Ricardo De Araujo interview

Summary

Ricardo is an amateur fighter training out of Team Torres, he competes against Peter O`Reilly for the first ever flyweight championship in a fantastic match up We speak about his previous title fight, potentially competing at bantamweight next plus much more

Transcript (youtube_captions)

Okay, so once again I have in a short space of time and I'm delighted to bring him back Ricky Dujo. Uh he I talked to him just before Clan Wars he's actually got another title fight coming up this weekend on Raph Fighting Championships. It's the first time that they'll ever be giving out a belt. Uh it's his first time to it'll be a chance for him to win his first belt again. Um thank you very much for joining me. How you feeling? It's fight week. Not long left. >> Yeah, it's fight again, bro. Uh just can't wait again to get another uh chance to fight for a title here against uh Peter, which I've already fought and it was tough. Look, so looking forward to Yeah, I think it's a really good fight. H obviously I'm going to say that cuz I am part of the show, but I really like the fight. Um you're just coming off obviously a title fight which unfortunately you came up short in. But do you want to talk about that fight because I was obvious before man you took that head kick like a champ. you went in there with Nate Kelly who's around for such a long time and you got the three round experience however which I think is is more important. How did you feel obviously after the fight uh with your emotions and and what did you take away from the fight? Yeah, man. It was it was tough like you know obviously fighting against one of the best lad in the country like it was it was hard as well like cuz Nate's been doing this since he was like five like and I've only been at it for about 3 years now exactly like but um on that night like I could have done so much in that cage like I was after that fight I was leaving leaving that cage with so many regrets that I like I could have done way more and all like and just hope that it doesn't happen this hard again like and I'm hoping to get this belt and enjoy my time with my my girlfriend, my family and my friends like so yeah just looking forward to it bro. >> Yeah. So because obviously after this we're going to be leading into December at Christmas time. I'm assuming this will be your last fight of the year then or have you anything else booked? Yeah, I'm actually fighting um Johnny Thompson's two weeks later and Cage Gladiator. So at bantamweight m when I was saying about uh when I was talking to you the last time saying about trying bantamweight out so [snorts] that's that's the chance to fight a banttom because see like see the way this fight is two weeks after. >> Yeah, >> it's going to be hard enough to make the flyweight. So there there's the chance there like so why not take it a bantamweight. So you know why not >> exactly cuz like that two weeks after this one you don't want to start going into a camp or a cut well obviously you've got your camp for this and that will lead over to the next one and it's hard enough to make a cut once uh and then to try and make it again in two weeks. We've seen Tony Ferguson do it [ __ ] like when his fight fell out even that that time that uh when he went in against Gishi, but I wouldn't recommend trying to cut weight uh so often. But like that is good cuz they like that. You come out of one fight straight into another and you just have to worry about the fight more so and not the weight cutting. And then you can see how you feel at it. You might feel more energized, more refreshed. You might feel you perform better and it's good. Then then after that you lead into Christmas and you'll have your time. But this week, how does it feel obviously to to be asked for the title fight and to potentially be the first ever champion for Rat? I know it's not like a a huge big thing in the grand schemes of MMA, but for people involved in it like myself and yourself, these are big milestones for you, the show, and stuff like that that mean will mean something to you going forward in later life. Arro obviously with the show going forward. How does it feel to be to be part of history with this title fight? Oh, it's class like Arnold um obviously he's a great guy he's a great guy like and I was actually meant to fight um the last round against um Thomas Coran for a title but he pulled out and but I actually went and watched the event and I think it was class like see the atmosphere and all like I've seen you obviously you were there like but see the atmosphere you can tell like especially when there's it's like it's a small small venue like see the atmosphere it's class and then I texted Arnold and all saying like oh like I can't I can't wait to fight in your show cuz that atmosphere was class like and and here I am this Saturday I'm going to I'm going to I can't wait like to fight in that promotion like obviously it's a small like as obviously it's a new promotion coming up but it's good though do you know what I mean so just can't wait to um go on there. >> Yeah, like that's what there's there's a professional fight on the top of it as well. We nearly had another one. I won't go into the details of that, but we nearly had two pro fights. We're after having a couple of good amateur fights fall out as well. Um like Nick Rabu Rabu Rabu and Sean McDermott was one I really really liked as well, but obviously that's not going ahead. >> And like you said, the atmosphere cuz I remember speaking to you there. I remember I walked in through the entrance. You were standing there with your girlfriend at the time. I just saw you and I was like the poor [ __ ] like you know the sort of way and then we had a little exchange. It was the day your birthday as well was it? >> Yeah it was. It was actually on my birthday like Yeah. >> Yeah cuz I I remember that and I was like just go have a drink, have some food and enjoy yourself and >> and what I liked about that show is the way the seat like cuz when you go to most shows the cage is obviously the level of everyone and you're sitting here and you're you're looking up. Whereas on that one it's kind of it's down on a dance floor kind of sort of area and everyone's looking >> down. You have a better view of it. And like I said, when it's smaller, it's got that intimate kind of you can feel it's like a pressure like you can feel the atmosphere. It's really really good. And I'm glad we have yourself and Peter's like another really good guy to have on as well. He's another one who's obviously you know his story coming back from cancer and stuff like that and and to start fighting again and for a belt again. So with Peter coming up obviously he's from Ardin and MMA under the Coran brothers like have you looked at it like obviously you fought before but you expecting a different version of himself and yourself coming into this fight? No, like I haven't really thought about anything about him. Like I've I've just been training like I know obviously like he's going to make few improvements there and then like but overall like I don't I don't see now like I don't really care anymore like I'm just going in and do my own thing and play my own game like you know I don't really look at anyone anymore like or even study about anyone like >> Yeah. And I like the amateur. I think uh I think your coaches are probably best placed for that. And then it it's different when you go into pro UFC cage warriors, you know, where where like certain fights I know obviously this fight will mean a title, but so like you go into cage warriors and and if you win this fight, there's a chance for contender series like Joe, then I think you need to start kind of looking into stuff and yourself, but mostly your team is better for it. >> Um >> yeah. >> Uh yeah, but fighting on the show is going to be really really good. Um, I'm really glad we we've got really some really good title fights and then you're going to be going on and fighting two weeks later. You've been quite active this year. Are you looking to stay active again next year? >> Well, that's what I I expected this year like cuz I was looking to be active this year like and obviously it happened. So, um, hopefully, yeah, next year if it all goes as planned, like it's hoping to keep, uh, active all year round like, so we'll see. We'll see what happens. Like, you know. >> Yeah. No, it it's good. It's good. And there's obviously with your gym, there's one or two lads. Uh, there's yourself and I think there's at least one if not two more on the card. Uh, I believe Ryan is one of them. >> Ryan. Ryan. It's It's only me and Ryan fitting on this artist. >> Okay. See, see I have so many names for when I was looking and matching and fight falling out. But how does it feel obviously to have someone else on the card with you coming up to it as well? Does it make it a little bit easier? Not that it would feel like you're alone, but like there's a little bit more of a buzz when there's two people on the same card from the same gym. >> Yeah, man. I think it's class like see especially when there's someone there fighting the same night as you. It's lethal. Like see when I was in New York like I when I was fighting at one of the yard and there was I think there was about four boys fighting out of our gym including me and it was classic cuz obviously like you're on fight day me D and um the lads would go get something to eat before head down to um your championship and it's oh it's some it's some buzz it's pass. >> Yeah. No, it is. It is is and obviously you've got a great team there. Unfortunately, we're wishing Kieran Brady well. He seems to be in good health and good spirits after the weekend obviously. And um you don't take the risk, you don't get the reward and sometimes you get caught back >> more so I think he's like the way he is with his teammates, his his wife, his kids and all. That's what I said to him. That's more important. That's who you're going home to. It's to know the sort of way. Obviously >> that this is it is a fight. If you won, you'd be kind of you wouldn't be thinking too much about it. has got a good mindset. But look, it's going to be really, really good this weekend. It's going to be a pleasure to see you and it's going to be a pleasure to to call the fight as well. I'm really really looking forward to it. Is there anything you want to say before you go or anyone you want to shout out and thank you again for your time? >> Yeah, no worries. Just shout out to the lads from team toy and just keep me right. Um, obviously like after the fight with Nate, all the lads just looked after me well and just [clears throat] has always been there. you know, and it it feels good when you know like all your coaches and your teammates are there for you for your losses and wins, you know, no matter what. Like it's it's good [clears throat] to have them around you. >> Yeah. No, it's good cuz they've experienced it before. Uh and like that cuz that's a that I I I know Seven. I really like Seb. I really know Deki Molen a lot. Um, and I just as as a character, there's no [ __ ] with him, but he knows what needs to be done with fighters when he needs to be no [ __ ] or he needs to put an arm around a person and kind of not console them, but you know, be there for them like he's got that right balance as does the rest of them. But no, thank you very much. Can't wait to see you this weekend. Best of skill. I'm really looking forward to the fight. Really glad we have you on H and you're going to get to fight for title this time. So yeah, see you this weekend and thank you very much. >> No, no worries. See you later, bro. Talk to you later. Bad.