Gonzaga wants title

[TN94z]

When Gabriel Gonzaga returns to the Ultimate Fighting Championship on Jan. 19 to face Fabricio Werdum in England it will be the second time the two heavyweights have competed against each other. But now, four years since their first bout, both fighters are at a different level and this fight could have title implications in the heavyweight division.

Returning to the country where he achieved the biggest victory of his career, a knockout win over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Gonzaga is training harder than ever to get back to the top of the heavyweight division, but says that there is no revenge factor for him facing Werdum who defeated him in the fight in 2003. He does, however, feel he is a much better fighter now.

“I’m improved a lot,” said Gonzaga. “I am a completely different fighter since we fought back in Brazil. I am heavier, stronger and faster. At that time I could not train properly for some reasons, but right now I just train.

“If you saw last time, keep your eyes on this fight because you will not recognize me. I will be pushing this fight since the beginning and I will only stop when I have my hands raised.”

Gonzaga insists that he will not carry any extra emotion going into the fight, but will concentrate on simply getting the victory.

“I do not carry any emotions when I go to fight,” he stated in an interview with MMAWeekly.com. “We are both completely different fighters than we used to be.”

In his last fight out, Gonzaga lost to current heavyweight champion Randy Couture, and while he’s been waiting to return, he still has his sites set on the championship, but doesn’t keep that fight in mind moving forward.

“I don’t remember about my losses, I just think about my next fight,” he stated. “I want to win so badly.”

Returning to England is also a great joy for Gonzaga, who pulled off one of the biggest knockouts in UFC history by defeating Cro Cop.

“I am feeling really happy,” he said about his return to the United Kingdom. “The fans accept me there very well and I am having great memories from there. It was a gift for me to (return) there.”

Both Gonzaga and Werdum are very experienced grapplers. Many times when great ground fighters face one another the fight ends up as a stand-up war, but “Napao” is convinced it is his training that will make the true difference.

“I think the big advantage is being well prepared for the fight,” he stated.

The fight with Werdum is the main focus, but he still believes his ultimate goal is the UFC heavyweight title.

“Definitely it is my goal,” Gonzaga said about the UFC title. “I think if I have another chance, things are going to be much different.”

He is a monster and I can definately see him being a big threat in the HW division depending on how much he has improved.

Sorry guys I thought I posted the source. I added a couple of these recently

SOURCE-MMAWEEKLY-http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5435&zoneid=13

[Bran]

here's a video interview with gonz

[Ramma]

I have never been sold on Gonzaga.. if he beats Werdum, then there is some validity to his hype...

If he loses, I hope the Gonzaga Bandwagon will finally deplete...

[smoogy]

There is no link but I'll assume thats another butt-sucking fluff piece from UFC.com... they clearly mean to put all the hype behind Gonzaga for this fight and I hope it all blows up in their face, counting out a legit threat like Werdum is just stupid.

[thebwit]

No offense to this post, but someone please name one fighter without the title that doesn't want it? I mean it doesn't matter who is being interviewed when asked "do you want the title?" the answer is always the same. Hell I bet if you asked Danny Abbadi before his last fight if he would like to have the belt he would have said "Yeah then I would not just be a UFC fighter, but a UFC title holder!"

[scottsec]

He wants the belt???? Well next time dont get your ass kicked in a championship fight...

[baba]

I like him. He wasn't suppossed to be great ... he just kinda quietly came out of nowhere when he beat Mirko.

He's big, strong, has solid jits, and quick hands for a HW. He's also still young and I think can really be a juggernaut in MMA someday.

[Penn4prezident]

Originally Posted by TN94z

He is a monster and I can definately see him being a big threat in the HW division depending on how much he has improved.

yah he is a complete beast. u guys remember how many times he was rocked in the title match? I forgot but I know it was at least once and I know randy was rocked a couple times. Gained new respect for both of them that night. He's so damn well rounded and scary! Just goes to show how badass and dominant couture is though. I know that getting his nose broke changed that whole fight for gonzaga(Im sure many will bring it up) but not only can you obviously not blame Randy for that accident, but he probably would hav frustrated him anyway in less devestating ways even if that slam didn't happen. Im basing that on how intelligent and adaptive Randy is, especially with his greco and dirty boxing techniques that he seems to hav perfected. Im not saying randy would win every encounter, even though he is my favorite fighter, but I wouldn't consider him the underdog like many did the first time around. that label might belong to gabriel the beastmaster!

[maxp84z]

I want Jessica Alba on my lap.

We can want cant we?

LOL, that is up to how Gonzaga fairs against Werdum... My gut is telling me Werdum is gonna sub Gonzaga... just like my gut was telling me that Chuck was going to beat Wand.

My MIND is telling me Gonzaga is gonna crush Werdum, but the GUT says Werdum... same deal.

[Harlem]

i always said Gonzaga was much improved since gis loss to Werdum. That was in his 3rd fight anyway.