Dynamite!! Interview: Kawajiri, Nishijima, Mousasi...
Yosuke Nishijima
Q: How is your condition?
A: I?fm in great condition.
Q: Ray allowed you to use shoes, so how do you feel?
A: I?fll be using my punches as best I can.
Q: So you?fve trained only punches?
A: Actually, no I have been training kicks and defense.
Q: So you?fve improved since your last fight?
A: Quite a bit I think.
Q: But punching while blocking low kicks is very difficult.
A: So I have been training it too.
Q: So what sort of fight do you want to make it?
A: A stop or be stopped fight.
Q: Sefo said he is looking towards the 2010 WGP, but how about you?
A: I am focused on this fight only right now.
Q: I heard Kohiruimaki will be singing your entrance song, how did this come about?
A: I asked the writer of my previous entrance song to write a new one, and after they did we needed a singer. I asked Kohiruimaki, and he happily agreed.
Q: What do you think of the result?
A: It is good.
Q: So it will help motivate you before the fight.
A: Completely
Q: There is a rumor that Kohiruimaki may sing the entrance song live.
A: That is up to K-1 and him.
Q: Do you hope he does?
A: It would be good.
Q: Who is the righter of the song?
A: Maeno. They are a friend.
Q: What is the name of the song?
A: Hope
Q: Are you more confident to be able to throw KO punches with shoes on?
A: Yes, the grip they provide is helpful.
Gegard Mousasi
Q: When did the fight finally get confirmed?
A: Just 3 or 4 days ago.
Q: Were you a little concerned while waiting?
A: Still there was some doubt about the rules whether it would be K-1 rules or MMA.
I was fine with either so it was kind of exciting.
Q: Without knowing the rules, how did you train?
A: It wasn?ft good. Originally I was fighting Nishijima under K-1 rules, and it fell through. So, I took a boxing match on January 8, so I was training boxing. Then I heard several MMA opponents, then I thought I wouldn?ft fight at all. Finally a fight was confirmed, and I found out the rules the day I left for Japan.
Q: It is hard to be motivation for such a fight.
A: It was difficult.
Q: What happened to the boxing bout?
A: No, I cancelled because there isn?ft enough time between the bouts to travel. Maybe another time.
Q: What is your impression of Gary?
A: He is experienced, big and much heavier than me. So, I won?ft underestimate him. It will be an exciting fight.
Q: He has only ever seen your photos. How does that make you feel?
A: For me it is just another opponent. What he thinks is not really important to me. I just need to concentrate on winning the fight.
Q: There is quite a weight difference, so how will that affect you?
A: I see that he doesn?ft move well on the ground, so the weight won?ft help him there. I think I am much faster and explosive, so I think the weight won?ft be an advantage for him. Maybe in the clinch, but that is all.
Q: Do you play to win by strikes or submission?
A: I thought I?fd like to finish with punches, pound him out, a kimura or a triangle choke.
Q: Was that boxing bout a professional bout?
A: It was a heavyweight professional fight.
Q: You?fre thinking about boxing professionally as well?
A: I wanted to try it out and see how I will do. I will do it eventually, but this time the timing wasn?ft right.
Masanori Kanehara
Q: How do you feel now?
A: I am perfect. I just have to lose the weight.
Q: The weight is slightly different to what you are used to.
A: When I took the fight I agreed on the weight so I won?ft use it as an excuse.
Q: How do you want to end the fight?
A: Striking or a submission, I don?ft mind.
Q: Is there more buzz around you for fighting KID?
A: Yes, those around me are a little more excited, but nothing is different for me.
Q: What specific training have you been doing for KID?
A: I didn?ft have much time to train for him, but I did train southpaw vs. southpaw.
Q: Since the fight was decided have you watched any of his fights?
A: Yes, I did watch three of his fights.
Q: Did you notice anything helpful in them?
A: The three fights I saw were rather different from me, but I got the impression he is an easy opponent to fight.
Q: Do things feel different leading up to this fight?
A: For me it is just a fight. Because it is New Years Eve or because it is KID doesn?ft make any difference to me.
Q: How do you feel about KID?
A: I do think what KID has done in the past is incredible, but the MMA world changed over the two years he was out. I think it has passed him by.
Q: Do you feel more pressure representing you organization?
A: I don?ft really have the feeling of it being a competition, but while I have the belt I can?ft lose. I don?ft want to fight thinking of the result, I want to have a good fight. But I can?ft have Sengoku looked down on.
Q: What did you do last year on New Years Eve?
A: I thought about that a lot, but I can?ft remember what I did. Maybe drinking with friends.
Q: So I guess this year is a little more meaningful and important?
A: It isn?ft a stage just anyone can stand on, so I am rather happy.
Pre-Fight Interview
Tatsuya Kawajiri
Q: How do you feel now?
A: I?fve done what I have to, so now I just need to do it in the ring.
Q: What is your impression of your opponent?
A: Nothing special.
Q: How do you envision the end of the fight coming?
A: I am thinking that I can finish no matter where the fight goes.
Q: Did you have a chance to see many of his fights?
A: Yes, I saw a few. I leave that to my trainers and just focused on building myself though. I don?ft want to focus too much on that at the last minute.
Q: What were you thinking when things heated up at the press conference?
A: I wasn?ft really thinking about anything. Aoki spoke enough for the both of us.
Q: Didn?ft you feel you needed to say something back to your opponent?
A: Not really, but with such a low level attack I didn?ft feel the need to reply. I think he needs to study a bit more.
Q: Why didn?ft you stay for the photo session?
A: The fight had began at that stage. I am not doing this to make friends, so I don?ft want to be with them.
Q: How is your weight looking right now?
A: I?fve lost weight well, and just have to watch my water intake from now. Actually, I think this cut has gone smoother than any I have ever done before.