Johnny Toetags
09-09-2005, 04:38 PM
So I was checking out ADCC, and fell upon a link to an Anthony Rea interview, which happened to be on IronLife. Beleive it or not, it was my first time on Iron Life. It's... different.
Anyways, here's the interview.
Antony R?a Interview
by Alan Kermorvan , Team IronLife.com Staff Writer & translation by Raziel
- Alan Kermorvan/Ironlife.com: Hi Antony, your last fight was against Marvin Eastman for the WEF light heavyweight title. I heard that some unexpected things disturbed your preparation for that fight, can you tell us more about that?
- Antony R?a: Hi Alan. Honestly I don't really want to talk about it. I'm not the kind of guy making excuses for his losses. I accepted the fight, I must accept the consequences and the result.
- Though I heard you were supposed to fight a wrestler, and one week before the fight you were told your opponent would be Marvin Eastman, a kick boxer. Moreover, you didn't have a coach out there, and you met your corner man the day the fight took place. That's a lot, don't you think?
No, no... Honestly I don't want to talk about what's going on outside of the fight. The only thing that matters is what's happening inside the cage. I lost and I don't want to make any excuses.
- Ok, can you tell us more about the fight then?
Sure. It was a 5 rounds fight for the WEF belt. During the first two rounds I wasn't good, I wasn't in the fight, nothing happened... Then during the 3rd and the 4th I improved, I started to turn the tide and fight like I usually do. Unfortunately at the end of the 4th I took an elbow and got a deep cut. It was bleeding a lot and the doc stopped the fight.
- Was it a hard fight?
Yeah it was a tough one. I don't think any guy with more than 10 professional MMA bouts is an easy opponent. Maybe I wasn't completely ready to fight Eastman. I'd like to have a revenge soon.
- What's your opinion on Eastman?
He's a very good fighter. People underestimate him because of his two UFC fights. Those are probably his two worst fights... I think he's way better than what the majority thinks. He fought and won against big names like Rampage, White and Steibling. He's a very good Thai boxer. Compared to Cyborg, he's less aggressive but his standup is way better, more polished.
- We expected you to fight for the Cage Rage light heavyweight title. Instead Manhoef and Piamonte will fight for the belt. What happened?
When the title fight was decided I already signed for the fight against De Lucia. That's the promoters who decide, that's their job after all. If they think it's a judicious choice... But I can fight 10 times without a title on the line as long as it brings me something whether it is experience or money. That being said, the belt can be interesting to have some good opportunities later... But I must say I don't understand what Piamonte?s doing here. He has two professional fights and fought once since 1999. I think Cyborg would have been a better choice.
- Let's talk about that fight against De Lucia. He's an experienced fighter who's been around since the first UFC, yet he's only fought once during the last four years... How do you feel about that?
It won't be an easy fight, actually I never had an easy fight! I won't take him lightly, he's a complete and experienced fighter. I'll keep my usual style, I have no troubles fighting on my feet or on the ground, I don't care. He seems to have a good right kick and good grappling skills. His style is a little bit weird, I'll have to pay attention and not get surprised. He's left handed too.
- Cage Rage and Pride recently made a deal. Will you be part of a possible exchange of fighters between the two companies?
Nothing is scheduled as of now. But if DSE asks me, I fight whoever they want, whenever they want! I was told I'd fight another Chute Boxe member after I beat Cyborg (Wanderlei told Antony after his win against Cyborg that other fighters of his team wanted to fight him). If they don't bring him to me in England I'm ready to go get him in Japan. To fight in Pride is the dream of all fighters, I'd love to do it but in this sport you need to know the right people. The deal between Cage Rage and Pride is a great opportunity for European fighters, but I'm French, and I think the English fighters will probably be the ones who'll take advantage of it.
- Any projects? Other fights scheduled?
Nothing signed. After Cage Rage 13 I don't know what I'll do. I've got some contacts with organizations in USA and Brazil but nothing much. I'd like to fight for Cage Rage again. It's the best European organization, better than most American ones. They always put up great cards and they have fighters from all over the world.
- Thanks a lot Antony. Ironlife.com wishes you good luck for your next fight.
Anyways, here's the interview.
Antony R?a Interview
by Alan Kermorvan , Team IronLife.com Staff Writer & translation by Raziel
- Alan Kermorvan/Ironlife.com: Hi Antony, your last fight was against Marvin Eastman for the WEF light heavyweight title. I heard that some unexpected things disturbed your preparation for that fight, can you tell us more about that?
- Antony R?a: Hi Alan. Honestly I don't really want to talk about it. I'm not the kind of guy making excuses for his losses. I accepted the fight, I must accept the consequences and the result.
- Though I heard you were supposed to fight a wrestler, and one week before the fight you were told your opponent would be Marvin Eastman, a kick boxer. Moreover, you didn't have a coach out there, and you met your corner man the day the fight took place. That's a lot, don't you think?
No, no... Honestly I don't want to talk about what's going on outside of the fight. The only thing that matters is what's happening inside the cage. I lost and I don't want to make any excuses.
- Ok, can you tell us more about the fight then?
Sure. It was a 5 rounds fight for the WEF belt. During the first two rounds I wasn't good, I wasn't in the fight, nothing happened... Then during the 3rd and the 4th I improved, I started to turn the tide and fight like I usually do. Unfortunately at the end of the 4th I took an elbow and got a deep cut. It was bleeding a lot and the doc stopped the fight.
- Was it a hard fight?
Yeah it was a tough one. I don't think any guy with more than 10 professional MMA bouts is an easy opponent. Maybe I wasn't completely ready to fight Eastman. I'd like to have a revenge soon.
- What's your opinion on Eastman?
He's a very good fighter. People underestimate him because of his two UFC fights. Those are probably his two worst fights... I think he's way better than what the majority thinks. He fought and won against big names like Rampage, White and Steibling. He's a very good Thai boxer. Compared to Cyborg, he's less aggressive but his standup is way better, more polished.
- We expected you to fight for the Cage Rage light heavyweight title. Instead Manhoef and Piamonte will fight for the belt. What happened?
When the title fight was decided I already signed for the fight against De Lucia. That's the promoters who decide, that's their job after all. If they think it's a judicious choice... But I can fight 10 times without a title on the line as long as it brings me something whether it is experience or money. That being said, the belt can be interesting to have some good opportunities later... But I must say I don't understand what Piamonte?s doing here. He has two professional fights and fought once since 1999. I think Cyborg would have been a better choice.
- Let's talk about that fight against De Lucia. He's an experienced fighter who's been around since the first UFC, yet he's only fought once during the last four years... How do you feel about that?
It won't be an easy fight, actually I never had an easy fight! I won't take him lightly, he's a complete and experienced fighter. I'll keep my usual style, I have no troubles fighting on my feet or on the ground, I don't care. He seems to have a good right kick and good grappling skills. His style is a little bit weird, I'll have to pay attention and not get surprised. He's left handed too.
- Cage Rage and Pride recently made a deal. Will you be part of a possible exchange of fighters between the two companies?
Nothing is scheduled as of now. But if DSE asks me, I fight whoever they want, whenever they want! I was told I'd fight another Chute Boxe member after I beat Cyborg (Wanderlei told Antony after his win against Cyborg that other fighters of his team wanted to fight him). If they don't bring him to me in England I'm ready to go get him in Japan. To fight in Pride is the dream of all fighters, I'd love to do it but in this sport you need to know the right people. The deal between Cage Rage and Pride is a great opportunity for European fighters, but I'm French, and I think the English fighters will probably be the ones who'll take advantage of it.
- Any projects? Other fights scheduled?
Nothing signed. After Cage Rage 13 I don't know what I'll do. I've got some contacts with organizations in USA and Brazil but nothing much. I'd like to fight for Cage Rage again. It's the best European organization, better than most American ones. They always put up great cards and they have fighters from all over the world.
- Thanks a lot Antony. Ironlife.com wishes you good luck for your next fight.