Karlos Vemola "I feel like a caged animal about to be let loose"

Kingdom MMA interview Karlos Vemola ahead of his UFC on Fuel 10 fight

by Jack Broadey @J3cK_b

On Saturday night Karlos Vemola (9-3 MMA 2-3 UFC) makes his long awaited return to the octagon and recently Kingdom MMA caught up with him to discuss the fight, Chris Leben and his London Shootfighters team mates. Karlos faces Caio Magalhaes (5-1 MMA 0-1 UFC) as the second fight of the prelims on the UFC on Fuel TV 10 fight card live from the Ginasio Paulo Sarasate in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Jack: It’s been nearly a year since you last fought Karlos, how excited are you to get back in the cage?
Vemola: I have felt very frustrated and I really cannot wait to get back in the cage. I feel like a caged animal about to be let loose.

Jack: How do you feel your game has progressed since the last time we saw you in the octagon?
Vemola: Massively I have had lots of time to work on my technique.

Jack: You were lined up to fight Chris Leben at one point last year, how disappointed were you to have to pull out of this fight?
Vemola: The biggest disappointment in my career to date as that would have been a great fight for me. I hope it can be my next fight.

Jack: UFC on Fuel 10 will be your 6th fight in a row outside of the UK where you live and train. Do you feel less pressure going fighting foreign territory as most of your friends and family aren't at the venue watching you?
Vemola: No I would love to fight in London or even in Prague if the UFC ever went there.

Jack: Your opponent at UFC on Fuel 10 will be Caio Magalhaes, from what you have seen of Magalhaes what are you expecting from him in this fight?
Vemola: A repeat of Ronny Markes but this time I am prepared for that.

Jack: Magalhaes is a known to be a jiu jitsu specialist and will most likely want to get the fight do the ground but do you feel your wrestling pedigree with nullify this?
Vemola: As I have said above I know what to expect and this time I am ready for it.

Jack: How confident are you that you can hang with Magalhaes should the fight go to the ground?
Vemola: Very confident and if I get on top then it will be very difficult for him.

Jack: Since joining The UFC you have bounced between, wins and losses. With so many guys being cut, do you feel like its do or die come fight night?
Vemola: Not necessarily as I think the one thing the UFC appreciates with me is that I come to fight and I want a war and my fan mail from the UFC shows that I am appreciated as the UFC fans want to see fighters who go out there and put it on the line.

Jack: How do you see the fight going on Saturday, Decision, Knockout or Submission?
Vemola: KO to me - ground and pound.

Jack: When do you leave for Brazil, and how many guys from your team are making the trip?
Vemola: I leave on Tuesday morning with my two managers Chris Fig and Pan Symeou from Elite MMA Agency. My training is done and my coach Paul Ivens from the London Shootfighters is coming out on Thursday.

Jack: Do you have to do anything differently to stay at middleweight, are the changes mostly in your diet or in your training?
Vemola: Just my diet - I definitely eat less.

Jack: One of your teammates at London Shootfighters John Hathaway, was also meant to feature on the card but had to withdraw due to ulcerative colitis, can you shed any light on when John will be back?
Vemola: I am not sure but John is a great guy and an awesome fighter so the sooner the better.

Jack: You also train with Michael Page who has been getting a lot of attention lately due to his flashy style. Is he the real deal and what do you think he can go on to achieve?
Vemola: He is most definitely the real deal - he still has a bit to learn in terms of ground work but once he has mastered that then he will be a force in the UFC.

Thank you to Karlos for taking the time to answer our questions and we would all like to wish Karlos and his team a safe trip to Brazil.