Fabrício Morango

After that EliteXC striped KJ Noons title, Fabrício ‘Morango’ Camões has new motivations on his fights in the octagon. Set to come back in October 8th, the Universidade do Jiu-Jitsu athlete will face a tough Yves Edwards, who had his chance against KJ and got knocked out on the first round. In an exclusive interview with TATAME.com, Morango spoke about the fight and the expectations to fight for the belt with a new victory. “I came to America to bring the ElietXC belt home, and I’ll do whatever I need to take it to Brazil”, guarantees the athlete, that commented his training partners, Xande Ribeiro and Ronaldo ‘Jacaré’, fights in Japan.

Is it already set that you will face Yves Edwards?

I talked with my manager, Ed Soares, and I think that it is almost, I just don’t know if he will accept… It looks like he’s asking for more time, but I don’t know if it will be in November 8^th or in December’s edition, I don’t know.

He gave an interview for an American site and said that already accepted the fight for November…

Ah, it’s good that he accepted… Elite’s president will contact him, I want to fight him at November 8^th because after I still want to come back to Brazil.

What you expect for this fight?

I think that it will be a good opportunity for show my work in America, he’s tough but, like I said before, I’m prepared to fight with anybody and he’ll be a big opponent for me.

He just got a title shot against KJ Noons and was knocked out... What do you think a victory against him can bring to you inside the event?

KJ isn’t the champion anymore and I think that Elite wants to put another guys to fight for it… I’m after that and I believe I’ve done a good job in the EliteXC, and I have more fights in the contract to do and I’m very confident to do a good fight.

Is this your last fight in the contract? Have you already talked about a renovation?

In fact I wanna renew this contract. I have a pre-contract, an extension term, and they probably must wanna continue with me and put me to fight another time in the next year. I’m happy with them, and the fact that to have a belt make me stay still more excited in the event. I liked Wilson Reis’ victory, and I think that Giva (Santana) was robbed in this last fight… I want this belt and they might be a little bit worried with Brazilian’s dominance in the event, and I think that (Rafael) Feijão will bring the belt to Brazil too, and I want to be in the card with him. That’s what is happening, the Brazilian dominance in EliteXC: Bigfoot in the heavyweight, Feijão in the 205lbs (light-heavyweight), and I think that he’ll win the belt, and Givanildo would be a strong candidate in the185lbs (middleweight), but he was robbed… I thought he won, they gave to the other.

How did you see this problem between KJ Noons and EliteXC?

When you become the champion, you can’t avoid to face whoever it is. The belt is everybody’s goal, and when you have it, everybody will go after you. When you’re a professional and trust yourself, you can’t stay choosing. I think KJ has qualities, won all his fights by knockout, has a tough hand, but the real champion has to be ready to fight everyone. I’ll be ready to fight always and do great fights here in America.

Did EliteXC spoke anything about the belt?

I spoke today with my manager and he said exactly that. I think we’re even close to the belt, and there’s nowhere to escape. Everybody there already had a chance for the belt, and I’m after that too. It’s my last fight on the contract and with a victory I believe I’ll be closer to the belt, maybe against Nick Diaz or any other fighter, but now I’m only worried with Yves. I came to America to come back to Brazil with the belt, and I’ll do whatever I can to bring this belt home.

What do you think about Xande Ribeiro’s debut in Sengoku?

We’re very happy… We was hoping a great fight, but no one expected a knockout like that. We have a lot of things to improve, but for the first fight is great, he did there rounds and saw how it works in the ring. I spoke with him and said that this is like a long road, and you have to be ready to avoid surprises on the corners.

And what about Jacaré’s fight at Dream?

It happens… We could imagine a thousand of things for this fights, but not that. That’s the MMA reality, and you have to be ready to finish the fight.