MMA Sports caught up with Robert Drysdale as he prepares for his MMA debut on Tuff N Uff’s October 17 event.

MMA SPORTS: You are going to debut in MMA in October, how are you doing?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: I am feeling great. I have been training a lot and I train two or three times a day. I haven't been teaching as usual, and I have been doing my physical training with Rafael Alejarra. He is the man and really extracts from us the best. In our last training I almost died after three minutes of his training (laughs). I Box everyday and I also train wrestling and I cannot forget my Jiu-Jitsu…I am really confident about this debut.

I was supposed to fight in September, but I got my foot hurt and I needed at least six weeks to get better. Now I am feeling great and I will fight in October. I also received an invitation to fight in Canada in November, but I didn't want to wait so long…so I closed a deal to fight now and then in December.

MMA SPORTS: How is your training?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: I Box with Skiper Kelp, one of the best Boxing athletes,, he is very experienced. Then I go to Xtreme Couture and train Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu. I am more focused in Wreslitng and Boxing. Jiu-Jitsu I train with Frank Mir...I am developing his game to fight Rodrigo Minotauro. I am also going to help Wanderlei for his next fight.

MMA SPORTS: So, how do you feel training with fighters such as Wanderlei Silva, Forrest Griffin and many other stars at Xtreme Couture?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: It's really good and makes me more confident. If I can exchange punches with Silva I can take anyone! If I can put Forrest down I can put anybody down and training with Couture is awesome. I have many sparring partners in there and some new fighters you can't imagine. I am having the time of my life and trying to learn as much I can. I teach a lot and they help me too…so it has been a nice exchange.

MMA SPORTS: You are a BJJ black belt and right now, tons of BJJ fighters are emerging in the MMA world...what do you think about that?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: I think no matter how much we enjoy and like to be on the mat, BJJ is the same as 10 years ago. It has not has been developed as MMA. BJJ Worlds came to the US, but it still do not count on sponsors, TV… there is no money involved, so it gets complicated to keep the fighters in the sport. So I am 26 now and I can't spend 10 more years of my life fighting for medals, so I decided to migrate.

MMA SPORTS: Does that include the grappling events such as ADCC?
ROBERT DRYSDALE - No, ADCC is different. I also want to fight MMA in 2008 because next year I want to focus in Abu Dhabi. I am hoping to fight Roger Gracie in the super-fight. So I want to spend three or four months training hard to beat him. So after this fight in December I will focus in Submission.

MMA SPORTS: And how do you plan on beating him?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: He is a great athlete and I know his weak spots. I will explore that and the rest will be history.

MMA SPORTS: He is also migrating to Vale-Tudo. Would you like to fight him under MMA rules?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: Man, I don't care to fight him in a ring. But if the promoters think it would be a great idea, why not? I don't see fighting as personal...but I tell you its really difficult when you have to face a friend. I say it would be very hard to fight Demian Maia for example. I do respect Roger a lot. He is very intelligent and a great person, but I won't see a problem to fight him professionally.

MMA SPORTS: Would you like to send a message to your fans that might be anxious about your debut in the ring?
ROBERT DRYSDALE: I thank all my friends and fans for the support. About this debut, I am very confident and have been training hard to do a great job, so the fans must be sure I will do my best and I hope you guys hear a lot from me.