Robert DrysdaleBy Guilherme Cruz"
I'm very confident... If I can do sparring with Wanderlei, I can fight anybody. If I can put Forrest or Couture down, I can put anyone"
TATAME.com spoke to the ADCC 2007 champion and Xtreme Couture BJJ coach, Robert Drysdale, and learned that he signed a contract to debut in MMA in October. In the interview, that you can check here later today, he spoke about his first fight, the training with Wanderlei Silva, Forrest Griffin and the Boxing champion Skiper Kelp, and that he’s also thinking about the main ADCC 2009 fight, against Roger Gracie. Check below the complete interview with Robert Drysdale.
How is your preparation for MMA?
It’s great, I’m training hard twice a day. I’m teaching less BJJ classes, doing my physical preparation with (Rafael) Alejarra…He’s awesome, he almost killed me yesterday with only a three minutes training (laughs). I do Boxing with Skiper Kelp, who is an expert fighter and I’m learning a lot with him. I’m feeling a lot better now, and I’m pretty confident. I’m helping Frank Mir at BJJ classes for his fight against (Rodrigo Nogueira) Minotauro and I might train with Wanderlei (Silva) for his next fight too.
How were you invited to start in MMA?
Actually, I was going to debut in September, but then I got hurt and postponed to get well prepared. I saw a Canadian event, but it’s only in November, and I want to two twice this year yet.
How the training sessions with Wanderlei Silva, Forrest Griffin and Randy Couture help you for you first MMA fight?
It gives me confidence. If I can do sparring with Wanderlei, I can fight anybody. If I can put Forrest or Couture down, I can put anyone (down). There are a lot of new sparrings here that nobody knows, so it’s good for me.
Will you fight ADCC in 2009?
I’ll be there, and that’s why I wanna fight twice this year in MMA, because in 2009 I only wanna do my preparation for Abu Dhabi . I’m already thinking in the main fight against Roger Gracie, and I’m sure I’ll win. I only need to get well prepared.
Do you want to face him in MMA too?
Look, it’s not my focus now, but if I had the opportunity I’ll do it. I don’t see it like a personal thing. I wouldn’t face Demian, that is like a brother to me. I respect Roger, he’s very smart and a good person, but I’d face him. I won’t ask for this fight, but I would do it.
http://www.tatame.com/2008/08/28/Robert-Drysdale