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Shout out to Marcus G for providing correct translation
Q: Thans for this interview, that you are letting us do with you. We are from Epic MMA and we have some questions for you. Let's start. You are currently training in the Netherlands, what makes you come back to this place?
F: There is a good school of Muay Thai here, of kickboxing and Muay Thai. Plus, wrestling here differs from our wrestling. What I mean is what we have in Russia, we can always go and train in that, in Russia of course you can train in sambo and in regular wrestling and in MMA, but here, the wrestling is a bit different. Plus, here, away from people we are close to, away from any problems, we can concentrate on the training, and of course, we already have a fantastic relationship with our Dutch coaches.
We have got a good team here, in Holland. What I mean is we come here, with our coaches and we have Dutch coaches here, who help us prepare, create the training regiment. Hans Kraus, he helps us with physical strength and conditioning, Peter Teijsse works on striking and Maxim Leindeker, with him we work on wrestling. unclear is not always with us.
Q: Japan is obvious [sic] the country, where you are the most familiar with fighting. What do you think is so special of this place?
F: Well, I don't know, for me, there are probably no special countries, I have fought in America and in other countries, also fought in sambo tournaments. Japan is probably where I became established as a fighter. I became successful there, as a fighter.
Q: After a few years off you made a comeback fight at the Rizin FF. What was your motivation to come back in the ring?
F: Well, first of all, my own desire. My desire to return, secondly, my team, my guys, who were training, who always worked with me in the past. They are already ready to perform at a new level and who have showed their skill at the New Year's cards. And, well, probably fans' wishes. laughs
Q: Why did you never come to a fight deal with the UFC?
F: We have talked about this many times...We are in negotiations with the UFC, and, if there is desire, I will be ready to fight there.
Q: Would you like to see a rematch against Werdum, Silva or Henderson?
F: I would have interest in a rematch with the UFC HW champion, Fabricio Werdum. I have several times told UFC, the bigwigs of UFC that I am ready to have this fight.
Q: Do you already know something about your next fight?
F: Yes, of course. My next fight will be in Russia. I can't reveal all the details, but I will fight for the Russian MMA fans. Also with me will perform my entire team. That's Vadim Nemkov, Valentin Moldavskiy and Kirill Sidelnikov and Anatoliy Tokov. Everybody that performed at the New Year's show.
Q: Is there somebody specific that you would like to fight?
F: I am ready for my next opponent. I pretty much know who it's going to be and for now, I can't reveal... oh, you mean, who I would like? translator explains You know, I am interested in the UFC HW Champion. I don't need to prove anything else? I like to fight, I like to perform, but as far as who I would like to fight, I would like to fight the UFC champion.
Q: How do you see the future of your fighting career?
F: I will be training, and fighting. I also see in my career bringing up the young men, so one of my team could replace me. Not somebody, but that they could replace me. So that the Russian team, team unclear thundered all over the world.
Q: The last years of MMA unfolded very fast. Do you see a difference between the HW fighters of old day and now?
F: You know, the fighters are probably becoming universal, multisded, but even ten years ago there were such remarable fighters as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko Cro Cop, who could both win on the ground and deliver a powerful punch in stand-up. What changes is the generations, the stars of MMA. It seems to me that already the MMA became, well, not became, but becoming more and more universal, but this gap between grappling and striking is becoming more and more erased. It's becoming so that the more universal the fighter, the more interesting he is, the harder it is to fight him.
Q: You fought many great fighters. Which is your favorite victory and why?
F: Most valuable? Probably the first fight with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, the fight for the world championship. Then Nogueira was the favorite, when he defeated the world's best fighters. He was #1 in the world at that moment. That fight was probably one of the most important of my life.
Q: Which moment had the most positive impact on your career?
F: The last six months! laughs When my family supported me in my return and my entire team together worked towards one goal. At New Year's time we made a statement.
Q: What do you think of the Russian Invasion, the last few years of MMA, especially in Bellator and UFC?
F: I am glad that the Russian fighters are making a statement for themselves all over the world.
Q: Why do you think the Russian fighters are becoming bigger in the fight scene?
F: Because they began to invite the more serious Russian fighters. Because they began to give chances to the guys who are really ready to win.
Q: If the UFC calls you to fight at UFC 200, would you do it?
F: If we agree on terms, of course! laughs
Q: Is sambo still effective in MMA and why?
A: Yes, I think sambo is still effective. This is seen both from our teams and fighters who perform the in the UFC and in Bellator. Sambo gives a good base for wrestling, while retaining all the explosive qualities, improving endurance. If other sports somewhere suppress the ability to explode, the speed of this explosion, sambo, on the opposite, develops these qualities. This is the reason Russian fighters are so interesting. They don't just stick on you like a blanket or try to get ugly wins, on the opposite they are interesting by this ability to deliver a surprise, a surprise enabled by these exploding qualities.
Q: Last question, in a totally different vein, do you have other hobbies, besides MMA?
F: Hobby? This isn't really a hobby, but I try to spend all of my free time with my family, and with my friends. Besides MMA, I try to devote all of my time to the family. I like to visit holy places, I like to read.
Q: Thank you very much for the interview and spasibo.
F: Spasibo!
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