Fresh after interviewing Royler Gracie, ace reporters Rafiel Torre and Carl Fisher, corner runner up Baret Yoshida to get his side of the story…

Carl & Rafiel : This is your third time here in Abu Dhabi now?

Baret Yoshida : Yes that’s right?

Looks like you had a bit of an altercation with Royler before you fought when you beat Soca? What did you say to him?

Baret Yoshida : ‘I’m coming for you Royler, you’re next’; he was fighting Robson Moura at the time.

What did you think of your fight Baret?

Baret Yoshida : I think he just ran away the whole fight and he did not want to fight me.

Do you think he feared you more than last year?

Baret Yoshida : Yes I do; last year he had no respect for me but I think he had some this year.

What did you think of the rules?

Baret Yoshida : I think there’s something wrong with the rules when you can run away in a fight and then become a world champion. I should be the world champion.

Every time you tried a submission on him he got up and walked away. Was that frustrating for you?

Baret Yoshida : Yes very; I am the one who took all the shots and went for zero submissions the entire fight. He tried to pass my guard a little bit but I gave him the fight because of the negative points. I was very aggressive and bound to make mistakes.

There are two people that are a threat to Royler right now; yourself and your team mate B J Penn - would you agree?

Baret Yoshida : Yes I think BJ is much bigger than me and BJ will beat him and take him down. I will fight him the exact way if I had to fight him again - I would not change anything. I know deep down in my heart I am the number one guy.

Do you think you will win it next year?

Baret Yoshida : I don’t know; it’s always a gamble - every time you roll the dice it’s different.

Would you fight Royler in an NHB match?

Baret Yoshida : If the fight is there I’ll fight him NHB

How’s the Shooto going in Japan?

Baret Yoshida : The Japanese are tough man. NHB is a little different from the submissions but I enjoy fighting in Japan and I’ve been living there for two months with Enson Inoue. I train with Enson and I have been visiting the schools one at a time. There’s a lot of new guys with new styles out there and I am learning a lot.

Who in Japan in the Shoot organisation impresses you the most?

Baret Yoshida : Sakurai

Have you trained with him?

Baret Yoshida : In 1999, but not recently

How long do you plan to stay in Japan?

Baret Yoshida : I don’t know; one day Enson phoned me and said do you want to train in Japan and I said yes, so I’m just going with the flow. There’s a lot more guys my size to train with.

Where you at Pride when Egan fought?

Baret Yoshida : Yes I was. Egan had not fought all year when he went up against Guy Metzger and he got caught you know. Everybody are friends after they fight over here it’s just business for them you know.

Have you been accepted by the Japanese? Have you a good fan base?

Baret Yoshida : I don’t know I hope so (laughs). I’m not Sato or Sakurai but who knows (laughs)

What are your thoughts on the new Pride rules and the fight with Sakuraba and Silva?

Baret Yoshida : The new rules makes a lot more action and is a little dangerous and a lot of people may get hurt from the rules but it will provide more action. If the money is there I would fight under the new rules.

Have you enjoyed your stay here?

Baret Yoshida : Yes I have - me and Egan are staying here a while longer. The prince was impressed with Egan’s stamina and he wants to work out with him. The guy has incredible stamina man. Before I trained with him I used to eat all kinds if shit and just train ju jitsu to get into shape, but now I do sprints and swim and lots of cardio work prior to a fight.

Baret it was a pleasure to interview you.

Baret Yoshida : No problem

 

 

 

 

Carl Fisher - "The European voice of MMA News "

posted 26 April 2001

 

 

 

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