Recently we caught up with Goran Reljic for an exclusive interview. Reljic will be making his UFC debut at UFC 84 in a match against Wilson Gouveia. UFC 84 will most likely take place on May 24 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Goran will be looking to make a statement in the light heavyweight division but will face stiff competition in Wilson Gouveia who has a very impressive UFC record of 4-1. The match up should make for a very exciting bout.

Here is what the Croatian fighter had to say.

RedSweat: So how did you get into mixed martial arts?

Goran: Well that’s a long story, I had my first fight when I was 19, I only knew a few submissions and double leg takedown, I was training a bit of grappling before in Crocop’s gym for like 8 months before, everybody thought I was crazy for doing it but I trained hard and I wanted to do it for myself to prove something to me. So I won my first fight with the armbar in one minute and after that I got more into it.

RedSweat: How long have you been training and where do you train?

Goran: It’s hard to say how long, lets say 4 years.

RedSweat: How does it feel to be fighting in the biggest organization in the world, the UFC?

Goran: Well it’s been my dream since I had my first fight so I can say it is an honor for me, cause I always wanted to get there and somehow I knew it’s gonna happen one day and it did thanks to my manager Mr. Zoran Saric who had a lot of faith in me and my skills.

RedSweat: How did the UFC find you?

Goran: It went through my manager Zoran Saric.

RedSweat: Do you have an idea of who your opponent is going to be on March 8th? If so who?

Goran: Nope, don’t know nothing yet, but I aint gonna refuse the fight to anyone.

RedSweat: What did you do before you decided to become a full time fighter?

Goran: Studying, I still do.

RedSweat: Do you have a nickname? If not what do you think it should be?

Goran: No not yet, my bjj trainer Roger Gracie calls me monstrinho haha.

RedSweat: Who’s your favorite fighter in the UFC?

Goran: Minotauro, I also had chance to train with him this summer, if I respected him as I fighter from that moment I respect him even more as a person.

RedSweat: What did you think of the Liddell Silva fight?

Goran: Well I gotta tell you Chuck and Wanderlei are great fighters and honestly I think it was a good fight.

RedSweat: What is your favorite fight of all time?

Goran: Mauricio Shogun Rua vs Minotoro in Pride.

RedSweat: If you could fight anybody who would it be?

Goran: I don’t pick my opponents, I’ll fight anybody.

RedSweat: Who is the biggest legend in mma in your opinion?

Goran: Minotauro

RedSweat: Tell me something interesting about yourself.

Goran: Nothing special really.

Goran Reljic will be making his UFC debut at UFC 84 against the experienced Wilson Gouveia.

The Croatian fighter was suppose to debut at the UFC event scheduled for March 8 in England but the event which was never made official was eventually scrapped. Goran trains in England under Roger Gracie but sometimes trains in Croatia as well. He is one of the most talented grapplers in Eastern Europe and dominated the competition in the 2007 European Gracie Championship.

The light heavyweight fighter is very strong and is currently undefeated with a pro record of 8-0. He has a vicious armbar and has won five of his eight fights via submission. He is apparently comfortable and ready to make the leap to higher level competition in the UFC.

Wilson Gouveia will definitely oblige and most likely isn’t planning on being Reljic’s stepping stone in his run to the top of the light heavyweight division. Gouveia is 4-1 in the UFC and 10-4 overall. His last fight was a huge win over Jason Lambert at UFC 80 on January 19. He knocked out Lambert with a vicious punch at 0:37 in the second round.

This should be an extremely good match up with fireworks from start to finish. Goran’s management team at MMAmanager.net states that all who have witnessed Goran’s training sessions say that he is on his way to becoming the next Crocop. We know he has sick submission skills. If he kicks like Crocop Gouveia could be in for a rough night.