J
JDenz
Guest
The first thing Antonio 'Nino' Schembri did when he received the news was to call home. 'Mom, we must get a new guitar!' he said. The reason is obvious: since he will face Japanese star Kazushi Sakuraba at the next Pride, on March 16th, the big Elvis fan must set up his costume to attend the show in a grand style.
It was the opportunity Nino was asking for and he did not complain about being caught by surprise: 'Actually I love that. It's really an honor to have a chance to face Sakuraba and fighting is my life, so I'm glad they called me. No matter, I was training with a gi, no matter that there is less than a month for the fight. It will be a pleasure, and I'll be ready.'
Nino is not worrying about Sakuraba's experience (14-4-1) nor his skills and he's confident in declaring: 'I'll submit him'. Everyone familiar with Schembri knows this belief is not arrogance. He really believes that, and says the reason: 'I know he will try to avoid my game, but I think 20 minutes is too much time for him to hide. So he probably will be tapping.'
Considered perhaps the most dangerous fighter in Jiu-Jitsu nowadays, Nino is
a former World Champion and holds the title of most technical fighter at ADCC 2001. Only 2-0-0 in vale-tudo, the Brazilian wants to build his career showing how Jiu-Jitsu submissions work in this genre. It would be a big tribute to the real king, Elvis Presley indeed, to submit Sakuraba at home!
It was the opportunity Nino was asking for and he did not complain about being caught by surprise: 'Actually I love that. It's really an honor to have a chance to face Sakuraba and fighting is my life, so I'm glad they called me. No matter, I was training with a gi, no matter that there is less than a month for the fight. It will be a pleasure, and I'll be ready.'
Nino is not worrying about Sakuraba's experience (14-4-1) nor his skills and he's confident in declaring: 'I'll submit him'. Everyone familiar with Schembri knows this belief is not arrogance. He really believes that, and says the reason: 'I know he will try to avoid my game, but I think 20 minutes is too much time for him to hide. So he probably will be tapping.'
Considered perhaps the most dangerous fighter in Jiu-Jitsu nowadays, Nino is
a former World Champion and holds the title of most technical fighter at ADCC 2001. Only 2-0-0 in vale-tudo, the Brazilian wants to build his career showing how Jiu-Jitsu submissions work in this genre. It would be a big tribute to the real king, Elvis Presley indeed, to submit Sakuraba at home!
