UFC on ESPN 71: Rodolfo Vieira post-fight interview
UFC on ESPN 71 winner Rodolfo Vieira talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters post-fight after his unanimous decision victory over Tresean Gores.
LAS VEGAS – Rodolfo Vieira met the media Saturday after his unanimous decision win over Tresean Gore at UFC on ESPN 71.
Vieira (11-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) outworked Gore (6-4 MMA, 2-4 UFC) over 15 minutes at the UFC Apex and took home a pair of 30-27 scorecards to get back in the win column. It was a new feeling for the Brazilian. Before his win over Gore, he never had gotten his hand raised if he had to go the distance.
Vieira said his training camp away from Orlando, Fla., with the Fighting Nerds team in Brazil had much to do with his mentality going into the fight.
“I didn’t think the fight would be so tough, but I was ready for everything,” Vieira told MMA Junkie at his post-fight news conference. “Of course, I was looking for a finish using my jiu-jitsu. I did my camp at Fighting Nerds in Brazil and I was feeling a huge difference. That was the first time I went there. … Now, I think I’m much better than the last fight. I’m more confident. I’m still improving.”
Vieira said even though the training camps in Brazil will be hard when he has to be away from his wife and son, he thinks the payoff will be worth it.
After back-to-back bonus-winning arm-triangle choke submission wins at middleweight over stern tests in Cody Brundage and Armen Petrosyan, Vieira slipped up against Andre Petroski in February and lost a decision. That helped prompt the Fighting Nerds move.
“The best thing I could do in my life is train with the Fighting Nerds guys. I don’t (tell people) to go to any gym (in particular). But you have to find a gym where you have a good relationship with the coaches and the athletes, and I found that there,” Vieira said.
Check out Vieira’s post-fight news conference in the video above.
