UFC 107: Paulo Thiago ready for newcomer

By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Josh Hedges

Paulo Thiago would fight Thiago “Pitbull”, but the injury of a third athlete messed UFC fights. With the fight anticipated to UFC 106, which takes place at November 21, Paulo will face the newcomer Jacob Volkmann, but he knows that he can’t underestimate the opponents. Check below the exclusive interview with the Brazilian welterweight, who promises a great fight.

How’s the expectations to be back to UFC?

The expectation is the best as possible... I lost a few days of training because my fight was anticipated to UFC 106, but I was on a good rhythm and I’m prepared.

Your opponent is a newcomer. What do you know about him?

For what I could see on the internet, he’s a wrestler, he has nine fights and won all of them, with six victories by submission, so it looks like he has a good ground game and a good takedown game. He’s shorter than me, but all I gotta do it train hard. My training changed a little, because my other opponent was Thiago (Pitbull), but it’s all right.

Do you expect for a ground fight?

I think that he’ll look for the ground fight and I won’t run away from that, but I’ll try to put my rhythm as standing up as on the ground... I’ll be prepared.

You ware going to face a Top 3 of the category and now you’ll face a newcomer. What does it change for you?

I’m calm, the organization knows what they’re doing. I’m an employee and I fight with they told me to, for me it’s okay. Besides he’s a newcomer, he has a good past, he didn’t lose, so it’s gonna be a big challenge. I’m ready for a tough fight.

UFC 106 had a few considerable changes on the maim fights, as Mark Coleman and Brock Lesnar lefts, for medical reasons...

Yes, but the organization has a lot of ways out, it’s organized and putted (Josh) Kosheck against Anthony Johnson, a tough guy, so it’s gonna be a cool event... And will even have Tito Ortiz with Forrest Griffin.

How do you think it’s gonna be Ortiz’s return to UFC?

I’m betting on Griffin... Tito is out for a while, it makes difference, soGriffin, besides he’s coming from a loss, is always fighting and has more chances to win this fight.