Cristiano Marcello: Ready For War
Gleidson Venga Sep 1, 2007
Saturday evening, Chute Boxe Brazilian jiu-jitsu trainer Cristiano Marcello
(Pictures) takes to the ring in
Dallas, Texas to face Hector
Munoz in Art of War 3. In an exclusive interview with
Sherdog.com, the skilled lightweight declared that he was ready for
the challenge.
Sherdog.com: How was your training for this fight?
Cristiano Marcello (Pictures): Great. I trained well under Master Rudimar [Fedrigo] and Master Rafael Cordeiro (Pictures)'s command, plus trainer Christopher Led and everybody in the gym. This will be my first step in America, I'll fight in the States for the first time. I hope to be able to show a lot of things in the ring and open doors for my teammates to compete there. If God wishes, I'll win.
Sherdog.com: Any problems making the
lightweight limit?
CM: Thank God I could keep myself near the limit. I'm weighing 73-kg (160 pounds), and my usual weight is 80-kg (176 pounds). When this event was postponed, I had trouble staying so low. This was the worst part of my preparation, but everything ran well.
Sherdog.com: Do you know anything about your opponent?
CM: A few things. I'm ready for any situation -- I will strike, shoot, defend takedowns and look for the submission. I heard a lot of people saying I'm not a top fighter, but I'm looking for my place. I'll fight to win, no matter the opponent. If I had to face Mike Tyson, I would strike with him. This is something I have in my head: never think about loosing, I'm always thinking about winning. If I had to face Tyson, I would look for a knockout or submit him. I'm not worried because I'm not a champion. I'm worried about putting on a great show in the ring. I have a [3-2-0] record, with all my wins coming by KO or submission. I always look for good results.
CM: My trainers took care of this element. They studied the guy, who has striking and grappling. This won't be a disadvantage, because I'm well trained and with good cardio. Like I told you, I'll KO or submit, period. My strategy, traced by my masters at Chute Boxe, is to be ready for any situation, regardless if it's striking or grappling.
Sherdog.com: Just a month ago you fought in a Muay Thai tournament and won. How was the experience?
CM: Great. I knocked a guy out in 90 seconds. I fought for free and I'll do it every time for Chute Boxe. I'm always ready for the main events. That was a battle, but the war is just now getting started.
Sherdog.com: How can you bring together being a coach as well as a fighter?
CM: It's like I said, I'm a coach first because I love to do it. I can train along with "Shogun" [Mauricio Rua (Pictures)], and everybody. I'm always focused. I walk along with them, being part of their preparation. There are a lot of BJJ fighters better than me, but they don't get to have the experiences I'm having everyday at Chute Boxe -- studying, learning. They don't have it. BJJ is a lot different than MMA. The background I have Chute Boxe, all this time I've been in their corner, only a few people have been where I've been. I can apply these experiences in the ring. And when I fight, I can improve it to teach to my students. I know what happens in a fight. It's like I'm a spoon -- I always know what's going on inside the pot.
Sherdog.com: Besides studying your own opponents, do you have to study your students on tape as well?
CM: Exactly. I'm always studying a lot, watching my student's fights and making improvements. I'm always telling my athletes that they are champions, and they can beat anybody.
Sherdog.com: What are your thoughts on Wanderlei Silva (Pictures)'s departure to the U.S.?
CM: I cheer for Wanderlei. He gave me a wide range of emotions. As a fighter, he gave us all a lot of emotions. I'm here to thank him, and I'm proud that he graduated from Chute Boxe as a black belt. He is following his own way. Chute Boxe and Wanderlei are the same thing, the same history.
Sherdog.com: What can your fans expect from you on Saturday?
CM: They can expect a knockout or submission. I will strike. This fight will not go the distance. That's what is going to happen.
Sherdog.com: How was your training for this fight?
Cristiano Marcello (Pictures): Great. I trained well under Master Rudimar [Fedrigo] and Master Rafael Cordeiro (Pictures)'s command, plus trainer Christopher Led and everybody in the gym. This will be my first step in America, I'll fight in the States for the first time. I hope to be able to show a lot of things in the ring and open doors for my teammates to compete there. If God wishes, I'll win.
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CM: Thank God I could keep myself near the limit. I'm weighing 73-kg (160 pounds), and my usual weight is 80-kg (176 pounds). When this event was postponed, I had trouble staying so low. This was the worst part of my preparation, but everything ran well.
Sherdog.com: Do you know anything about your opponent?
CM: A few things. I'm ready for any situation -- I will strike, shoot, defend takedowns and look for the submission. I heard a lot of people saying I'm not a top fighter, but I'm looking for my place. I'll fight to win, no matter the opponent. If I had to face Mike Tyson, I would strike with him. This is something I have in my head: never think about loosing, I'm always thinking about winning. If I had to face Tyson, I would look for a knockout or submit him. I'm not worried because I'm not a champion. I'm worried about putting on a great show in the ring. I have a [3-2-0] record, with all my wins coming by KO or submission. I always look for good results.
Sherdog.com: What are your thoughts on
his strengths? Do you have a game plan?
CM: My trainers took care of this element. They studied the guy, who has striking and grappling. This won't be a disadvantage, because I'm well trained and with good cardio. Like I told you, I'll KO or submit, period. My strategy, traced by my masters at Chute Boxe, is to be ready for any situation, regardless if it's striking or grappling.
Sherdog.com: Just a month ago you fought in a Muay Thai tournament and won. How was the experience?
CM: Great. I knocked a guy out in 90 seconds. I fought for free and I'll do it every time for Chute Boxe. I'm always ready for the main events. That was a battle, but the war is just now getting started.
Sherdog.com: How can you bring together being a coach as well as a fighter?
CM: It's like I said, I'm a coach first because I love to do it. I can train along with "Shogun" [Mauricio Rua (Pictures)], and everybody. I'm always focused. I walk along with them, being part of their preparation. There are a lot of BJJ fighters better than me, but they don't get to have the experiences I'm having everyday at Chute Boxe -- studying, learning. They don't have it. BJJ is a lot different than MMA. The background I have Chute Boxe, all this time I've been in their corner, only a few people have been where I've been. I can apply these experiences in the ring. And when I fight, I can improve it to teach to my students. I know what happens in a fight. It's like I'm a spoon -- I always know what's going on inside the pot.
Sherdog.com: Besides studying your own opponents, do you have to study your students on tape as well?
CM: Exactly. I'm always studying a lot, watching my student's fights and making improvements. I'm always telling my athletes that they are champions, and they can beat anybody.
Sherdog.com: What are your thoughts on Wanderlei Silva (Pictures)'s departure to the U.S.?
CM: I cheer for Wanderlei. He gave me a wide range of emotions. As a fighter, he gave us all a lot of emotions. I'm here to thank him, and I'm proud that he graduated from Chute Boxe as a black belt. He is following his own way. Chute Boxe and Wanderlei are the same thing, the same history.
Sherdog.com: What can your fans expect from you on Saturday?
CM: They can expect a knockout or submission. I will strike. This fight will not go the distance. That's what is going to happen.
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