FCF:   You have been winning an ever-increasing number of fans in the USA. Do you believe that this is happening because of your aggressive style of fighting?
VS:     I think that this is what the people want to see, an action-packed fight, not just the usual ground fight, people want to see aggression on the ground too! And people enjoy the fights especially when there’s a lot of trading, so I believe that the USA is a very big market, the American fans are very loyal, and I’m very happy that people are liking my work there too.

FCF:   People who know you well know that you are a family man, fans who have seen you at work in the ring might not have any indication this. Who do you live with nowadays? Are you single? Tell us a bit about yourself so the American public can get to know you a bit better.
VS:     I lived with a woman for a while, I have a 4-year-old daughter, Rafaela. I have some girlfriends here in Curitiba…It goes that way, because you know that fighters like woman a lot! I was married and I have one daughter. Nowadays I live with my Mom and Dad here, and even yesterday someone told me that I’m one person inside the ring, and a completely different person outside of it! I have lots of friends, and I’m a very friendly person. So if anybody that likes my work comes to talk to me, it’ll be a pleasure for me to talk to him. I get very happy when somebody comes to talk to me, recognizes me.

FCF:   Everybody already knows you from your NHB fights, but in fact you started in Muay Thai. How did your interest in martial arts start?
VS:     I started training Muay Thai here in Curitiba. For a long time the Chute Boxe academy has a very strong academy here in Curitiba. It’s been running for more than 25 years! So I’m the continuity of the work, the academy already had a lot of fighters. I’m standing out now because now there are better fights, better events. The martial arts evolved, and that’s why I have been standing out more. One day I was just walking by the front of the academy, and I liked the academy’s style, did a class, I liked it and since then I never practiced another sport, just Muay Thai.

FCF:   Were you an active kid in your childhood? Did you use to fight a lot?
VS:     No, not really. I always played with my friends, I had lots of friends, and I was always hanging out with my friends. Well, I was a bit chubby, I wasn’t the main guy in our group of friends you know, [Laughs] but I was always with the group. I played soccer, sometimes I took some beatings [Laughs], but I learned how to deal with things alone; I was raised on my own, making my own decisions, I always decided the path that I should follow.

FCF:   Muay Thai is considered one of the most sacrificing martial arts in terms of training. Was it difficult to keep on training in the beginning? When did you really start to take Muay Thai seriously?
VS:     I never cared about taking punches and kicks you know, because this really happens. Sometimes I got a little scared, when I fought the more advanced people. That’s normal isn’t it? But I started to prepare, I started to fight inside the academy, I always prepared myself, I ran, I started to lift weights…it was a bit gradual, and suddenly I was already fighting in the Brazilian Championships, I was already fighting in the Inter-State championships, and I was obligated to train even more! Then I really started to take it seriously. Now is total dedication!

UNDERCARD FIGHTS
Tony Huecias vs. Alex Rikard
Kevin Hogan vs. Victor Hunsaker
Tony Galindo vs. Reggie Cardiel
Mike Bourke vs. Toshi Oyama

FEATURE FIGHTS
Dean Lister vs. Jason Flynn
Floyd Sword vs. Marvin Eastman
Alex Andrade vs. Yusuke Imamura
Ioka Tauanuu vs. Rafiel Torre

SUPER FIGHT
Guy Mezger vs. Alexander Otsuka