Carlo Prater: "Keeping cool under pressure is key".
A big fan of hand-on-bicep holds, whether it be an arm-triangle, arm-and-neck or rear-naked choke, Carlo Prater was caught off guard last Friday, when he got called up for the UFC 142 card in Rio de Janeiro on the coming 14th of January.
“Yes, I was taken by surprise. My manager had told me we were going to get a fight during the first half of 2012, but I never expected to be a replacement, nor that it would come so soon,” the São Paulo native brought up in the United States told GRACIEMAG.com.
“My preparations have been going great, despite how fast everything has unfolded. My trainers—Julio Pudim, Sandro Bala, Kru Nilson and Marcus Góes—are always guiding me. Coach Neto is taking care of my physical conditioning. It’s all about getting out there and taking him by surprise,” he says, adding that on the ground one can’t be too cautious:
“If he leaves an opening, I’ll sub him for sure. I know it won’t be easy. I’m usually laid back, wood-burning stove style, taking a little while to get warmed up. But that style of mine helps a lot, since I’ve been through a lot of rough situations in my career, moments when keeping cool under pressure is key. This opportunity will be one of them,” he said in closing.
What do you think, keen reader, do you think things will heat up between Carlo Prater and Erick Silva? Who takes it?
UFC 142
HSBC Arena, Barra, Rio de Janeiro
January 14, 2012
José Aldo vs Chad Mendes
Vitor Belfort vs Anthony Johnson
Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares vs Mike Massenzio
Erick Silva vs Carlo Prater
Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim
Thiago Tavares vs Sam Stout
Mike Pyle vs Ricardo Funch
Yuri “Marajó” Alcântara vs Michirio Omigawa
Fabio Maldonado vs Caio Magalhães
Ednaldo “Lula” Oliveira vs Gabriel Napão
Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes vs Antônio Carvalho
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