The space for them just gets bigger and bigger. Space conquered. Regardless of whether we're talking about in the gyms, or in the championships, the ladies are more present than ever. The 2008 Worlds will be no different. We went to speak with three stars. Many-time champions who will strut technique and, of course, grace in Long Beach, in the championship that will take place between tomorrow and Sunday.
Kyra Gracie (GB) is back after having after having spent 2007 out due to a knee injury suffered at ADCC 2007. The Gracie wants to recover lost time and has been training hard to do so, including on her feet. Andre Negao student Hannette Quadros (Carlson) had a scare at the Pan-American, in March, when she lost the middleweight final to Ana Laura Cordeiro (GB). The lesson was learned and the mistakes were corrected, she wants her fifth title in the gi. Now, Michelle Nicolini (Brasa) is coming in on a roll. She took it all in 2007, when she won the super featherweight and the absolute, and doesn't want pressure to repeat the result. The three talked a bit about their preparations, what they hope for from the WOrlds and the growth of the category.
How are you feeling going into this competition in Long Beach?
Kyra Gracie: I'm very motivated to fight this World Championship, since last year I was unable to because of my injury at the ADCC. I trained a lot to fight in the no-gi championship, last year, in December, but it was not meant to be.
Hannette Quadros: I signed up on the last day. I will fight in the middleweight and the absolute. I've settled down here in Chicago and now I'm totally focused on this WOrld Championship. At the Pan-American, I ended up losing to Ana Laura Cordeiro at weight and I accepted that defeat as a lesson to train more, correct my mistakes and go into the Worlds even stronger.
Michelle Nicolini: I did really well at the 2007 Worlds and I don't want that pressure on me this year. I'm going to fight without worries, I don't want people thinking that, because I won the absolute and weight last year, I have to do it again now.
What were your preparations for the championship like?
Kyra: I fought in the Brazilian Nationals and have been training with Renzo, in New York. After that I'll head over to Los Angeles, where I'll train with my uncle Carlinhos.
Hannette: I'm training like I trained for the 2007 ADCC [when Hannette won both her weight and absolute], not thinking about any adversary in particular, but thinking about them all at once.
Michelle: I had to go looking for training here in Las Vegas. Robert [Drysdale] and I moved here not long ago and it's been hard to find a place to train, since we don't have a Brasa here. What I did was to go to a gym where the folks train in the gi and also take advantage of Robert's submission grappling classes at Randy's [Couture] gym.
Who are your greatest opponents?
Kyra: I think the level will be really high, mainly in the absolute, which this year will take place after the weight classes. This makes it easier for athletes to participate. i know I'll have a lot of adversaries at weight, among them Hannette and Luzia Carmen, who beat me in the absolute of the Brazilian Nationals, but I don't know if she'll compete at the Worlds.
Hannette: The women's level is high and there's no way to look down on anyone. Once again I should face Kyra in the absolute and of course she is a really strong adversary, but I'm training like I trained for the ADCC and I want to impose my game.
Michelle: I never fought Kyra, but who knows maybe this year. I think her Jiu-Jitsu is basic and precise like Roger and Kron's. This year we'll all be here, me, Hannette, Leticio [Ribeiro]. That is good.
What kind of performance would satisfy you?
Kyra: After being left out last year, I want to win.
Hannette: God willing, I will be going after my fifth title in the gi - sixth overall, counting the no-gi worlds.
Michelle: I want to guarantee my category. Because I'm so small and light for the absolute, but if, like last year, it happens that I start winning and carry on doing so, great. I know this year everyone has their eyes on the title.
We spoke to these three tough girls, but the Worlds will have several other names that carry weight in the women's. Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com to find out everything to do with the performance of three-time champion Leticia Ribeiro (Gracie Humaita), the revelation Ana Laura Cordeiro (GB), star of the Pan Luciana Dias, MMA star Carina Damm (Brasa) and many others.
