Daniel Woirin

One of the greatest fighters in the history of Brazilian MMA, Anderson Silva impresses with his sharp Muay Thai.Champion and recordist of consecutive victories in UFC, the middleweight trains the art with Daniel Woirin, and is getting prepared for another challenge in the octagon. In conversation with TATAME, Woirin commented about Anderson’s trainings for the fight against Forrest Griffin, in UFC 101, and the differential of the champion. "At any moment he can do anything, and this is impressive. If you leave any space in the ground or standing, he will use a technique", praises the coach, who spoke about the time when trained Lyoto Machida, his coming to Brazil and more.

How are Anderson’s trainings to the fight against Forrest Griffin? Who are the coaches that are working with him?

Anderson is very well and confident. At the part of Muay Thai, I am, Josuel Distak takes care of MMA, the part of physical preparation is with Rogerão Camões and the Boxing is with Cesário.

What did you feel different in him for this fight until 93kg? How is his motivation?

Since he doesn’t have the pressure of the belt and weight loss, since he feels well in this weight, the motivation is already high. People say he has changed, but I don’t think he has changed, what changed were the opponents. I think that has to be two (athletes) to do a super fight. Griffinwill be a very movement fight, because of his basic feature.

That is what Distak talks about stimulus, right?

Exactly ... Forrest Griffin goes up, he’s a great fighter, so I think it will be a movement fight.

How long do you live in Brazil?

I live here for six years.

You have arrived here speaking Portuguese?

Yes, because I was in Brazil for a year and learned Portuguese in school.

Are you married?

I got married, I have a Brazilian wife and a Brazilian daughter.

So you are already a carioca, right?

Yes... I’m very well and I don’t want to leave (laughs).

You come from the French school of Muay Thai. How do you seeAnderson's Muay Thai?

Anderson Silva started with Tae-Kwon-Do, so it is quite different. He changes the base, which is difficult to see in Muay Thai. But I thinkAnderson got a lot of techniques of standings mode, adapted the styles for the MMA. When he has to do the Muay Thai, he does, but at the time of the fight is different, the attitude is another, but he has various styles. This is MMA.

What does he has strongest in Muay Thai? What is his blow that impresses you most?

What impresses me most isn’t a particular blow, is the change he has. The more different things you do, you will put more doubts in the head of the opponent... At any moment he can do anything, and this is impressive. If you leave any space in the ground or standing, he will use a technique. He isn’t the kind of fighter that will enter and do this or that, you never know. If you watch that fight when he knockout the guy with the elbow, that’s very difficult to do. Who will expect such a technique in the fight?

Do you think he’ll really retire or you believe that other offers will appear and he’ll end up returning?

I can’t speak for him about this... When you're winning everything, you have to keep motivated. But this I don’t know, it’s just with him.

I saw that you were also training Jacaré and André Galvão. How is the evolution of this Jiu-Jitsu athletes in your area?

I didn’t train André Galvão for his first fight at the Dream, because I was in the United States and had Anderson’s preparation, but it works like this: who calls me, I’ll go train. Ronaldo Jacaré is very explosive, which is a very good thing, learns fast, is a world champion of Jiu-Jitsu... They are two heavy guys, I'm sure that they’ll burst... They are already bursting.

You have also fought professionally?

I fought in high level in a lot of world championships, I had a very strong name in France, but unfortunately I had a very serious injury, broke the tibia fighting... It was a very violent fracture and I had to be stopped for two years. I returned after that, but it wasn’t the same thing, so I stopped and went studying to be teacher of physical education.

Say some names of athletes that you've trained in MMA.

Ricardo Arona, Lyoto Machida, Tito Ortiz, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, when he fought at the Cage Rage, Galvão, Jacaré...

Talk a little about Lyoto. What does he has of different in his standing style?

He’s move. In fact, the octagon is a very large area, if you know how to use this space and know how to move, you get out of all dangers. It’s speed. He adapted his style. When I trained him, I didn’t do Muay Thai, I adapted it to his style. He’s unpredictable. Lyoto Machida is the same thing as Anderson Silva, they’re unpredictable fighters and very technical.

Do you think he will remain for a long time as champion?

Sure... Lyoto is a very talented guy, and also depends on motivation. We can’t predict the future, but he motivated is very difficult... With motivation and natural talent, I think he’s difficult to be defeated.

As a Muay Thai teacher and European, you must have seen many names in action in Europe. Who would you say, in Muay Thai, that will be a great fighter?

There’s a Dutch that is like an Anderson Silva. He was champion in Muay Thai, went to Boxing and was champion too. He’s very tough, I liked a lot.

And from the K-1, is there someone who has filled your eyes too?

From the heavyweight I love the game of LeBanner, he always had a very heavy hand, and I also like Peter Aerts a lot...