Salaverry is scheduled to lock horns with the low-key yet ultra-dangerous Marquardt in the featured bout of UFCs Ultimate Fight Night, which will be telecast live on SpikeTV. While the fight itself doesnt ooze superstar versus superstar, the brass within Zuffa has (on paper, anyway) secured a fight that could become one of the most memorable in the history of the UFC.
Salaverry-Marquardt is an MMA enthusiasts dream a bout that probably will bare witness to a thousand different techniques and one that could end in a split second.
Sherdog.com caught up with Salaverry to discuss his upcoming battle with Marquardt, his views on how Joe Diesel Riggs disrespected him and why, exactly, he showers the arena with kisses after his victories.
Sherdog.com: You are fighting Nathan Marquardt (pictures) this Saturday. He is not a well-known fighter whatsoever to the casual MMA fan, but anybody who really knows the sport knows how dangerous and skilled he is. What are your thoughts on Marquardt?
Salaverry: Well, from what I haven seen, he is very well rounded just like me and I enjoy that. Hes experienced. A lot of people dont really know that but he is very experienced. He has done the full circuit in Pancrase in Japan, so its going to be a good fight. I think I hope that its going to be one of those epic fights.
Sherdog.com: Do you know him on a personal level at all?
Salaverry: No. I dont know him at all. As a matter of fact, I met him for the first time yesterday. He is a really nice guy.
Sherdog.com: So your initial reaction is that Nathan is a good dude.
Salaverry: Yeah, he is a nice guy. I dont know him personally at all. I have never met him in Japan and/or here until yesterday.
Sherdog.com: Many of the fans of the UFC and some of the media have been griping about your fight with Marquardt not being worthy enough to be a main event. I, personally, cant wait for the fight but many seem bummed that Salaverry-Marquardt is the main event. Does it bother you at all to hear or read these gripes?
Salaverry: Well, I just say well, look who is griping about it, first, you know what I mean? (chuckles) See, for me as an MMA fan and a fighter, an MMA enthusiast would be much more enthusiastic about this fight than anybody else. I think this is a great fight as far as MMA goes. I think its a great fight and these fans [who have been complaining] will see one great, well-trained, well-versed fighter going up against another one.
Sherdog.com: People have seen you fight before on numerous occasions but nobody really caught on to you until you submitted Tony Fryklund (pictures) and now since you beat Diesel. Have you ever been disappointed that you havent really gotten the recognition that you deserved?
Salaverry: No, not really. Honestly I consider myself a martial artist. For me, to have that huge entertainment value, how do you say if I get it I will take it, embrace it and Ill go with it. But I am not out there trying to get that. I am just trying to be the best fighter out there. It sounds cliché, but its true.
Sherdog.com: You are fighting in what has become a very deep weight division in middleweight. Have you heard any rumblings within Zuffa about when a possible title shot could happen?
Salaverry: I dont know. I really dont know the insight on that. I know that they want me to fight Rich Franklin (pictures) here coming up soon, eventually. But its just like everything else where you just have to keep on winning and eventually youll get the chance. The man right now is Rich Franklin (pictures). I hope I could get that (title) match. I really do.
Sherdog.com: This is kind of off topic, but I have to ask it. After your last two wins in the UFC, you ran around the Octagon and blew kisses everywhere. What is that all about? I think its very funny, to be honest, but what is that? Are you doing that to just be joking/goofy or is there an actual meaning behind it?
Salaverry: Well (laughs), well I am so ecstatic that I won, first of all. I am very happy and its sincere. But basically its something that, you know, it happens during the soccer games. You just go out there, run around, go crazy and blow kisses to the crowd, you know? You have to really appreciate the crowd for being there and cheering you on.
Sherdog.com: When you submitted Diesel, he turned to Joe Rogan and said something along the lines of, I cant believe that I lost to that guy. When he said that, what did you think he meant by that and did it bother you?
Salaverry: Yes, it did bother me. But then again, I forgive him for being young. I am 34 years old; I have been in this game for a long time and something like that shows that it is very unclassy. Its not classy from the get-go. That he said, that guy, and, I never thought Id lose to him in a billion years and that he wanted to break my teeth in, its just sensationalist talk. No one forced him to tap. He tapped on his very own. Thats all.
Sherdog.com: Well, you pretty much forced him to tap because you had him in a triangle.
Salaverry: Exactly! It was his decision! He could have continued on and tried to fight out of it or go out, but he decided to tap. It was his choice, you know what I mean? He tapped and said uncle, not me. So for him to say such a comment like that just shows how unclassy he is.
Sherdog.com: It seems like there is some animosity growing between you two. With that said, have you ever fought anybody that you seriously did not like?
Salaverry: I will honestly say no. I have been very fortunate that I have a very good circle of friends. They have been good in every which way. All of the fighters and everybody else have all been really good people. Have I ever been in a situation where I have been around someone who I didnt like their demeanor? Yes. There are a lot of guys out there who are sensationalists. But you know what? Let them be. Live and let live. I am here to do what I have to do with my career and they have to do it their way.
Sherdog.com: You are fighting in the main event of Ultimate Fight Night. Are you more excited about fighting on that card, which will be aired on regular cable and seen by millions and millions, as opposed to being on a pay-per-view card?
Salaverry: Well, it is just a great honor that [Zuffa] got me in this. I am just ecstatic that I have this much exposure! I have been on the under cards with Semenov, with Fryklund and with Riggs. You know what I mean? Even with Lindland I was on the under card. I guess I just keep putting on great performances, so its just a great honor that I have been invited back and that people notice you. Maybe I should apologize for not being that guy out there banging on his chest, gritting and growling at people. But I am just glad that people notice me and like my fighting.
Sherdog.com: Do you have any predictions for your fight against Marquardt?
Salaverry: (Chuckles) I am not a clairvoyant. I am not going to predict anything. I am not of that nature. I am going to go out there and I am going to fight very hard. I trained very hard and I will fight very hard. I know Nathan did, too, so it will be a great fight.