Former UFC champion, Murilo Bustamante moved to the United Stated to start the Brazilian Top Team’s new headquarters. Back to Brazil to watch Bitetti Combat show, Bustamante spoke with TATAME.com about his plans to the team, Rousimar Palhares’ next fight in the UFC and Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira’s victory against Randy Couture. It was one of Rodrigos’ best fight I have ever seen, definitively. Minotauro is, actually, the best heavyweight fighter in the UFC”, said Murilo, in the exclusive interview.

You moved to United States... How is everything around there?

Is everything going well, everything fine. I am with this project to expand BTT on USA. I was already doing an special work, now I am alone on BTT, with some partners investing and I am giving classes in some gyms, we are expanding there.

How do you see the MMA growth on USA?

Marcial Arts are a market in expansion in the world, not only United States, but it’s the whole world, and USA are a big consuming market, not just of products but coaches either. Brazilian is world-wide specialized in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, so there is a lot of people moving out there. My project is to make a training center and give chances to athletes can fight the competitions around USA and the whole world.

And the BTT in Brazil, how is doing there?

It has a good structure, I have some students taking care, Eraldo (Paes) and Sérgio Babu are taking care of MMA’s part and Rubens Vieira, Ricardo Marques and Álvaro are taking care of kimono’s part.

Rousimar Palhares (Toquinho) will be back in the UFC by the end of the year, against Alessio Sakara... How is his preparation?

It’s great, he’s well trained, recovered from the injury. He’s starting the training work now, is everything all right. He’s really motivated, we believe a lot on him and we’re really confident about this return.

What did you think about the fight between Minotauro and Randy Couture on UFC 102?

It was one of Rodrigos’ best fight I have ever seen, definitively. Minotauro is, actually, the best heavyweight fighter in the UFC. He was coming from an awkward phase, wasn’t going right on his trainings, but his potential he doesn’t has to prove to anybody. He got right on trainings, and shown who he really is.

How do you think that would be his fight against Brock Lesnar?

It would be a tough fight... Technically, Rodrigo is way superior, but Brock Lesnar is a mutant, a tough fighter to anyone, but Minotauro has chances, because he, well prepared, can face anyone.

You participated of Minatauro’s preparation to fight Bob Sapp. Do you believe that is the same way to defeat Brock?

Brock Lesnar is a little bit more athlete than Bob Sapp, and he’s trying to learn Jiu-Jitsu, so I guess it’d be a fight even harder that the fight against Bob Sapp. It’ll be a fight extremely tough and he has to be well prepared to face him. I always support Brazil, but it’s hard to take a guess because is a tough fight.