Marlon Sandro and the loss at Sengoku

By Eduardo Ferreira

Photo Sherdog.com

Idol in the slums of Santo Amaro, in Rio de Janeiro, Marlon Sandro couldn’t take one more title to his community. After 14 victories, the black belt of the Nova União suffered his first defeat in his career, right in the semifinals of the Sengoku GP until 65kg, which happened Sunday morning, in Japan. Facing the Japanese Michihiro Omigawa, Marlon lost in the split decision and contested a lot the decision of the judges.

"I always knew that I could lose one day, but I imagined losing by knockout, finalization, being beaten, but never being stolen. I looked over to domain the center of the ring during the entire fight and he was trying to put me down, which he only succeeded in the end. I trained three months to get there and serve as a ladder? To do this I had better stay at home. I left wife and son and came to Japan earlier to train and get adapted to the time and climate and the guys do that? It is a shame!", said, angry, the owner of the Pancrase belt.

Marlon defeated two opponents in the GP until 65kg to reach the semifinals, where he ended defeated. The champion of the GP was Masanori Kanehara, who had lost the semifinal to Hatsu Hioki. As Hioki was unable to continue to fight the final, Kanehara took his place and won the executioner of Marlon by the divided decision of jury. Check below a quick chat with Marlon, direct from Japan.

What did you think of the fight?

I always knew that I could lose one day, but I imagined losing by knockout, finalization, being beaten, but never being stolen. I looked over to domain the center of the ring during the entire fight and he was trying to put me down, which he only succeeded in the end. I trained three months to get there and serve as a ladder? To do this I had better stay at home. I left wife and son and came to Japan earlier to train and get adapted to the time and climate and the guys do that? It is a shame!

What was the reaction of the public when they gave the victory to Omigawa?

When they gave the victory to Omigawa, the public was amazed. When Felipe (Olivieri), who was in my corner, raised me up, everyone applauded a lot. Everyone who were near the ring said that I won.

You think you could have gone up more or the tactic was to set by, since you could do two fights in one night?

The tactic was to finalize or knockout, but we train to do the three rounds. I tried to finalize and knockout, but I couldn’t. There were two fights in one night and even then I didn’t thought about setting by, I went up to be clear and not leave in the hands of the judges. This is a shame! Such an event, of great magnitude, which is seen by the whole world, do such thing...

Did you ask for revenge?

I asked that the result of the fight was given the No Contest and challenged the champion before being announced. I said, in the interview right after the fight that, starting from that moment, the champion would be challenged. I don’t like to challenge anyone, but on the condition that my fight ended, I think it’s fair.

What did you think of the final? Did you expect that Kanehara, who had lost to Hioki, would come back and win?

I didn’t understand this final, because they do an alternate fight, but here in Japan everything can happen. I cheered with all my forces against Omigawa, and you can see, still had a judge who gave to Omigawa in the final. He only won because Ioshida is from the organization and Omigawa is his student. He was in the guy’s corner...

After this, do you still want to continue fighting at the event?

I don’t know, now is a very difficult moment to say this, because it’s my job and I have no proposal yet. I think that, if this fight were in America, this wouldn’t happen. I would like to fight there.

When do you return to Brazil and what are your plans when you arrive in Rio?

I’ll still stay here to the fight of Felipe Olivieri, on August 8th. I arrive inBrazil on the 10th and when I arrive I want to rest with my son and my wife and then return to train hard. You can wait, because I’ll return stronger than ever.