Erick Silva would approve Yamasaki as referee for duel against Brenneman

Cat--Smasher · 05-14-2012, 02:52 PM

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What are your expectations when fighting Chalie Brenneman? Are you nervous to fight abroad for the first time?

I’m sure those things won’t get to me. I’m going there to put on a great show. When we’re focused, it doesn’t change one bit. I’m sure I’ll get there cal and focused on my opponent. I don’t think about the fans or wherever it is.

What dangers can he present?

He’s a wrestler who likes to take guys down and stall them. That’s what we’re working on. It’s not that it’s dangerous, but we are really training a lot defensive takedowns and we’ll try to use his flaws in our favor.

Do you believe he’ll try to escape from striking?

Absolutely. That’s his style: taking down. He doesn’t have great skills on the trade of punches. I’ve seen many tapes and I know he makes many mistakes in that area. He’s good on the ground and where he’s trying to take me and that’s where I’m working on.

Even in case he takes you down, you also have sharp Jiu-Jitsu skills.

We’ve been working hard on the defensive takedowns finding the right timing. I’m working hard on my timing. I’m a Jiu-Jitsu guy and that’s something that fades away when you start striking a lot. I have a deal with Bruno Frazatto and he’s coming down here to help me out with this.

Did he bring anything new to your game?

He’s been tipping me a lot about the ground game and I’m improving more and more. If we go to the ground, it’s no biggy. I come from Jiu-Jitsu. All Jiu-Jitsu athletes are not afraid to fight on the floor, so we have to use that in my favor, but the game plan is to stay up. I’ll knock him out on our feet or on the ground.

Is there any pressure after that great polemics surrounding your Carlo Prater fight at UFC Rio 2?

No, none. There’s no problem to me, even because UFC promised me I’d be treated like a winner and that’s how I’ve been treated like. Brenneman is better ranked and that’s a proof of that: they put me on the co-main event. They’re giving me much more attention. There are no hard feelings. It’s in the past now.

How would you feel in case Mario Yamasaki was called to be the referee on your next fight?

I’d really like it if they call him up, even because I believe he didn’t mean to hurt me. After that he’s been more alert, smart and he’s been doing everything he can so it doesn’t happen again. If he’s the referee he’s going to pay much more attention so he doesn’t make a mistake again. As an athlete, it’s not my job to have any kind of feeling towards a referee like Mario Yamasaki.

No hard feelings: Erick Silva would approve Yamasaki as referee for duel against Brenneman :: TATAME