It's Sunday morning here in beautiful South Florida at the time of this writing and I'm still contemplating the aftermath of UFC® 100, which was held last night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada and seen live on Pay-Per-View. The night and the hype did not disappoint.
I have scheduled a phone interview this morning with Eric "El Tigre" Castano. He is a former three-time world champion kickboxer, and as of late, he has been Thiago "Pitbull" Alves' kickboxing and Muay Thai coach. He was in Thiago's corner last night and actively working hard to help him in his battle against the formidable champion Georges "Rush" St-Pierre. "El Tigre's" a pro and he's been through great victories, and has also had his own fair share of losses as both a fighter and a coach. He's a guy that I know from his gym here in Miami that's always happy, always smiling and always energized. I knew this morning might be a tough interview though, as I had no idea how dejected he would be.
It turns out that he was still in the moment - still not able to shake the loss, and somehow still thinking that he could have done more as a coach. His mood was gracious and somber.
Stuart Dansby: Good morning and thanks for taking the time to speak with me once again my friend. How are you feeling?
Eric Castano: I feel terrible. Given this opportunity, I wish we could have done what we went there to do.
SD: Tough loss last night, huh?
EC: It was a very tough loss. It was frustrating not to be able to bring the victory home.
SD: I know that Remy Bonnel was training Thiago, and I believe you took over about six to eight weeks ago. How did that end up happening?
EC: I actually took over about five weeks ago, and he didn't train one of those weeks. I really don't know what happened with Remy.
SD: Do you feel like you had enough time to accomplish what was needed?
EC: The road was paved when I got there, but we could have used more time, definitely.
SD: What were you able to help him improve on in that time?
EC: I worked on explosive punches, using the knees for takedowns, lateral movement to get out of St-Pierre's distance and counter-punching. We felt that the way to beat "Rush" was through counter-punching and boxing.
SD: What was the gameplan going into the fight to beat St-Pierre, and what happened with respect to Thiago not being able to execute it?
EC: I wanted him to bait St-Pierre, to strike and then counter-punch. Many times you go there with a plan, but your opponent doesn't allow you to bring it to fruition, and that's what happened.
SD: It's really a shame because it seemed like Alves was slowly wearing Georges out in the standup/kickboxing, and that if he could just stay on his feet, he could at least get in and really do some damage. If you could do it over again, what would you tell him to do different?
EC: More explosiveness. Thiago did not show his capability of being explosive. He lost too much weight too fast and lost his explosiveness in the process. That's why he lost the fight. Thiago can beat St-Pierre.
SD: Does that mean that Thiago should move up to middleweight?
EC: No, he would be too light for that.
SD: When you have a great champion like St-Pierre and he fights so hard that he injures himself [Thiago actually is the only one in two years to take his (St-Pierre's) back and "Rush" says it was his toughest fight], is that any consolation to you or to Thiago?
EC: At the end of the day what matters is that you lost. So does it make a difference ... probably not. Thiago is a warrior and a tremendous fighter. He lasted the five rounds and he never quit. He's extremely strong and that's why he kept getting up. He does have what it takes to beat Georges. He has to keep his head up and know that there will be more opportunities. He's still very young and that can work for you - and against you. Against you because you may not have the maturity or the perspective of your entire career and the future; or it can work for you, helping you learn from it, and realize how much better you can be, and how much more time you have.
SD: It was great to see you on that big stage in the Octagon®. What was it like to be a part of the biggest event in UFC® history?
EC: It was a great experience, but I wish I could have brought the championship home.
SD: I would tell you the same thing you said about Thiago; you need to apply to yourself.
EC: Yeah, you're right, we just have to keep moving forward. Although it was pretty tough, I was glad I was able to be with him through this experience. ["Tigre" really would not accept excuses or empathy.]
SD: One last question. When do I get the sparring rematch with you? It's beginning to seem obvious that you are avoiding me.
EC: Aya, aya, aya ... [laughing] ... yeah that's right, I have been avoiding you. I will see you on the 21st when I get back in the country. Right now I am traveling home to Cuba.
SD: Thanks Eric. I just want to also say that for those of us who know you, it's great to see you using your knowledge and passion on such a great stage as the UFC®. You are such a humble guy, and you always try and help everyone, from beginners to champions. I hope this opens up even more opportunities for you, and wish you much more success.
EC: Thank you Stuart; I appreciate that.
Just a footnote: What's interesting is how you think the loss of a bout affects the fighter. However, you may not realize how much passion, hope, energy, and sometimes disappointment his camp and his trainers feel. Fighting is the most honest sport there is; you can't hide weakness or liabilities. It's also the most individual sport there is, yet conversely, no fighter wins or loses alone, as he always has a team surrounding him and with him - inside his head and inside his heart.