of to be used of fighting without gi. I think I spend too much energy when I fight without a gi. I am used to fight with it. In 2006 I will try to keep a high-pace in no gi submission competitions and
trainings. You have already watched me fighting very-well against tough guys like Rodrigo Gracie, George St. Pierre and Leonardo Vieira, so I kept myself between the best fighters. I only want to know how to adapt my good game in BJJ to the submission.

Denis Martins: Your fight against Marcelo Garcia was much anticipated by the insiders and fans. What did miss for you beating him at that opportunity?

Leonardo Santos: The rule, I did a wrong tactic and the referee warned me by -1 point when I walked back, so to recover from it when you are not used to do it, it was hard. I would have to accept his game a little more. I would have chances of working to sink my game and pass his guard.

Denis Martins: Would you like to face him in BJJ's competitions?

Leonardo Santos: Like I said before, I do not choose opponents, but I think this fight would be great. But I would like to face him without gi again.

Denis Martins: MMA is the issue now, and in your only MMA match you faced Takanori Gomi. How do you analyze Gomi nowadays and what can you tell us about that match?

Leonardo Santos: That opportunity was an adventure, because I always wanted to know if I had a game for MMA. Andre Pederneiras asked me if I wanted to fight in Japan, and I accepted in the right-moment. I did not ask him against who this fight would be or when would be it too. I had 20 days to train Boxing and MMA. I went to face Gomi who was the SHOOTO welterweight champion and for the surprise of all I lost a close split decision to him in a tough fight. I got to connect a punch on his nose which bled a lot. But I think I did not have enough experience to handle the situations which occurs in a MMA fight, if I had more time to train I would beat him, I believe. But the experience was very good, because I fought a real champion and nowadays he is the guy to be beaten.


Denis Martins: Why have you not fought more in MMA?

Leonardo Santos: Everybody thinks that to fight MMA is only to train and the fight will appear. There are a lot of fights, but the events do not pay a good salary. My phase in BJJ is superb and I can get a good salary fighting BJJ. For sure I have several doubts of kicking-off the BJJ competitions and go to MMA ones, I believe I have talent, a good reach for MMA and I do not fear hits. But if the events insist on paying less money then I win in BJJ, I am not going to fight. But I have hopes of being invited to fight MMA for a good salary.

Denis Martins: Do you think that Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro is the only guy who can beat Gomi?

Leonardo Santos: I think Gomi is a great fighter, and who is going to fight him needs to fight strategically. Because everybody is seeing that Gomi has sharpened hands, so why to force on fighting on the feet instead of fighting on the ground? We need to see if his ground game is good. I think Shaolin has chances of beating Gomi and I do not understand why Shaolin was never invited by DSE to compete at Bushido.

Denis Martins: You have a MMA fight scheduled for next March at ShowFight 4…

Leonardo Santos: …I still did not confirm it. I did a kind of agreement here in Canada and I only would leave this country if the money salary for this fight be very-good.

Denis Martins: Somehow, did you expect to fight MMA in Brazil?

Leonardo Santos: I never thought about it. In Brazil the proposal are always low and they do not respect the fighters such as they(the promoters) should do. But nothing is impossible.

Denis Martins: The name of your opponent is David Baron, do you know anything about him?

Leonardo Santos: I only know he is undefeated and I guess he is SHOOTO Holland champion. I still did not go in-depth into his game, if the fight confirms itself, I will do it.

Denis Martins: Is it good or not to fight against a guy never seen before?

Leonardo Santos: It is always good to know a little about the characteristics of your opponent. But if I am enough prepared to face him, I will impose my game without any worrying.

Denis Martins: I hope to see you here fight MMA. Thank you for your time.

Leonardo Santos: Thanks for the opportunity. Let's see what will happen until March.