Where does the nickname Barão come from?
When I was a kid in Brazil there was a soap opera my family watched called Sinhá Moça and one of the characters was called Barão, which means ‘the baron’. My grandma started calling me it and it has been my nickname ever since.
How did you first get into MMA?
My dad was a boxing coach, so I started training with him when I was a kid, and then I went to the gym to be a sparring partner for one of his friends. I used to fight in the street a lot as a kid too. One day I went to see an MMA event in my hometown, Natal, and I felt a real rush, so I decided to give it a try. It definitely gave me an extra push having my dad in my corner supporting me for my fights.
Why do you think the Nova União gym has been able to produce so many great fighters, such as yourself and UFC featherweight champion José Aldo?
I think it’s the harmony we have within our camp. We all came from really underprivileged backgrounds and it helped to bring us together and make us closer as a team.
This will be your second time fighting in England. What’s the atmosphere like here compared with other places you’ve fought?
There was a really good energy in the crowd the first time I fought in England. The atmosphere was similar to when I’ve fought in Brazil and it helped me to give a really good performance. The British fans really appreciate MMA.
Why did you decide to defend your interim title instead of waiting for the champion, Dominick Cruz, to return from injury?
I like to keep in a rhythm of training and fighting regularly, and with Cruz re-injuring his knee it would have been too long to wait. All I want is to keep fighting and showing my worth.
Do you think of yourself as the champion or the number-one contender?
I feel like just getting the opportunity to fight in the UFC makes me a champion! Now my goal is to become the number-one champion.
Cruz has a unique and effective striking style. How would you approach fighting him and do you see any holes in his game?
Cruz’s strongest suit is his movement but I think I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to deal with that. I think my stand-up is good and my jiu jitsu is superior to his.
Do you think you could use your superior jiu jitsu to finish the fight?
For sure, I just need to close the distance and take him down to make sure I get a chance to use it.
In the meantime you’re fighting Michael McDonald at UFC on Fuel TV 7. How do you think you match up with him stylistically?
He has very good stand-up, so we’ll match well, but I think my movement and jiu jitsu are better.
McDonald recently said he thinks you’re more athletic than him, that you’re faster and have better cardio, but he has better defence and basic MMA skills. Do you agree?
I disagree! But the only way we’ll know for sure is when we get in the cage. Then we’ll see who has better basic MMA skills…
Tickets for UFC London at Wembley Arena on 16th February are available from Ticketmaster.co.uk or UFC.com
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