Reining Champion, Remy, angry with Alister!!
Isn't that against the rules?
Q: I heard a new baby joined your family just prior to the WGP World FINAL 16. Congratulations.
Bonjasky: Thanks!
Q: Do you feel having the baby and defeating Melvin Manheof around the same time was some sort of destiny?
Bonjasky: Well, I don't feel a direct connection between them. My ex-wife got pregnant in 2003 and my first child was born on Dec 29th, but it didn't affect my game. About the fight itself, I couldn't read Melvin's game plan during the first two rounds. I had a lot trouble swinging the flow my way.
Q: You were thrown down in the clinch so many times. Didn't you get irritated?
Bonjasky: It disturbed my rhythm more than annoying me. I was taken down many times, but I think that was almost against the rules. I think he did well destroying my game plan. I won the fight based on the result of the third round.
Q: You drew ball number 4 at the draw. Why did you choose Zimmerman? After all, you had other choices.
Bonjasky: I've never fought against him, and also, I received an invitation from him. (Zimmerman was beckoning Remy) I see him as a great fighter. Also, I wanted to pick my opponent by myself rather than have someone picking me.
Q: But you were chatting with him when drawing the ball.
Bonjasky: The day before, I was thinking with my team who to choose, because we knew we have the draw. I was chatting with Zimmerman, like, "What number did you draw?" He was saying, "I won't tell you". Just things like that. I can think better and sleep better when they do the draw the day after the Final 16. The current system is better, I think.
Q: It's going to be a harsh tournament whoever you fight with. How do you see it as last year's champion?
Bonjasky: I think it's going to be tough. Everyone thinks the same way. Each fighter is preparing very hard to reach the top. There're no beginners here. They are all professionals. Teixeira and Alistair too. Everyone has the motivation to be a champion. It's defenitely going to be a tough tournament.
I want to rematch Badr in a superfight.
Q: This match against Zimmerman is being looked at like last year's champion vs. The new generation.
Bonjasky: As long as he remains in the Final 8, he is not a beginner even though he is young. He is a fighter with some experience. And he has strong motivation to win. When I first saw him, I thought he is still young, but at the same time I thought he has good enough experience to be there. You never know what's going to happen unless you fight.
Q: If you had been able to choose anyone, would you have chosen Badr Hari based on last year's result?
Bonjasky: If it had of been a superfight, I'd have chosen him. But this time it's a tournament. It is important to think how effeciently you can be in the final match, rather than just thinking about a rematch against someone. I guess Badr chose Ruslan because he has fought against him before and knows what kind of fighter he is. Of course it's not an easy bout, but it makes it easier to fight. Every fighter has an opening round that is either difficult, or a little less difficult to fight. Because it's a tournament, the key is whether or not you can choose a fighter that is easier to fight, to put yourself in an advantageous position.
Q: Badr was saying that you escaped to the other block.
Bonjasky: Obviously you don't have to choose a difficult match from the beginning. If I want to end the matter against him, I'd ask K-1 for a superfight, not a tournament fight. In a tournament, you have two more fights even after you win in the quartefinals. It's natural that you choose the lowest difficulty match in the begininng.
Alistair is challenging for the crown as a part-time worker.
Q: So, you are saying Zimmermann is a low level of difficulty?
Bonjasky: I don't mean it like that. He is a strong fighter but young in terms of experience. I'm sure I can exploit the gap in his game. And in that draw situation, my only choice was Zimmermann because Badr and Ruslan had been arranged already.
Q: Various problems happened last year. Do you want to show your real
ability this year?
Bonjasky: I want to be The Champion without any troubles. I don't know if it will come true on Dec 5th but if I come across Badr in the final again, I want to beat him this time to the point where he knows he was beaten.
Q: What did you think when Aerts was defeated by Alistair?
Bonjasky: That was really too bad. For Alistair, it must be a huge honor to beat "Mr. K-1". I have practiced with Peter and I respect him as a person. He is great as a fighter too, and it hurts to see him beaten like that. He has contributed to K-1 so much, which has benefitted me me too. What is bad is that people who have just started watching K-1 might think that Peter is not that strong after only watching that match. It is like his 17 years of devotion has just been erased.
Q: I see. That was shocking for fans too. Alistair says he will become the champion this year, and then he is going to concentrate on Mixed Martial Arts next year. That is a big deal for K-1.
Bonjasky: Simply, it's important to beat him as a fighter, but that's not everything. I don't feel good that he came from a different field like MMA, and starts beating my K-1 colligues. He shouldn't become the champion. For him it's like a part-time job, not his main business. But for us in K-1, it is our business. That's why I have to stop him.
