WILD BILL’S FIGHT NIGHT
SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 18
RONNIE “BAM BAM” ROGERS VS DIEGO “THE OCTOPUS” SARAIVA
DOORS AT 7:30 / FIGHTS AT 8:30
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Fighting in the main event of Wild Bill’s Fight Night in a Fight of the Year candidate is nothing new for Diego Saraiva. The three-time UFC and Bellator veteran won a split decision over Farkhad Sharipov in April of 2009 that had the crowd on its feat. In September and October of 2009 he returned to the ring of Wild Bill’s with back and forth fights versus Kamrin Naville and JJ Mix with the Mix fight also being a split decision win for Saraiva.

In 2011 Saraiva has entertained the Atlanta fans with a war against Joe Elmore at Wild Bill’s then a loss versus Marius Cujba for the GFC title. He rebounded by winning at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino only two months ago.

Facing him Saturday night at Wild Bill’s will be South Carolina’s Ronnie Rogers. A veteran of 12 pro fights and winning 3 of his last 4 fights, Rogers comes in with confidence after finishing ATT Atlanta’s Marciel Rosa.

GeorgiaFighters.com sent some questions to Rogers before the main event Saturday night. Below are his answers.

You’ve seen Diego fight quite a few times. Why did you want to fight him now?
just due to his name and how well known he is in atlanta and i know he is very beatable.when i win this fight it will be my name known in his home town not his. i know its going to be a tough fight because he is a great fighter. and thats what we look for and want..taking easy fights gets you nowhere and this is one i know i can win. who doesnt want to beat the so called best?

Your trainer approached David Oblas on several occasions to get this fight with Diego. Why Diego? Do you see something in his style that you can beat?
again its just because of who he is. he has been in the big show and fought big name fighters and beat them. so when i blow through him it will open some eyes.

Many thought that you wouldn’t beat Marciel Rosa at Wild Bill’s Fight Night in May. Was that a difficult fight for you?
i was the underdog in that fight because i have lost 5 times in my pro career. but ive never been finished or even close to being finished. i just didnt train hard enough at that point and my cardio was poor. and even so i feel like ive only really lost 2 of those fights. the other 3 i kept really close and i feel like i did enough to take the win but as they say leave it out of the judges hands..but as far as marciel, no it was not a difficult fight…my plan was to keep it standing and ko him because word on the street was his ground game was sick. but i knew i had already broke him when he was walking to the ring and he was too afraid to keep eye contact with me. so i blew through him with ease. when i ended the first round on his back i knew he was done so i just took him down right off the bat in the second and fed him 17 elbows to end the fight…

You know that Diego is one of the best bjj fighters in the Southeast, if not the country. But he’ll also made a name for himself as a fighter that will stand and trade with anyone to make a show more exciting. What do you plan to do Saturday night? Stand and trade or go to the ground?
it wont take him long to realize he made a mistake if he tries to stand and bang with me…he has never fought anyone that has my strength and can hit as hard as me and he has shown in his last few fights he has a weak chin and i do not, so i have no fear of mixing it up with this guy…and what few know is that i have a pretty good ground game myself so when it comes down to it ill let him pick his poison because i know i have what it takes to ko or sub him.

What parts of your game are better than his game?
im bigger stronger and faster than him. my stand up is a great deal better than his. on the ground he may be more technical but i’ll over power him…he is not used to someone being in his face and be gritty with him.

Do you see any weakness’ in Diego?
his stand up is sloppy, he has a weak chin, and he does not press…and ill take advantage of all 3.

How has your training been going for this fight?
my training is at its peak…im not the same fighter i was just 5 months ago..i have great trainers and training partners and ive found the drive to push myself…alot of people have stepped up to help me get ready for this fight. even guys from other gyms. ive never been this ready or prepaired for a fight ever.

You never seem to have easy fights. Seems like every time you fight in Atlanta it’s been difficult fights. Do you not believe in the proverbial “tune up” fight?
like i said before…taking easy fights does not make you better. i do believe in take the right fight at the right times., but as i said ive never really been beat up or finished. all my losses have come by my own fault of not training hard enough….i found the problem and i fixed it. so i dont see myself getting beat anytime soon. because i have fought top of the line guys and stood toe to toe with them even though i was not in shape. im 10x the fighter i was then. 

How do you see this fight going?
i see myself knocking him out late in the 1st or early second

Anything else you’d like to mention?
remember this name and the H.I.T squad because after this win were blowing up.