Vinicius Queiroz Says His Knees Are Injury Free For Bellator 143

Vinicius Queiroz spoke with MMAjunkie about his fight with Ewerton Teixeira at Bellator 143. Check out the highlights:

On his condition: “All my Bellator fights were done without good knees. I couldn’t train throwing kicks or knee strikes. I could only box, wrestle and do jiu-jitsu. I made a commitment to only come back when I could use my entire muay Thai arsenal of kicks and knees. Now I feel great after a lot of therapy and pilates. Now is my time.”

On a potential title shot: “I leave it to the promotion and my manager. But people know I have the skills to be champ, and I always want opponents who can bring be closer to the belt. I don’t choose, but I enjoy facing well-known opponents. It motivates me. Ewerton Teixeira is someone who’s very well regarded in kickboxing. I think it’s a great challenge for me.”

On being prepped for Teixeira: “Besides his kickboxing and K-1 wars, he’s had thousands of kyokushin karate bouts. He’s highly experienced on the feet. But I feel that, good chin or not, just like Lavar Johnson, I can also knock out Ewerton Teixeira in MMA. Even though Ewerton has less MMA experience, I don’t doubt he has takedowns and submission skills. So I have to be ready everywhere. I have to train as if I’ll be facing the best fighter in the world, on both the feet and on the ground. On paper, he’s better on the feet. But I think once the cage door closes, those stats don’t matter anymore. It’s just the two of us, strength vs. strength.”

On working with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: “I have no words to describe the affection and admiration I have for ‘Minotauro.’ Without a doubt, with Wanderlei Silva, he’s one of the greatest names of our sport. Without them, the sport wouldn’t be what it is today. I had the great opportunity to train with Rodrigo many times. He is a true samurai, on and off the mat. If the movie ‘Rocky’ had come out some years later, people might think it was based on Rodrigo’s life. He is the personification of overcoming impossible odds. He has the stamina of a 20-year old. I can’t fully explain my admiration for him.”