“Junior” a Giant Among Heavyweights
By Gleidson Venga (gvenga@sherdog.com)
Undefeated Brazilian Antonio Silva (Pictures) is another heavyweight mixed martial artist rising in the ranks of his division.
Training with the brothers Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures), Silva is improving very fast, and he appears to have everything necessary to become a star.
Sherdog.com: Tell us about your last fight in K-1 HERO’S against Georgy Kaysinov (Pictures).
Antonio Silva (Pictures): For this fight I trained a lot of Muay Thai and I did boxing sparring sessions. I went to Japan to knock the guy out, and that’s what happened, in the first round with a left hook.
Sherdog.com: What do you think about Gesias Calvancanti (Pictures)’s victory in the HERO’s 154-pound tournament?
Silva: I was expecting this. Gesias, besides being an excellent person, is an amazing athlete and he was well trained and very focused on this title. American Top Team and André “Benkei” have my congratulations.
Sherdog.com: Do you have any fights scheduled? Is there any fighter that you want to face?
Silva: I’m going to fight in Canada at MFC on December 2. I would like to face the better K-1 HERO’S fighters, then I would be among the tops.
Sherdog.com: Were you invited to fight on the New Year’s Eve K-1 show?
Silva: Yes, I was. But I will only know if I’m going to fight after my commitment on Canada.
Sherdog.com: You defeated Tom Erikson (Pictures), who was one of the most feared fighters in the MMA world for years. What was your strategy in that fight?
Silva: My strategy was to wait for him to come to me. I was sure he would do this because if the fight last longer he would gas out. And in the moment he came to me, I took him down and I finished that fight.
Sherdog.com: You are an American Top Team member, but you haven’t trained at the ATT head quarters on Forida yet. Why?
Silva: I’m just waiting for my visa. But while I wait, I’m training here in Brazil.
Sherdog.com: You trained for a long at Brazilian Top Team. Why do you leave there?
Silva: Actually I spent some months there just improving my ground skills. I didn’t stay at BTT because, at the time I was there, I didn’t sign with any event. But I have a lot of friends there.
Sherdog.com: Why did you leave the Wolfslair Team?
Silva: I left the Wolfslair because I was cheated by the team owners. But thank God, I had very good moments training in Rio de Janeiro along with the Nogueira brothers and other athletes like Edson Drago (Pictures) and Rafael “Feijao.”
Sherdog.com: How are the training sessions with Rodrigo “Minotauro” and Rogerio “Minotoro”?
Silva: It’s fantastic because it’s the most complete training session I ever saw. Rogerio is an excellent boxer and Rodrigo is very good on the ground, so I think this is what every fighter needs to be. A good striker and a good grappler.
Sherdog.com: How is your training?
Silva: Today I’m working on my physical condition, with the close support from Rogerio Camoes in the X-Gym. I’m also having intense Muay Thai training sessions with the master Paulo Nikolai and I’m training a lot of jiu-jitsu, too.
Sherdog.com: The fact you’re a very big guy (6’ 4”, 300 lbs.) gives you an advantage over many fighters. Are you working this advantage into your Muay Thai training?
Silva: For sure. Besides I’m facing taller fighters lately. I’m improving my Muay Thai and boxing skill day after day. I trained Karate during 13 years. I think that it made things easier for me. This mix between karate, jiu-jitsu, boxing and Muay Thai is helping me a lot, so I’m working hard to improve myself.
Sherdog.com: How was your MMA debut?
Silva: My debut was in May 2004 against Almir Trator in the city of Campina Grande. And thank God I won with a stomp in the first round.
Sherdog.com: How did you enter fighting?
Silva: It was in 1997, in Campina Grande, when I started to train jiu-jitsu in Eli Wanderley’s gym.
Sherdog.com: Why you were nicknamed “Pezão” (“Big Foot”)?
Silva: That’s because my feet are really big. I was a skinny guy, and my foot was larger than the rest of my body (laughs).
Sherdog.com: You were born in a Brazilian state that revealed to the world great athletes like Jean Silva (Pictures), Luiz Firmino (Pictures) and the legendary Ivan Gomes, famous during the period when Carlson Gracie was an active fighter. Tell us about this.
Silva: They all are truly warriors because they became top fighters in MMA side by side with many great athletes in the world. People in my state always give their best in fights. That’s why they are recognized. They all have my congratulations.
Sherdog.com: What is your biggest goal as a fighter?
Silva: I hope to conquer a lot of wins, and help those who want to live by the fight.
Sherdog.com: Who are your MMA idols?
Silva: Rodrigo “Minotauro” and Rogerio “Minotoro.”
Sherdog.com: Leave a message your fans.
Silva: I want to say thanks to everybody who watched my career, and I would like to ask to everybody to support me. And to the ones who are starting your fighting career, I would like to say: never give up, because only the weak gives up — and there is no place for the weak in MMA. Every career beginning is hard, but only by defeating the obstacles you can win. A big hug to all that access Sherdog.com, and I will see you soon.