What would you look for in the next great heavyweight? With the current champs Noguiera and Barnett being over six feet, this man must be tall enough to compete with the reach and utilize his height for balance on the ground. He's got to have some weight to pack on to that tall frame. Being able to stand up and throw some leather is a must in today's game. A solid ground game or good takedown defense would also be a requirement as well as be a part of a great team to sharpen your skills. Meet Tim "Big Show" Sylvia, a six foot eight inch, two hundred and sixty-five pound monster from Miletich Fighting Systems. Sylvia is on the path to success although he's not quite there yet, but after winning Super Brawl's Return of the Heavyweights 16-Man Tournament, he's got to have an advantage over everyone else. This is the same tournament that brought attention to Josh Barnett, last year's winner, Herring, Hoffman, and Rodriguez, Fulton, and Marsh, all of whom has fought in the biggest shows. Miletich and his team of champions are sure to mold this Goliath in to a future contender that the current champs better start keeping an eye on. Just after winning the prestigious Super Brawl Heavyweight Tournament, I sat down with the Big Show to talk about the tournament and his future plans.

Full Contact Fighter: What did you think of the fights overall in the tournament?
Tim Sylvia: I thought it was amazing, amazing tournament. A few upsets. Like I said, I predicted Kerry Schall to win last night and I believe he won the fight if he didn't fall out other ring. I think it would have been him and I in the finals, just a great, great tournament. A tough tournament.

FCF: What did you think about the fight between Wiuff versus Cabbage?
TS: Oh, first round man, Wiuff was mauling him, but then Cabbage's experience took over and knew where to throw the hands and just experience, experienced fighter won that fight, Cabbage.

FCF: Now that the fights are over, out of that side of the bracket of Rothwell, Schall, Wiuff, and Cabbage, which fighter would you have preferred to fight?
TS: Well, I've already fought Rothwell. I beat him. Schall and I train together so that's kind of out. It doesn't matter. I don't care. Whoever steps up to me, I'm going to beat and that's that.

FCF: Even though you fought Rothwell, which of these guys would you like to fight in the future if you had to make a pick?
TS: I would suppose that I would like to fight Rothwell again because there's talk about my win. I won a unanimous decision. I believe I beat him all three rounds. He doesn't think so.

FCF: Where you worried at all since you were matched up with Whitehead again (Note: Sylvia fought Mike Whitehead in his first fight and due to injuries, Whitehead faced him again in the finals of the tournament) since he knew your game and had a good feel of how you fought?
TS: No, I wasn't worried at all. I actually changed up my game plan a little bit. I put some wrestling shoes on, took away my kicking so I would get a better grip. I knew he was going to try to take me down and just got my footing, got my under hooks, picked my shots, and if I had a good straight knee, I'd give it to him. As you can see, I TKO'd him.

FCF: Did you feel that the amounts of stand ups due to lack of action favored a stand up fighter like yourself were justified?
TS: What him stands us up immediately? No, I was getting ready to choke him out. People don't know it, but I've got some good submissions. I don't use them because I don't get on the ground very much. I've knocked out my last seven opponents. I'm pretty good on the ground. Surprisingly, he took me down last night. I reversed him immediately and got back up. So, I wasn't worried at all. Doesn't bother me if he (the referee) stood me up or not.

FCF: Do you have anything on the wings next?
TS: Absolutely, I'm going to hang out in Hawaii and have a real good time. But no, serious factor, UFC, Pride, three or four months down the road. I'm a little sore. I'm a little banged up right now. I got a torn rotator cuff. I tore it three weeks ago, didn't know if I was going to be able to fight. I just haven't trained in three weeks. I've been running for three weeks. That's it and it hurts. I couldn't throw, I'm guessing, my right arm about 75%. [I'll] get that healed up, and get ready for whoever they put me up against next.

FCF: What exactly happened to your right arm?
TS: I hurt it about three weeks ago. An Iowa wrestler about 320 pounds decided to throw me and land on top of me. We landed on it and tore it up.

FCF: So you came in here relatively banged up.
TS: Yeah, I was pretty banged up; saw a chiropractor every single day. I did rehab twice a day just on my shoulder.

FCF: Did it affect you in your second or third round match? Did you feel it getting progressively worse?
TS: Yeah. Tonight, my last match, I was sitting out back and I had a hard time getting up. Some old Hawaiian guy came out and rubbed some magic stuff (Poi? Kidding.) on me, made the pain go away and numbed me up a little bit and I come out and just had to give him everything I had to give. My right hand is, I couldn't throw my right hand. Last night, I hurt my hand on the first guy. I broke my thumb again. Just banged up, I just had to use the knees tonight and the elbows. Do what I do best.

FCF: Both you and Mike Whitehead came to the ring in FCF gear. Do you think that had anything to do with your success?
TS: Let's clarify one thing. I'm sponsored by Full Contact Fighter. Joel (Gold} is my sponsor. He takes care of me and I appreciate that.

FCF: As far as getting an offer, where would you rather fight UFC or Pride?
TS: Well, I want to go where the money is and we all know that the money is in Pride. I mean it would be nice to fight in the States and get my name out there, but I'm going to make a career out of this so I got to go where the money is. I want to fight for 3, 4, maybe 5 more years and look down the road to pro-wrestling.

FCF: Does what happened to Jens or other guys in Miletich's camp steer you more to Pride?
TS: Pat just says go where the money is. Fighting is a short life so you got to make the best out of it when you can. Pride will probably offer $50,000 for the first fight. UFC will probably offer $10,000 to show and another $10,000 to win my first fight. It's no contest.

FCF: If UFC offered you $50,000 and Pride offered you $50,000, where would you fight?
TS: UFC. I think the competition is tougher in Pride so I would choose the UFC and fight in America for a little bit.

FCF: So how long are you staying in Hawaii?
TS: I'm staying until Wednesday. I'm leaving Wednesday night.

FCF: Here's two tips. Use a lot of sun block and don't fall asleep on the beach (laughs).
TS: I was cold as hell coming over here tonight. I got sunburn today on my shoulders. I had the chills. I had a sweatshirt, t-shirt, hat, rash guard, and my wind pants on. I was like, "Turn the air off." Everyone said, "Jesus Christ, you're cold? We're hot in here." I was freezing, but it's all gone away now.

FCF: Good luck on your future.
TS: Thank you. I appreciate it.