Gilbert Durinho weathering the storm on the ground in training with Vitor Belfort / Photo by Ray Alamo

Just a day away from the big UFC 152 show in Canada, Coach Gilbert Durinho had a chat with GRACIEMAG.com and discussed the technical details Vitor Belfort has been putting together for Jon Jones.

The Jiu-Jitsu black belt fielded a barrage of questions from our relentless Antonio Junior and Vitor Freitas, and here’s what he had to say:

GRACIEMAG: What can you tell us about Vitor’s training to try and surprise the champion Jon Jones this Saturday?

GILBERT DURINHO: We’re totally confident, and Vitor in particular is confident, focused and ready. We were taken in by Blackzilians team in Florida, and now he’s really hungry to win. This opportunity has really gotten Vitor revved up and put his confidence through the roof, which is a good thing. Jon Jones is the man to beat, of course, but I see four positives working in Vitor’s favor: his boxing, his Jiu-Jitsu, his speed and his experience. Those four aspects will make the difference come fight time. The way to go is high-speed boxing and Jiu-Jitsu to surprise attack him.

One of the most probable scenarios is Jon Jones getting the takedown. Did you guys work on that much?

Plenty. If it goes to the ground we’re prepared. Vitor has got his attacks from guard up to speed, and we’re working a lot on elbow defense and attacks. Vitor’s ready, just like in the old days.

What lessons have you learned from training with Belfort?

I learn a lot from him not just in training, but in my personal life as well. He’s a really mature guy—a father, husband, Christian. He’s someone who I admire a who’s inspired me a lot. He’s a role model to me on and off the mat. He’s my brother.

What’s your breakdown of Durinho before the “TUF Brazil” reality show and after the “TUF Brazil” reality show?

“TUF” was a marvelous experience, especially for helping my MMA career get started. I worked with a lot of both experienced and upstart fighters, participated in training, in the corner, in weight cutting; and throughout all the pressure I got to see results and witness mistakes. One of the big lessons I got while at the house came from learning without making mistakes, since I got to analyze and learn from other people’s mistakes.

You’re undefeated in MMA so far. What’s coming up next for you?

Thank God I’ve had four fights and all four were wins and all in the first round. These results are the fruit of not just my work, but that of my team: Vitor, Cezar Mutante, Pedro [Lima, manager], Casquinha and lots of others. My aim is to fight abroad now, but I’ll have to discuss what the next step will be with Vitor and Pedro. They take care of that part. I’m just a soldier, and my job is to be ready.

Will we still be seeing you competing in the gi?

My profession now is MMA but I love Jiu-Jitsu, and if there’s any room on my schedule and it won’t get in the way of my work, I’d really like to compete in the gi again.

UFC 152
Toronto, Canada
September 22, 2012

Jon Jones vs Vitor Belfort
Joseph Benavidez vs Demetrious Johnson
Michael Bisping vs Brian Stann
TJ Grant vs Evan Dunham
Matt Hamill vs Vladimir Matyushenko
Cub Swanson vs Charles do Bronx
Seth Baczynski vs Simeon Thoresen
Jimy Hettes vs Marcus Brimage
Igor Prokajac vs Vinny Magalhães
Mitch Gagnon vs Walel Watson
Charlie Brenneman vs Kyle Noke

Professor Guilherme Santos and student Carlos Índio, the Bellator "newbie", in Connecticut / Photo: personal archive/GRACIEMAG.com

This Friday is a special one for one son of the Brazilian state of Ceará. Carlos Índio of Dragon Fight/Nova União team will be making his debut for the Bellator promotion at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Guilherme Santos and Danilo Dragon student intends to use one of the main philosophies of Jiu-Jitsu against his opponent, Bryan Baker: the double attack, or good ol’ plan b.

Although it will be his promotional debut, Índia has already been around the block, having amassed 33 triumphs in 46 career fights, 22 coming by way of knockout, and three wins in a row heading into the fight. Now Baker was knocked out by Vitor Vianna at Bellator 54 and has won 16 of his 19 career fights. But the Brazilian isn’t interested in what happened in the past, just in hard training. “I practiced a lot of elbows, but if I don’t get to land them, my armbar and triangle are up to speed,” said Índio unabashedly.

TIP FOR ARMBAR IN MMA

Queried by GRACIEMAG.com as to his favorite way of pulling an arm straight, Índio didn’t keep mum. “The trick comes when you’re turning your hip, before catching the arm. The opponent’s elbow has to be trapped by your hip; that way he can’t get it out. Another tidbit is to sit on the shoulder, then all that’s left to do is stretch it out,” he revealed.

Índio’s fight is part of the Bellator welterweight GP, which also features Chris Lozano against Karl Amoussou, Brian Foster taking on David Rickels and Ben Saunders versus Raul Amaya.

Bellator 63
Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
March 30, 2012

Karl Amoussou vs Chris Lozano
Carlos Índio vs Bryan Baker
David Rickels vs Jordan Smith
Raul Amaya vs Ben Saunders
Parker Porter vs Randy Smith
Ryan Quinn vs Marc Stevens
Saul Almeida vs Matt Bessette
Andrey Koreshkov vs Taiwan Howard
Dan Cramer vs Jeff Nader
Marianna Kheyfets vs Munah Holland
Pete Rogers vs Brandon Fleming