INTERVIEW: Rodrigo Comprido

Two times BJJ world champion, Rodrigo Comprido is training the UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, and spoke with TATAME.com about the star, who demolished Frank Mir and now waits for the next challenger for his belt. In the exclusive interview, that you check below, Comprido talked about the work in the US, the fight between Lesnar and Mir, a possible fight between Minotauro and Lesnar, and more.

How is the work at the United States?

I’m in Chicago for two years, at Brasa Chicago, and I’m already with some students with schools nearby, in Ohio. I'm trying to strengthen the work to keep the team always together. I try to coach with Traven, with Esfiha, Robert Drysdale... I always try to be in contact with my friends.

Who is the great Jiu-Jitsu representative in the MMA nowadays?

Demian is the guy of Jiu-Jitsu. I have a huge admiration for Minotauro, what he lived inside the tatami, the name he has as a fighter and as a person, he’s an inspiration, but, nowadays, Demian, by his style of fight, is the guy who is holding the Jiu-Jitsu in all ways... Five fights, five victories and all by submission in the UFC, I can’t complain, right?

You’ve already fought with Nate Marquardt at ADCC. How do you think will be his fight with Demian in the UFC?

I had the opportunity to beat him in Abu Dhabi, but it’s a very tough fight, perhaps Demian’s toughest until today. Nate beats in line and walking backwards, keeps beating, and this can be a problem, but Demian is prepared for what comes and I have no doubt that he will be able to impose his game.

How do you think will be Minotauro’s fight against Randy?

Randy is a legend as big as Minotauro, they’re two excellent athletes. He’s very strong in that dirty boxing, to let the guy in the grid and be giving punches and begin to cut the man and hurt him, he’s also very strong in the ground and pound, but I'm sure that, if Minotauro goes to the ground, he’ll get the guy. Rodrigo has to do the ground fight, in the middle of the octagon, to avoid the risk getting closer to the fence. Minotauro has a lot of heart, much desire to win, he recovers from bad situations and goes submitting... I put faith that he’ll win.

How do you evaluate Brock Lesnar as an athlete, especially the ground part, that you’ve tough him?

I started to work with Brock after his first fight against Frank Mir. I personally follow the trainings and the guy learns very easily, when you see him fighting you can notice that he’s evolving a lot. I think his ground is strong, solid. We’re managing to make him confident in all areas.

Who is the guy who can take Brock Lesnar’s belt?

The fight that I don’t want is against Minotauro, because he’s a man very good in Jiu-Jitsu and he’ll difficultly be knocked out in the ground and pound, but, if he comes, I'll set a trap for him. I’ll have to help Brock to go over him, and I don’t like that option. It would be a very tough fight, I like Minotauro a lot, who brought the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the top, but in a sport of that level you can’t choose the athletes. If he comes, Lesnar will be trained.