BJJ Fighter
19-11-2003, 15:38
Team TATAME
by Marcelo Alonso
After defeating top brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters like Allan Góes, Crezio Souza and Renzo Gracie, American wrestler Dan Henderson added the legendary Murilo Bustamante (BTT) to his resume, after he defeatedthe BJJ star in last Pride GP. We spoke with Dan briefly at the post fight pary held by DSE:
Did you expect to win so fast? You can never expect a quick win like that. I trained a lot to block his takedown shots, and to hit back with punches and knees. I knew that I had a pretty good chance to knock him out, but actually I expected this fight to go the whole 15 minutes to a judge's decision. It was a little lucky I guess, but he tried to take me down right at the start.
You said you were not in your best shape for this fight. What happened?
I had surgery on my knee and I wasn´t fully recovered yet. The doctors told me I be ready to fight again in February, but a week and half ago they invited me for this match and I accepted. I wasn´t in my best shape. I don´t know what kind of shape I would be in after 12 minutes, if the fight had gone that long.
Some people complained that the referee stopped the fight too fast. Do you think it was a good stop? Yes, actually I was waiting for the referee to step in after the knee and one or two punches. I felt he was out and I didn´t want to hit him too much.
You have defeated many top BJJ guys like Crezio, Allan and Renzo Gracie and now Murilo. What is your secret to anul their game? My wrestling background helps a lot, they cannot put me on the ground easily, so I can be overly agressive on my feet.
Have you and Randy Couture worked on your boxing skills together? The more we do the better we get.
What do you expect from Wanderlei and Couture If Pride and UFC really come to an agreement for that match? I think it´s going to be great for the sport. Doesn´t matter who is the winner but UFC and Pride have to unify their titles. I think Randy would beat Wanderlei pretty bad. Randy has good boxing skills, Wanderlei hits hard. For sure it would be an amazing match.
Any plans for the future? I haven´t thought too much about that yet. I wouldn't mind getting a title shot, maybe against Wanderlei. He is a great fighter and we did a great match in our first encounter - I would take that one again
by Marcelo Alonso
After defeating top brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters like Allan Góes, Crezio Souza and Renzo Gracie, American wrestler Dan Henderson added the legendary Murilo Bustamante (BTT) to his resume, after he defeatedthe BJJ star in last Pride GP. We spoke with Dan briefly at the post fight pary held by DSE:
Did you expect to win so fast? You can never expect a quick win like that. I trained a lot to block his takedown shots, and to hit back with punches and knees. I knew that I had a pretty good chance to knock him out, but actually I expected this fight to go the whole 15 minutes to a judge's decision. It was a little lucky I guess, but he tried to take me down right at the start.
You said you were not in your best shape for this fight. What happened?
I had surgery on my knee and I wasn´t fully recovered yet. The doctors told me I be ready to fight again in February, but a week and half ago they invited me for this match and I accepted. I wasn´t in my best shape. I don´t know what kind of shape I would be in after 12 minutes, if the fight had gone that long.
Some people complained that the referee stopped the fight too fast. Do you think it was a good stop? Yes, actually I was waiting for the referee to step in after the knee and one or two punches. I felt he was out and I didn´t want to hit him too much.
You have defeated many top BJJ guys like Crezio, Allan and Renzo Gracie and now Murilo. What is your secret to anul their game? My wrestling background helps a lot, they cannot put me on the ground easily, so I can be overly agressive on my feet.
Have you and Randy Couture worked on your boxing skills together? The more we do the better we get.
What do you expect from Wanderlei and Couture If Pride and UFC really come to an agreement for that match? I think it´s going to be great for the sport. Doesn´t matter who is the winner but UFC and Pride have to unify their titles. I think Randy would beat Wanderlei pretty bad. Randy has good boxing skills, Wanderlei hits hard. For sure it would be an amazing match.
Any plans for the future? I haven´t thought too much about that yet. I wouldn't mind getting a title shot, maybe against Wanderlei. He is a great fighter and we did a great match in our first encounter - I would take that one again