INTERVIEW
07/15/2004
Dokonjyonosuke Mishima

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According to DSE President, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, if BUSHIDO continues as it is, there's no point in carrying on with it. Today we interview one of the fighters that will be responsible for improving BUSHIDO's image, Dokonjonosuke Mishima.
Pride Fighting Championships: What do you think of your opponent, Marcos Aurelio?
Dokonjonosuke Mishima: He's the ZST Champions, so his jiu-jitsu must be good. That's about all.
Pride: Just that?
Mishima: Sorry. I haven't really watched the videos seriously yet. I'll watch them after I go home.
Pride: Have you every seen any of his fights?
Mishima: I saw one of his fights in ZST. There was a head butt and the fight was stopped. That didn't really help me.
Pride: He's in the American Top Team?
Mishima: I heard that Conan, who fought Sakuraba, and Ricardo Liborio are also there but since I never really watch heavyweights, I don't know.
Pride: There was talk about you entering the ZST GP.
Mishima: Yeah, but I'm glad I didn't fight. (laughing). It would have been weird, suddenly fighting the Champion.
Pride: Generel Director Takada and President Sakakibara has said that the existence of BUSHIDO is in danger. What do you think of that?
Mishima: It bothers me. I'd like to get everyone excited about my fight but it looks like it will be other peoples' fights that will get everyone worked up. Maybe I should just worry about my own fight. (laughing). At any rate, I have to win.
Pride: This will be first time, in a long time, that you will be the first fight.
Mishima: Since I made my debut in Shooto. I'm glad that I will be able to watch everyone else's fights are mine is over. I'd like to set the place on fire from the very opening...maybe it'll happen.
Pride: That's up to you.
Mishima: I'll do my best. The rest, I leave up to fate. Last year, I was told that they wanted an interesting fight, rather than just something that I win. If I had got then top and held him down, I think I would have won but I don't regret it. This time, I want to be both aggressive and win.
Pride: Do you think you can have that kind of fight with Aurelio?
Mishima: I think so. He was aggressive in the ZST fight I saw so if I just match that, it will naturally be a good fight.
Pride: He's also beaten Royler Gracie.
Mishima: I don't really consider Royler to be that big. It doesn't bother me.
Pride: You tried your hand at pro-wrestling, didn't you? What did you learn there?
Mishima: I was amazed at the way they could reach out to the audience. I can't reach them yet. I need to work on that.
Pride: The fighters in the Kansai area often train together. Have you trained with them?
Mishima: I did once but I became injured and never went back after that.
Pride: How are your injuries now?
Mishima: Yeah... I was wondering whether I should fight in this fight or not, but when I heard that I could fight the ZST Champion, I couldn't turn it down. I'm training as I heal. Hopefully, I will be in my best condition by fight day. It doesn't really matter though. You can lose even if you are in perfect condition.
Pride: I'm not really worry about your fight. You've already shown that your fights are interesting and there were a lot of people that thought your bought against Ralph Gracie was the best match of the entire event.
Mishima: Really? It's the first fight this time and there's not much left for me. I want to fight aggressively and have an interesting fight.
Pride: You're not going to be fighting much longer?
Mishima: Not for much longer. The "Dokonjonosuke Mishima Countdown" has already begun.
Pride: Really? So this fight in Nagoya might be your last match?
Mishima: It could be. (laughing)
Pride: Have you developed any new techniques?
Mishima: Yes but I've never used them in a fight. If I can get into a certain position, I can do them. I've never been put in that position yet, though. This opponent will be a jiu-jitsu fighter so maybe he'll do it for me.
Pride: Oh, it's a jiu-jitsu destroying technique?
Mishima: Yes. The Dokonjonosuke Cyclone. I've said that I'm going to use for a long time but I never have. Maybe I'll be able to show it for the first time in Nagoya . If he's the kind of jiu-jitsu fighter that I imagine, it should work.