Gökhan Saki, GLORY 15: İstanbul 95 kg Dünya Şampiyonluğu Turnuvası öncesi Fight Network Türkiye'den İzge Can Günal'ın sorularını yanıtladı.
GLORY 15: İstanbul - Gökhan Saki Pre-Fight Interview with Fight Network Turkey's Izge Can Gunal.
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English transcript:
İzge: GLORY 15: İstanbul is just days away and Gökhan Saki, who will be competing for the light heavyweight world championship, is here with us.
İzge: Gökhan, first of all, how do you feel about fighting in Turkey? Last time, at GLORY 6, there was an exceptional crowd support behind you, which affected you and your game in a good way. What do you think about fighting in Turkey and the Turkish fans?
Gökhan: For me it's a special feeling. For all my matches, the most beautiful place to have them is Turkey. Last year, GLORY 6, as you said, was great and I had full support from the fans. This year we expect the same. Being in Turkey, it feels great.
İzge: You have been fighting in the heavyweight division for the last 10 years, but you're going to drop to 95kg, light heavyweight, first time in a decade. How is the weight cut going? Will this change in weight divisions affect your performance, your energy?
Gökhan: Weight cut went great. I'm weighing 96 kg right now, one day before the fight, I mean two days before the fight, weigh-in is tomorrow. It wasn't too difficult for me. We always eat to stay heavy, train fitness to stay heavy. I just changed my diet and the extra weight went off easily.
İzge: At your last match, you fought against Rico Verhoeven. It was a controversial decision, controversial knockdown, a hit to the body. What are your thoughts on that match?
Gökhan: That match is not in my brain anymore. Every person in the world, everyone who has a basic understanding of the sport know what happened, know it was an injustice. I forgot that match.
İzge: In your first match in the tournament, you will fight against Nathan Corbett. After that match, there's a big chance that you meet with Tyrone Spong, who you knocked out in 2009. In this circumstances, how do you train, how do you prepare for a tournament like this, not knowing you you will meet in the finals? How was your preparation? What do you think about your opponents?
Gökhan: For me, the one who's important for me is Nathan Corbett. Most fighters make this mistake: Thinking about the final while preparing. But the important fight is the first one, if you don't win it, there will be no final. So that's Nathan who's most important.
Gökhan: I fought with Tyrone five years ago. In five years a lot of things has changed. He became a better fighter, I became a better fighter. As I said, that matchup is not in my mind. He doesn't have an easy fight in the first round either, Cavalari is young and ambitious. I was just like him back in the day, even though I'm still not old. Everybody's saying that Spong will win it but Cavalari is also a great fighter. You cannot forget him.
İzge: Gökhan Saki, thank you very much, and good luck on Saturday.
