R. Nogueira believes in A. Silva's victory (PHOTO: Josh Hedges/Getty Images)
One of those largely responsible for the explosion of Anderson Silva in the UFC, the former fighter Rodrigo Minotauro he said he was excited about his friend's preparation for the fight with Derek Brunson at UFC 208 this Saturday (11). Minota was one of the people who most insisted that Anderson not retire when he left the Chute Boxe team and, after that, he became one of Spider's best friends.
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Ao SUPER FIGHTS, the UFC ambassador in Brazil spoke about his friend's duel against Brunson, highlighting that Anderson is more motivated than ever and wants to show the world that he can still contribute to MMA.
“We hear a lot of people from outside belittling him and saying that he’s gone. But the truth is that he continues to do very well (…) He is also very motivated, he wants to do more fights in the UFC and show that he still has a lot to give to the sport”, he commented.
Minotauro also gave hints about what to expect from the future of the UFC in Brazil, but preferred not to get into controversy when the question was who most deserved a title shot, among Ronaldo Jacare and himself Anderson Silva.
“I leave that question to Dana White, I don’t get involved in that (laughs)”, he highlighted.
Read the interview with Rodrigo Minotauro:
SUPER FIGHTS: Minotauro, you followed Anderson's training, as he prepared in Rio. How do you feel about him going into this fight with Brunson? Is he still hungry to get the title?
Rodrigo Minotauro: We hear a lot of people from outside belittling him and saying that he is gone. But the truth is that he is still doing very well. Of course he's not a kid anymore, but he can still fight at a high level. He proved this against Bisping and Cormier, and for this fight you can expect another good performance. He's very motivated too, he wants to do more fights in the UFC and show that he still has a lot to give to the sport. As for the title, it would be a consequence.
SL: And Jacaré, how is the issue of the title in his mind, in your opinion as a personal friend of his?
MRI: Jacaré has already made his opinion very clear, of course he is not satisfied, but he is happy in the UFC. As he said, he has a good salary, a good contract... But if he continues on the same path as he is, at some point it will be inevitable that he will compete for that title.
SL: How is life as a UFC ambassador in Brazil?
MRI: It's a different life than I was used to. More clothes, more time in the office, more meetings... But I've already adapted and I can say that I'm very happy in this role.
SL: And as a scout, what has pleased you about national MMA that you want to take to the UFC?
MRI: I see many talented athletes in Brazil, but the big problem is their mentality and that of the coaches. It is important for young people to be trained, to go through stages until they are ready for the UFC or other bigger events. Many end up skipping steps and getting burned, leaving themselves with very irregular cartels, for example.
SL: As UFC manager, if Anderson and Jacaré win their fights well, who should the next title shot go to?
MRI: I leave that to Dana White, I don’t get involved in that (laughs).
SL: What is Brazil's greatest hope for the belt, in your opinion, in 2017?
MRI: It would be unfair to single out one. I think we have great athletes with good chances. Dos Anjos changed categories but he's a guy I really believe in, Jacaré himself. We have Cigano who can fight Miocic and regain that title.
SL: What are your expectations for the Fortaleza event? Does the decrease in the number of Brazilian cards help when putting together events with more well-known fighters?
MRI: The Northeast has a different energy, right? The last event there was a great success and I have no doubt that this one will be too.
SL: What can be revealed about the UFC's plans for Brazil this year? Number of events, locations, etc…
MRI: Brazil continues to be a strategic market for the UFC, but it is clear that today we also look at other markets with more interest than before.
SL: How do you see Aldo and Amanda's Brazilian belts in the near future? Do you think they can stay on top for long?
MRI: Aldo has the technical conditions to stay for a long time, but it could be that he moves up a category, so I don't know. Amanda has a more complicated mission. It's a very difficult category, with several quality athletes. I see him very well, with a chance of beating everyone. But at the same time, I don't see him remaining like Aldo in terms of technique.
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