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Posted by Mika Frankl
Prior to his UFC on Fuel TV 9 battle with Pablo Garza Diego Brandao took some time away from training to share his thoughts on the upcoming fight.
MF: Big fight coming up UFC on Fuel TV 9 against Pablo Garza, how you feeling?
DB: First, thank you guy for making it possible for me to share a little bit about my life with all the people in the world. Yeah my fight is going to be a good war. I guess some guys are scared of Pablo Garza you know and I accept the fight because I want to be the best in the UFC. I need to prove to Dana White, for my team, for me, I need to fight tough guys like Pablo Garza. I have respect for him and he’s an amazing fighter. But, we train hard to break the rock, to go there and put on a great show. I (have) been training really hard for this fight. I (have) been doing a lot of conditioning and Jiu Jitsu. I (have) been getting help from a lot of teammates. I feel great.
MF: Can you talk about how you felt after your last win UFC 153 over Joey Gambino at home in Brazil?
DB: Fighting at home is amazing and especially in the UFC. The crowd was amazing, yelling my name. I felt like a big superstar in Brazil with the people yelling my name against Gambino. I feel grateful for the victory. I trained very hard for the victory. I know the way to win a fight. It’s in the way I train so hard last time. And for this fight I train double. So, I am finding a way to win. A way to become a champion like Jon Jones, Carlos Condit, and my other teammates.
MF: Is there anything about Pablo Garza’s game that worries you?
DB: Well he’s very long and skinny, you know. We need to be very careful to avoid elbows and knees in the clinch to make sure I won’t be bleeding. Because, the blood can mess with your vision. But, other than that I know he’s a man and I’m a man and we (are) going to battle inside the cage. I need to be smart and use my game plan and I will come out ahead.
MF: How has life changed for you since winning The Ultimate Fighter and gaining that fame?
DB: When I won the Ultimate Fighter it was crazy. I can’t explain it, I don’t know how. It’s something God put in front me and I feel like a blessed kid coming from Brazil and getting this great training here at Jackson’s/ Wineklejohns from coach Mike Valle (and) Brandon Gibson. I just feel lucky to be training fighting and to be part of this team. I am glad to be who I am.
MF: Do you have any last message for Pablo Garza?
DB: Pablo Garza I’m coming for you. I think this is going to be a great fight. I don’t have nothing personal with you but, I (am) definitely coming to destroy you. I want to say thank you to my teammates Nick, Hunter, Clay Guida, Cub Swanson, Carlos Condit, Jon Jones, Heather Clark, Michele Waterson, Holly Holm, Jodie Esquible, and the whole team. My best master is Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn, I love you guys and thank you.
To watch this great interview play the video below…
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