Q: How do you feel about fighting in Bushido?

Maeda: How do I feel? Well, finally, the time has come.

Q: Does this mean you were thinking about fighting in PRIDE?

Maeda: It’s not that. It feels like a big chance. Recently, opponents in Pancrase have been sort of limited, you know. It’s been like, “I want to fight but no one’s been there.”

Q: I guess you did fight pretty much everyone in your weight class.

Maeda: Well, I still haven’t fought Shida and Yamamoto.

Q: I believe foreign fighters have began to notice your winning streak. I’ve heard many fighters in Brazil want to fight you.

Maeda: Well, then I hope they can come here. (laugh)

A gifted striker, he prefers to finish his opponent instead of winning by decision.

Q: In terms of you fighting in PRIDE Bushido, is this like, “I am going there (PRIDE) to fight because no one is coming to me (Pancrase)?”

Maeda: I am going there because they gave me an offer. (laugh) I always wanted to fight in Bushido though. When we talk about “big stage” then it is PRIDE, K-1, or UFC. But only limited fighters can make it there, you know. Back then I didn’t have enough of a record to think about making it, then PRIDE Bushido started. I began to think, “Hey, maybe I can make it there.”

Q: In terms of fighting outside Pancrase, you have fought in DEEP show before.

Maeda: Yeah but at PRIDE and K-1 level, then I get nervous and I would be thinking, “Man, I am fighting in the big event!!”

Q: I am actually bit surprised to hear you say you get nervous.

Maeda: Well, usually, I don’t get nervous, but since it is a big event, I feel like I should be more conscious about the fight. That’s why the media wants to talk to me, right? (laugh) Then I can really began thinking “This is a big deal!”

Q: Are you feeling the pressure of carrying both Pancrase and Ingagki-gumi on your back?

Maeda: A little. But since I declared myself a representative of both Pancrase and Ingagki-gumi, I have to be responsible, right? I guess I am putting a lot of pressure on myself. (laugh)

Q: Pancrase fighters are in the middle of a losing streak in PRIDE (Yoshiki Takahashi & Yuki Kondo). How do you feel about that?

Maeda is known for his calm, keeping his own pace both inside and outside the ring.

Maeda: When you just look at the results, some might think, “Hey Pancrase fighters can’t handle it.” So it’s sad. But it can’t be helped, though. Kondo-san and Takahashi-san lost but it’s not like I can do something for them by fighting Vovchanchyn, right?

Q: That’s true.

Maeda: I really don’t want people to look down on Pancrase. Some may think it is an individual event so the organization doesn’t matter. But for me, personally, I like Pancrase. And I would be in trouble if it disappears. (laugh) But more than anything, I really owe it to Pancrase.

Q: Now, your opponent, Charles Bennett. What is your impression of him?

Maeda: We are pretty much equal, fifty-fifty, I think.

Q: Why so modest?

Maeda: I really think so. Once we start to trade, the one who lands first will win.

Q: It can be a striking battle. Have you ever see him fight?

Maeda: I saw him fighting in Bushido. He is a fighter but doesn’t look like a Kakuto-ka (martial artist).

Q: You mean he is more like a brawler or street fighter?

Maeda: Well, he had a showmanship.

Q: Yes, even in KOTC, he climbed the fence.

Maeda: All I can say is, “Go ahead, please climb the fence.” What else can I say? (laugh)

Q: What about the weight difference? He is more than ten pounds heavier than you.

Maeda: I think I can handle that. I think I can knock out any heavyweights as long as I nail them on the spot. What is so difficult is how to get to that point. You know, if I can hit them, then it should be fine. (laugh) So maybe that is the challenge for this fight.

Maeda showed a variety of leg kicks in the fight against Paixao. Here he executes a devastating flying knee.

Q: But it’s not only the weight. Bennett is very quick. Gomi had trouble keeping up with him at first.

Maeda: No. I am faster than him. That shouldn’t be any problem.

Q: What about strength?

Maeda: He is a foreign fighter so he would have advantage in the power department. But that should be OK.

Q: So far, you have fought three foreign fighters. Barrett, Socca, and Paixao. Tough opponents, especially Paixao.

Maeda: But you know, I don’t remember Paixao doing anything to me. He just took hits. He was tough, doesn’t give up, (laugh) but he also didn’t really attack me. He fought wild and just got exhausted by himself.

Q: How do you feel about being a professional MMA fighter?

Maeda: There are so many pro MMA fighters now, but to the contrary, we are really losing “real professionals.” If you are true professional, you have to have something to show. I want to do the fight where viewers would never dare to think about fast-forwarding it on video.

Q: I do fast forward a lot. (laugh) From your point of view, which fighter is fast-forward proof?

Maeda: Sakuraba. Not only the fight itself, but his aura, atmosphere, something about him.

Q: You don’t think you have an aura?

Maeda: Aura? Nothing. (laugh)

Q: But you are OK with talking with a microphone in the ring.

Maeda: No, people at Inagaki-gumi tell me I am no good at that. They told me that I don’t speak clearly. (laugh)

Q: Inagaki-gumi is tough on everything, right?

Maeda: No actually it’s my friend who tells me this. One of my friends casually told me the other day that I am not “good at talking.” (laugh)