Training: A typical day of training starts at 7:30am with weight training followed by cardio. At 12pm technique, followed by sparring. At 6pm boxing followed by grappling. I do cardio at the end of the grappling, so about 9pm I am finished.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I started fighting professionally in 2004. The reason that I started to fight is that I always saw myself as a fighter. Even in real life I’ve had to fight for everything I have. Everything they gave me was because I earned it through fighting, so why not get paid for it.

What ranks and titles have you held? Only the second person in the world to go from purple to black belt in only four years – black belt from Osvaldo Alves in 1998. 4 time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion “as a black belt”: 1998, 2001, 2002, 2005. 9 time Brazilian National Champion: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004. 5 time Copa Osvaldo Alves Champion: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000. Nominated as the most technical jiu-jitsu practitioner in Brazil in 1996.

Do you have any heroes? My hero is my mother, whose efforts in her life made me who I am today.

What is your favorite technique? I don’t have a favorite technique, but they know me all over as the King of Wristlocks.

What does it mean for you to fight in the WEC? It is the greatest opportunity ever given to me as a fighter from the greatest organization in the world. The WEC has the best featherweight fighters in the universe, and I’m deeply thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity that the WEC has given me.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I never had the chance to go to college, because I had to go out on the streets and work to help support my mother and brothers.

What was your job before you started fighting? The last job that I had before I started fighting was as a walking ice-cream vendor.

Most memorable professional fight (who, where, why)? Yoshiro Maeda in Japan - he hit me with everything he had.

What was your most challenging professional fight (against who, when, what was the outcome)? Maeda, in 2004, he won by unanimous decision.

Did you compete in any other sport(s) at college or professional level (what sport, where, how long)? 4 times black belt world champ, 9 times Brazilian champ, current GFC welterweight champ.

Who were your training partners for this fight? My students are my training partners

Did you put more emphasis towards a fighting style or adjust your training to prepare for your opponent (what did you do differently/why)? My training is always the same no matter who I am fighting.

What, other than WINNING, are you using for motivation for the fight? Winning is my only motivation, there are no others.

What is your favorite thing about this sport? The opportunity to show the world who is the best.

How long do you see yourself staying in this sport? A very long time - this is what I do.