How do you manage yourself to have good training over there?

Where I live there aren't a whole lot of good places to go train, it's more amateur, so I train with Samuel Bragga. People help me, they help me to tighten up my game. When I know the date of my fight, I come to New Jersey to train at AMA Fight Club. We have four fighters in the UFC and excellent training partners: Jimmy Miller, Dan Miller, Charles Brenneman, who just signed, and so on.

Which elite athletes have you trained with in the US?

I have trained with Alessio Sakara, BJ Penn, Kendall Grove, Nick Diaz, Nate Diaz, Yves Edwards, the Miller brothers, Hermes Franca, Adriano Nasal, and Shaolin.

Do you have any plans to move back and train in Brazil?

I love Brazil, but my plans now are to stay here, because I have family and I always need to think of them first. Right now, it is better for me to be here.

You were scheduled to face Takanori Gomi in Affliction, but the event was canceled a week before it happened. Were you disappointed at losing a chance to fight against a guy with a reputation like Gomi?

I was very disappointed at the time, but you have to accept what God gives you. I guess it was not the time, everything happens for a reason.

He (Gomi) will debut the same night you fight. Would you still like to fight him?

I'm never focused on any fighter. Whoever the UFC gives me I'm going to war with (laughs).

Who would you bet on in the fight between Gomi and Kenny Florian?

I'll give it to Florian... Gomi usually folds when he fights in the United States.

How do you see your division?

The 155 lbs class is very tough, wherever you look they are very good. You must train hard and get better every day to get in line for the top.

Do you think Frankie Edgar, the next challenger for the title, has a chance against BJ? How will that fight go?

I think Frank is very slick, having already trained with him. I think he has a chance, yes, but I think it will go the way of BJ. He has heavy hands, sick wrestling and his Jiu-Jitsu us out of this world

Do you dream of a shot at the title?

Dream, yes, for sure, but my goal is to improve as a fighter and build my name in the UFC first. But that is my goal, for sure. I climb the stairs step by step.

Feel free to send a message to your fans in Brazil.

I want to send a hug for all the Brazilian fans who cheer for our sport. A "hello"...