Tom Atencio: Hello ladies and gentlemen.Thank you very much to Freddie Roach and Andrei Arlovski for being here.
Andrei Arlovski: First of all hello everybody, we are almost 10 days from the biggest fight in my career and I’m very excited. I can’t wait. And please ask your questions.
Freddie Roach: We had a great training camp to get ready for the fight. And I’m just looking for a big W on the 24th.
Question: Freddie– My question has to do with Andrei’s progress since you’ve been with him. How much progress would you say he’s made in his boxing skills and in what area in particular are you most impressed with his progress?
Freddie Roach: Well it’s a combination. His hand speed has really improved much and his selection of punches. And I think the biggest progress is his footwork. He fights like a little guy. He has great movement for a heavyweight and I think it’s going to be a big factor in this fight.
Q: As far as Fedor’s standup, obviously he’s not a professional boxer but his standup is noted in MMA circles. Are there things in his striking ability that you spotted and you think Andrei can take advantage of?
Freddie Roach: I do. I think that his footwork as a boxer is not that great. I know he is a good puncher coming forward, but as far as his forward contact rating – I think we have a huge advantage in the footwork and we can take advantage of that.
Q: And my next question is for Andrei. Obviously most of us believe you have the advantage in the standup regarding your boxing and your striking skills, but how important is it for you to keep the fight standing up and are you prepared to go to the ground with a seasoned fighter like Fedor?
Andrei Arlovski: Of course I like boxing but right now. Of course like before I spent a lot of time in a boxing gym but I concentrate on everything, wrestling, the Jiu-Jitsu and everything else so I practice every night. And I understand I’m ready for standing or if the fight is going to be on the ground. I’m ready in both ways.
Q: Andrei, after Fedor will your next fight be in MMA or in boxing?
Andrei Arlovski: I don’t know. Right now, I’m focused on the fight against Fedor on January 24 and we’ll see what’s scheduled after. But it’s just what I have to do on January 24. And I’m focused on this fight and I’m ready.
Q: We know that you do have aspirations to be a boxer. In fact Dana White says the only reason you’re not in the UFC anymore is that you wanted to be able to box and he couldn’t allow that.
Andrei Arlovski: Who says so? Who says so about boxing? I love boxing and I am not just in UFC because of that. I am not in UFC for some other reason. But like I said I’m focused right now on my MMA career and my fight against Fedor on January 24. And I told you we’ll see what happens after. Maybe one day it will be boxing. I cannot focus only on boxing and I still have a lot to learn in boxing and that is why I train with Freddie.
Q: And then Freddie in your opinion, are Andrei’s skills as an athlete better suited for boxing or for MMA? And how good a boxer could Andrei be?
Freddie Roach: He’s a very good boxer. Of course he knows the ground game as well as the boxing game. His boxing has improved quite a bit. He could definitely be a contender as a boxer I feel. He boxes around my pros. He boxes the lower graded fighters and he holds his own with everybody. I mean he definitely could do well in the boxing scene. But you know he’s very good at the ground game. I don’t know much about it because I’m more into boxing. But I watch the ground game and the jujitsu coaches and wrestling coaches and so forth. So he’s been all around fighters of course. And you know we’re just getting ready for this fight. Fedor is the one in front of us right now and that’s all we’re really worried about.
Q: And then Freddie just real quickly, are you personally getting more into mixed martial arts and do you see yourself working with more mixed martial arts fighters and making that a larger part of what you do as a trainer?
Freddie Roach: Well if someone wants to come to me and wants me to help them and they have the dedication and desire to train hard like Andrei does I’m going to help anybody I can. I don’t just like any sports. A good fight’s a good fight. I don’t care if it’s a boxing match or MMA. But I just like good fights. And if I can bring out the best in somebody and help them get good results I’m going to do it.
Q: I just wanted to ask Andrei how important is it to you to be fighting for a belt? And is it difficult being outside the UFC where that’s basically the most recognizable belt in the world right now?
Andrei Arlovski: Of course I’m really excited and have been looking forward to this fight for a long time. And I was like other fighters in the line for a title shot. And finally I got it. And I face Fedor on January 24. Obviously he’s the best fighter on the planet and he will be on January 24 and it’s possible I will beat him on that “Day of Reckoning.
Q: Andrei-You’ve fought some of the best fighters in the world – MMA fighters. Do you think that experience against tough competition gives you an advantage over Fedor? I mean when you look at his competition do you feel like you have an advantage in that aspect of it?
Andrei Arlovski: Well , if you want to be the best fighter you fight the best fighter, see the best fighter Fedor has a great fighting experience, I have fighting experience so I think it will be an interesting fight. And we will find out whose better, Fedor or myself, on January 24.
Q: You once likened Fedor to Mike Tyson in the sense that everyone was kind of intimidated before they fought Tyson. It’s the same thing with him. How have you mentally prepared yourself for that aspect of it?
Andrei Arlovski: Of course for this fight I have to be mentally prepared the most and I don’t care about what the others say. I have my jujitsu skills. But this fight is different and very important as I want to be the first to beat Fedor in MMA.So I will do everything possible to beat him and I have a great – great trainers.
Q: Do you think Fedor tries to use intimidation as a tactic?
Tom Atencio: If you’ve seen Fedor the way he walks and enters the ring he doesn’t do that. He’s very calm in demeanor, stoic. He’s very quiet. That’s just his way. So quite honestly I don’t know where the intimidation factor comes from. But it’s not – I mean that’s not Fedor at all.
Q: Right. Okay. I’m just – I’m responding to the quote I read that Andrei made likening him to Mike Tyson in that sense.
Tom Atencio: Well I think what they’re saying is the intimidation factor from the fact that he’s got a 28-0-1 record.
Andrei Arlovski: He’s a human being just like everyone else.
Tom Atencio: I believe that’s what Andrei’s saying is that he is human just like you and me and that’s why Andrei feels that he has this chance right now and that he can beat him. So it’s not intimidation factor as in coming out and intimidating somebody. It’s more about his record and he’s beat a lot of people out there.
Q: Right. Okay. Freddie just in terms of preparing a fighter psychologically I’m guessing that there’s no difference between boxing and MMA. And how much psychological work are you doing with Andrei for this fight?
Freddie Roach: Well we do a lot of psychological work just on the hard work alone. I mean just being in the best shape you can be in and dedicating yourself to doing that is the key of being a positive person and not being afraid that you’re going to get tired or something like that. So we’re giving him 100%. And you know we have a good team. We work out in the boxing gym and the wrestling gym so you know we’re covering all of our bases. And we’re mentally strong for the fight and we’re not going to be intimidated by Fedor. I plan on outboxing him. I think stand-up is to our advantage. To me, Fedor is not a good boxer. He’s a good puncher, yes but in boxing he doesn’t have the skills Andrei does and I think we’ll take advantage of that.
Q: Can you mention by name some of the guys you’ve sparred with at your gym?
Freddie Roach: Yes. Well we have an Olympian from Africa who is one of the main sparring partners. And a Mexican champion who has 90 wins and 5 losses and as an amateur was #2 in the world. He already boxed him and he has a good style just like Fedor, very much like him. I mean we have him sparring some tough guys in there. And you know Juan Carlos Gomez. And Andrei is 50/50 with him and he’s fighting for the world title in his next fight. So in boxing he’s doing fine. Again I’m not a genius at the ground game. I don’t understand the science of it yet because I’m very new. But the thing is – his boxing game is very good now and we have the greatest wrestling coaches and jujitsu coaches here too. So we are covering our bases and we’re doing well.
Q: Freddie, your comments regarding Arlovski’s striking field versus Emelianenko have received a lot of play in the media recently. I’m just curious if you’re surprised at the amount of tension that are being given to your statements and how that would compare to similar statements being made in the build up for a boxing match.
Freddie Roach: Well I call it like I see it. I’ve watched Fedor in the last 20 fights. I’m tired of watching Fedor. We study him every day. And I watch what he can do. He’s a good puncher. I’m not saying that he’s not. He punches very well. But his boxing skills and footwork are not that great. I think that’s where we can take advantage in the fight. His ground game seems to be very good. Again, I don’t understand the science of the ground game. That’s not my job. That’s what wrestling team and the wrestling coaches do. So we have a good team and we’re doing everything possible to win this fight.
Q: And Freddie you mentioned that you would be open to training future MMA fighters in the boxing avenue. Has it given you any inspiration to learn more about the sport as a whole as far as the wrestling and the ground aspects of it?
Freddie Roach: I’m asking questions and I’m learning but because, of course, there are certain moves you can’t make as an MMA fighter that a boxer would make and because – the distance and the take down. So I am learning. Yes. I’m capable still. But you know I’m mostly boxing. I am picking up of course on the science of the ground game. And it’s very complicated and it’s not something I’m going to learn overnight of course.
Q: No doubt. Thank you sir. And for Andrei please, I was curious how Andrei would evaluate his ground game especially in his fights with Roy Nelson and Ben Rothwell and his ability to fight off of his back. How you plan on dealing with that situation if you find yourself on your back with Fedor Emelianenko on top of you?
Andrei Arlovski: So I have to try to keep a distance and try not to go down and be ready for ground game and basically I’m fast. I do all try to remember what my coaches have told me in the practice of my jujitsu and I practice a lot. And I’ll be ready for ground if it’s fighting with me on the ground. So I’m ready for both ways.
Q: Do you feel that you were effective on the ground against Roy Nelson and Ben Rothwell?
Andrei Arlovski: Of course I can do what I did against Ben Rothwell and Roy Nelson on the ground because I just laid down and I defended myself. But if I lay on the ground with Fedor, I have to do something else. And I’m practicing this way.
Q: Okay. A lot of people consider Fedor the world’s best heavyweight but some people question the people he fought recently. Do you consider Fedor the number one heavyweight in the world right now?
Andrei Arlovski: Of course. Like I said, he is number one and he will be number one until January 24. And I’ve said let’s see who is better-the Russian or the Belarusian. And that’s it. I have a lot of respect for him and I will keep it until January 24. He will step in the ring with me and I will step in the ring to beat him, knock him out and take his belt. So it’s simple.
Q: This is a question for Freddie. You’ve been saying that Fedor’s skills – boxing skills suck and he can’t box that well. Are you guys concerned that that may create extra incentive for him?
Freddie Roach: I hope so. I am motivating Andrei every day. So I have no worry with that. I’m just calling it like I see it. If he wants to try out boxing let him try. But his only chance is to get in the ground game because he not going to beat us standing up. There’s no way.
Q: Okay. Same question for Tom. When you heard that Freddie said that what crossed your mind?
Tom Atencio: You know that’s just what it is. I mean this is a fight. If that gives him extra incentive then great. If that gives Andrei extra incentive then great. I think this is a great fight. I wouldn’t have put it together if I didn’t. And I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to watching one of these guys raise their hands at the end of the night.
Q: And a question for Andrei. Are you feeling any pressure going into this fight or how are you mentally?
Andrei Arlovski: I do feel more pressure because he’s a champion. And of course I’m a little bit nervous. Like I said it’s the biggest fight of my career and I will do my best and I will do everything possible to beat him because he’s number one I am ranked number four or five. And I want to be the best fighter. And I’ve been patient and I take this as a great opportunity to fight the number one guy. I feel I can beat him. That’s why – it means a lot to me and everybody wants to see an exciting fight and I think we will show a great fight. We will show a great fight and so our fans will be happy. And it’s the biggest fight for me. I have a great team and I have responsibility to all of my fans because they spend a lot of time for me and I just have to be – I just have to be the champion and just have to show the great work on January 24. All of my life I’ve been waiting for this fight and I want more than anything to be the champion on January 24 when the referee put my arm in the air and call me the champion. It will be a great moment and I train hard for this moment.
Q: Freddie are there any concerns that maybe Andrei is concentrating a little too much on boxing and not enough on the other aspects of MMA?
Freddie Roach: I don’t think so because we have two workouts a day. Each workout is over three hours long. When he leaves the boxing gym he takes about a four hour rest and then he goes to the wrestling gym and works with his jujitsu coaches and his wrestling coaches and his conditioning coachesWe know we’re prepared for anything, whatever happens. We know Fedor’s ground game is very good and I think his job is probably to take it to the ground because I’m sure that’s the style he’ll want to fight. We’ll want to keep it standing up. We think we’re going to be able to pull the strategy off and that we are going to have the advantage.
Q: A question for Andrei. How did the idea of the Arlovski 360 videos come up and what are your thoughts on them?
Andrei Arlovski: I don’t know maybe Tom doesn’t want to share this but at first, I was thinking the fight promotion was more for Fedor. And I spoke to all my trainers and we decide to do something about it so we came up with Arlovski 360. So I just want to promote a little bit. Right now I promote more myself and promote the event coming up on January 24. And so far I’m very happy with how the guys did work from Chicago. So it’s good.
Tom Atencio: Andrei’s a little mad at me right now.
Q: Why is that?
Andrei Arlovski: Yeah. A little bit. A little bit.
Tom Atencio: No. I’m just playing.
Q: A quick question for you Tom. We know that Tito’s going to help out with commentary for the bout. We know that he’s out with a back injury. Anything as far as any sort of negotiation that you can tell us that have been going on with him to participate as a combatant?
Tom Atencio: No. Tito is still under contract with the UFC and we have no discussion about that. Nothing. So right now we’re just helping him out with his future. After he stops fighting he’s looking to be a color-commentator so we saw it as an opportunity to work with him. Tito’s a great guy and he brings a lot to the table. So I thought it was a smart decision to bring him on and I think the press does too obviously by all the press that he’s getting. And like Andrei said, to help promote this fight he has a big following here in the US. And I’m real proud of that and that’s one of the reasons why we brought him on board aside from his fighting abilities. He’s an amazing fighter. But Tito brings his own following as well so I think it was a smart decision. And once his contract is up or once he finalizes his obligations with the UFC then we’re able to start talking about stuff like that.
Q: A lot of people have seen that you’ve been responding to a lot of accusations that have been made. Have you found that to be particularly difficult or is that something you are anticipating encountering when you started going into promoting mixed martial arts bouts?
Tom Atencio: This whole thing is a learning situation for me. I’m new as far as the promotional side and I’m also new as far as being in the public eye. The only thing I responded to was the ticket sales. And I kind of regret it, but it just opens you up to a whole new something. The bottom line is ticket sales are going really well. We just opened up the arena for more seats. So we wouldn’t have done that if ticket sales weren’t going well. A rumor is all it really was. When people put things on the internet, there doesn’t have to be any truth to it and people start to believe it. So that’s why I got irritated. And I really didn’t even get irritated. I just wanted to combat that. But nonetheless, this whole being in the public eye is new to me. It doesn’t bother me. People can say whatever they want about me and I always say it anyway. You can’t make everyone happy. I’m criticized for whatever I do. I’m criticized for doing one thing. If I counter it then I’m criticized from the other end for doing that. So it’s just life. And I’m completely fine with it.
Q: Freddie- It is well documented with Manny Pacquiao and how you guys have a bond. How is it working with Andrei?
Freddie Roach: Andrei is a very disciplined guy just like Manny Pacquiao. And that’s why I like working with guys like this. They make my job easy. He’s one of those guys you have to hold back. You don’t have to push him. Andrei has a great work ethic. So that’s why we work with him and that’s why I’ve helped him out in the last couple of years. And his work ethic is great.
Q: You said recently that Fedor Emelianenko’s combat Sambo loss might factor into his mindset. How true do you believe that to be and how are you going to push him in this fight?
Andrei Arlovski: You know everyone thought that he was unbeatable for a few years. A loss is loss and of course he’s disappointed. And I just hope he trains harder for my fight. And so I am training harder too. I want to beat this guy. Like I said, I want to be the first person to beat him like the first person to beat Mike Tyson. And I will do everything possible to beat him. That’s it.
Q: And for Tom. Is Josh Barnett going to get the winner of this fight?
Tom Atencio: Well you’re assuming that Josh Barnett’s winning. The bottom line is whoever wins the Barnett/Yvel fight will fight the winner of the Emelianenko/Arlovski fight.
Q: Yeah. Thanks for taking a quick follow up for Freddie. You will be in Andrei’s corner against Fedor right?
Freddie Roach: Yes, I will.
Q: And have you ever cornered an MMA fighter before?
Freddie Roach: Well I was in Andrei’s corner for his fight with Rothwell.
Q: Oh, that’s right. That’s right. Thanks. And just for you on the day of the fight how is that different for you cornering an MMA fighter compared to cornering a boxer?
Freddie Roach: No difference at all. A fight’s a fight. You know it’s exactly the same. It’s relaxing and staying calm and just getting Andrei ready for the battle.
Q: I have a question for Andrei and a question for Freddie. For Andrei, what’s your ultimate goal in this sport and what do you think this new organization will bring to the marketplace?
Andrei Arlovski: Of course I want to be the best fighter in the world. And like I said, I think I have a chance on January 24. I will win my fight against Fedor. It’s a great opportunity for me. I’m very happy with life. I have worked with the best to get ready. So far everything is good and knock-on wood I hope everything stays this good and will be great on fight night.
Q: All right. And for Freddie, has Andrei taught you anything new from mixed martial arts that you plan to implement somehow in your boxing training?
Freddie Roach: Not so much. They’re two different sports. The punching combinations and stuff like that is the same. It just is a little bit different in the adjustments that I have to make. And I ask questions of Andrei. And so I say, “will this work in this situation being this close and so forth.” And he’ll tell me and we’ll make adjustments as we go. So I’m learning a little bit more about the distance. But it doesn’t help the boxing so much.
Q: Tom-I realize this is one you probably get a lot but have you confirmed that Yvel will be sanctioned by the California State Athletic Commission to fight because he’s had some issues with that in the past?
Tom Atencio: You know I have been asked this a lot but the bottom line is we went in front of the Board and they have approved him to go through the next step which is basically the medicals. So that’s just it. He hasn’t been completely approved. Once he gets through his medicals if he gets through it then he’ll be approved to fight.
Q: Freddie- obviously you’re a legend in boxing but have you been watching the kickboxing to kind of get a feel of the difference in dynamic with leg kicks and the clinch game or have you just kind of been trying to focus on Arlovski’s boxing game?
Freddie Roach: When we train I focus on boxing, I’ve got a tape of MMA moves I watched quite a bit to prepare for the Rothwell fight. And I’ve had Fedor’s last 20 fights so I’m learning. I’ve seen quite a bit. Yes. But the thing is, my job is to get him working on his boxing here in the gym. And there are adjustments we have to make of course for his legs and so forth. And if I’m not sure about something I ask Andrei or I ask one of the other coaches Dino or John or Mike. And so we all work as a team because we’re just coming up with the best strategy we can. Again it’s a complicated sport. In boxing you can have one coach and in MMA you know you’ve got to cover all of your bases. So we have four coaches here. And we all work together and we talk with each other so we all understand what’s going on. So it’s a good situation.
Q: All right. That’s good to know. Andrei I realize a lot of fighters don’t like talking about potential fights – you know they like to stay focused on this fight. But I kind of have to ask. I know it’s kind of a pain in the ass. But is there anybody in the sport you really want to fight after Fedor and after – if you beat Fedor, after the winner of Barnett/Yvel? Is there anybody out there you still really want to test yourself against?
Andrei Arlovski: I’m focused on my fight against Fedor. But as I said there are a number of great fighters who I want to fight. And about your question, when you ask Freddie about boxing? And like he says I have all my trainers here, my jujitsu trainer, my wrestling coach, my boxing coach from Chicago, they are all here. They all get along. They ask each other–what do you think about this and that? It works very, very, very well. It means that everybody is on the same page and this is great.
Freddie asks what about if you kick low here like front kick here can you find this? I think so. Let’s try. And we try to figure out what’s good combination, what’s the better way? And they (the coaches) end up taking the time to understand one another I’m very happy about that.
Q: That’s awesome Andrei. I was also curious if you think that your experience in Sambo is going to give you a special insight, a unique insight into what Fedor will try and do on the ground.
Andrei Arlovski: You know what – he has same background in Sambo. I train in Sambo, and I kind of know what he can do – what kind of arm blocks, what kind of leg locks he can do, what kind – what kind of Sambo moves he can do and of course I’m ready for this. To be honest I trained for a long time in Sambo. But I train almost every night in Jiu-Jitsu and I’m ready. I’m fine.
END OF CALL
Promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and brought to you by Affliction Entertainment and its partners, Donald J. Trump and M-1 Global, Affliction M-1 “Day of Reckoning” is scheduled for January 24 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA and live on Pay-Per-View. The loaded fight card includes 11 rousing bouts of fierce, full-throttle action headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski. The six-fight blockbuster PPV telecast, beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, features MMA stars Josh Barnett, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Chris Horodecki and Matt Lindland in separate bouts. As a prelude to the highly anticipated PPV telecast, HDNet will televise live beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET/4:00 p.m. PT five additional fights with the marquee match-up of Antonio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko as the main event.