The 2 times world Absolute champion and 4 times world champion in his weight category, Xande Ribeiro will be having his debut on MMA in September. However, he confirms that he won’t be leaving his Gentle Art aside. In an interview with Tatame, Xande talks about why he chose to do his debut on Sengoku and how he will manage to compete in both MMA and Jiu-Jitsu competitions. Check out the interview bellow.

How are your expectations for the debut? Do you know who will be your opponent?

I don’t have an opponent yet, we just know the date right now. I am not too worried though. I feel confident. I will put all the Jiu-Jitsu I know into it and hopefully will be just as successful at MMA as I was in Jiu-Jitsu.

Are you training standing up?

Yeah, since the World Championship. Actually, I was already training Wrestling before the World Championship. Now, I feel really strong in my trainings and I am ready to fight.

Who are doing this trainings with?

The Wrestling, I am training with Bob Anderson, Strike is with Tony from San Diego. He is really experienced with Boxing, Muay Thai as well, and he is a great coach. I am really happy to be able to train with them.

Which category are you competing on?

I am going to compete on light-heavy weight.

Roger said that he is thinking about cutting down his weight to the same category. Do you think about a fight with him?

Actually, I don’t want to fight him. I made that very clear. There are a lot of people to fight with, but we are professionals. For now, it is a matter of ethic and personal as well. I don’t want to fight him.

Did you see the athletes who are in your category? Is there anyone you would like to have a match with?

Actually, no. It’s my debut, so I am not thinking too much about the opponent. I would like to fight a Japanese. They had offered me an American, but I am not going all the way to Japan to fight an American, right? I don’t know the guys there but I am waiting to see who will be the guy.

Why close the deal with a Japanese event, when now a days, most of the biggest events are being held in the US?

I always had more of a connection with the Japanese discipline and all the network involved with MMA in Japan. Things over there has more of a philosophy behind it. To me, the real MMA is there. In the US, the MMA is more of a show business. Plus, the Japanese came to be with an interesting proposal.

How will you be able to deal with both MMA and the Jiu-Jitsu. Do you plan on competing on the ADCC and the World Championship in 2009?

It is part of the contract that I will have some time to prepare myself for the Abu Dhabi and the World Championship. I wouldn’t have agreed if these conditions weren’t met. Jiu-Jitsu is my priority.

Interview by TATAME. English translation by JJFJ.