We are walking through an enormous city, the streets are silent and you can clearly see the absolute absence of people. We continue walking, baffled, and before us emerges an imposing building in an oval form. It is then that we hear a deafening roar which blasts over our heads, it‚s the acclamation of thousands of voices in unison. We are in Rome in the final years of the I Century and the amazing structure, which rises before our stare is the Coliseum.

More than 2000 years later an ovation resounds in the interior of a modern building. As we approach it, the murmur of voices becomes more intense!

Now we are in Tokyo, Japan and the extraordinary building, which is full and overflowing is the Tokyo Dome, a place where new gladiators forge their legends. A Spaniard is working to the "Maximum" to achieve glory and make himself a place in the Olympus of new gladiators, "Cross Combat" wanted to spend some time with him to find out how he is preparing for his assault on Japan.

"I will let your adversaries know your worth before you confront them."

The first question is one we typically ask fighters in all our interviews.

Q:How did you start?

Tabera: After training in boxing and full contact fighting, my first MMA classes where with Javier Garcia in S.H.O.O.T- Reus. When I entered the Competition Team I transferred permanently to Valencia to train with Alejandro Iglesias in Academia Central de S.H.O.O.T

Even with an injured hand, Daniel Tabera was able to overcome the power of Strasser Academy's Ron Faircloth in Euphoria MFC. Photography by Minori Yoshida

Q: When and why did you decide to become a proffesional in this sport?

Tabera: I think that idea began to emerge proggresively over time. In my case, after my first M -1 fight in Russia I decided to trasfer to Valencia, with out a job or a home in order to dedicate myself professionally to MMA. It was all the same to me, I clearly knew that I wanted to commit myself to this.

It had been my dream, and finally I met the only person with the knowledge and experience to help me achieve being a World Champion. I only had to be consistent, dedicated and pay attention to him. So far I have already been in world class MMA selections five times ("Russia versus The World" and "USA versus The World") and so far I am undefeated. That is a positive reinforcement telling me that the decision to move to Valencia has been the correct one.

Q: Do you think you'll ever lose?

Tabera: Ha ha ha! Of course I'll loose some day, but I keep training very hard to make it as difficult as possible for my future opponents.

Q: What is a normal day like in your life?

Tabera: My daily activities depend on what is going on, what situation I find myself in. If I am preparing for a competition I get up at 8:00 AM and have fruit for breakfast. From 9:00 to 11:00 I have my first training session which is dedicated to physical preparation in which each day I follow a specific program that includes running, in series, swimming... afterwards I'll have some lunch and rest. From noon until 2:00 PM I train in technique with my teacher, Alejandro Iglesias, accordingly with the fight plan designed for the specific fight. In the afternoon from 5:00 to 7:00 sparring and from 8:00 to 10:00 I assist a class and do open training for one hour. In total its about eight hours of daily training. I train with my teammates and spar with some of the advanced students. Anyways, in IVAD there are already about seven hundred students all of which are over eighteen. The level is rising slowly and our methodology forms a solid base. But if we continue this work, within some time there will be hundreds of good fighters in IVAD, and I'll be able to train with them.

Q: Defíne yourself as a fighter.

Tabera: It is very difficult to define myself. I think I am disciplined and methodical. I am serious about my training and my fights. I like to fight standing, I like to shoot in, use the ground, and as much striking as submissions... and I train very hard. Anyways, I dont like to talk about my qualities. I would rather show them with action.

Q: When will we see Daniel Tabera in action again?

Tabera: I dont know. I accepted a rematch which Gilbert Yvel's Manager requested for a tournament that will happen in Octobre in Holland, but they still haven't sent the details or the contract. We'll see. The thing is to always be prepared to put on a good fight.

Q: Where do you feel the most comfortable fighting? Standing or on the ground?

Tabera: I am comfortable fighting on my feet, shooting in, grappling on the ground, but my work depends on the opponent. For each combat Alejandro decides the tactic. He has made world champions in Kickboxing, Grappling and MMA. He is in charge of designing the strategy I will use against each opponent.
Sometimes I have to fight on my feet and other times I have to take the fight to the ground, but I'm fine in whatever situation that may come up in a fight.

Q: Of all the fights you've had, which do you believe has been the most important in your career?

Tabera: Possibly... against Gilbert Yvel, at the personal level, when I began he had already fought in Pride seven times and it was a great fight for me. For my career... I think the best has been winning in Euphoria MFC in the United States. In that fight I had an injured hand and the strategy was, to strike!
Of course I wound up with a broken hand, but that fight made me the first Spanish fighter to win in MMA in the United States. It gave me great pride to represent Spain and be victorious.

Q: What do you aspire to in MMA?

Tabera: To become the best possible fighter I can be.

Q: Which rival would you like to confront?

Tabera: Obviously... the best, that's what I prepare for each day.

Q: Would you fight a fellow countryman?

Tabera: Ha ha ha...! If I've fought against Gilbert Yvel and always against heavyweight fighters, why wouldn't I confront another Spaniard? It would just be one more adversary.

Sometimes with victory comes a broken hand, Daniel Tabera is the first Spanish MMA fighter to be victorous in the U.S.. Photography by Minori Yoshida

Q: But your trainer doesn't want you to fight in Spain...

Tabera: I heard some of that bullshit and as far as that subject goes, I imagine it must have been started by some person who does not know Alejandro at all and the only thing that you get with commentaries like that is to create a bad feeling within the MMA community.

There are some great fighters in this country at a very high level and of course the events that are organized here in Spain help these fighters gain experience. Our team has already fought in many championships in Spain, so that is already something in the past for us. Alejandro decided in 2001, that Equipo S.H.O.O.T. would stop competing so much in Grappling, Muay-Thai/Kick Boxing, to then concentrate only on MMA tournaments at an international level. If some day an event is organized in Spain like Pride, UFC, M-1 or Ultimate Combat... of course our team, Equipo S.H.O.O.T. would participate in that event, and each of us would as always confront whatever adversary they gave us, be it foreign or from Spain.

Right now, in the professional MMA events in which we participate, it is difficult to encounter other fighters from our own country, and anyways, Alejandro prefers to avoid fights between Spanish fighters. But if some day we are matched up against other Spanish fighters in an international tournament, there will definitely be a fight.

But right now I believe we need to concentrate in improving what few fighters we have here in Spain instead of criticizing each other. Talk is cheap, while action is difficult, that's why there are so many "virtual fighters" around. I believe in Alejandro's philosophy when he says that we all need to make a greater effort to work harder and talk less. "The best response to negative criticisms is hard and constant work."

Q: All professional MMA fighter's dream of fighting in Japan. How do you imagine your first fight there?

Tabera: I don't think about how it might be, I prefer to train and be prepared.
Right now I'm focusing on my current situation. When I reach that moment I will concentrate on that.

Q: Until now we have almost always seen you confront fighters who are above your own weight. Will that continue, or will you confront fighters in your own weight class?

Tabera: I've already began. In February I took part in the USA vs. The World as a Light heavyweight (-93 kg). It was my first fight in my own weight class. Before, I always fought against heavyweights and I liked those victories in particular. But logically, I feel more comfortable confronting someone in my own weight class.

Q: Do you think its a disadvantage that foreign fighters have the opportunity to fight more frequently than you, or do you think this works in your favor?

Tabera: Evidently, for them it is an advantage to be able to fight more than myself, but I am used to being at a disadvantage as far as my experience, fighting heavier weights, and fighting in the homelands of my opponents... Fights are more difficult this way, but the development and experience that one acquires is much greater.

Q: What would you say to someone who is considering entering into MMA competition?

Tabera: To surround themselves with good professionals and people who are serious and hard working. To prepare yourself very, very, well and forget about partying and the night life. You have to train very hard. If eventually you get to fight in other countries, you will see the incredible technical level which all fighters from the leading countries posses, and you will see how hard it is right now to do it right. But if you have a dream...fight for it with all your strength.

It is the many who are on this road, but if you are consistent, hard working and have a good trainer you will go far. Each person goes as far as they wish, limitations are only things we set upon ourselves.

Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Tabera: I would like to thank all the MMA aficionados for following our team and making this sport bigger and bigger each time. My Proffesor Alejandro Iglesias, all the team members Equipo SHOOT, the instructors, students, at IVAD and everyone who has backed me in my passion for fighting.

Q: Thank you Ricardo for offering me this interview.

Tabera: Gracias también a ti, Ricardo, por ofrecerme esta entrevista.

More info on Daniel Tabera:
Web: www.shootfightingspain.com/danieltabera