123trisweat
23-12-2008, 09:19
Wanderlei, Forrest en Minotauro geleend van gr. mag
The recently-formed union shook the world of Brazilian MMA, as two of the sport’s biggest names kicked off their partnership. In Las Vegas, Wanderlei Silva and Rodrigo Minotauro had their first training session together in preparation for their respective challenges at UFC 92, to take place on the 27th of December, and the partnership between GRACIEMAG.com and PortaldasLutas.com had access to the info and photos from the historic occasion.
Minota faces Frank Mir for a chance to dispute the definitive UFC heavyweight title, against Brock Lesnar. While Wand will come up against Quinton Jackson a third time, for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight belt. And, looking to prepare themselves as best as possible, another of the biggest names in the MMA world joined the duo: current UFC light heavyweight championship, Forrest Griffin.
http://www.graciemag.com/data/images/news/categories/cat_51/WandMinota1.jpg
Wand receives Minotauro in his replica UFC octagon.
“The first training session has already taken place with Minotauro, Wanderlei Silva and Forrest Griffin. The three will fight on the same day and are training together. We had a technical sparring session and it was really cool. The session was a mix, real MMA. Rodrigo Artilheiro, Rafael Alejarra, Dorea, Daniel Valverde and I conducted training. It was very technical,” said Amaury Bitetti, who helped coordinate the activities.
“Forrest is an awesome training partner. He has good boxing and good double-leg defense. Wanderlei trained really well too. He landed the moves he tried, took him down… It was a good three-person training session, a round-robin,” he remarked.
http://www.graciemag.com/data/images/news/categories/cat_51/WandMinota2.jpg
The two stars warm up before technical training.
On any bad blood from the old rivalry between Chute Boxe and ATT, Amaury put the matter to a rest. “That’s in the past. I think it was good for Wanderlei. When we’re far from home, sometimes we feel a little alone, it’s weird. We were also a little out of place here and I think this meeting raised his spirits and ours. When the invitation came in from Alejarra to train with Wand I said we had to go for it. I knew it would be good for everyone,” Amaury said, as he praised the structure Wand set up in Las Vegas.
“The academy is sick. There’s an altitude chamber, which simulates training at four thousand meters above sea level. You can practice boxing or even grappling with this effect and, when you get out, you become an animal. It simulates altitude and you get way tough,” he said in finishing.
http://www.graciemag.com/data/images/news/categories/cat_51/WandMinota3.jpg
Wand, Minotauro Forrest Griffin, Bitetti (on Griffin's right) and Alejarra (red pants) pose for a photo after training in Las Vegas
The recently-formed union shook the world of Brazilian MMA, as two of the sport’s biggest names kicked off their partnership. In Las Vegas, Wanderlei Silva and Rodrigo Minotauro had their first training session together in preparation for their respective challenges at UFC 92, to take place on the 27th of December, and the partnership between GRACIEMAG.com and PortaldasLutas.com had access to the info and photos from the historic occasion.
Minota faces Frank Mir for a chance to dispute the definitive UFC heavyweight title, against Brock Lesnar. While Wand will come up against Quinton Jackson a third time, for a shot at the UFC light heavyweight belt. And, looking to prepare themselves as best as possible, another of the biggest names in the MMA world joined the duo: current UFC light heavyweight championship, Forrest Griffin.
http://www.graciemag.com/data/images/news/categories/cat_51/WandMinota1.jpg
Wand receives Minotauro in his replica UFC octagon.
“The first training session has already taken place with Minotauro, Wanderlei Silva and Forrest Griffin. The three will fight on the same day and are training together. We had a technical sparring session and it was really cool. The session was a mix, real MMA. Rodrigo Artilheiro, Rafael Alejarra, Dorea, Daniel Valverde and I conducted training. It was very technical,” said Amaury Bitetti, who helped coordinate the activities.
“Forrest is an awesome training partner. He has good boxing and good double-leg defense. Wanderlei trained really well too. He landed the moves he tried, took him down… It was a good three-person training session, a round-robin,” he remarked.
http://www.graciemag.com/data/images/news/categories/cat_51/WandMinota2.jpg
The two stars warm up before technical training.
On any bad blood from the old rivalry between Chute Boxe and ATT, Amaury put the matter to a rest. “That’s in the past. I think it was good for Wanderlei. When we’re far from home, sometimes we feel a little alone, it’s weird. We were also a little out of place here and I think this meeting raised his spirits and ours. When the invitation came in from Alejarra to train with Wand I said we had to go for it. I knew it would be good for everyone,” Amaury said, as he praised the structure Wand set up in Las Vegas.
“The academy is sick. There’s an altitude chamber, which simulates training at four thousand meters above sea level. You can practice boxing or even grappling with this effect and, when you get out, you become an animal. It simulates altitude and you get way tough,” he said in finishing.
http://www.graciemag.com/data/images/news/categories/cat_51/WandMinota3.jpg
Wand, Minotauro Forrest Griffin, Bitetti (on Griffin's right) and Alejarra (red pants) pose for a photo after training in Las Vegas