FEDOR SPEAKS

[DUCE]

Below is an interview Fedor Emelianenko recently did for the PRIDE website. Here's what Fedor had to say:


PRIDE: How do you feel since you had the signing ceremony on June 27th?

Fedor: I don't feel anything special. I will just do my best from now to prepare for my fight with Mirko.

PRIDE: Did you speak to Mirko?

Fedor: There wasn't much time so we didn't speak much. I think we have a good relationship. We were laughing with our eyes. (laughing)

PRIDE: Two years have passed since your first opportunity to fight each other. Who do you think has benefited the most during these two years?

Fedor: The last two years for me have been tough. I've been injured and the recovery was prolonged. Both Mirko and I have grown in these two years, and I think we have both become stronger. I feel that I've become stronger from doing a lot of different training, and I think Mirko is the same.

PRIDE: Conversely, what has been good about this two year delay?

Fedor: The fight will be more exciting.

PRIDE: You went to Holland many times. Was that because you will fight Mirko?

Fedor: Yes. I'm always thinking about Mirko. I'm going to Holland again soon.

PRIDE: Is Mirko's best weapon his left high kick?

Fedor: If I had to say one that is the best, it would be his left high kick because he's beaten most of his opponents with it.

PRIDE: Magomedov lost to him recently by middle kick because he was so cautious about the high kick.

Fedor: Everyone knows that Mirko has a good left high kick, and he used that to his advantage. I think he used his best weapon well.

PRIDE: Are you confident that he won't be able to use it against you?

Fedor: I've been thinking of many ways to defend against his left high kick.

PRIDE: Do you think that Mirko is more dangerous than anyone else you've fought before?

Fedor: Mirko is very different than everyone else I've fought, but I don't think he's dangerous.

PRIDE: For example, although their styles are completely different, do you think Mirko or Nogueira is more dangerous?

Fedor: I've fought Nogueira three times and he's a tough opponent. You always have to be extremely careful with him. I've never fought Mirko so I don't know.

PRIDE: Your brother, Alexander, lost to Mirko. Do you want to get revenge for that?

Fedor: He told me what he learned there but I can not say it here.

PRIDE: Will this fight with Mirko have an important meaning in your career?

Fedor: Of course, I think this will be a big point in my career.

PRIDE: You've said that you would train in the mountains for your fight with Mirko. What kind of benefit does that have?

Fedor: It's not much different than regular training. I train outdoors and if the weather's bad, I go to the gym and weight train.

PRIDE: Kharitonov said that he trains naked in the snow. Do you do that kind of thing?

Fedor: You probably won't believe it but I swim in the summer and in winter. There's a spring near my home. Even in the summer, the water temperature is about 0. I go swimming a lot. It's really healthy. (laughing)