Assuério Silva

Former Pride and UFC fighter, Assuério Silva already fought some of the beast heavyweights of the MMA, like Tim Sylvia, Aleksander Emelianenko, Brandon Vera and Cheick Kongo. Without fighting since September of 2008, Silva will be back to Brazilian events with total force. Eying new opportunities in the overseas events, Assuério is schedules to fight in two events and opened a new gym.

I heard you were training with Shogun... Where are you now?

Now I came to São Paulo. I was in Curitiba, where we are building a network of academies and the matrix is there, we have one here in São Paulo, in Campo Largo. We are also spreading trough Brazil with different academies, so I was a while stopped there, since my last fight of the Jungle, and now I'm coming back again. I was training with Shogun and Murilo Ninja and, of course, these trainings will continue, because I’ll be here in São Paulo, but I’ll also be in Curitiba. When I'm in Curitiba, I’ll be with them, because they are some comrades that I like. The intention is to be training with them to help each other, but my part now will be more here in São Paulo.

Is it true that you’re doing a Muay Thai event? What is this event and with whom are you fighting?

I was running through Brazil, I realize I have to redo my career back. I wasn’t very well last year in some competitions, I had some injuries... I’m with a tour of fights through Brazil and I’ll continue fighting everything. My first fight is on July 5 against Brandão, who trains with Vitor Miranda, in an event that will happen in Curitiba, a big event at the Máster Hall. I’ll make a Muay Thai fight at the heavyweight, main event of the night... It will be an event that will have MMA, Boxing... I have a fight scheduled in the Jungle, I have another Muay Thai fight in August, at an event that Fairtex doing here in São Paulo, there are also other events with Carlão Barreto and so on. Wallid will make three Jungle Fight here in São Paulo and, in those three events, I have guaranteed my participation, and there are other fights that I have to book, in Fortaleza, Natal, and these events will be the window for e to get back to the top on the world of fight.

You’ve already fought at Pride, UFC and at the biggest international events. When will your fans see you back to the international scene?

I hope soon... I have some proposals for international events, but, last year, I had no luck. I had signed with events that failed, like the HCF, the EliteXC, but my managers are running after this, of some international fights for me, but, before that, I must go through this recycling. First, I have to make these fights here in Brazil and appear in the media to realize this international contract, I’m waiting.

You were training with Shogun. How do you see his return against Lyoto?

Actually, I only got to train once with him, Ninja and the other guys in the other times that I went. Shogun is without words, a spectacular athlete and will have a tough fight ahead, against Lyoto. I can’t risk a result, both are Brazilian and it is a penalty they are facing each other so early. I think it should roll some other fights before this confrontation, but I wish good luck to both, because, beyond being Brazilians, they are very good people.

And in relation to Fedor, do you see someone to beat him?

Fedor is trouble, right, man? He is the man to be beaten and, frankly, I don’t see anyone to beat him, but fight is fight. You know how a heavyweight fight is, is that schema. Entered a punch, embedded straight, fell, there is no how.

And Wanderlei, what do you think of him at this new category? Do you think is better for him to fight at middleweight or light heavyweight?

It is difficult to say, is something that he should feel. I already tried to go down to 205, but it is difficult, because I’m a heavy weight down, this is hard thing. I got down 210, I was very thin... I think he has to go through a phase of adjustment and I think he has everything to kick in that category, because he’s a strong guy and will stay faster. I cheer for him, the guy is a show.

How is your cartel? What was the fight that most marked your career?

I'm already with 48 professional fights, drawing the amateur in the northeast, at the time when there were no gloves. In these fights, I had three defeats in the UFC, one in Pride and a one in the Jungle. My most notable fight was against Fierro, in Paraíba. We strike for 28 minutes straight, without using gloves, it was a lot of punches. I got a punch of the nigger, I took a punch in the eye and fought with the left eye almost closed. It was very notable, and I remember to this day because it was a real war, until, on 38 minutes of fight, I fit a rear naked choke and finish that fight. The technical level wasn’t as refined as it is today, I was doing 18 years old, was in the growth phase, but marked.

When will you and Shogun train together again?

I will maintain contact with Shogun and I’m making a contact with Cunha, but I heard he didn’t hit well with Shogun and returned to the gringos, I don’t know how it is. I will now keep the contact with Shogun. As I will have this selective of fights, I pretend to be there with him a lot, as well as my gym here in São Paulo, Total Punch is with the doors open for him. This week I'm getting in contact with him and sharing this idea.

Talk a little about Total Punch. Who gives MMA lessons and other arts?

My gym is at João Pedro Cardoso Street, 363, near the airport of Congonhas. The Boxing classes are with Peter Venâncio, MMA is with Daniel, who is my partner here at the academy, the Jiu-Jitsu is with the staff of the Lótus Club and the Muay Thai part I command.