Last Shooto ranking came to prove: Nova União today controls all categories that its fighters are disputing in the biggest Lightweight tournament in the world. Four of six weights bring a Nova União fighter on the top of the ranking and, in March, João Roque will be challenging the biggest Shooto champ, Alexandre Pequeno, for the Lightweight belt.
One of the reasons for this success, pointed for the athletes themselves, is the leadership of André Pederneiras, who treat his subordinates like his sons and keep his team united like a family. Despite the success, in the last days Dedé is fighting for a different treatment by the press. Pederneiras wants to be seen not only as the biggest Lightweight team in the world.
What's the most important thing for such a big success in just two years of MMA team?
It's the team union. Even when an athlete doesn't fight, he comes to train to help the other ones
You keep saying you're not just a Lightweight team. However, your most important fighters comes from the lowest weights.
Each gym takes one kind of athlete. Brazilian Top Team is known by having a former Heavyweight champ, Minotauro. When a Heavyweight fighter thinks on training, he goes there. If a Lightweight has the same desire, he does different. He knows Nova União has the most important fighters in the category and comes to train.
Do you think on changing this situation?
I really want to, but it takes time. I'm against a fighter being hired from other teams. I prefer to train anyone from the beginning to have a big star giving me a hard time. Here, I'm the boss. We're a team, we decide together, but they have to be respectful. If a fighter comes from other teams, he can be respectful, but it'll be less than the other ones.
You're always complaining about press don't supporting Nova União. At what point do you feel yourself being put down?
In Brazil, when press talk about a fighter, it always mentions his team, unless when it's a Nova União athlete. Would it be good for me? No. It would be good for everybody. Nova União's exposition is the only way my fighters have to be invited for fighting. Own Japanese press ranked Brazilian teams and Nova União was second, behind only to BTT, just for seven points, and ahead of Chute Boxe by double of points. I've my work recognized outside Brazil, but not inside my own country.