Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures) had a storied career in Shooto. For years he dominated the Japanese promotion's 143-pound ranks while earning a reputation for his mastery of the guillotine choke.

On Sunday, "Pequeno" debuts in the United States, where he takes on Jose Aldo in a 145-pound fight in the WEC. Sherdog.com spoke with the Brazilian about his time in Japan and his future in America.

Sherdog.com: How was your adaptation to the United States and your first training sessions inside the cage?
Nogueira: First and foremost I am glad to be here. I used to train and fight in cages and I have traveled a long way to Japan before. Regarding the climate and the environment in the USA, I feel great. The time zone difference is small compared to Japan. For me, I'm still in Brazil. About the cage, well, I felt great as well. The adaptation has been really fast.

Sherdog.com: You lived like a king in Japan, where the sport is recognized, when you were Shooto champion. Now you're a newcomer in the United States, where the sport is hugely popular. How do you analyze these two different situations?
Nogueira: I think WEC and Shooto are two great events, but let's talk about the present. WEC is under Zuffa, and this is becoming popular for the 145-pound [division], where I'm fighting, and for 135-pound competitors. I think now I have more ways of getting popular. WEC is shown all the time on TV, and this is good to reach popularity. It's important to have your image close to the fans' eyes. This is the time to do the same that I did in Shooto. I want to make my name here, be recognized.

Sherdog.com: You fought at 143 pounds and 155 pounds in Japan. In the WEC you are a 145-pounder. What about these changes in your weight class?
Nogueira: This is an ideal weight class for me mainly because I lose too much weight when I'm training. I tried to fight at 155 pounds, but the weight itself was a huge problem in Hero's, not only to reach but to keep me strong against guys who seemed to be welterweights on fight day while I was 151 pounds. Well, that was impossible.

Sherdog.com: You're an American Top Team fighter now, an official member. How did that happen?
Nogueira: This should have happened three years ago when Andre Vinicius "Benkei" [the conditioning coach] joined ATT, but I had visa problems and it did not come true. I trained with him my whole life. I defended my Shooto belt seven times with Benkei pushing my conditioning.

Sherdog.com: The preparation at ATT is very different from what you had in Brazil at Clube de Luta academy. This happens due to the constant competition ATT members have while the guys in Rio de Janeiro don't. How did you handle that?
Nogueira: The level of the training here was something unreal for me, even though I kept myself training with heavier guys like Carlos Danilo, Pedro Santos and Marcos Motta (Pictures) in Brazil because I knew I would face a high-level pace here. Everybody is competing at ATT, so the work is Class A the entire time and my plans are going very well. I arrived here May 11 and inserted myself nicely on the second week I was here.

Sherdog.com: You've had different opponents to face in your debut. Why didn't the fights materialize?
Nogueira: In fact I did. But I think that my first opponent, Nick Agallar (Pictures), would never lose the pounds to weigh 145. He's so tall. Leonard Garcia (Pictures) would have fought me, but he was arrested.

Sherdog.com: Your opponent now is another Brazilian, Jose Aldo. Thoughts on him?
Nogueira: I do not like to face a fellow [Brazilian]. I think we could build our careers against foreign fighters at WEC and face each other only if it was for a contender position in the future, but I'm professional. This is not an easy task, but my target is the featherweight belt. So I have this will in my mind since I returned my Shooto belt. Answering your question, he likes to keep the fight standing, has good kicks and fast hands, besides an outstanding BJJ style from Nova Uniao.

Sherdog.com: So I assume you're going to clinch or shoot for takedowns and force him to work from his back.
Nogueira: I am going to stand against him, and thanks to Andre Pederneiras [Aldo's coach], I will do that. I knocked my last opponent out, and it was Pederneiras who convinced me, in Japan, that I should work more on my hands. I followed his suggestion and sharpened my fists.

Sherdog.com: Do you think a fighter can retain his belt for such a long time in an American promotion, as you did in Shooto?
Nogueira: People say I kept the Shooto belt a long time due to several non-title fights. I want to make a replay of my success in Japan in the USA, too, and I will prove that a fighter can keep the belt for a long time. He only needs perseverance and a good day in his title match. I will do that.

Sherdog.com: But don't you think this new atmosphere you're going through can harm your intentions?
Nogueira: This is my debut, all fans know. This will be my first time in the cage, but I am confident with my game. Plus I do not see it as I am starting from zero to get the same recognition I had in Japan. But I have in my mind that to fit myself into this game, I need to do something meaningful.

Sherdog.com: Your opinion about the WEC featherweight champion, Urijah Faber (Pictures)?
Nogueira: He has sharpened wrestling, a good ability to trade punches and is fast and explosive. He's a phenom. I have a teammate here, Mike Brown, who's excellent, too, and we sparred a lot for our fights on June 1st.

Sherdog.com: So do you still have a teammate in your way if you climb the ranks?
Nogueira: Please don't ask me tough questions like that [laughs].

Sherdog.com: Thank you very much for your time. Would you like to leave a final message?
Nogueira: What I did in Japan, the Guillotine Man and etc. are important things, but I need to look for the fame and respect I achieved in Shooto. This is the only way of climbing the ranks and facing the WEC champion. If it comes via my trademark, the guillotine choke, or a knockout, that would be nice.