Ricardo Arona

One of the greatest representatives of the Brazilian MMA, Ricardo Arona made his debut in the professional rings in 2000, but never fought in Brazil. Nine years later, Arona will do, on Bitetti Combat 4, his first fight "at home", and is excited for the challenge at returning to the rings. "I'm training every day, dedicated, concerned about the return... I’m just waiting for Amaury Bitetti to give me the details, present the opponent", said the fighter. "It’s very exciting to fight for our public for the first time... It’s a great honor to represent the country in Brazil, which is something I didn’t do yet". In an exclusive interview, which you check tomorrow at TATAME.com, the ex-fighter of Pride talked about the trainings and the possibility to prepare for the fight at Rodrigo Minotauro’s team, commented Wanderlei Silva’s loss and more.

How are the trainings?

I'm training every day, dedicated, concerned that everything goes well in the return to the rings.

Is it already confirmed that you’re fighting at Bitetti Combat?

Everything is right, I’m just waiting for Amaury Bitetti to give me the details, present the opponent. I’m waiting for the event, which has everything to be a great event at Rio de Janeiro.

How is the expectation to do your first MMA fight in Brazil?

The last time I fought here was in Abu Dhabi (ADCC), against Mark Kerr. Since then, I never fought in Brazil, then it is one more reason to be a great event, with the participation of athletes who doesn’t fight for a long time in Brazil. I’m worried about my presentation, so that everything goes well, and that people have enough respect to the event and understand that it is very important to everyone be polite and respect the rules, both the public and the fighters, for the event to be success and have more editions. I’m very exciting to fight for our public for the first time, in my case, and it is a great honor to represent the country in Brazil, which is something I didn’t do yet.

Where are you training? At home, with Minotauro or at BTT?

I’m training at home and I’m receiving important people to train with me, good coaches. I also have free access to train at the Minotauro Team, with Minotauro. I was there twice this month. We are united to train together, the doors are open between us, we have direct links in the training.

And the ADCC? How is the expectation? Are you really going to fight?

It’s confirmed, it will be at June 25^th, in Spain, and, for now, has no super fight. There was the possibility that I would make a super fight, but, for now, it will be jus category (98kg).

They said that the super fight will be between Roger Gracie and Drysdale. Will you fight weight and open class?

I pretend to fight at 98kg division and open class too, for sure.

The Bitetti Combat will be on September 12 and the ADCC on 25^th. How is your training for this? In what are you focusing?

Actually, I'm giving focus on the whole part, even Boxing, as Wrestling and Submission, but looking much the Submission, so that I can also define the MMA fight on the ground, if possible, and then go straight to the ADCC. I'm training everything, as has to be, but when pass to the MMA, I’ll devote more to the Submission in the last days that I’ll have.

What about the risk of injuries? How are you getting prepared to prevent the injuries that can happen in MMA?

I'm getting prepared and strengthening me enough so that I won’t get injured, but it’s very difficult in MMA. What I’ll do is try to make a smart fight, so that I can win and try to influence myself so that I won’t get hurt in this fight, which is most important. Of course that in the MMA we take these risks, but I would only be out of ADCC if I have a very serious injury.

How are you seeing this return of MMA to, perhaps, take you back to the international market?

For me, it’s a great opportunity to show that I'm back well, conditioned, as I always did great fights. Be able to return and get my place of duty, which is among the best in the world, or in the UFC or fighting at the Dream, in Japan, or the Affiction. Finally, be at the top events of the world.

Talking about UFC, how do you see this next fight of Rodrigo against Randy Couture?

Everyone that knows Rodrigo, knows the great warrior he is. He didn’t present very well in the fight against Frank Mir, but, definitely, that was a moment, he overcame many difficult moments. I think he must be extremely strategist, making a game in which Randy Couture can’t find himself. What I would suggest for him is this, strategy, which is very important.

And the return of Paulo Filho, Who will have a tough opponent ahead, Melvin Manhoef. How do you think this fight will be, of one of the best of Jiu-Jitsu against a dangerous striker?

As is well-defined, one is very good in Jiu-Jitsu and the other very good in striking. I hope that Paulão finds the right time of putting Melvin down and give him that pressure, which we already know he is capable of doing, because Melvin has already showed himself vulnerable in the ground. I hope Paulão finds himself in the fight and in the time, I trust him very much, who is specialist in fall. I wish that he can put Melvin down and make his game, which is what I hope.

The next title fight at 205 division in the UFC will be between the Brazilians Shogun, who you’ve already faced, and Lyoto. How do you think this fight will be?

It will be a very even fight, I think it’s difficult to say the way that it will take, even because both are aware of ground and standing. I think it will be a very technical fight and very studied. I won’t say who will be the winner, because both have potential for this, but, definitely, it will be a great fight.

Were you surprised with the way that Shogun and Lyoto won their last fights, against Liddell and Rashad?

I thought Lyoto would have more difficult to find himself standing, but he kept showing an excellent distance, calm and tranquility very important for a fighter. I thought he would lead the fight to the ground, because he has a good ground to work, but he defined standing and surprised me. He is much trained and is a surprise when people think the guy isn’t ready for it, but Lyoto was very prepared standing and on the ground, so it was a deserved victory. As for the other fight, I think it was a matter of time. Liddell fight for a long time, Shogun came after studying these fighters, has a very accurate technique standing, then managed to find himself inside the game of Chuck Liddell who, in my opinion, is a highly anticipated game, which makes his fight very vulnerable. So, I think Shogun knew well how to enjoy this.

Many people, after Shogun’s victory, said that Liddell should retire. Do you agree with this?

That goes from the fighter. A champion fighter shouldn’t retire after a defeat. A champion fighter has to retire after a great victory.

What’s your opinion about the change of category of Wanderlei, who made the “debut” against Rich Franklin?

Look, to be honest I haven’t seen the fight yet. But I believe that Wanderlei has felt a little this drop in weight, in my opinion, because it’s very difficult for a fighter to go down much in weight and fit in another category, where everyone is already adapted, and a different rhythm. I think Wanderlei will present well when he adjust better in the weight. Now was a question of adaptation, it’s different to go down in weight, it’s another rhythm, another speed, I think he will fit in the category and then present better.

It was even cogitated a fight between him and Anderson, who walked exchanging barbs. How do you think it would be a fight between both?

First, one knows the game of the other like the back of the hand. I think this fight would be much striking standing. Wanderlei has the virtue of having a strong punch and a violent attack, different than Anderson’s game, which is extremely technical. In this fight, I think it’s difficult to say the result, because Wanderlei can define the fight with one movement, as he did several times. It’s a difficult fight to say who would be the champion, because one knows the other very well.