Rolles Gracie :: TATAME

Gracie family, responsible for the creation of UFC, saw only one of his representatives to fight on the octagon. Although, years after Royce to win 11 fights on the tournament, will be Rolles Gracie’s turn, son of the legend Rolls, to debut on Ultimate. With scheduled fight to February 6, against Mustapha Al Turk, the black belt talked to TATAME about the expectation for the fight, the trains on United States, analyzed the category and bets on “Jiu-Jitsu’s easy going” to beat Brock Lesnar.

How’s the expectation to debut on UFC?

I’m really excited. The train is very good, better impossible. I’m satisfied with my student’s support here, fans are sending messages on my website, twitter, facebook... I’m excited with everyone’s care and support.

How’s the training with Renzo and the preparation for this fight?

I’m with a great team of trainers. Greg Jackson, guys are nice, and Renzo, with all his experience... He has a scheduled fight too, I’m here in New York training with him, I have a phenomenal Boxe trainer, the same of Ricardo “Cachorrão” (Almeida), he changed the boxing around here... Greg Jackson is phenomenal too, I like to go to New Mexico to test myself, make sparring with the guys there. Greg is a nice guy too, receive me well, he knows MMA game a lot. The guys I train there have a game like the guys I’ll fight with.

Greg Jackson commands other MMA names, as St Pierre, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt... Have you ever trained with those guys?

There’s Shane Carwin, who I trained with in Beverly Hills, there’s (Keith) Jardine, who’s from New Mexico, there’s Brian Stann, who fought a month ago and is in the same card as I am, and some people not so much known. Here in New York there’s some guys from IFL, André Gusmão, Ricardo Cachorrão’s students...

What do you know about your opponent, Mustapha Al Turk, who’s coming from defeat on that controversy fight against Cro Cop. What did you study about his game?

I can’t say that he’s an easy opponent because he lost to Cro Cop, because was a bad match to his game. He’s complete, has a good boxing, good drops, he was champion of the ADCC in 2003 and he’s coming for all or nothing, because he’s coming from two defeats on UFC and he can be cut. Because of that he can be a dangerous opponent. I’m focused on this fight to don’t disappoint my fans.

How is your focus for this fight?

I’m training everything, I believe a lot in my Jiu-Jitsu. I also want to learn some stuff as boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, to take the fight wherever I want to. That’s not a mystery, everyone knows I’ll always want to take the fight to the ground and he will want to stand up, so I have to exercise other modalities.

How do you do to have good ground training outside Brazil?

I met a lot of tough guys in New York too, man, they’re amazing where I train. They win every championship there.

How do you feel being the second Gracie to fight on UFC, bringing back the name of the family to the biggest event of the world?

It’s good to be back. I respect my family a lot, is good to know where I came from and the family got famous here on United States because of UFC. It’s good to be back home, I’m coming to win my place.

You said you wanted to make more fights before to close with UFC, but already signed. What made you change your mind?

Guys talked and everyone thought it was time, I heard a lot who’s around me, as Renzo. He thought I was ready to my first fight on Ultimate and UFC guys thought too... If everyone thought it I believe.

How do you analyze your category on UFC?

It has only tough guys, it’s one of the hardest. There’s only great fighter as Brock Lesnar, Minotauro, Cigano, Shane Carwin, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez... This division is tough.

Did you get upset for fighting on prelims, that aren’t aired live?

No, man. When I show my work it will be a matter of time to be on the main card. I see it as good thing, I know when I’ll fight.

UFC is putting Brazilians facing each other... How do you see the possibility to face Napão, Minotauro or Cigano on the future?

It’s a possibility because we Brazilians are the best of the world, but we’re professionals. I admire them, Minotauro, Napão. It’s like on Jiu-Jitsu, we’ll get in there as if we were training.

What’s your guess to the fight between Minotauro and Velasquez?

Minotauro takes that. He’s a warrior, his game is right, he had a phenomenal presentation against Couture. He use to be good against guys with base in Wrestling.

The fight between Cigano and Napão as changed to March. How do you see this fight?

This one will be good to watch. It’s hard to say who will win, it will be good to the audience.

Who do you think that may be the perfect game to beat Brock Lesnar?

He gets better on each fight. It has to feel the fight, use some entrance of him. Power won’t work against him, because he’s the strongest on this category... To beat him has to be on technique, and that Jiu-Jitsu have a lot.