It was a long three months for Japanese Pride fans between the September 10th GP final and UFC's New Years broadcast.
Mirko: "I have no excuses to make for going to the UFC. I have been to Japan 42 times. My feelings for Pride will never change."
After winning the GP belt and anticipation for a rematch with Fedor, why did you decide to leave Pride?

Mirko: "There was really alot of things going on. I think I will have to talk about it all some day. On the day of the GP final I turned 32 and thought I had to make some decisions. What was important that day were the people who have cheered and supported me.
What I wanted was for those people who have supported to me to think: "Pride's Mirko, who we have supported showed his strength and won". ....I do not think that this is a permanent farewell to Pride."
What do you mean? Is not your contract with the UFC for two years and 6 fights?

Mirko: " That is a little inaccurate. It is for six fights, but I have no plans for it taking two years."
Maybe you are right, at your pace it might take just a little over a year.

Mirko:" Three fights."
??

Mirko: "I will be the UFC champion in three matches."

That's great but would the UFC's president Dana White let you have a title match within three fights?

Mirko:" Actually he(Dana White) was going to match me up with Tim Sylvia. I guess Tim ran away(laughing). Right now I am very hungry. I want to fight every 2 and a half to three months. I want to have the belt by the summer and have a fight in the fall, then fight in Japan on New Years."
In Japan?

Mirko:" Yes. Pride and the UFC are rival organizations, but I think I can bring them together. You will have Pride's Champion Fedor and UFC champion and Pride Open weight Champion me. This is my real hope."

That would be a big event. How do you feel about Fedor?

Mirko:"I will never forget our fight. I have no excuses, that fight was a total defeat for me. There might be other fights that I have excuses for losing. That day in August 2005 in Saitama I have no excuses for. To me "that summer" has still not ended."

That means you cannot lose in the UFC

Mirko:" That is true. One reason for not staying in the UFC was inspired by Fedor."
What do you mean?

Mirko:" When Pride had their show in Las Vegas last October, Fedor fought Mark Coleman. It was an away fight for Fedor right? Despite that the American fans embraced this Russian, Fedor. This really surprised me.
Until that point I had thought that America was a country only concerned with what goes on within their borders. How can you say?...They look inward. Their own countrymen. At that fight I thought that America's mma had opened up. That mma was no longer a minor sport. Before the show I went to Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Remember I said I wanted to go there when I first started mma(this is addressed to the interviewer)? There was a party held by American Croations. About 500 people. There were alot of families. Alot of children Iwan's(Mirko's 3 year old son, sorry I do not know if it is spelled correctly) age. They had heard that I was a "star" in Croatia. They asked what kind of martial arts? America does not know what Pride is. They all asked about the UFC. "
How come you do not fight in the UFC?", I was at a loss. Soon the parents of these children were saying to me " Please show America what Croatia is." In Japan I was able to help Japanese understand more of Croatia.
Most Americans do not know where Croatia is. At that moment I thought I can be the one to help Americans understand our country. The UFC has high PPV numbers. That moment in Los Angeles served as a big inspiration to me. Right now in America there is a alot of money going around in the mma business. Not just Bodog. The UFC says they spend 100 million towards mma."
1.2 billion yen?!

Mirko:" But it isn't just about the money. No matter how much money you have I do not think you can beat the UFC. They have the fans, good promotion, connected to the mass media. Only one problem. I think my country men will have some problems."
Why?

MIrko:" My fights in Japan that were broadcast in Croatia were usually on Sunday and in the middle of tha day. Now they will be broadcast at four in the morning on Sunday(grinning). I get people saying to me " can't you do something about that?"."

On February 3rd you will make your Octagon debut. Do you think you will have any adjustments to make regarding the Nevada State Athletic Commision?
Mirko:"Yes. First of all the way I wrapped and taped my hands in Japan is not allowed. That is a problem."
Do you mean how much tape you can use? How long your wraps can be? How much you wrap your hands?
Mirko:"Yeah. In Japan it depends on the fighter. Grapplers do not wrap their fists tighly so they can better grasp their opponent. Strikers wrap their fists tightly with alot of tape to prevent hurting themselves. The NSAC has a rule to how much wrapping you can use."
In Japan you are given a roll of tape and wraps. You can bring your own. It is up to the fighter.
Mirko:"The NSAC rule is 6 feet of hand wraps."
They are pretty strict.
Mirko:" Strikers want to wrap their fists with alot of tape because the open finger gloves do not have much protection. I heard that Fedor's only problem with fighting in Las Vegas was related to wrapping and taping his fists. You know Fedor is a hard puncher."
Have you tried on the UFC gloves?
Mirko:"Yes. Compared to the Pride gloves they are slightly thinner. More the reason that I want to wrap my hands like I did in Japan."
WHat do you think of the change in round format? You will now have to fight 5, 5 minute rounds in a title match and 3, 5 minute rounds for non-title matches.
Mirko:" I have to say that it will be easier for me stamina wise because I fought ten minute rounds."
You get to use elbows also.
Mirko:" Yes I think that will be fun. I am thinking of alot of ways to use them(elbows). In the pound for example. I will have to go back to my kickboxing and remember what I did. We have a new boxing coach on my team. Branimir Rebbac(Sorry I have no idea how to write his name in English). We are discussing strategy. I can no longer use soccer ball kicks and four point knees because they are illegal."
The UFC has many strikers. Defense will be important.
Mirko:" I will have to be careful not to get caught by a big shot."
Your first opponent, Eddie Sanchez is a striker, with a good overhand right. He also is has a good triangle choke. He trained with Team Quest for about half a year.
Mirko:"Team Quest...that is where Dan Henderson trains. Hey I like triangle chokes, also guillotines. "
Speaking about Team Quest, Randy Couture has come out of retirement at 43 years of age. He is also going to fight as a heavyweight. Your first encounter with The UFC was seeing Couture right?
Mirko:"Yes. Couture in his career has always been a good strategist. He is a strong wrestler and has strong stand-up skills. I really want to see how he will do at HW. Last year he had a grappling match with Jacare that ended in a draw."
He has a four fight contract. The possiblity exists for you fighting Couture.
Mirko:" First Randy will have to face Tim Sylvia on March 3rd right? Tim Sylvia has much greater reach than Liddell. I want to see how it plays out. "
Rampage who used to fight in Pride is also in the UFC.
Mirko:"Jackson is here. Liddell is very popular here isn't he?(laughing) I am close to the LHW limit. The day might come where I will have to fight Liddell. First he has to deal with surgery. I will try not to let him get away from me(laughing)."
It is less than one month until you enter the Octagon. What are your thought?
Mirko:"Hmmm...you know the other day while at a friend's house I heard the Pride music they use from a video they were watching. At that moment I felt very sad. I was surprised at myself. When I made the decision to go to the UFC, I thought that there would be no regrets. That beat (dandandadan) I thought, I won't be able to hear it for some time. They play that music backstage at Pride. For me it acted as a switch. Usually when they call on me to get ready I can see and hear the crowd, they call my name and wave. I wave back. My worries disappear. The nervousness I feel until that point disappears. I can focus. That music acted as a switch for me. From now on I will have to find news ways of doing things. You know I still have not been an Octagon(laughing). I do not know how the cage feels to the touch. On January 31st I have work to do at Parliament. I get to Vegas on the 1st. I take my physical for the NSAC. Then it it is showtime. One thing, the time difference is not as great between Croatia and America as it is between Japan and Croatia(laughing). When I enter the Octagon, I wonder what I will feel. Thinking back I was booed first fighting in Pride, fighting for K-1. When I enter the Octagon I will have to decide the path of my life with just my hands."

destrozará a los rivales (no cree tener oposicion)

Rampage who used to fight in Pride is also in the UFC.
Mirko:"Jackson is here. Liddell is very popular here isn't he?(laughing) I am close to the LHW limit. The day might come where I will have to fight Liddell. First he has to deal with surgery. I will try not to let him get away from me(laughing)."