Post by Stanley Fishman on Apr 25, 2010 16:05:41 GMT -5
Eric Mann: I'm here with a very interesting individual who is training for his Pancrase debut and is expected to be one of the most impressive specimens to date. His name is Tome (pronounced Toe-May) "Hulk Hobbes" (also pronounced Hoe-bay) Morais.
Eric Mann: Could you tell the fans a little about your personal background?
Tome Morais: Yeah, I am of mixed Brazilian-Portugese and English descent so I am bilingual, speaking fluently in english and portugese. On my English side one of my notable ancestors was the great political philosopher Thomas Hobbes hence my nickname and first name Tome which is the Portugese equivalent of Thomas.
Eric Mann: Now where did the name "Hulk" come from?
Tome Morais: I admired Hulk Hogan a lot in his days in Japan and the WWF, also in all of my vale tudo fights people would describe the performances as quote "Hulk Smashing". However I somewhat take offence to that because I personally think my style is beautiful, it is a mixture of well roundedness and aggression.
Eric Mann: How did you become so well rounded?
Tome Morais: It was through vale tudo or no holds barred competition internationally. I came across so many different kinds of opponents with different regional styles all over the world in England, Japan, and Brazil it was crazy. I started doing jiu jitsu under the Carlson Gracie team then moved onto boxing the rest I learnt from experience.
Eric Mann: How did you find out about Pancrase?
Tome Morais: I wanted some fights and came to Japan where at first I got a job as a security guard for arenas. Stanley Fishman saw me working at an event and introduced me to his team. I have the utmost respect for him even though his policies may seem authoritarian but I believe it has become a necessity. You cannot have inmates running the asylum here. In fact Dr.Morimoto was probably too focused on competing, training, and teaching other fighters to adequately run the company, that I believe was his downfall.
Eric Mann: What are your thoughts on the opponent Mr.Fishman has put in front of you, Fabio Zulick?
Tome Morais: I couldn't be happier because in my opinion Fabio is for lack of a better word a traitor motherfucker! He would be a "cigano" (gypsy) and stop by our gym once in awhile then he leaves without telling us anything! I don't deny that Fabio probably has a better overall technical jiu jitsu game than me however he is so small and his jiu jitsu doesn't blow mine out of the water to where it can close the size gap, no way!
Eric Mann: Well thanks Hulk for taking the time out of your busy training schedule is there anyone you'd like to thank before we go?
Tome Morais: Yes, Stanley Fishman for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, and my always willing sparring partners Aldous Hauser and Anton DeJonge who have improved my skills drastically.