UFC’s champion on the light heavyweight division, Lyoto Machida will risk his belt for the second time against the Maurício Shogun, and he’s excited about this fight. In an interview on the April’s edition of TATAME Magazine, the tough guy from Belém talked about his trainings, what he learned from his first fight against Shogun , the sparring he looked for in order to suit his game to Shogun’s and a lot more. Check below the interview given by the karate fighter.

How were the trainings for the fight?

I’m training since December for this fight. We are focusing in one priority at a time. Now, we’re doing a lot of specific trainings and, of course that, training for the second time, we learn something about the opponent. In some way, it makes things easier for us to train our strategy, the technique which will be used, but, as always, we train all of the aspects, both standing and on the ground.

Do you think he will repeat the strategy he used on the first fight?

Well, I’m trying to forget it. It’s a new fight. Even because Shogun is a very eclectic guy and has this ability of changing. It’s a brand new fight, on which I’m prioritizing some aspects and we can’t predict what will happen. He has well settled foundations, well structured, the standing part and the fall, and I have it too. It depends on the strategy. Of course you end up repeating some things, it’s normal, no one can change that much.

What did you learn from your first belt defense?

I learned I have to keep learning. I’ve never belittled anyone, but we always have to seek something more. It’s not that I’m accommodated, I’ve always trained everything, but my life has changed after I conquest the belt, everything was new for me. My lifestyle, even if I have kept it the way I wanted, there were things I couldn’t control. The media invades your privacy too much, makes you feel lost. You want to give them attention, but sometimes you don’t want to be bothered. It’s hard to balance and manage all of this.

What have changed in your life?

I’ve been through a lot of situations like that after my fight against Rashad. And that affects my training focus, even I don’t want to go through this. I’m not making excuses, but it was too much for me. I didn’t know how to deal with it. Nowadays I know how to handle it better, I know how to put each thing in their due spot.

What are your expectations for this revenge?

I’m hoping that Shogun comes prepared and we manage to make it a good show on May 8. I’ll do my best and always try to finish the fight, as it was my goal since the first fight.

Did you look for sparring with a game similar to Shogun’s?

We always try, but it depends on what you’ll find, it’s not that easy. I’ve been working for a while with my team, changed a few sparring now, and people who have helped me to win the title are still helping me, but I never let go new acquisitions. I always look for someone who has a similar game and can help me.