Aaron Rosa Talks Strikeforce Bout with "Feijao" Cavalcante

By Dave Carpinello

Strikeforce Challengers’ Light Heavyweight Contender Aaron Rosa brings a two fight winning streak into Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas this Friday night as he faces "Feijao" Cavalcante Live on Showtime.

PDG: It is just a couple of days till your fight this Friday night against Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante.  How did your training go leading up to your fight?

Aaron Rosa: I went up to Big Bear in California in October and trained there for six weeks straight.  I was working with Tito Ortiz, Lew Polley and others.  It really helped me further develop my fight game and my conditioning.  Training with world-class athletes including Tito Ortiz has really helped me improve.  It was a great experience and I feel really good heading into this fight.

PDG: How big a difference in your conditioning could you tell after leaving Big Bear when you got back to Texas?

Aaron Rosa: I could tell a big difference and it seemed like my cardio was about three to four times higher than before I left. When I take a deep breath now my lungs continue to expand and I feel like I have so much more energy.  It makes me more prepared mentally for the fight knowing that in the back of my head I am in the best shape of my life and ready to go.

PDG: How close are you to your target weight of 205 for Thursday's weigh-in's?

Aaron Rosa: I'm only about 12 pounds off so I should have no problem making weight.

PDG: Your opponent, "Feijao" Cavalcante was rising fast and some were calling him the next big thing before his knockout loss to Mike Pyle in June.  What are your thoughts on facing him Friday night in the next installment of the Strikeforce Challengers Series?

Aaron Rosa: He is a tough, solid, big opponent but I think I will have the advantage in height and reach.  He was a solid fighter at heavyweight and I think he is even better now at 205 pounds.  He trains at one of the best camps in the world with one of the best fighters in the world, Anderson Silva.  Not to mention Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, these are guys that I have looked up to for years and "Feijao" trains with these guys every day.  It is a great chance for me to fight someone of his caliber and to be able to go out there and test myself.

PDG: Are you looking for a standup battle or do you want to take this fight to the ground?

Aaron Rosa: I always end up saying the same thing that I want to keep the fight standing but when you're in the middle of a fight everything goes haywire.  I know that if the fight does end up on the ground I want it to be on my terms, so I am going to defend the take down and use my reach to stay outside of his range.  He likes to clinch a lot in the film that I have seen of his fights but Mike Pyle was able to keep him at bay and land strikes.  If he tries to take me down I am going to defend and stay on the outside and maybe go for a takedown of my own.  Right now in my mind this is going to be a standup fight.

PDG: It has been over six months since your last fight; was there any specific reason for the long layoff?

Aaron Rosa: To be honest I really don't know what the deal was because of course I would of liked to have fought before this but I am just grateful to get this opportunity.  Strikeforce has been very busy as of late with all of the hype following their acquisition of Fedor and I think that may have delayed things a little bit for the other fighters but like I said I am just happy that it's my turn now and I am going to take full advantage of it.  I am fighting a great opponent and I cannot wait to showcase my skills.

PDG: If this fight goes well for you, are you looking to move up to the main Strikeforce events?

Aaron Rosa: Hopefully if I can get past "Feijao" I don't think there are many other 205 pound fighters on the Challengers circuit that “Feijao” and I haven’t beaten.  So if I can win this fight and maybe one more, the powers that be will move me up and who knows I could get an opportunity to face Gegard Mousasi.  Right now though my main focus is my fight Friday night because my opponent is a tough fighter that you can not look past because of his credentials and pedigree.

PDG: How does it feel to get the opportunity to fight on Showtime again?

Aaron Rosa: It is awesome to get the chance to be recognized and when I come back home to San Antonio, people are like hey man I saw you on Showtime...it feels great!  It definitely makes me feel like I am accomplishing something.

PDG: What are your thoughts about fighting on the same card with two female fighters (Kim Couture and Kerry Vera)?

Aaron Rosa: If they are girls who know how to fight and they go out there and put on a good show then I fully support it.  If they go out there looking bad and uncoordinated and don't put on a good fight then I think it's bad.  If there are girls out there that are dedicated to the sport and know how to scrap then let them do it.  I got a chance to train a little bit with Cris Cyborg when I was up at Big Bear and she is a monster.  She hits hard and throws some wicked knees, it is going to be hard for Strikeforce to find somebody that can beat her.  Hopefully Kim and Kerry put on an exciting fight.

PDG: How many more fights you have on your current Strikeforce contract?

Aaron Rosa: I think that I have one or two left but I let my manager Monte Cox take care of all those details so that I'd have to deal with it.  So hopefully I can continue to win and then get some of that big money that I've been hearing about.  I think I need to go out and continue to get my respect because they don't even have my picture on the Strikeforce website.

PDG: Are you still working another job while you continue to train to fight?

Aaron Rosa: No, I talked to my wife and we prayed and decided that if I was going to pursue my dream that I needed to give it 100% and so I quit my job and have been devoting all of my time to training.  It is a great chance for me and I really could not pass up the opportunity.

PDG: Thanks for your time and good luck Friday night.

Aaron Rosa: Thanks I appreciate the support of all my sponsors and all the fans out there that make this such a great sport.