Cyborg working out with Alejarra / Photo: Carlos Ozório

She is today considered the top female fighter in the world. However, the Strikeforce champion doesn’t have it easy. In making it to the top, Cris Cyborg had to take on an extreme workload, as can be seen in the exclusive video below, where she does her physical conditioning work with coach Rafael Alejarra.

And Cyborg is also features in GRACIEMAG # 170, now in bookstores.

“I do what I must to win. When I’m in a competition, I give it my best. I always imagine my opponent is training as hard as I am, with the same intensity. But I don’t care who I’m going to face. I’ll face anyone they put in front of me,” says the champion.

Women’s MMA takes front and center in the article by reporter Deb Blyth. Besides Cris, fighters Miesha Tate and Amanda Nunes figure in the piece.

Secure your copy of GRACIEMAG #169 and subscribe to receive upcoming issues in the comfort of your own home. Find out more, clicking here.

In the video below, check out a bit of what great fighters go through to put on peak performances for their fans:

Xande lifts heavy with Alejarra. Photo: Carlos Ozório.

Physical conditioning coach of the MMA stars Rafael Alejarra is now trying his hand with some great black belts from the gentle art, like Royler Gracie and André Galvão.

Two-time absolute world champion Xande Ribeiro is also getting in shape under the Brazilian’s instructions, and he has little excuse should he skip a session, seeing as his academy, University of Jiu-Jitsu, is just a stone’s throw from Alejarra’s gym, in San Diego. The fighter is plugging along strong in training and says he’s likely to show up for the 2011 Worlds.

During GRACIEMAG.com’s stop through in California, we couldn’t miss the chance to check out this training session up close and share it with our readers.

Check out the video and photos below:

Galvão in photo by Gustavo Aragão

André Galvão has confirmed what the folks at Atos have been saying in interviews with GRACIEMAG.com for some time. The black belt two-time IBJJF world champion and Strikeforce fighter has returned his focus to competition Jiu-Jitsu. This season, Galvão should put in an appearance at the Pan and Worlds events.

“I’ve got my academy with my students here in San Diego, and to give the guys some extra motivation I figured I’d return to competing in the gi. I want to do MMA halfway through the season. In the meantime, I’ll do Jiu-Jitsu, which is something I like a lot. My main goals are the Pan and the Worlds. I’ll try to win those championships, and God willing, it will all turn out alright. I’ll train hard,” he confirms.

“I’m happy because it’s something I really like doing, besides being extra incentive for the guys on my team. I was missing it. I’m prepared, ready to go at it,” he adds.

Last year, at the last minute, the fighter donned the gi and competed at the World Pro. This time, Galvão will put in his due preparations.

“The important part is to train properly. The guys have been on my case about it, but I told them all I’d only return if they’d come train with me. Jiu-Jitsu these days is a different level and you can’t compete well without training with a first-rate team. When I fought I felt there were some difficulties. I lost on advantages to Pé de Chumbo and Alexandre de Souza.”

To get in shape I’m relying on reinforcement from the folks at Atos Brazil. The team is putting together a great training camp.

“They’ll be getting hers next weekend. In all, thirteen black belts are coming, plus a really tough group in the other belts. I’ve been training with my students, besides doing physical conditioning with Rafael Alejarra, which has got me feeling really good. Now the gang will stay here with me for six months. I better be sharp!” he says in closing.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com to find out more about Jiu-Jitsu!

GRACIEMAG.com made the most of its trip to Las Vegas to stop by the gym where they train. Over there, the opportunity arose to watch Mauricio Shogun, who will put his light heavyweight belt up for grabs against Jon Jones in March, and UFC featherweight champion José Aldo, not to mention Coach Junior Cigano.

Check out how it went in the video and photos below:

Alejarra works with athletes of the caliber of Xande Ribeiro.

Information that came into the GRACIEMAG.com newsroom this week: Junior Cigano has already called up the coaches to take part in his team to shoot The Ultimate Fighter, the reality show responsible for UFC entering mainstream America. To help his team overcome that of Brock Lesnar, Cigano is relying on Brazilian Rafael Alejarra, as physical conditioning coach, Antonio Peinado, a Jiu-Jitsu champion, and Luiz Dórea, boxing coach to stars like former world champion Acelino Popó. Another one in the outfit is Billy Scheibe, muay thai coach. Rodrigo Artilheiro was set to be on the team as wrestling coach but hasn’t been confirmed yet.

José Aldo first UFC title defense scheduled

On an eleven-fight winning streak, José Aldo now knows the date for his UFC debut. The Brazilian’s first UFC challenger will be Marck Hominick, should the Canadian make it past George Roop at tomorrow’s UFC “Fight for the Troops 2” event.

Paulo Thiago to face Johnny Hendricks

Brazilian elite police force officer Paulo Thiago will be back in the cage. Coming off back-to-back losses, the black belt will need to beat Johnny Hendricks, his next opponent, who is coming off his first loss in MMA, with nine wins. According to MMAJunkie.com, the fight will feature at the March 3 UFC on Versus 3 event in Kentucky.

Peinado got the finish in two matches at Brazilian Team Nationals. Photo: Gustavo Aragão

In 2010 Antonio Peinado captured gold at the Brazilian Team and Brazilian No-Gi Nationals, as well as placing at the European Open, Pan, and Worlds. Now he’s already hard at it for next season, to kick off with the European Open.

For 2011 Peinado is eying a return to the superheavyweight division and, to be in tip-top physical form, the black belt is relying on the efforts of physical conditioning coach Rafael Alejarra.

“We got to know each other better in Bahia, when I was there helping Demian Maia train, and we became good friends. He’s going to help me get in better shape for 2011,” Peinado told GRACIEMAG.com.

The fighter explains what their work together will be like.

“We put together a really cool project. When I’m in São Paulo, he’ll send me what I should do by email and we’ll communicate regarding any questions I may have. But in February or March I should be in the U.S. For the Pan and then the Worlds. There we’ll work together on MMA conditioning. I’ll work with him whenever I’m in the States,” he says.

Do as Peinado does and get in on IBJJF tournaments. Sign up for the European Open coming up January 27 to 30 in Lisbon, Portugal, by clicking here.

Demian now working his physical conditioning with Rafael Alejarra.

Demian Maia is wrapping up training in Bahia to head to the USA, where he will face Kendal Gove next Monday, December 4, for the final of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show season twelve.

As reporter by physical conditioning coach Rafael Alejarra, Demian is training with coaches Luiz Dórea and Wagner Motta, as well as a number of top-notch sparring partners, like UFC heavyweight title challenger Junior “Cigano” and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu world champion Antonio Peinado.

“Demian’s been in Bahia working on his striking, but he hasn’t left out Jiu-Jitsu, as he’s working with guys like Antonio Peinado, who has a similar reach to Grove’s. I just adapted his training to that,” says Alejarra, who guarantees the fighter will be in tip-top shape come TUF 12.

Check back with GRACIEMAG.com for more on the UFC and Jiu-Jits here on GRACIEMAG.com.

Is this the first time you prepare someone for Jiu-Jitsu?

I’d never prepared anyone just for Jiu-Jitsu before. My whole life I worked with MMA. But that’s fine. Xande is someone easy to work with, an athlete who offers to do the work. He doesn’t complain and I enjoy working with him. It’s my first time preparing someone for the Jiu-Jitsu Worlds and I was lucky because it’s easy dealing with Xande. I’m really happy about it and I’ll be with him and Saulo at the Worlds. I’ll be really happy to see him win this third absolute title.

So you feel he’ll be running on all cylinders for this competition?

He already is!

How is preparing someone for Jiu-Jitsu different from preparing them for MMA?

One thing I do with the Jiu-Jitsu guys that is different from MMA is isometrics. We don’t use it much in MMA, but in Jiu-Jitsu it’s almost all isometrics. It’s one of the style’s main characteristics. We also work a lot on grip strength.

And what are these preparations like?

We also do a lot of agility work with balls and cones. I tend to address Xande’s own characteristics in training so he can develop his skills better on the mat.

Besides Xande, who else are you working with?

I’ve been heading the physical conditioning work of Junior Cigano, Rogério Minotouro, Demian Maia, Cris Cyborg,  KJ Noons and some others here at my gym in San Diego, MMA Conditioning High Performance Training.

One of the best known partnerships between MMA fighter and physical conditioning coach has come to an end. After a little under four years of working together, Wanderlei Silva and Rafael Alejarra opted to head their separate ways.

The two even shared a home in Las Vegas when the former Pride middleweight champion first moved to the world capital of professional fighting. The dup also worked hard on setting up Wand’s academy in his adopted home.

No official announcement has been made as to who will take Alejarra’s place in Wanderlei Silva’s physical conditioning preparations, nor what the next step the Brazilian trainer will be.

Beyond Silva, Alejarra has worked with Demian Maia, brothers Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, among others.