UFC Fight Night 9 will take place in next April 5th, and the full line-up is scheduled with the main event between Joe Stevenson and Melvin Guillard.

Wilson Gouveia (7-4) is a light-heavyweight ATT powerhouse who will collide against Florida’s native Seth Petruzelli. Gouveia is coming from a dominant victory at UFC 62 over Wes Combs. Let’s find out a little more about this Brazilian who never did think about becoming a MMA fighter. His warrior's blood took over however and now he wants to become a known UFC competitor.


Denis Martins: Thank you for the opportunity of interviewing you Wilson. Can you please introduce yourself to the fans?

Wilson Gouveia: I was born at October 3rd - 1978 in Fortaleza, Ceara - Brazil and my BJJ awards are state of Ceara champion, North-Northeast of Brazil champion, state of Florida champion and American and Pan-American champion. My MMA resume is 7-4.


Denis Martins: Did you represent a team when you lived in Brazil?

Wilson Gouveia: I started my trainings with Glenio Mesquita, a Marcus Aurelio student. My team in Brazil always was Marcus Aurelio's squad, and I am proud of it. I already trained Judo too, but my passion was BJJ.


Denis Martins: How did the opportunity of living and training in America appear to you?

Wilson Gouveia: I came to live here in January '99, because I was looking for better opportunities, since in Brazil the things were very tough. My aunt lived here in America, so I could stabilize myself without many problems. I've been with ATT since the beginning.


Denis Martins: Did you always fight under 93kgs?

Wilson Gouveia: I already fought against heaviest opponents, but I felt myself bestl at under 93kgs. But if necessary, I can fight any weight, less the under 85kgs [laughs] .


Denis Martins: When you mentioned your awards at the first question I expected to listen about any MMA single fight disputed by you in Brazil, since this is very common mainly in the North-Northeast of Brazil.

Wilson Gouveia: I never fought in Brazil, and to be honest to you, it never came through. You can see how the life is funny; nowadays with the MMA matches that I can support my family, thanks to GOD!


Denis Martins: You talked about your aunt who lived in America and you didn't have many problems. But have you reached a 100% adaptation at living in a new country?

Wilson Gouveia: I had troubles to adapt myself, it's not easy to leave the country you were born and face a new life in other country, I didn't speak English. Well nowadays every bad moment was surpassed.


Denis Martins: Into your 6-3 resume MMA's resume we see that you debuted with a victory and beat two opponents in the road after your debut. So you were beaten twice in the road too. How did you manage your mind after these two consecutive defeats?

Wilson Gouveia: I stayed very bad, but with the support of my family and friends I got to be successful again in my career.


Denis Martins: You had a fight against Pride competitor Hirotaka Yokoi and I watched it, and you were very well on that fight and suddenly lost th fight's control. What happened?

Wilson Gouveia: The main reason of that defeat was the lack of experience. I came off a submission victory and two KOs in my prior fights. So I guessed I could beat Yoko by same way; I imposed my all strength against him without saving any stamina. This was my mistake, I gassed out and he took advantage of it.


Denis Martins: Your following matches after Yoko were two fights against Ron Faircloth (a loss and a win) and a loss to Rory Singer. What do those defeats to Singer and Faircloth change about your career?

Wilson Gouveia: I didn't feel myself badly after the loss into Faircloth's fight, because it was not due to his merits that I lost. I spanked him during R1 and I didn't proceed at R2 because I was too much dehydrated. Meanwhile against Singer I deserved that defeat, I didn't train enough and this was great forme. I meant, I could learn by the bad way that MMA isn't a joke.


Denis Martins: You fought only once in 2005. Why did
that happen?

Wilson Gouveia: Indeed, 2005 was a disturbed year for me. I kept myself supporting the team and I didn't have time to prepare myself properly for a MMA match.


Denis Martins: But the only fight you did, you smashed a Pride veteran in Kazuhiro Hamanaka. Is that the real Gouveia's style?

Wilson Gouveia: I went to fight to submit or knock my opponents out. Into my stuff on this game there is no gap for decisions. A decision will happen only if there's no other way….


Denis