Lenda do MMA participou de coletiva e acompanhou a definição dos confrontos entre Infight e Carlson Gracie e Double Five e De La Riva – Foto: divulgação

A LJJB (Liga de Jiu-Jitsu Brasileiro) deu mais um passo na preparação para sua próxima etapa, marcada para o dia 9 de maio, no Club Municipal, na Tijuca (RJ), e contou com um reforço de peso fora dos tatames. A presença de Rogério Minotouro foi o principal destaque do sorteio dos confrontos do Brasileiro de Equipes, realizado na sede da Premium Office Precatório, agregando relevância institucional ao evento e aproximando ainda mais o MMA do universo do Jiu-Jitsu competitivo.

Durante a coletiva de imprensa realizada após a definição das chaves, Minotouro ressaltou a importância da iniciativa da liga, não apenas no desenvolvimento técnico da modalidade, mas também no impacto social gerado a partir do esporte. “É muito importante ver uma organização como a LJJB fomentando o Jiu-Jitsu de forma estruturada, criando oportunidades para os jovens atletas evoluírem dentro do esporte”, afirmou Rogério, que construiu carreira sólida no UFC e no PRIDE.

O ex-lutador também destacou o papel transformador do Jiu-Jitsu em projetos sociais, tema com o qual possui forte ligação ao longo de sua trajetória. “O Jiu-Jitsu vai muito além da competição. Ele é uma ferramenta de transformação social, disciplina e formação de caráter. Iniciativas como essa da LJJB fazem a diferença na vida de muita gente”, completou Minotouro, reforçando o alcance do trabalho desenvolvido pela Liga de Jiu-Jitsu Brasileiro.

Minotouro reforçou o peso institucional da liga na preparação para etapa do dia 9 de maio – Foto: divulgação

Dentro do tatame, o Brasileiro de Equipes da LJJB promete confrontos equilibrados logo em sua edição inaugural. O sorteio definiu os duelos entre Infight e Carlson Gracie em uma das semifinais, enquanto Double Five e De La Riva medem forças na outra chave, em combates que devem testar o nível técnico dos atletas envolvidos.

O projeto resgata um formato tradicional no cenário da arte suave, trazendo de volta disputas por equipes que marcaram gerações. Nesta fase inicial, a competição contará com atletas da categoria juvenil faixa-azul masculino, com perspectiva de expansão futura para incluir competidores da divisão adulto e ampliar o alcance esportivo da iniciativa.

Além do Brasileiro de Equipes, a etapa do dia 9 de maio contará com a realização da Copa do Brasil ao longo de todo o dia, consolidando uma programação extensa para o público. Com o respaldo de nomes históricos como Minotouro e a participação de academias tradicionais, a expectativa é de casa cheia no Club Municipal, reforçando o crescimento da LJJB no cenário nacional do Jiu-Jitsu.

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Brazilian fighter and MMA legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will get a step up in competition and fight Alexander Gustafsson in his next fight, according to UFC President Dana White.

Over the weekend and following UFC Fight Night 30, White announced that Lil’ Nog and Gustafsson will headline the UFC’s return to London on March 8.

Nogueira last fought in February at UFC 156 with an upset win over Rashad Evans. Following the win, he was supposed to fight Shogun Rua at UFC 161, but Nogueira had to pull out of the bout due to injury. A win over Gustafsson in March may mean big things for Lil’ Nog.

Gustafsson’s most recent outing had him pitted against Jon Jones in a light heavyweight title fight at UFC 165. The fight delivered one of the most entertaining and controversial contests in UFC history with Jones getting the decision and fans complaining that Gustafsson should have been named the winner.

The March 8 UFC London card will take place at the O2 Arena.

Renan Barao (pictured) is injured and off the UFC 161 card, according to reports. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Renan Barao has sustained an undisclosed injury and been forced out of his UFC 161 interim title defense against Eddie Wineland, according to reports.

Barao and Wineland were scheduled to headline the card, which takes place on June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

No replacements have been confirmed for the match, and the UFC is yet to announce a change to the UFC 161 card.

At the time of this publication, a bout between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans is tabbed to co-main event the card, preceded by a rematch between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

GRACIEMAG.com will update with changes to the UFC 161 card as more information becomes available.

News of the Barao injury was first reported by Tatame.

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (pictured) is working with famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach ahead of his UFC 161 with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Former UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is working with famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach ahead of the fighter’s UFC 161 bout with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

Known for training boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, Roach recently told GracieMag.com he’s on a “special assignment” to help Rua in the striking department for the June 15 fight.

“I was studying a lot of tape on him to get an idea of how he fights,” Roach recently said of Rua.

Rua joins the likes of UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre as MMA fighters who enlist the help of the boxing cornerman ahead of their fights.

Roach explained that he’s been working with Shogun to improve the fighter’s punching power and mechanics. Rua’s stand-up technique, according to the trainer, wasn’t all that impressive when he stepped into Roach’s gym, Wild Card Boxing, a few weeks ago.

“He didn’t know how to transfer his weight too well, and he wasn’t a very big puncher at first,” Roach said, reflecting on Rua’s first three sessions with him. “Once we got him pivoting and punching off the right foot, keeping his boxing stance, he punched really, really hard when he did it correctly.

“I don’t think he was ever taught how to do it correctly.”

Freddie Roach (left) regularly trains world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao (right). Roach is now working with Shogun Rua in preparation for the fighter’s UFC 161 bout. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Roach added that Rua is already improving on his technique, saying that minor adjustments over the short time span since coming to the Southern California gym have wowed the fighter.

One of Shogun’s biggest criticisms of recent years has been his cardio, which has led many to question whether he can perform well in the later rounds of his fights. Roach addressed the issue, saying that he plans on working with Rua on his cardiovascular strength once the fighter takes care of an issue he’s having with his knee.

“[Shogun] has a little problem with his knee,” Roach said. “I haven’t started working on his cardio yet, but he and my strength coach have gotten together … I think we have to take care of that first before we start getting into the cardio more.”

Roach added that Rua’s rehab is taking place at a location in Orange County, Calif.

When contacted by GracieMag.com, representatives for Rua denied the fighter having any problems with his knee. Requests for further comment from the fighter went unanswered.

Photo by Erik Fontanez

The UFC announced on Tuesday that UFC 161 will take place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on June 15, and a rematch between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira will be on the card.

The event is expected to be a Pay-Per-View, and it will take place at Winnipeg’s MTS Centre.

Shogun (21-7) and Nogueira (21-5) first fought in the quarterfinals of Pride’s 2005 middleweight grand prix. The two engaged in one of the most memorable fights in MMA history, with Rua coming out the winner from a unanimous decision.

Shogun went on to win the grand prix and was then considered the best up-and-coming light heavyweight in the world. His UFC career, however, hasn’t seen the same success. Despite winning the UFC light heavyweight title in 2010, Rua has gone 5-5 since debuting with the organization in 2007.

Nogueira has gone 4-2 since joining the UFC in 2009, and is currently on a two-fight win streak. In his most recent outing, “Lil’ Nog” went the distance with former light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans, earning a unanimous decision at UFC 156 last month.

As reported by GracieMag.com on Monday, the company also confirmed that Dan Henderson will face Evans on the UFC 161 card. A match-up between Soa Palelei and Stipe Miocic was announced as well.

More fights for the card are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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