Against Lambert, Cane Will Try to Erase Debut DQ
Gleidson Venga Jun 6, 2008
Luis Arthur Cane
(Pictures) had a disappointing debut
in the UFC last December. The Brazilian light heavyweight suffered
his first defeat when he was disqualified for kneeing James Irvin (Pictures) to the head on the ground.
This Saturday in London, Cane will try to start anew in the world's premier MMA organization. Sherdog.com spoke with the 27-year-old, who fights Jason Lambert (Pictures) on the UFC 85 undercard.
Sherdog.com: How was training for the
fight?
Cane: The worst is over [laughs]. During this last week, the training was more technical and I took the week to treat some small injuries that are common in this sport. But I can assure you something: I have never trained so much in my life like I've trained for this fight.
Sherdog.com: You live in São Paulo and are also one of the main students of Eduardo Pamplona and Moisés Gibi. Tell us a little about your team, Gibi Thai.
Cane: Well, all the training was really in São Paulo, and there are a lot of people involved in that. Eduardo Pamplona (Pictures) for the muay Thai and MMA; Gibi and Hélio for the muay Thai; Luciano Nucci "Casquinha" is responsible for the jiu-jitsu; Marcos Maitrejan for the functional training; Luis Fernando for the physical preparation; Cyrus is my [trainer]; Paulo Muzy is my doctor; and Everton is my nutritionist. It's a big team.
Cane: Lambert is an experienced guy. He had already fought against athletes like Marcos Ruas, Tim Sylvia (Pictures), and he has proved how he can be dangerous when he knocked out Renato Sobral (Pictures). He is a very strong guy on top, but let's see how he behaves playing underneath.
Sherdog.com: Because he is more experienced, with more knowledge of the UFC, do you think this works more in his favor?
Cane: I don't think so. The pressure is on both sides. Both of us are coming off losses. This will make us search more for the fight. At least from my side that will be so, and I'm sure it's going to be a great fight.
Sherdog.com: You were going to be Rashad Evans (Pictures)' opponent after James Irvin (Pictures)'s injury, but within 24 hours of the announcement, you were fighting Lambert. Did you feel frustrated with this change?
Cane: Not at all. I would feel frustrated if the UFC took me off the card, as it did with Rashad. I only want to fight. It doesn't matter against who, and he made the right decision not accepting the fight. That way he remains unbeatable.
Sherdog.com: Your first performance was at UFC 79 and you had a controversial outcome. You were disqualified against James Irvin (Pictures) for striking his face with your knees when he was on the ground. You've got angry with him, saying he was pretending to be injured to stop the fight. Tell us a little about this whole situation.
Cane: The result of this fight was a little disappointing because I was hired by the UFC thinking I would face a real athlete. But in the end, I fought against a coward in a no-heart fight. If that kneeing really knocked him out, any child could do the same. But this fight is already part of the past. My new fight against Lambert will be my true first combat at the event and this time against a real fighter.
Sherdog.com: The UFC fans could not see a lot of your game in that fight. Explain your skills a little to the fans.
Cane: I am a dedicated athlete who trains a lot everyday, who gives up a lot of good things in life in search of an aim. I will leave the comments about how I am as a fighter to you. After this fight, the UFC fans will be able to have an idea of who I am.
Sherdog.com: What do you think about the fights in your division of the UFC?
Cane: I think light heavyweight is the most competitive category in the UFC, with excellent fights. I also think that Dana White and Joe Silva are racking their brains to decide who is going to be the next challenger for Jackson or Griffin.
This Saturday in London, Cane will try to start anew in the world's premier MMA organization. Sherdog.com spoke with the 27-year-old, who fights Jason Lambert (Pictures) on the UFC 85 undercard.
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Cane: The worst is over [laughs]. During this last week, the training was more technical and I took the week to treat some small injuries that are common in this sport. But I can assure you something: I have never trained so much in my life like I've trained for this fight.
Sherdog.com: You live in São Paulo and are also one of the main students of Eduardo Pamplona and Moisés Gibi. Tell us a little about your team, Gibi Thai.
Cane: Well, all the training was really in São Paulo, and there are a lot of people involved in that. Eduardo Pamplona (Pictures) for the muay Thai and MMA; Gibi and Hélio for the muay Thai; Luciano Nucci "Casquinha" is responsible for the jiu-jitsu; Marcos Maitrejan for the functional training; Luis Fernando for the physical preparation; Cyrus is my [trainer]; Paulo Muzy is my doctor; and Everton is my nutritionist. It's a big team.
Sherdog.com: Jason Lambert (Pictures) is a tough and very experienced
guy. What did you see about his game?
Cane: Lambert is an experienced guy. He had already fought against athletes like Marcos Ruas, Tim Sylvia (Pictures), and he has proved how he can be dangerous when he knocked out Renato Sobral (Pictures). He is a very strong guy on top, but let's see how he behaves playing underneath.
Sherdog.com: Because he is more experienced, with more knowledge of the UFC, do you think this works more in his favor?
Cane: I don't think so. The pressure is on both sides. Both of us are coming off losses. This will make us search more for the fight. At least from my side that will be so, and I'm sure it's going to be a great fight.
Sherdog.com: You were going to be Rashad Evans (Pictures)' opponent after James Irvin (Pictures)'s injury, but within 24 hours of the announcement, you were fighting Lambert. Did you feel frustrated with this change?
Cane: Not at all. I would feel frustrated if the UFC took me off the card, as it did with Rashad. I only want to fight. It doesn't matter against who, and he made the right decision not accepting the fight. That way he remains unbeatable.
Sherdog.com: Your first performance was at UFC 79 and you had a controversial outcome. You were disqualified against James Irvin (Pictures) for striking his face with your knees when he was on the ground. You've got angry with him, saying he was pretending to be injured to stop the fight. Tell us a little about this whole situation.
Cane: The result of this fight was a little disappointing because I was hired by the UFC thinking I would face a real athlete. But in the end, I fought against a coward in a no-heart fight. If that kneeing really knocked him out, any child could do the same. But this fight is already part of the past. My new fight against Lambert will be my true first combat at the event and this time against a real fighter.
Sherdog.com: The UFC fans could not see a lot of your game in that fight. Explain your skills a little to the fans.
Cane: I am a dedicated athlete who trains a lot everyday, who gives up a lot of good things in life in search of an aim. I will leave the comments about how I am as a fighter to you. After this fight, the UFC fans will be able to have an idea of who I am.
Sherdog.com: What do you think about the fights in your division of the UFC?
Cane: I think light heavyweight is the most competitive category in the UFC, with excellent fights. I also think that Dana White and Joe Silva are racking their brains to decide who is going to be the next challenger for Jackson or Griffin.
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