OKAMI Yushin Interview from GONG KAKUTOUGI(Aug 15,2012)

==last year, You faced Anderson Silva,so maybe you could not enjoy Summer vacation...but,now you enjoy vacation after great victory!

"Yes, I do not have next fight schedule,So I will take a rest....I will be relax,and restart to next game....Even if I rest After lost game,I can not be really relax...So I got a win, after 2 lose. now I am really relax

===OK,I will ask you vs Baddy Robert.this fight was in Denber. it is highland (1600m above sea level)...Could you keep condition?

”the fight in highland,,,,,It was first time for me. So I heard many advice...so I came to Denbar 10 days ago.training was in Ed Herman gym...I did not feel The thinness of the air at ordinary move,but in hard training,I feel it...by many spparring, I adjusted.”

===You said"The big theme of Next fight is How to enjoy fight"
"But many many worry and pressure comes, in the long time,I could not win,I was sure that I develop,but it is no proof..."

==oh, You can be confident by only victory result...
"I missed ...it was right,but when I enter Octagon,I remember my misson,how to fight"

===But your opponent is changed 2 times,Is it difficult problem?
"yes,I have to game plan completely...but it is destiny.."

===Your cornerman was AMATA Hiromi(K-1 Japanese fighter) ...why did you choice him?
"After 2 lose,I thought change something...So I learned striking from professional K-1fighter...at fiert,I renewal basic boxing and kick skill..and He is big size fighter,So He can show me middle weight figher's technic "

==OK, about this game.Robert was very aggressive,He went ahead,and hit you some punchs..Were you surprised?

"No,Because We expect He comes by aggressive striking...But His handspeed was more fast than Our gameplan it was true.....so I　need the time for getting used to its speed"

===After it,grappling!! YOu took him down!! after it,OKAMI's game
"My theme was .so grappling,takedown,ground game.... it was good tactics for me..His takedown deffence was god,but many spparing partners taught me this patarn too,So I coud take him down very automatically after,it,I became grinder,,,topkeep "

==Long time, I could not see your ground game...
"I think so,I also feel my groundgame was now rare case.haha"

==your pass guard is judo style.basic,but symple is best....
"Yes my passguar style is bvery typical,This is my base...now,I should have do pounds more,but it was best style for me....This is KEISHUKAI style,root is Judo."

===but 1R was over.... Tim Boosh knocked you out in 2nd R, although 1st round was 100% OKAMI's round!! Did you remember it in vs Robert 2nd R?

"I remember it too,So I was more agrresive in 2nd R,and I got back moount,so I will do nonstop pound as long as Refree continue"

===And you won by TKO!! You climb the cage
"I heard it was banned,.....but,I was too excited......from 2011 Summer(vs Anderson Silva),many many experience...many supporter hope my fight....so,i was too excited and Japanese fighter could not win in UFC now,So I have to win I fight in Octagon,as Japanese...Japanese fighter is one team.like olympic!"

==thanks,please tell me your next plan
"I hope ome more fight in 2012,I come to startline again in UFC middleweight...I will challenge top group"

==foe example,Weidman become bigname.
"I expected Weidman's coming!! UFC is nest of strongmen,s..o I want to fight there,and prove my growth"

from

GONG(ゴング)格闘技 2012年10月号