‘Fight Talk’ With Ricardo Almeida: Matt Hughes, Why Fedor Got Submitted, Training With Frankie Edgar

Immediately after Matt Hughes (44-7) defeated Renzo Gracie (13-7-1) at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, an animated Ricardo Almeida approached matchmaker Joe Silva near the Octagon steps and asked to Hughes next. Almeida wanted retribution for the Gracie Fight Team, which now has three losses to Hughes.  In addition to Renzo Gracie, Hughes has stopped Royce Gracie (UFC 60) and Matt Serra (UFC 98).  Along with Almeida, all are Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belts.  Joe Silva soon granted Almeida’s Octagon wish.  The man who made his name fighting in Japan vows to defeat Hughes – the American MMA legend – on August 7^th at UFC 117 in Oakland, CA.

Since returning to the UFC in 2008 after a three-year hiatus, Almeida is 4-1 coming off a convincing stoppage of Matt Brown at UFC 111.  The New York born, Brazilian-raised fighter believes his best work is still ahead and credits the quality of his regular training with the UFC’s Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar, UFC middleweight contender Nick Catone, plus StrikeForce’s Roger Gracie, and occasional sparring with Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez.

Almeida chatted with Fighters.com last week about fighting Matt Hughes, UFC 116 highlights, training with Frankie Edgar, and why Fedor Emelianenko lost to Fabricio Werdum.

Moody: You know you will be getting a ton of questions about Matt Hughes beating three of your fellow Team Gracie fighters and if this is revenge for you?  Do you buy into that kind of question?

Almeida: If I said I didn’t care, I would be lying.  I asked for the fight immediately as Joe Silva was walking into the Octagon to congratulate Hughes for beating Renzo.  It is not anything personal with Matt, but being competitive, as I am, and he beat a couple guys on my team, and I want to get the win back for my team more than anything and keep climbing the ladder.

Moody: How is training going and what did you learn about Matt Hughes from his fight against Renzo Gracie?

Almeida: It (training) is going pretty good, you know, I am ahead of schedule.  My weight is pretty good.

For sure, Matt is a great competitor, it looked like he was having a little of a tough time in the standup with Renzo in the first round but came back with leg kicks in the second round.  Matt is a guy you have to put away to beat him. He is going to keep coming back. He is going to change between rounds.  I have to come out and have to be ready for his kick-boxing, ready for his wrestling, ready for his ground and pound, and do my homework, you know, and put it all together in the fight.

Moody: The place Hughes would want the fight is on the ground for his wrestling and the place most people would think you would want the fight is on the ground with your Jiu Jitsu. So do you go to the mat or keep it standing?

Almeida: Matt is the kind of a guy, no matter where the fight goes, he will make the adjustments and give himself a chance to win the fight and is always looking to put you away. So, I am not really focused on one thing. For this fight I am just focused on getting better and be a better fighter than when I fought Matt Brown.  Brown is a tough guy, but Matt Hughes is a legend.

Moody: You were in Frankie Edgar’s corner when he beat BJ Penn (15-6-1) for the lightweight title.  Also, you have been training with him every week – what has he brought to your team in Hamilton, NJ and what have you learned from him?

Almeida: I have never seen someone train harder or with more intensity than Frankie Edgar (12-1). The kid is just phenomenal; his endurance is second to none.  He pushes himself to the limit every single session.  To me, it is inspiring, being there and seeing someone doing it … and now he has the belt and it holds me to a higher standard.

The other day was a Saturday, and a couple of the guys had fights. It was just me and Frankie, some amateurs and our boxing coach.  Our coach paired-up me and Frankie for boxing five five-minute rounds. It was like being in a title fight.  We just attacked each other.  It is those kind of training sessions that you remember, and carry into the ring.

Moody: What do you think about when you watch a fighter like Chris Leben (21-6) get into a brawl and put on a show like he did against Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-2) at UFC 116.  Do you like a fight like that or does it entice you to get away from your strengths in order to please the crowd?

Almeida: I thought it was a great fight, very entertaining, it was back and forth and a lot of great technique. I like watching Akiyama’s takedowns and Leben had some really good guard work from the bottom.  The whole back and forth of the whole fight and how Leben, little by little, started surging and Akiyama, little by little, started fading, it was definitely drama with that and how he ended it with the submission.  It was a very entertaining fight.  I try to fight a little more inside the game plan that my coaches draw up for me and a little more precise and calculating.  I still love watching guys fight like that but that is never how I am going to fight.

Moody: Favorite song on your iPod now?

Almeida: My walk out song … ‘Ball and Chain’ by Social Distortion

Moody: As a third degree Gracie Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, you are as qualified as anybody to critique what happened to Fedor Emelianenko (32-2) in his recent loss.  How did you see his fight go against Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1) and is there anything he could have done to escape the submission?

Almeida: Werdum is one of those guys that has heavy legs and it is hell to be in their closed guard. Him and Roger Gracie, they just have heavy hips and legs and once they lock the triangle, it is going to be tough to get out of.  I felt that once Fedor knocked him down, I felt it was a mistake to get in his guard. He was able to get out the first try and then he should have stood back up.  Plus, you have a guy like Werdum, who just locked that ankle under the knee and pulled the head down, it is going to be tough to get out whether it is the triangle or arm lock.  So, I thought he should have recognized it. Fedor is the kind of guy who has the killer instinct and wants to put you away, but that can work against you.  I am sure he is going to come back and be the dominant force that we’ve seen over the past ten years.

Moody: You are 33 now.  What are your goals at this point?

Almeida:  My goal is to be in the top five before the end of the year.  Depending what happens in the Hughes fight, I keep climbing up.  After this fight, I would like another fight before the end of the year and establish myself as a top welterweight, but I am not thinking past Hughes, honestly. Hughes is a really tough guy. Some people say he is past his prime; he might have slowed down here and there.  But I am watching tape and am like ‘who are these guys watching,’ he was the best welterweight ever; finishing all these guys, that is the guy I am getting ready to fight.

Moody: Final thoughts on your next opponent.  Sometimes Matt Hughes comes off a bit arrogant and this rubs folks the wrong way … as it did with Matt Serra.  Do you agree with that perception?

Almeida: I mean, you know, he has a different personality than me and people I am around. But that doesn’t bother me.  Whether I like him or dislike him, it does not matter.  I am in there to win, whether I like him or not.  There was a lot of trash talk when he fought Matt Serra and a little with Renzo Gracie.  Sometimes, Hughes can rub people the wrong way.  But I am watching tape and looking at a phenomenal fighter.

Moody: Ricardo, good luck and thank you for taking time to talk to Fighters.com.

What are your thoughts on Ricardo Almeida fighting Matt Hughes at UFC 117 on August 7^th?

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