Bushido GP Finals Preview: Paulo Filho Interview
by Ed Preuss September 29th

Brazilian Top Team Paulo Filho has been performing impressively at Pride Bushido GP (Welterweight). In the first and second rounds, he defeated Ryo Chonan and Gregory Bouchelaghem revealing an impressive record of 13 fights and 13 victories. Now, he has a chance to conquer a new belt for his team. Filho, who fights Kazuo Misaki on November 5th, is very confident about the fight and even having no experience in fighting more than one time in the same night under Vale-Tudo rules, he wants badly the Pride belt. "I want to see how Misaki will do against me. I am a stronger fighter, who has better ground skills he ever faced and that will do the best to win the fight," Paulo teased, adding: "I pray for him to come over me. I hope he wants to kick my ass because he will make our distance short enough to take him down and submit? I am dying to see it," he tells. Resting since he arrived in Brazil after the last August 26th' show, Paulo Filho returned to training on September 28 and will focus his training on Misaki supported by the whole BTT crew, until the departure day, on October 28th.

MMA 365 - What are your thoughts on your upcoming fight on November 5th against Kazuo Misaki, part of the Pride FC Welterweight GP of 2006 final round?

Paulo Filho: My thoughts are always positive. I hope I have a great result against Misaki. I believe I may defeat him because my game is more applied. He has showed a great performance against Dan Henderson and Phil Baroni. Henderson's mistake was trying to KO him. Japanese proved he is a tough fighter and every time they fought in the ground was because Misaki took the fight down. Now I want to see how he might do against me. I am a stronger fighter, who has better ground skills he ever faced and that will do the best to win the fight. I warn him: It will be a really tough fight for you.

MMA 365 - Misaki has never been knocked out in his professional career, and is coming as you said of two big wins. You stated that he will be the toughest Japanese opponent you will have ever faced, but is it possible that he is your toughest opponent yet?

Paulo Filho: No. I've fought several tough Japanese fighters such as Yuki Kondo, Minowa fighting in his category, Chonan? but I am sure Misaki is the bigger one, but I am sure is the less contusing. He has such a great physical preparation and he comes from great fights. He also fought Ricardo Almeida Cachorro and gave him a hard time, but ended being defeated by referee's decision. And the fact he has never been KO'd is something that doesn't bother me at all. I'll not play his game.

MMA 365 - Misaki said he was inspired by Mirko CroCop's victory at the Open Weight Grand Prix and he might do the same as Croatian fighter. What do you think about that?

Paulo Filho: I pray for him to come over me. I hope he wants to kick my ass because he will make our distance short enough to take him down and submit. It would be boring if he avoids me and runs from me during the fight. I pray for him to come at me. I am dying to see it.

MMA 365 - What are your thoughts about pride GP OW?

Paulo Filho: Well, I didn't watch the fight live, but Brazilian Top Team crew told me Rodrigo Minotauro was robed. He was supposed to leave the ring as champion and then fight Cro Cop, but I think Japanese preferred to have an American fighter at the finals.

MMA 365 - Fans have already predicted that you and Denis Kang will meet in the final match, does this add more pressure to perform, and how does one prepare for a night when he might have to face two opponents, instead of just one?

Paulo Filho: All my life I have been fighting more than one fighter. I know Jiu-Jitsu is different from Vale-Tudo, but fight is a fight, being in the mat or in the ring. It won't matter. About the pressure, I only care about pleasing my family and friends. To be honest, my friends don't care if I win or lose because they are my friends no matter what. I can tell you I'll do my best to bring this belt to Brazil.

MMA 365 - Talking about the belt. BTT has been close to get a belt with (Murilo) Bustamante, (Rodrigo) Minotauro and Ricardo Arona. What would it mean to you to win the tournament?

Paulo Filho: For my team is such a big deal. As you said many fighters reached title shots, but they didn't win. Not because they didn't deserve it, but because it was not their day. A belt for us now brings more respect and prizes our work in Vale-Tudo. Nowadays if you want to join Vale-Tudo by Jiu-Jitsu, you have to look for BTT.

MMA 365 - How is training like with some of the best athletes in the world?

Paulo Filho: To be honest, near by a competition, it's kind of hard to train with the professional top fighters. Just because they are kind of harsh and we cannot get injured. Sometimes I have hard trains with (Rodrigo) Minotauro and (Rog鲩o) Minotouro, but we use to train with sparring mates and technicians. But the train is very good!

MMA 365 - Will you be at the Pride FC "The Real Deal" event at Las Vegas, and what are your thoughts on the globalization of mixed martial arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

Paulo Filho: I am not sure, because I've never visited United States before. But about the Pride going to United States is such a great news because US has been developing Vale-Tudo fast and Japanese understood it right the way. In my opinion, I think they want to compete with UFC. Dana White likes to tease pride fighters and I believe Pride wants fresh air. Belts may be unified and this is the great step for the popularization of the sport.

MMA 365 - You are not a tall man. Why do people call you Paulão (big Paulo)?

Paulo Filho: It's an old story. Who gave me this nickname was BJJ black belt Carlson Gracie and Saporito. When I was 15 years old, I was a Judo fighter and started learning Jiu-Jitsu. I weighted 94kg by that time and was kind of big for my age so they called me Paulão and now here I am.

MMA 365 - A bit off topic, but are you a soccer fan? Which club is your favorite?

Paulo Filho: I love soccer and I sometimes I like playing it with friends and I have fun. I root for popular team from Rio de Janeiro Flamengo because my father is Flamengo and I grew up rotting for his team. But I do respect a lot other clubs such as Botafogo, where (Manuel) Garrincha played; there is a lot of history in there.

MMA 365 - Would like to send you a message to your fans?

Paulo Filho: I'd like to thank for all the support and to the fans that believes in me. I will have faith in God and he will help me to bring this title to Brazil. To MMA and Jiu-Jitsu beginners, I say: Stay far away from drugs and street fighting. A real fighter shows its value inside the ring. Peace.