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[jesusatemyhotdog]

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Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante is at the top of his game, the 2 times Hero-s Grand Prix winner has a 16 -1 -1 professional record, is on a 8 victory run and enters this year's Hero-s Grand Prix as the odds on favorite to repeat as Champion. We've caught up with JZ to check what's going on with the champ.


KP- You are the 2 times K1 Heros Grand Prix winner, what has been the difference that makes you succeed and what do you believe you are best at?
JZ- The way I naturally go about my business. Not only in a fight but in life itself. I believe that every human being is capable of reaching anything he believes in. But in the fighting department the big difference is being part of American Top Team. ATT is really like a family and has incredible talent which leads to great training sessions.

KP- You appeared in the international scene in 2004 and immediately exploded. Can you tell us your background, how you started in Martial arts?
JZ- I started in Judo when I was a 4-year old kid. I practiced it until I turned 13 but I stopped because I couldn’t compete in the bigger tournaments. I then switched to Luta-livre in the now extinct Equipe Sensei de Luta-livre. The team was headed by Marcus Vinicius Corval and it was located in Campo Grande a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. At that point my career as a fighter began to take shape. I started to compete in Luta-livre and submission tournaments. I was invited by Jefferson Teixeira to compete in wrestling for Unversidade Gama Filho and then my horizons began to expand even further. Then Master Osvaldo “Paqueta”, who nowadays is a great friend, was filming a tournament and watched me compete and invited me to come train at Carlson Gracie Team. I trained at the also extinct Universo Atletico Academy and finally at ATT

KP- Now at ATT you have a great structure for a fighter. What do you like best about them and what was the biggest difference in training with them for you?
JZ- The biggest difference at ATT is the level of professionalism in the team, how they train and the team chemistry and union. Any time you get there you will see the entire professional team together practicing whatever training is scheduled for that day. In reality we spend more time at the Academy than at home and even when we have a day of everyone gets together to do something as a team and that really reinforces the team spirit as a family and strengthens all of us and the team itself.

KP- Your only defeat was to Joachin Hansen in 2004, do you have any plans for a rematch and avenge the loss?
JZ- No, not really. I have no plans for a rematch. I was called to fight him just one week prior to the actual fight and it was in the early stages of my professional career. The fight was against a former Shooto Champion (Hansen) that was ranked 5th in the World at the weight at the time. I fought, did the best I could at the time with the amount of time that I had to prepare and with my lack of experience and I believe I surprised a lot of people with how I fought. Many people that watched the fight believed that I won or at least it was a draw at worst. If we happen to cross paths and meet yet once again it will be a new opportunity to learn and a new fight especially because we have both matured much with all the fights we’ve had since then. The future belongs to God.

KP- What do you think is your best characteristic as a fighter?
JZ- Being calm. It is my best quality not only as a fighter but also as a person. I cannot separate one thing from the other.

KP- What are your plans for 2008?
JZ- My plan is to continue on my path and to evolve as a fighter, as a person, as a friend, as a son, in other words to do everything in my power to have a better day every day.

KP- You have fought in a cage and in a ring, which do you prefer and what is the difference between them?
JZ- I like both, I have no preference; to me is only a matter of adjusting to the battlefield. There are differences but to me they don’t matter. When you fight in the cage it is harder to cut the distance and it Is very different from walking in a ring but there is the advantage that the fight doesn’t stop and restart in the middle because one of the fighters falls through the ropes.

KP- What is the advice you give to anyone starting a professional MMA Career?
JZ- The 3 D’s are a great line to follow: Determination, dedication and discipline are qualities that we have to strive to better in any task that you choose. Oe thing is for sure, to fight at a high level you will need all three of them. Balance that with confidence and the doors to all your dreams will open

KP- Who would you like to fight and why?
JZ- Shynia Aoki! Because I was supposed to fight him in the final event of the year in Yarennoka but because of a knee injury I couldn’t. I was sad because I disappointed the fans that were anxious to se this match, even I was disappointed but I am hoping to fight him this year

KP- What is your dream as a fighter?
JZ- My dream is to be an inspiration for the kids that are coming up and for the future generations. To be able to leave a small seed here and to have it prosper and grow because everything that I do I do with a lot of love and passion and always thinking of doing good deeds

KP- Anyone you want to thank?
JZ- I want to thank all fans of MMA because they are the reason we continue to grow. I want to thank my family American Top Team, they are my brothers and my brothers in the work we do everyday. I also want to thank my family and friends in Brazil, they have always supported my efforts, if it wasn’t for them I couldn’t be giving all the energy I put in the fights as I have been able to do. Thanks everyone, from the bottom of my heart and especially to God.

[Ramma]

No one had anything to say on this? lol Jeezus

He comes off very humble, confident, and peaceful. He has the real "martial artist" mentality... you see that few and far between in MMA.


I really hope Aoki vs. JZ goes down. It will be a great fight. I think a rematch with him and Hellboy would go great as well. I see JZ taking both fights for the win.

If JZ doesn't mind fighting in the cage, maybe we will see him in the UFC someday.. I think he has it in him to beat BJ Penn... probably the only LW out there that can IMO.

Calvancante's 3 Ds > Kurt Angle's 3 Is

[jesusatemyhotdog]

8 hours for the first reply.

Apparently there are no JZ fans in the house.

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

8 hours for the first reply.

Apparently there are no JZ fans in the house.

He isn't in the UFC so who gives a fuck? Wake me up when you have a Roger Huerta interview

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

8 hours for the first reply.

Apparently there are no JZ fans in the house.

holy shit, this is the first time i saw this interview today. I woke up at noon and i guess it had fallen to the middle of the page. my bad.

anyway, i didnt know he only had a weeks notice before he faught hansen. I would like to see a rematch between the two but i think JZ takes this one.

good interview, dont see to many JZ threads around here. rep'd when i can.

[azur_dog]

Just watched his bout against Ribiero. Was really impressed. Definitely like to see him in the UFC.

[valheruking]

Originally Posted by jesusatemyhotdog

8 hours for the first reply.

Apparently there are no JZ fans in the house.

Read it on another site

Originally Posted by smoogy

He isn't in the UFC so who gives a fuck? Wake me up when you have a Roger Huerta interview

El Matador > Jay-Z

[neonatural45]

Im taking Aoki


anyone heard any more rumors about Sergei and Monson fighting on the same card? I saw some stuff on sherdog but thats all Ive heard about it

[Ramma]

Originally Posted by azur_dog

Just watched his bout against Ribiero. Was really impressed. Definitely like to see him in the UFC.

The way he ran through Riberio was amazing.. I never expected it to go down like that.. well.. I favored JZ, but only by a fraction.. I never thought he would take him out that quick.

[smoogy]

Originally Posted by neonatural45

Im taking Aoki


anyone heard any more rumors about Sergei and Monson fighting on the same card? I saw some stuff on sherdog but thats all Ive heard about it

Thats the word, like most K-1 MMA matches we'll see if it actually materializes