Q: How did you like competing in Saint Petersburg? Was the support even remotely close to the Japanese 40,000 people shows?
A: I liked it a lot. Our audience is on par with the Japanese fans. We could feel that people in the audience weren't watching MMA for the first time, and that they understood what was going on in the ring. Pride needed several years to get to that point in Japan.
Q: The most common topic on English-language forums after your fight with Lindland was whether the ropes helped you, and whether the rules were broken.
A: I didn't hold the ropes, I leaned on the top rope, and it was not a conscious reaction. I don't think that the rules were broken.
Q: Were you afraid that the fight was going to be stopped because of the cut? Was that the reason that you applied the armbar that fast?
A: I tried not to think about the cut. I continued to fight in my normal pace, and focused on making the right decisions.
Q: Are you planning to have more kids? Someone has to follow in your footsteps...
A: Of course. We have to support the president's plans, right?
Q: All the best to you. Good luck in building the house, and having more kids. And good luck in cranking up the submissions, like you did with Lindland - they don't deserve any breaks.
A: I didn't want to crank the submission like that, it happened only because I felt that Matt could escape the position. I really respect that fighter; he reminds me a lot of Randy Couture.
Q: I noticed that you rarely use strikes to the liver (well, except for the fight with Goodridge). Why is that?
A: I attack the places that I see as targets in that particular moment. It happens automatically.
Q: What do you think about "spiking" - throwing the opponents on the ground head first? Have you ever had an opportunity and the desire to throw someone that way in a fight?
A: I had opportunities like that, but I never had any desire to spike anyone.
Q: Do you have any fears or phobias?
A: No.
Q: Would you accept a challenge from any fighter?
A: I'll accept a challenge from anyone, as long as the contract is fair.
Q: Do you consider yourself the best heavyweight fighter in the world?
A: I never considered myself the best fighter.
Q: Do you have any heroes?
A: Yes. Yuri Vlasov, Soviet weightlifter.
Q: Do you think one of your brothers might take your place in the future? Is that something you want?
A: I'd like that, but I am afraid it will never happen.
Q: What's your favorite food?
A: I eat everything - and there is a lot of good food out there.
Q: Do you follow a diet? What is it?
A: I don't have a diet. My only rule is that I try to eat less fatty food and avoid cakes and candy.
Q: Do you have any "surprises" that you have not utilized in your fights yet?
A: My coach thinks that I've shown only 50% of my capabilities.
Q: Do you usually have a game plan, at least for the first moments of the match?
A: I don't usually have a very defined plan, but I do have certain things sketched out.
Q: You missed a punch during the first seconds of your fight with Matt Lindland. Was it unexpected, or were you unable to react fast enough?
A: I saw that punch, but I misjudged the distance a bit.
Q: Do you think that your future opponents will try to use the same strategy against you: throw a quick punch without getting into a heavy exchange, use the momentum to push the fight to the ropes, and attempt to take the fight to the ground trying to gain the top position?
A: I'll take that mistake into account.
Q: Are you going to prepare to counter this strategy?
A: Of course.
Q: How would you rate the leglock you applied in your last fight?
A: I accomplished what I wanted.
Q: Are you planning to do leglocks more often?
A: I am working on my submissions, and I'd like to get them to be perfect.
Q: How was your vacation?
A: It was great, very relaxing. I loved going to the gym.
Q: Matt Lindland said in his interview that he'd like to have a rematch. Do you think he will be able to perform even better?
A: I'd like to have a rematch with Matt. He is a very interesting fighter.
Q: Fedor, when are you competing next?
A: At this point, I can tell you that I will definitely compete in the World Combat Sambo Championship in Czech Republic. I don't have an MMA contract at this moment.
Q: Who do you consider to be the most dangerous super-heavyweight in Pride and in the world, besides yourself?
A: My coach just walked in, and I think it's probably him. I am afraid of him more than anyone else. He can leave me without breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Q: If you could fight any fighter in the history of combat sports, who would it be?
A: I never thought about that.
Q: Would you like to fight in K-1?
A: We haven't received any offers from K-1.
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Vladimir Voronov, Fedor's head coach, was also able to participate in the online meeting. Here are the questions that fans asked Vladimir:
Q: You work with every athlete in Fedor's team and in Red Devil. Why is it that none of them have been able to approach Fedor's level? There is a huge gap between them. What is the reason? Fedor says that he does not have any special genetic traits he was born with.
A: When Fedor started competing in MMA, he already was an International Master of Sport in Judo and Sambo. We've been working with Red Devil for three years now, and a lot of the young fighters have really improved, but this amount of time is just not enough to reach Fedor's level.
Q: Besides training established fighters, do you train beginners, or do you only work with professionals?
A: The guys that join our team come from a variety of combat sports, and they usually have zero striking skills. If they don't have enough willpower and patience, there is really no place for them in this sport.
Q: As a coach, how early do you think one should start training in MMA? What is the best background for it?
A: It's hard to say. The best age is probably around 16 or 17, but they should have some experience in one combat sport or another.
Q: How do you select people for the team? Do you have anyone from other regions of Russia?
A: We have guys from completely different parts of Russia, anywhere from Caucuses to Moscow. They just haven't competed yet. Really, we don't invite anyone personally to the team. The guys just find us themselves.
Q: What were the reasons for the losses of our guys to the Americans in the St.Petersburg show?
A: First of all, only Yulia and Dmitriy Samoilov lost their matches, and both of them were leading on points. Samoilov did not have enough competition experience, and Yulia simply did not follow the plan developed by the coaches.
Q: There are a lot of questions about Aleksander (Emelianenko's) shape. The fight with Pele left us with more questions than answers. What are your comments?
A: Aleksander was not there in the first stage of our training camp in Kislovodsk, and that affected his shape. As far as the fight goes, you really should ask Aleksander himself, since he prepared for this fight on his own.
Q: What are your hobbies?
A: Hunting.
http://fedor.bel.ru/index_eng.shtml?id=150
Interview Fedor (8/05/2007)
