One of the best strikers on MMA, Melvin Manhoef is training hard on American Top Team to his debut on Strikeforce. Scheduled to face Robbie Lawler, the Dutch talked to TATAME about his returning to United States, the tough challenges in his category, complemented the trains on ATT and pointed Thiago “Pitbull” Alves as the best striker in the team. On the exclusive chat that you see below, Melvin talked about the historical fight against Evangelista “Cyborg” and the fight against Paulão Filho, asking for a revenge.

What do you expect of the fight against Robbie Lawler?

It’s going to be a tough fight, he’s a great fighter standing up and I’ll fight standing up with him. He will come over, it’s going to be a good fight.

Who are the best fighters in your division?

I think all fighters are good. I have problems with ground fighters and there it has Jacaré and Matt (Lindland)... Will be tough opponents, you never know. I need to get my ground game better. I’ll come more to ATT, I want to train here every month. Doing this, my ground game will be better, it won’t be that hard not to be beaten on the ground.

Do you expect to fight for the belt?

I do... Until now, I saw that (Dan) Henderson will face Jake Shields, but I’m expecting. What they want to, I ready to fight. I always want belts, I want to take a lot of belts home.

How are the trains on American Top Team?

The ground games are very good, everyone are helping me, Gesias (Cavalcante), Thiago (Alves), (Ricardo) Libório... My Wrestling is each time better, defending takedowns, and on the ground I’m learning to escape. I have to train more and I’ll be better, I won’t fall anymore.

I saw that Pitbull was working his striking with your coach...

Yeah, we train a lot. He’s very nice, we train standing up, learn with each other. His sparring is good, he’s fast, hits hard. It’s always good to train with him.

And how are you going on Jiu-Jitsu’s training?

It’s hard, they’re very good. They’re tough, but the trainers are teaching me each time, I think I’m getting better, but if Thiago and Gesias tells me I’m getting better, is because they noticed it. Ground is always hard to me.

Who else is helping you?

Everyone. Libório always help me, gives me a lot of tips. Gesias gives tips. Other Wrestling guys also help me... ATT is very good, I’m honored to be here. It’s a good help with everyone here.

And at the striking training?

Katel (Kubis) and Thiago help me, but I brought my own trainers. Katel help me, Howard Davis, everyone help me here. My team is coming here, we’re training hard to this fight.

Who do you think it’s better standing up on ATT?

I think Pitbull one of the best, I like his style. Everyone is good standing up, Gesias too, but Thiago is very tough.

Your last loss was against Paulo Filho on Dream. What did you think about the fight?

I made the strategy standing, I was better. I hurt him and I was going well, but he’s very good. He took me down and caught my arm, but on the first moment I thought I was winning. I was well, but you know, he’s very good on the ground. No problems, he showed that he was the best that day. I hope to face him again.

What would be different on this rematch?

I don’t know, we’ll fight different and I know it’s going to be good. I’ll do what I always do, but I hope to be better on the ground now. His ground game is very good, that’s the thing. A standing up game is good and his game on the ground is good, it will always be like this. It’s hard. I took a lot of Jiu-Jitsu guys to Netherlands and maybe someday I get along on the ground.

You and Cyborg made a historical fight on Cage Rage, and he’s also on Strikeforce...

Two fighters make a good fight and he’s very good. People will expect a lot and I think it will be a more though fight. I hope it would be like this, it would be harder.