Photo: Carlos Ozório
The over 2,500 MMA fans who made the trip to the Mauri Piniheiro gymnasium this Saturday witnessed an historic bout in the main event of the fifth installment of First Class Fight. In a lively bout, the undefeated Marcos Rogério “Pezão” won a unanimous decision over Paulo Filho.
With a long career in the sport, most notable for his performances in the now-defunct Pride event and as the former champion of the WEC, Paulão had only lost once prior to yesterday’s fight. His first came at the hands of Chael Sonnen. Now Pezão counts nine fights and nine wins in MMA.
Egged on by the crowd, which grew in excitement as he stepped into the cage, Pezão took the initiative from the opening bell. With solid crosses permeating Paulão’s guard, as well as high kicks and knees, he wore away at his opponent’s resistance.
Paulo Filho went to the clinch to defend himself and even managed a well-landed takedown early on, but that was one of his few flashes of brilliance in the fight. Pezão thereafter did well in defending against Filho’s takedown attempts.
Marcos Rogério was the better fighter in the two rounds that followed.
Even when he was in bottom position on the ground and Paulão tried to execute his famed ground-and-pound, Pezão dominated and controlled the action until the judges made their decision.
“I showed what I can do. I beat a really famous guy, a really tough guy, and now I want to fly even higher. I’m going to make it to the UFC,” stated Pezão, while still in the octagon.
In the evening’s other fights, Daniel Sarafian defeated Maurício Alonso by decision; Fábio Negão submitted Rodrigo Ximbica; Flávio Álvaro knocked out Samuel Quito, and black belt Murilo Santana submitted Jorge Michelan.
Check out the complete results:
FCF V
São Paulo, Brazil
October 23, 2010
Marco Pezão defeated Paulo Filho via unanimous decision
Daniel Sarafian defeated Maurício Alonso via split decision
Fábio Negão defeated Rodrigo Ximbica via second-round submission
Flávio Álvaro defeated Samuel Quito via first-round knockout
Murilo Santana defeated Jorge Michelan via second-round submission
Marcio Costa defeated Matheus Serafim via first-round desistance
Udi Lima defeated Paulo Snups via second-round knockout
Alexandre Popó defeated Luiz Rogério via first-round submission
Caio Jacaré defeated Rafael Bueno via split decision
