Fedrigo: We obviously felt the losses. It’s not easy to make an MMA champion, and, of course, when a guy leaves, like these names you’ve mentioned, it destabilizes any situation. But our school has produced many champions and we will continue doing it. I can guarantee it to our fans. With this structure, with the conditions we offer, if the athlete has some talent, he has a great chance of becoming a champion. The advantage of having a well-structured school, just like any company or team, is that we can get out of hard times easier. This whole package, this history, the name, the symbol, the strength that the academy has makes it that it can get out of tough situations like this.
Fedrigo: We’ve had this wish for a long time and it’s excellent. What other MMA team in the world has such a great structure with two excellent gyms in two major cities like we have here in Curitiba and the USA? [Chute Boxe USA is located in Huntington Beach, Calif.]. And with a great trainer like master Rafael Cordeiro, one of our most accomplished members of our team, running it I see the possibilities are excellent. Chute Boxe is definitely getting big.
Sherdog.com: The American fighter has a totally different mentality. Sometimes they train with two different teams. Would there be the possibility of some fighter training with Rafael in California, but not representing Chute Boxe’s name in the ring? Let’s say Quinton "Rampage" Jackson wants to make the gym a part of his training, but doesn’t want to defend Chute Boxe’s name?
Fedrigo: No problem. This is a commercial deal. Actually, it already exists in Brazil. If some fighter wants to prepare with our team he doesn’t necessarily need to follow the entire schedule of the team, so we can make a commercial agreement depending on what he decides. Every case is different for sure and it’s going to happen more frequently in the USA because that’s how America works. I don’t see any problem with that. Of course our main focus will always be the MMA team, producing teachers, champions and top professionals.
Sherdog.com: One year ago I interviewed you about Shogun and Wanderlei’s decisions to leave Chute Boxe and you said the fighter needs to have a “star” to fight for. Do you believe Shogun and Wanderlei miss Chute Boxe?
Fedrigo: It’s hard to say because I don’t know what kind of training they are getting, so it’s hard to give an opinion about that. But I keep believing that when a team has a history, an excellent structure, and many trainers and practitioners from many disciplines it’s better for the fighter to train. I also have to keep in mind that those fighters were used to having a structure working for them and it’s hard to get adapted to a different way.
Sherdog.com: During this 30 years of Chute Boxe, what has been the best and worst moment?
Fedrigo: This is a very hard question… I think the best moments of Chute Boxe were provided by Wanderlei Silva. All his conquests were remarkable and the worst was the loss of Osmar Dias. [Dias was shot and killed leaving the Chute Boxe Academy on November 11, 2008]. We lost a great leader and a friend. I will never forget the moment I arrived at the academy and saw his body shot on the ground. I sat on the sidewalk looking at his dead body and just thought I’d never be able to talk with him again. I think it was the saddest moment of Chute Boxe’s history.
Sherdog.com: Chute Boxe has created many champions and great trainers like Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons, Anderson Silva, Wanderlei, Shogun, Murilo "Ninja" Rua, Andre "Dida" Amade, Sergio Cunha, and Diogenes Assahida. Which one of them does Chute Boxe miss the most?
Fedrigo: All of them. It is a pity to not have them with us today, when our structure and conditions of training are much better than the times when they were fighting.
Sherdog.com: Some believe that Anderson Silva is among one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. How do you see him?
Fedrigo: I receive compliments, even today, every time he wins a fight. He is for sure one of the big names that helped to make the Chute Boxe name respected around the world.
Sherdog.com: What is your strongest memory of Silva’s time with Chute Boxe?
Fedrigo: A good moment I remember is when he knocked out Carlos Newton [at Pride 25 in March 2003] with an amazing flying knee and also when he knocked out Alex Stiebling [at Pride 21 in June 2002]. He is an amazing, complete and creative fighter.
Sherdog.com: Who do you consider the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world?
Fedrigo: I believe Anderson Silva and Fedor Emelianenko are the most complete fighters in the world. I’m also very surprised with [Alistair] Overeem, who is evolving a lot lately, and Wanderlei Silva on a good night.
Sherdog.com: What is going to happen in light heavyweight (205 lbs, 93kg) division of the UFC?
Fedrigo: I believe Lyoto [Machida] has a great chance to win. When he came to Chute Boxe, we could feel that he had a lot of potential and he’s having a good moment.
Sherdog.com: So, you believe he will be next UFC champion?
Fedrigo: I believe that Wanderlei has a great chance to become the UFC champion. I’ve heard He is planning to came down to 83kg [185 pounds], but I would bet on him if he continues at 93kg [205 pounds]. If he regains self-confidence and his fighting rhythm, I think he could be the UFC champion.