On Wednesday night, February 28, UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia joined hosts Brian Fritz, Dickerman, and Vito DeNucci live on Between The Ropes on Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team to discuss his fight against Randy Couture, his thoughts on training, his thoughts on other fighters such as Andre Arlovski and Frank Mir, and much more.
The conversation began with Tim being asked about his feelings on training and whether he is one of the guys who really enjoys training or if he is one who hates it. "I enjoy training when I'm not getting ready for a fight, but usually the last four weeks of my training prior to the fight I hate. I absolutely hate it because it's grueling, tough, mind breaking, body breaking, really rough."
Tim also said that is isn't easy for him to find a happy medium between training and overtraining and that he tries to make sure he's surrounded by people who will tell him when he needs to take a break.
Regarding Jeremy Horn's departure from his camp Sylvia said, "Horn's spot will never be replaced. We're doing just fine and I've got a lot of great guys around me but Horn is just a certain individual that you can't replace. There's nobody out there like him."
At this point the topic changed to Tim's fight against Randy Couture this Saturday. Tim said that there are things he learned in past training sessions with Couture that he can use to his advantage in the fight.
Next Tim was asked if he was insulted that Randy came out of retirement to face him for the title after losing to Chuck Liddell twice. "No, I don't feel insulted that Randy thinks he can beat me. On any given day anybody can win. For Randy to win I'm going to have to have a bad day and Randy's going to have to have an amazing, great day, probably the greatest day of his life to beat me. I just have to make sure I go out there and impose the game plan. Keep the fight standing up and if we go to the ground just get after it and work the submissions hard and fast. If those open up then great, but if not then I just plan on getting up and knocking him out. He's had trouble with heavyweights in the past. That's why he dropped to 205. Once to dropped to 205 he had trouble with great strikers. Unfortunately for him I'm the best of both worlds, I'm a great striker and the biggest heavyweight he's ever faced."
When asked what it would mean to beat Randy at his own game by using a submission move Tim said it would represent the growing process he's gone through as a fighter. He also stressed that as a champion you can't stop growing but rather you must "keep growing at all times." He then said that he feels this is one difference between himself and Couture.
Regarding whether he has gained the respect he deserves Tim said that he feels that the level or respect he deserves "is still to come" and that so long as he continues to win it is inevitable that he will get that respect.
Randy then refused to say whether he would like to defend his title against Mirco Cro Cop next, remarking that UFC gets to make that decision and all of his focus is on his fight against Couture.
On the subject of his game plan for his fight with Couture Tim said that he hopes to fight a high paced fight in order to test Couture's cardiovascular conditioning. He also said that he plans to use the same game plan as Chuck Liddell did in his two victories over Couture.
Tim was then asked about what he thinks happened to former Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir since his motorcycle accident. "I hate to break the news to you guys, but he was washed up when he beat me. He's never been a great fighter, he's just been lucky, very lucky in his fights. The biggest and greatest thing he's ever done in his career was beat me and it was a fluke accident.
Asked specifically about having his arm broken in his fight against Frank Mir, Tim said "I wanted to keep fighting. I knew he broke my arm and it pissed me off and made me like 'I'm going to kill this guy.'"
Next, Tim addressed the rumor that he carries the belt with him everywhere he goes. Tim said that it is just a false rumor that likely got it start from his first title run when he did have it all the time. He then said that carrying the belt all the time "is more of a pain in the ass than anything. It's heavy and when you try to fly it it's an extra ten pounds in your bag, or if you try to carry it on it's an extra ten pounds on your shoulder."
When asked for his thoughts on Andre Arlovski Tim described him as "one of the toughest guys in the division still. I think I just have his number. I'm a lot bigger, a lot stronger, and I just think I'm a better fighter than he is, but I still think he's on of the best. He's powerful, athletic, and he's got a mean streak to him. I just think I've got a mental edge over him now and I think I'll always have that."
To listen to the Tim Sylvia interview, including Tim discussing what young fighters might challenge him one day, how you can win a hunting trip with him in Canada, as well as the entire February 28 edition of Between The Ropes in streaming audio, visit the show online at http://www.BetweenTheRopes.com. Join us for Between The Ropes for two hours every Wednesday night at 10:00pm ET on Central Florida's Sports Radio 740 The Team and worldwide on BetweenTheRopes.com.
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