Rodrigo Minotauro and Junior dos Santos’ Muay Thai’s coach, Luiz Alves is more than satisfied with the victories on UFC. Back to the gym, Luiz focus on Rogério Minotouro’ next fight, against Luis Cane. In exclusive interview to TATAME.com, the coach also talked about Vitor Belfort’s victory, using the Karate against Rich Franklin. “I love Vitor, we get along, but that doesn’t exist. Exist for Lyoto because he’s a specialist, created inside Karate, Vitor won’t win a fight with Karate in only three months“.

What did you think about Rodrigo’s victory?

Before we traveled, I heard that he’d go to the ground, sweep and submit. He didn’t do it, but I said, before the fight, everything that happened. I knew Rodrigo was good physically and I always said he was better in striking. There’s nothing to say about the ground... Everything I said happened because I knew Minotauro was focused on the fight, was 100% physical. Everything I expected happened, even more than I expected.

I remember that, on the day of the fight, when Minotauro came in and walked around, you said you have never seen Rodrigo that anxious. Did you think this anxiety can be dangerous or did you think he will win anyway?

The team was really confident, we were just a little worried about his anxiety because he lost the last fight, than that reaction was normal. We were just worried about he go to the fight and suffer an counter attack, but the team was very confident on the work he have done. I had never seen him so anxious. He was worried, but at the same time he was confident.

You were on his corner on the mais victories, against Bob Sapp, Cro Cop and Randy Couture. Wich one of these let you more emotional?

I always say that the bigger emotion was against Bob Saap, because of what he had to do. Cro Cop’s was exciting because it was a title fight, he was in a huge punishment and with a problem on his back at the time, but the fight with Bob was the most exciting, he was really well trained.

And now he’ll probably face Brock Lesnar. How do you think it’s gonna bet his fight?

That’s a really tough fight to Rodrigo, but it’s not impossible... The fight against Randy worried me more because it was three rounds. Now, against Brock, I think we have to be worried about the first round. Standing well, we’ll grow a lot on the second, start to speed, push, and Brock doesn’t have gas to fight five rounds. The first (round) will worry me, but from the second on I’ll get more relaxed, because he won’t handle Rodrigo’s spin.

What’s the good part of Rodrigo’s training in America?

I think he has to stay there, because he gets really focused on training and in Rio de Janeiro is a lot of party. On USA we train during the whole day, there’s no one inviting to parties and he gets 100% focused on fighting. I prefer him there, the team is on his call, where he eats well, sleeps well and stay focused.

Rogério will face Luis Cane in his UFc debut. How is the training and what do you expect from this fight?

I expect a tough fight. When Cigano’s fight was over, Rodrigo called me, we talked and he asked me to call Rogério. I called, we talked and yesterday we started the train. In a while I’ll go there and we’ll focus the whole team, Rodrigo is coming on the October 2 to start the training. I believe in Rogério because he’s a guy with more experience and his boxing is better, but we can’t give Banha (Cane) space, because he’s a tough guy, has a dangerous Muay Thai. But I trust a lot on Rogério’s boxing and ground game.

Did you noticed any difference on Belfort’s striking? Do you think that Karate complemented his boxing on this fight against Rich Franklin?

I love Vitor, we get along, but that doesn’t exist. Exist for Lyoto because he’s a specialist, created inside Karate, Vitor won’t win a fight with Karate in only three months. He decided on boxing, I don’t saw any Karate there, he won the fight on boxing. His potential on boxing is huge, it’s kind of fantasy to say that his Karate decided the fight. For those who say that, I say it’s a lie, he used his perfect boxing.

If Dana White decided to put Belfort against Anderson. You know both very well. What do you think that will happen on this fight?

All the big fighters on Brazil passed thru my hands, and Vitor is the most intelligent guy I ever trained, has a huge potential, and Anderson is unbelievable. If Vitor fights what he knows, being cold and with all the technique that he knows, it’d be a fight to be on history, but I think Anderson is a little favorite for his rhythm, beating everybody for years. I think Anderson is a little on the advantage, but Vitor, if hits once, is really dangerous.

What do you expect of Shogun vs. Lyoto?

It’s a tough fight, Shogun is a guy with a great potential and, if well trained, it’s hard to be beaten, he’s one of the tops of the category, but Lyoto is coming on the rhythm and Shogun didn’t make big fights on Ultimate. To me, the favorite is Lyoto, besides I like Shogun style, that’s a warrior.