Paulo Filho Interview regarding Bushido GP
by Ed Preuss November 10th

Back in Brazil, Pride Bushido GP' semifinalist Paulo Filho talked with MMA365.com crew about the injure which took him out from the gp finals, held in Japan, on November 5th. Due to a knee ligament injure during the fight with Japanese Kazuo Misaki, Brazilian Top team's black belt wasn't able to continue in the tournament after submitting the Japanese fighter with an arm-lock. So, instead of fighting Paulo Filho at the final, Canadian Denis Kang had Misaki as an opponent. Misaki had one of the best fights of the entire tournament and became the tournament champion. So, what does Paulo thinks about the tournament and being so close to the title?

MMA365.com - Did you hurt yourself during the fight with Misaki… why didn't you fight the final?

Paulo Filho - You are right. I got injured during the fight with Misaki, but when you are warm, you don't feel pain. But then, at the locker-room, I couldn't walk at all. I wasn't able to put my foot on the ground. What happened during the fight… I was trying to take my left leg from the half guard when I I felt something was wrong. Then, after the fight I understood I was injured and I barely could step. I wasn't in good condition to return to the ring.

MMA365.com - You submitted the champion and had great chances against Denis Kang. Do you regret not returning to the ring?

Paulo Filho - There is not regret because there were no conditions for me to fight. Who knows me must know I fought with a broken hand, with a spoiled leg, but at this time was different. I didn't have any chances. I believe God didn't want me to be the champion and pointed Misaki.

MMA365.com - But did you try to take some painkiller to return?

Paulo Filho - I took a painkiller shot, to stop the pain, but it didn'twork. It was hurting so bad. There was no way I could step inside the ring that way, only if I was crazy! I know I had an easy fight against Misaki and probably would beat Kang too and bring the belt to Brazil, but God didn't want it to be…

MMA365.com - So you think Misaki deserved the title?

Paulo Filho - Of course. He is a great champion. He defeated Phil Baroni and Dan Henderson in the first phases and now his have a chance to fight the division's champion for the title. He has done a great job against the favorite ones and deserved this title more than me. He is a tough fighter and uses a lot of strategy. At the final, he imposed a hard punishment to Denis Kang and then thanked the audience saying I was the real champ.

MMA365.com - So, Misaki said you were the champion. Do you feel like it?

Paulo Filho - No. I don't feel like a champion, because I got hurt and my opponent returned and won the title. I know I am a difficult opponent, and very tough to be beaten. But I don't see myself as a champion, besides submitting the champion. It was his day and Japanese people deserved a local champion in their tournament.

MMA365.com - And about the future? Who would you like to fight?

Paulo Filho - So far I don't want to fight a specific fighter. I've won the Bushido champion and Denis Kang I wouldn't fight him in a super fight because we are kind of close. So, the only way to fight him would be in a tournament like that. So, I think in this division… I say Dan Henderson. I'd like to fight him.

MMA365.com - You said in this division… Why don't you fight between the middleweight fighters?

Paulo Filho - Because there are lots of friends in there such as Rogério Nogueira, Ricardo Arona, José Mário Sperry… so I accept to lose some weight and fight in the division below. And once I said I might fight between the heavyweights, but I only would do that to impress the Japanese people, which I like the most.

MMA365.com - Who would be the toughest fighters in the middleweight for you?

Paulo Filho - If I had to fight in the middleweight, I'd like to fight Mauricio Shogun. Everybody says he is a nice guy, but I don't forget he challenged me once. He said: "Paulo Filho, you are next!" And now I want him!