Formiga and the victorious debut in Japan

By Eduardo Ferreira

Photo personal archieve

Who sees the young Jussier "Formiga" working as a motorcycle boy in Natal doesn’t imagine that he’s becoming a major star in his cateogory in MMA. Owner of the title of ShootoBrazil, the Brazilian won the chance to face the champion of Shooto Japan, Shinichi Kojima, in a fight that wouldn’t worth the title. Running over the champion and winning the decision, Jussier got a new fight against the Japanese, now for the belt.

"The way that this fight was, I think I’ll keep training and two months before the fight I’ll focus more on the technique above. I’ll keep the same strategy, but I’ll try to make the ground more, which I didn’t do much in this fight”, said the student of Jair Lourenço, who still has to reconcile the trainings with the work on two-wheelers. "I continue in the same routine, working and training. For a while I can handle it, I only work until noon and from there I have all day to train. We must plant good things for later reap the rewards”, commented Formiga. In an exclusive chat with TATAME, which you check below, the fighter talked about the fight in Japan, the trainings for the new challenge and his idols in the fight.

How was the fight against Kojima?

It was a very movement fight, much striking in the three rounds. It was my first fight that had few Jiu-Jitsu, though he’s strong of Wrestling. I think I could maintain a good rhythm, I was able to win all three rounds. He’s a very tough man, he's from the Kickboxing, kicks well, but I could do my strategy and could win.

Now you will dispute the belt of the World Shotoo. The expectation is to repeat the game or you will do a different estrategy?

The way that this fight was, I think I’ll keep training and two months before the fight I’ll focus more on the technique above, the Muay Thai and the Boxing. At the next, I’ll maintain the same strategy, but I’ll try to do more ground, which I didn’t do much in this fight. Lets see what will happen.

The fact that you won him once, by unanimous decision, gives you more confidence?

In a way it does, but I prefer not to think about it, I prefer to think more in the next fight, which is for a belt and is more important. Sometimes I even prefer to forget this fight. I won? Yes, but the next that will have lots of punches and will really be for the belt... It will be the fight of my life.

The belt of Shotoo Brazil is open?

It’s not very open, because I didn’t fought there. I'm still with him until November, when I’ll do this fight. After that fight, if I win the belt, I’ll have to deliver this one. But it is normal, I understand, I prefer to win the belt there, which is World Cup, and go to the first of the ranking.

Dedé told me that I will not fight now in Fortaleza, because I can only fight in Brazil Shotoo after I make this fight in Japan. I know that it will have a fight, but it will not be for the belt, for now. I’m in the expectation, training and hoping to make this fight in November. Regardless of the result, I’m there to fight.

How will be the training for this next fight?

I'm going back to Natal now, where I’ll train for two months. But before this fight I’ll do the same training I did for this one, end here in Rio. I’ll travel to Rio, spend 30 days and maintain the hard training of Boxing, Wrestling and Muay Thai. Then, I’ll travel there again. The expectation is to make a good fight and win this belt.

Wining the belt of Shotoo, do you pretend to continue fighting inJapan?

They spoke that might open the category 56kg in the WEC. I'm looking to make my name in Japan, but, if they open that category, with certainty Dedé will get a channel and try to fit me. If he succeeds, better yet, I’ll fight in America and make my name worldwide. I will always search to keep me at the top, fight with the bests, which is the most important in a career of a fighter, always be fighting with the best of the bests.

And how is your life out of the rings?

I continue in the same routine, working and training. I work as a motorcycle boy, but now only 6 hours a day, before it were 8h. For a while I can handle it, I only work until noon and from there I have all day to train. It improved a lot to me professionally, to have more time to prepare myself, but I try to always give the best of me in everything I do. We must plant good things to reap the rewards later.

Do you dream on living of the MMA?

Yeah. I have to do this, keep me on top and cheer for a chance inAmerica and be able to live of the fight. I will be very happy if that happens, is my goal.

Who is your idol in Jiu-Jitsu and MMA?

In Jiu-Jitsu, for incredible as it seems, its Robson Moura, from the Nova União. He also has fought in Japan, but currently fights more in the United States. In MMA, who I admire most is Wanderlei Silva, because he’s a striker, goes to all or nothing, is like Mike Tyson... That makes me very euphoric.

You are from the Jiu-Jitsu and has as a fan Wanderlei Silva?

I’m a man of Jiu-Jitsu, in my fights it happens much to put down, but my mind is changing. I’m training a lot of Boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, and I fell that I’m being able to increase my rhythm and stay better in striking. I prefer to train more and more and maybe one day become a striker like Wanderlei.