Gabriel Gonzaga
Gabriel Napao Gonzaga is a jiu-jitsu black belt Grand Prix champion in Brazil. One of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu heavyweights around Gonzaga will be fighting his second fight in the Octagon on Saturday at UFC 60 when he takes on fellow BJJ black belt and countrymen Fabiano Scherner. Gonzaga comes into the match with a 5-1 record while Scherner holds a record of 5-2. Question was able to speak with Gonzaga a mere two days away from the biggest fight in his young MMA career.
Question: Talk about your first fight with Fabiano Scherner at the Abu Dhabi Combat Club trials, a grappling tournament back in 2004?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Fabiano is a tough competitor. The fight took place in Brazil. It was a very tough fight. But I was able to win the match.
Question: How has your style changed now that youre a full time MMA fighter?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Since my MMA debut back in 2003 Ive realized that I need to train more standing up rather than from my back. I will continue to work and improve my stand up as I get more fighting experience.
Question: What new pieces have you added to your fight game since your debut?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Since I started doing MMA full time Ive been working on my shooting and boxing skills. My boxing coaches are Atila Cebola and Clayton Roberson Jr. Also I work out with the Chute Boxe School in Brazil and my new team in the U.S Link fight team out of Massachusetts. My wrestling coach Junior Williams has helped me with my take downs.
Question: How do you see the fight on Saturday with Fabiano playing out?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Its going to be a good one were both Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts. The fight is going to be a lot of ground gaming. I see me using my BJJ techniques on the mat in order to win the match via a submission.
Question: How do you feel about fighting a fellow Brazilian?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Im a professional so to me its just one more match I have to fight. If I could choose Id choose another opponent in the heavyweight division whos not from the same country but Ill fight whomever UFC puts in front of me. In the end this just shows the Brazilian fighters have the top techniques in the world.
Question: What do you see as Fabiano strengths and weaknesses?
Gabriel Gonzaga: His strong point is on the ground because of BJJ black belt and he has proven over the last four years that he is a top BJJ heavyweight. As for weak points I dont see many. Everyone in this division is a tough opponent, they all have great chins and their all training very hard all the time.
Question: What are your plans for the rest of 2006?
Gabriel Gonzaga: I have a contract with the UFC, but Im very focused on this fight. I take each fight one at a time. After this fight Ill fight any opponent UFC wants me to match up with.
Question: What did learn from your UFC debut when defeated Kevin Jordan at UFC 56?
Gabriel Gonzaga: I went into that fight with a few problems in personal life outside of the ring but I learned a great lesson that to be competitive at the UFC level you need to come in and be professional as well cross train very hard before each match. So that is what I did going into this next match. I hope to put on a good show for the UFC fans.
Question: So who do you like in the main event, Hughes VS Gracie?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Its going to be a wonderful match between two legends. Matt Hughes is a little younger so thats an advantage. You cant forget to give a lot of respect to Royce for how much he has done for the sport and the level of fighter he is at BJJ. So I see Royce Gracie winning the fight, I cant pick against a legend and a fellow Brazilian.
Question: Anyone you would like to thank from your training for this big fight?
Gabriel Gonzaga: Of course I got a big list for you. First of all I have to thank my wife and daughter for all their loving support. Thanks to all my supporters friends, students, and coaches. Thanks to all my students in back in Brazil. Thanks to my new fight team over in Massachusetts Link fight team. Thanks to the members of Chute Boxe team. Thanks to Cebola boxing team. Thanks to San Paulo team. All the people I sparred with. Thanks to Macro Alvan my BJJ coach and Clayton Roberson Jr. my boxing coach. My sponsors NAGA North American Grappling Association, I-Fight, Sports Shake, Dragao Kimonos, Tatami mats, and Red Nose.
