long do you intend to keep fighting?

Aerts: Three or four more years.

Interviewer: And will you be involved in K-1 Kickboxing, or with MMA?

Aerts: I think I can fight in both, but my main origin is the K-1 Kickboxing. MMA is new to me, but I will keep trying.

Interviewer: On the December 31st battle for viewers between PRIDE and K-1, do you think that K-1 will win again?

Aerts: I do not know, because I still do not know who are the fighters that will fight on the K-1 card and the ones that will fight on the PRIDE card. I think that K-1 will win again. I hope K-1 wins, because I will fight in K-1 (laughs).

Interviewer: You were nearly booked to face Royce Gracie. How would a fight between you two be?

Aerts: I would have chances because the fight starts standing up. On the ground of course Royce is better than me. But the fight starts standing up and Royce would have to take me down. If I could keep the fight standing, it would go for me.

Interviewer: There will be a fight between Mark Hunt and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, two former K-1 athletes. What do you expect from this bout?

Aerts: It is an open fight, so I would not bet on anybody. I think Mark Hunt has a chance because the gloves are small and he hits really hard. If Mirko gets tired, Mark Hunt has a good chance to win, but it is an open fight. It is a tough fight to say who will be the winner, but I think it will be more like a kickboxing fight.

Interviewer: How is training going in Holland?

Aerts: Training in Holland is very hard, I do my sparring at least three times a week. On the other days I do punching bags, depending on my training stage. The training is good there, there are lots of rough guys. In Brazil everyone is good on the ground, in Holland everybody is good standing up. There are many big guys who are good to train with and the training is really hard.

Interviewer: Would you say that the victories by the Dutch in K-1 proves that Holland really is the best Kickboxing nation in the world?

Aerts: I think so. In Holland the fighters are very experienced because there are many fights, every weekend. There are a least four Muay Thai events every week. So they have the best coaches, and the fighters are better than the others, because they are always fighting. Any weekend if you want, you can fight. So the Dutch strikers are the best ones on the world.

Remy Bonjasky

K-1 announced the matchup of Remy Bonjasky vs. Sylvester Terkay for their card on December 31st.

Vanderlei Silva

Vanderlei Silva arrived in Japan and spoke with the Japanese media. Vanderlei said that he is well prepared to defend his belt, and will give everyone an exciting fight.

Ricardo Arona

Ricardo Arona arrived in Japan, and spoke with the Japanese media. Arona said he was in great shape and ready to win the belt.

Kazuhiro Nakamura and Kazushi Sakuraba sparring against each other.

Kazushi Sakuraba and Kazuhiro Nakamura held an open training session for the Japanese media at the Takada Dojo in Tokyo on December 23rd. Both fighters showed off the new skills they recently picked up while training in Brazil.

Even though they are from different teams, Sakuraba and Nakamura have been training together since before the PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix. Today was the first time for both fighters to train together since returning from their trips to Brazil. Sakuraba trained with Chute Boxe and Nakamura trained with Ruas Vale Tudo and Nova Uniao. Here's what they had to say:


Sakuraba on his strategy for his fight against Minowa: "I want to use what I learned from Chute Boxe in my fight. I will watch the flow of the fight so that I can use them."

Sakuraba on training with Nakamura: "He comes to learn from me but when I ask him, he won't show me anything."

Sakuraba on Nakamura's preparation: "He is in top condition and beat me up in MMA sparring. I won't say how, but Nakamura has grown. If he hadn't changed, the training in Brazil would have been pointless. His fine points have changed. Sometimes I can feel how much he has changed from the past."

Sakuraba when asked about his prediction for Nakamura's fight against Yuki Kondo: "I don't know anything about Kondo… but if Kazuhiro will move at his own pace, in his own way, he will win."



Nakamura on training with Sakuraba: "Sakuraba will teach you once he's drunk. (laughing) I've learned a lot of techniques that I didn't know before. I learned by getting caught in them. I'm not really in a position to teach anything to him."

Nakamura on Sakuraba's preparation: "Recently I've felt that Sakuraba has gotten a lot stronger. Kondo is a south-paw so for me, training with Sakuraba is really useful."

Nakamura when asked about his prediction for Sakuraba's fight against Minowa: "I don't know what Minowa has planned, but Sakuraba is on a different level."

Cristiano Marcello and Vanderlei Silva.

Cristiano Marcello, who trains Chute Boxe and Vanderlei Silva in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, spoke with Brazilian magazine 'Tatame' regarding the upcoming Vanderlei Silva vs. Ricardo Arona matchup. Here's what Cristiano Marcello had to say:


"Arona has good vision. He will just further prove what I've said, and what everyone already knows, that Vanderlei is a black belt. If he makes a mistake, Vanderlei will submit him.

He's already been prepared for more then ten years, and he will prove why he is the champion. Vanderlei lost to him in their first fight, there is no doubt about this. Arona has now been talking a lot, and now he will have to back it up." -Cristiano Marcello

Royler and Royce Gracie.

Royce Gracie held an open training session for the Japanese media at the Gracie Academy in Tokyo, for his upcoming fight against Hideo Tokoro. Royce went on to say that he's in real good shape and that the fight should be good.

Ernesto Hoost

Ernesto Hoost arrived in Japan and announced that he was in very good condition, and that he would win his fight without fail.

It was reported that Hoost's tentative retirement fight is set to take place in Holland in May of 2006. However, that will not stop Hoost from continuing to take fights in Japan.

The Japanese media reports that the next K-1 MAX tournament will take place on February 4th at the Saitama Super Arena.

"Zulu" and son "Zuluzinho" biting chunks out of a block of ice.

Zuluzino' arrived in Japan and spoke with the Japanese media regarding his upcoming fight against Fedor Emelianenko.

Zuluzinho declared that he would defeat Fedor within five minutes by KO. He then finished up by taking some bites out of a block of ice with his father, 'Zulu', helping him.

Yuki Kondo

Yuki Kondo held an open training session for the Japanese media on December 19th, and answered many questions regarding his upcoming fight against Kazuhiro Nakamura. Here's what Kondo had to say:


Kondo when asked how yoga training has improved him as a fighter: "I can concentrate on the insides of my body. I try to bring that focus into my regular training and maintain a high quality in my movements. Stamina isn't about seeing how long you can tough it out. To me, movements that make me tired are unnatural movements. So, if I can focus inside myself and produce high quality movements, I won't breathe hard. I don't breath hard now, no matter how hard I fight."

Kondo speaks more about the benfits of yoga: "You don't really get frustrated if you do yoga. That's why I can keep fighting without getting frustrated, even if I'm put into a bad position."

Kondo on his training: "My training has been good. I'm training hard right now, I don't have any injuries, and I've been energetic in my training. I participated in a catch-wrestling match (with Takumi Yano) and that really got me focused on grappling. I want to win with striking, not grappling, of course. That's where I'm most confident."

Kondo on his prediction for the fight: "I want to fight until one of us is (knocked) out. In my mind, the perfect scene would be knocking him out with a single punch, with the referee stopping the fight just as the opponent falls, and winning by KO. I feel I will be at an advantage the longer the fight continues."

Ken Kaneko

Japanese actor Ken Kaneko held a public training session on Monday at the gym of Masakazu Imanari. Kaneko practiced offense and defense in the mount position, and demonstrated some foot locks that were taught to him by Imanari.

Rudimar Fedrigo

Rudimar Fedrigo was recently interviewed by Brazilian magazine 'Tatame'. Here's what Rudimar had to say (interview by Alexandre Lobo):


Tatame: How was the year of 2005 for the Chute Boxe team?

Rudimar: It was very positive in every aspect. We achieved many victories inside the ring and maintained the name of Chute Boxe at the top. We won practically everything that we participated in. Today, Chute Boxe is the only team to have two titles in PRIDE. Outside the ring, we are establishing the brand more around the world.

Tatame: What is the team's expectation for December 31st?

Rudimar: We are facing it as one more challenge for the team. Chute Boxe loves challenges and the kind of atmosphere it brings. We have a team that's always ready, that only gets more motivated when under pressure. We are used to that sort of atmosphere. We know that that is what our fans want, and that's what we will give them.

Tatame: Vanderlei comes into the fight having just lost to Arona. What changes from the first fight to this one?

Rudimar: We've prepared Vanderlei a lot with techniques. He is also emotionally very well. Vanderlei will fight as he always does. It will be an open fight and to the point, the kind of fight that people like to see him do. Vanderlei is an idol and an example to all of us. A few days back he recieved more then one minute of applause from the entire academy, and he promised that he will bring back the victory to Curitiba. Look how Chute Boxe is like a circle. Shogun has Vanderlei as an inspiration, and on December 31st Shogun will serve as an inspiration to Vanderlei. I hope that Vanderlei sends Arona into a deep sleep, just like Shogun did.

Tatame: Not only is Vanderlei is the biggest name on the team, but he also epitomizes Chute Boxe...

Rudimar: There exists two eras in the world of vale tudo, before Vanderlei and after. Many fighters are inspired by Vanderlei's style of fighting. He is not just an example for us, but for the whole world. I will never forget the opportunities and great moments he has provided us. The union of Vanderlei and Chute Boxe will last forever. When he retires, he might even start his own team, but he will never stop the relationship with Chute Boxe.

Tatame: The PRIDE Shockwave card, besides having Vanderlei Silva vs. Ricardo Arona for the 205-pound belt, will also have two more title bouts. Takanori Gomi will face Hayato Sakurai for Pride Bushido 160-pound GP belt, while Murilo Bustamante will face Dan Henderson for the 183-pound GP belt. What are your predictions for those three bouts?

Rudimar: I believe that Sakurai will surprise everyone. He is a complete athlete who has a very good ground game. Gomi has heavy hands and a good punch, but I don't think that will be sufficient. As for Murilo, we are betting on him. He is more technical, a finisher. I think that he will submit Dan Henderson. For me, Vanderlei will win in a very consistent fashion. It will be by KO, or Arona will leave the ring very injured.

Tatame: What are the plans for the team in 2006?

Rudimar: We have some projects, such as a book that will tell the entire history of Chute Boxe, which is scheduled to be released in the beginning of the upcoming year. We are also working on the creation of a Chute Boxe line of fightwear, produced by American stylists. We are also working on the expansion of the team into other states in Brazil. We have a dream of taking Chute Boxe to Rio de Janeiro, which I hope to get done in the near future.

DSE/PRIDE director Nobuhiko Takada spoke with the Japanese media and announced that they are thinking about the possibility of promoting an Open Weight Grand Prix.

Takada added that the GP might take place every year or every four years, and that it would be like an 'all star' show, including 3-4 fighters from each of PRIDE's four weight classes.

Paulo Filho

Paulo Filho recently spoke with Brazilian magazine 'Tatame' and announced that he will be finalizing a new contract to continue fighting in PRIDE in 2006.

Filho added that DSE/PRIDE they want him to be on their card in February, and that his opponent will most likely be either Murilo 'Ninja' Rua or Ryo Chonan.

Zuluzinho (right)

Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira was asked by Brazilian magazine 'Tatame' what he thinks 'Zuluzinho' needs to do in order to defeat Fedor Emelianenko. Here's what Minotauro had to say:


"Fedor's strength is his ability to mix strikes with takedowns. Zuluzinho should keep his distance and not fall underneath him. He needs to use his jab and move around the ring so that he is not an easy target." -Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira

Bob Sapp

Bob Sapp was interviewed last year by Gracie Magazine. Here's what Sapp had to say (interview by Raphael Nogueira):


Interviewer: The loss to Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, on the August 2002 PRIDE card, is still your most talked about fight in Brazil. How do you analyze that match?

Sapp: I see Nogueira as a great champion. The spectacles he's been giving the MMA public are proof of it. He beat nearly all of his opponents, making the crowd insane. When I had the honor of fighting him I learned a bunch of things. One of them was to always fight intensely, regardless of how far away you are from winning or defeat.

Interviewer: A report in The New York Times showed you made over one million dollars in 2003. How much do you usually charge per fight?

Sapp: I don't make a lot from fighting. When I first signed with K-1, no one imagined I would ever become this popular. My purse remains the same. My greatest source of income these days is commercials and licensing.

Interviewer: You are deemed the most famous fighter in Japan. Could you give us an example of such popularity?

Sapp: I think the fact that my yearbook yielded over $100,000 is a good example. The public is interested in me as a person, not only my career. I'm very popular in Japan and other countries as well.

Interviewer: What did you know about martial arts when you began fighting in April 2002?

Sapp: Nothing. I was just a football player.

Interviewer: And how much can football techniques help you in there?

Sapp: Many people underestimate the speed and agility of someone with my biotype. They think a big guy is necessarily a slow guy. This myth helps me surprise my adversaries, since football has given me amazing speed.

Interviewer: Are you still "just" a football player?

Sapp: No. Today I have heavy preparation in martial arts, from six to eight hours a day, in K-1 and MMA styles.

Interviewer: What is more violent, MMA or football?

Sapp: MMA, definitely. I think a thousand times more violent.

Interviewer: But you abandoned football because of an injury...

Sapp: Yes, I hurt my Achilles heel and couldn't walk for like two years.

Interviewer: You are 32 years old. How was your life up to now?

Sapp: I was born in Colorado Springs. I practiced a lot of sports in my childhood. I also loved to play with animals. Soon I noticed a special talent for football. I got a scholarship for college and soon afterwards entered NFL. I played for little time until the day of the injury. Then I did some professional wrestling until I got to PRIDE. I'm single, and I have two brothers and a sister. I don't have any kids, but I'm working on it (laughter).

Interviewer: Warren Sapp, one of the best defensive players in football, has the same last name as you. Are you two related?

Sapp: No. People have said that around, but we have no family connection. Famous people are often subject to that kind of rumor.

Interviewer: Do you enjoy being a (very) heavyweight fighter?

Sapp: I love my weight. It ranges from 376 to 365 pounds. But when I train hard I can get as light as 355 pounds.

Interviewer: What do you think of our (Brazilian) Jiu-Jitsu?

Sapp: I think the Gracies had great importance in martial arts for presenting Jiu-Jitsu to the world. Besides being great champions, they were able to teach their abilities and style to practitioners around the world. I practise some positions with teammates, I often use armbars in my bouts... I'm not as good as the Gracies in Jiu-Jitsu, but I strive to some day be noteworthy.

Interviewer: Do you feel your opponents are afraid to fight you?

Sapp: My opponents are professional. I don't think they're afraid of me. What they are afraid of is losing, which is something that happens to everyone, including me. I try to stay calm during the combat, be rational while attacking, use my strengths, which I believe are connected to speed, and end the fight as soon as I can.

Interviewer: Have you ever been to Brazil?

Sapp: No, not yet, but I've heard the food is good and the women even better. I intend to go there soon, not only to perfect my Jiu-Jitsu, but also to have fun and relax somewhat.

Interviewer: How was it defeating Ernesto Hoost, the great K-1 star, twice?

Sapp: Hoost is a great champion, he was on top for a long period. He is the most technical fighter in K-1, and I was lucky I walked out of the ring after facing him. I think I was able to beat him because I accumulated some experience in my short career. I trained a lot and fought a lot. The only way to become a true champion is to fight always and against the best.

Interviewer: You have released a hip hop album, whose cover is a parody of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Is music important in your life?

Sapp: I love hip hop. To me it is full of meaning, makes me want to stand up and dance. I like Nelly, Jay-Z and, of course, Michael Jackson. And I don't know much about the accusations he is under. I hope justice is done and he makes a concert in K-1.

Interviewer: In the 2003 MMA ranking made by GRACIE Magazine (Brazil), you appear in tenth, whereas Vanderlei Silva tops the list. Were we fair?

Sapp: Yes. I'm honoured to be ranked tenth and, obviously, I want to strive to be first. So I must train harder and harder. Vanderlei Silva deserves the top position, I don't even need to say why. His amazing feats speak for themselves.

Interviewer: Ok, Mr. Sapp, thank you for the interview and sorry for waking you up.

Sapp: Never mind that. Bye, bye.

Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz

Marcio 'Pe de Pano' Cruz recently spoke with Brazilian magazine 'Tatame'. regarding his upcoming fight against Frank Mir. Here's what Pe de Pano had to say:


"I'm training very hard and I'm very confident for this fight. I know he likes to fight on the ground, and so do I. That will be good for me" -Marcio 'Pe de Pano' Cruz

Ryuki Ueyama

The Japanese media reports that Ryuki Ueyama has signed with the HERO's promotion for 2006.

HEAVYWEIGHT


1.) Fedor Emelianenko Russia
2.) Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira Brazil
3.) Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic Croatia
4.) Sergei Kharitonov Russia
5.) Fabricio Werdum Brazil
6.) Andrei Arlovski Belarus
7.) Pedro Rizzo Brazil
8.) Tim Sylvia USA
9.) Alexander Emelianenko Russia
10.) Ron Waterman USA


LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT


1.) Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua Brazil
2.) Ricardo Arona Brazil
3.) Vanderlei Silva Brazil
4.) Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson USA
5.) Chuck Liddell USA
6.) Randy Couture USA
7.) Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogueira Brazil
8.) Alistair Overeem Holland
9.) Renato 'Babalu' Sobral Brazil
10.) Vitor Belfort Brazil


MIDDLEWEIGHT


1.) Dan Henderson USA
2.) Murilo Bustamante Brazil
3.) Kazushi Sakuraba Japan
4.) Rich Franklin USA
5.) Paulo Filho Brazil
6.) Yuki Kondo Japan
7.) Anderson Silva Brazil
8.) Matt Lindland USA
9.) David Loiseau Canada
10.) Evan Tanner USA


WELTERWEIGHT


1.) B.J. Penn USA
2.) Matt Hughes USA
3.) Georges St-Pierre Canada
4.) Frank Trigg USA
5.) Renato 'Charuto' Verissimo Brazil
6.) Antonio Schembri Brazil
7.) Daniel Acacio Brazil
8.) Sean Sherk USA
9.) Crosley Gracie Brazil
10.) Karo Parisyan USA


LIGHTWEIGHT


1.) Hayato Sakurai Japan
2.) Takanori Gomi Japan
3.) Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro Brazil
4.) Joachim Hansen Norway
5.) Tatsuya Kawajiri Japan
6.) Yves Edwards USA
7.) Genki Sudo Japan
8.) Kaoru Uno Japan
9.) Koutetsu Boku Japan
10.) Luis Azeredo Brazil


FEATHERWEIGHT


1.) Jens Pulver USA
2.) Gilbert Melendez USA
3.) Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto Japan
4.) Hideo Tokoro Japan
5.) Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira Brazil
6.) Joao Roque Brazil
7.) Ivan Menjivar El Salvador
8.) Rumina Sato Japan
9.) Hiroyuki Takaya Japan
10.) Jeff Curran USA


AFP fighter rankings can be viewed at AFP TOP 10

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Vanderlei Silva playing Santa Claus at a charity benefit in 2004.

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