Vitor Belfort weighs in during the UFC on FX official weigh-in event on January 18, 2013 at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Vitor Belfort defeated Michael Bisping, landing a headkick that led to a technical knockout in the second round of their main event at UFC on FX 7 in Sao Paolo, Brazil on Saturday night.

Belfort, competing in his home country, finished his British opponent and quickly made a statement about who he feels deserves the next shot at a championship belt, aiming his rant at Ultimate Fighter 17 coach Chael Sonnen.

“I want to get the belt,” Belfort said in his post-fight interview. “Take that punk Chael Sonnen out … Dana, Lorenzo, take him out! Let me fight Jon Jones. I need that rematch.

“Take that clown away! Go home!”

Belfort and Bisping measured each other early on, setting a conservative pace in the early parts of the fight. It wasn’t until late in the first round that Belfort landed a headkick and followed that up with a flurry of punches. The round ended with Belfort ahead on points.

With a bloody nose, Bisping received another headkick from Belfort in the second round, which led to the TKO finish at 1:27.

Sonnen, covering the fight as an analyst for Fuel TV, responded to Belfort’s remarks, saying that he would be happy to fight him once he gets passed his fight with light heavyweight champion Jon Jones in April.

“First I’m going to get rid of Jon Jones, but you are next,” Sonnen said on the Fuel TV post-fight show, directing his comments at Beflort. “People would rather watch me talk about Vitor fighting than watch Vitor fighting.”

In defeat, Bisping loses his third fight in which a win would have earned him a shot at a middleweight title fight. He was, however, gracious in defeat and touted his opponent for his performance.

“Congratulations to Vitor,” Bisping said following the loss. “I’ve got no excuses.”

Belfort improves his overall record to 22-10, while Bisping drops his tally to 23-5.

(L-R) Opponents Daniel Sarafian and C.B. Dolloway face off during the UFC on FX official weigh-in event on January 18, 2013 at Ibirapuera Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

C.B. Dollaway edged out a debuting Daniel Sarafian in the co-main event at UFC on FX 7, earning a split decision.

Judges found the fight in Dollaway’s favor with scores of 29-28, 28-29, 29-28.

“Daniel was a lot tougher than I anticipated,” Dollaway said following the win. “Hats off to him.”

Sarafian moved very well in the early stages of the fight, throwing and landing overhand rights that backed up his opponent. The former TUF: Brazil contestant also threw flurries with furious punches that found their marks.

Sarafian continued his pace, but slowed down in the second round. Dollaway capitalized on this opportunity, rocking his opponent with a strike late in the second frame.

In the third round, both fighters looked winded, but it was Dollaway that persevered and impressed two out of the three judges for the decision.

With the win, Dollaway improves to 14-4, while Sarafian loses his UFC debut, dropping his record to 7-3.

Gabriel Gonzaga submitted Ben Rothwell in their main card fight at UFC on FX 7, finishing the heavyweight contest with a guillotine in the second round.

Gonzaga landed two right crosses that wobbled Rothwell. The Brazilian swarmed in and attempted to complete a standing guillotine, but found more success when he pulled guard.

Once on the ground, Rothwell had no choice but to tap, bringing the fight to a finish at 1:01 of the round.

Khabib Nurmagomedov made quick work of Thiago Tavares in the evening’s opening main card fight, earning the technical knockout in the first round.

The Russian landed a precise uppercut, dropping his Brazilian counterpart before landing consecutive elbows on the ground to earn the TKO. The fight was stopped at 1:55.

The results for the preliminary fights are as follows:

• Godofredo Pepey Castro def. Milton Vieira by split decision (28-29, 29-28,29-28)
• Ronny Markes def. Andrew Craig via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Nik Lentz def. Diego Nunes by unanimous decision (30-28, 30-27, 30-26)
• Edson Barboza def. Lucas Martins by submission (tapout to strikes) at 2:38, Round 1
• Yuri Alcantara vs. Pedro Nobre called a no-contest due to accidental strikes to back of head by Alcantara
• Ildemar Alcantara def. Wagner Prado by sub (kneebar) at 2:39, Round 2
• Francisco Trinaldo def. C.J. Keith via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 1:50, Round 2

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Headliners Vitor Belfort and Michael Bisping came in with Belfort tipping the scale at 185 pounds and Bisping at 186-pound limit. The two were in a heated exchange when they faced off at the pre-fight press conference, but chose to stand a lengthy distance from each other during Friday’s face-off.

Co-main event participants Daniel Sarafian and C.B. Dollaway each came in at the middleweight limit of 186 pounds.

Of note, preliminary card fighter C.J. Keith came in one pound over the 156-pound limit for his lightweight fight with Francisco Trinaldo. He had one hour to lose the pound from the time of weigh-in.

Below is the full recap of the UFC on FX 7 weigh-ins:

• Vitor Belfort (185) vs. Michael Bisping (186)
• Daniel Sarafian (186) vs. C.B. Dollaway (186)
• Gabriel Gonzaga (255) vs. Ben Rothwell (258)
• Thiago Tavares (155) vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov (155)
• Godofredo Castro (145) vs. Milton Vieira (146)
• Ronny Markes (186) vs. Andrew Craig (185)
• Diego Nunes (145) vs. Nik Lentz (145)
• Edson Barboza (154) vs. Lucas Martins (154)
• Yuri Alcantara (135) vs. Pedro Nobre (136)
• Wagner Prado (206) vs. Ildemar Alcantara (201)
• Francisco Trinaldo (154.5) vs. C.J. Keith (157)

Vitor Belfort against Anthony Johnson at UFC 142. This time, the octagon will get set up in Rio State’s neighbor to the south. UFC publicity photo.

For the first time in 15 years, the UFC will again set up shop in “The Land of Drizzle”. The next Ultimate Fighting Championship event in Brazil has now been confirmed to take place January 19, 2013, in São Paulo City’s Ibirapuera Gynasium.

Headlined by a middleweight main event pitting Vitor Belfort against Michael Bisping, the show will also feature noteworthy match-ups between Daniel Sarafian and CB Dollaway, and Thiago Tavares against undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Also on the card: Edson Barboza, Godofredo Pepey, Miltinho Vieira, Ronny Markes, Diego Nunes, Michael Kuiper, Thiago Bodão, Francisco Massaranduba and others.

The last time São Paulo was graced with the most widely recognized cage in MMA was in 1998. On the occasion, Portuguesa Gymnasium hosted the unforgettable clash of Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. Also fighting the card for the show, dubbed UFC 17.5, were Pedro Rizzo, Frank Shamrock, Tank Abbott, Ebenezer Braga, Pat Miletich, Jeremy Horn, Pete Williams and others.

Check out the card for the next UFC in “Sampa”:

UFC São Paulo
Ibirapuera Gymnasium, São Paulo, Brazil
January 19, 2012

Vitor Belfort vs. Michael Bisping
CB Dollaway vs. Daniel Sarafian
Ben Rothwell vs. Gabriel Napão
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Thiago Tavares
Godofredo Pepey vs. Miltinho Vieira
Andrew Craig vs. Ronny Markes
Nik Lentz vs. Diego Nunes
Justin Salas vs. Edson Barboza
Michael Kuiper vs. Thiago Bodão
George Roop vs. Iuri Marajó
Roger Hollett vs. Wagner Caldeirão
CJ Keith vs. Francisco Massaranduba

Vitor Belfort contra Anthony Johnson no UFC 142, no Rio. O Octagon pega agora a ponte aérea. Foto:UFC/Divulgação

Após 15 anos, o UFC vai aterrissar novamente na Terra da Garoa. A próxima edição do Ultimate em solo brasileiro está confirmada para o ginásio do Ibirapuera, em São Paulo, no dia 19 de janeiro de 2013.

Como grande atrativo, o evento principal será a luta entre os pesos médios Vitor Belfort e o inglês Michael Bisping. Nos outros combates, destaque para a estréia de Daniel Sarafian contra CB Dollaway e Thiago Tavares contra o russo invicto Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Também estão no card feras como Edson Barboza, Godofredo Pepey, Miltinho Vieira, Ronny Markes, Diego Nunes, Michael Kuiper, Thiago Bodão e Francisco Massaranduba, entre outros.

A última vez que São Paulo recebeu a gaiola mais famosa do MMA foi em 1998. Na ocasião, o ginásio da Portuguesa foi o palco do inesquecível duelo entre Belfort e Wanderlei Silva. Participaram ainda do show, nomeado UFC 17.5, os notórios Pedro Rizzo, Frank Shamrock, Tank Abbott, Ebenezer Braga, Pat Miletich, Jeremy Horn e Pete Williams, entre outros.

Confira como está o card do UFC de Sampa:

UFC São Paulo
Ginásio do Ibirapuera, São Paulo, SP
19 de janeiro de 2012

Vitor Belfort vs Michael Bisping
CB Dollaway vs Daniel Sarafian
Ben Rothwell vs Gabriel Napão
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Thiago Tavares
Godofredo Pepey vs Miltinho Vieira
Andrew Craig vs Ronny Markes
Nik Lentz vs Diego Nunes
Justin Salas vs Edson Barboza
Michael Kuiper vs Thiago Bodão
George Roop vs Iuri Marajó
Roger Hollett vs Wagner Caldeirão
CJ Keith vs Francisco Massaranduba

Heavyweight champion Junior "Cigano" dos Santos facing Frank Mir at the pre-UFC 146 press conference / UFC publicity photo

UFC 146 is going down this Saturday in Las Vegas, and there’s no shortage of expectations surrounding what’s about to transpire there. In the main event of the evening, heavyweight title-holding knockout artist Junior Cigano has a high-caliber Jiu-Jitsu specialist in Frank Mir challenging him for his strap.

With his crisp boxing, to nine out of ten experts the current champ is the odds-on favorite to keep his title—the GRACIEMAG.com team too is convinced another “Cigano” win is imminent.

The opinion is shared by Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, who has the utmost confidence in his friend and boxing coach Luiz Dórea, and his money is on a knockout from the reigning title holder.

“Cigano is a monster of an athlete, and he began his career in Jiu-Jitsu. Rodrigo Artilheiro was with me at the TUF Brazil house, and he mentioned how crazy his endurance is. He’s 28 years old, started at 22—he hasn’t been in MMA long but has already shown what he’s made of. I don’t think this one leaves the first round—Cigano drops him. But even if it does go longer, Cigano is in much better physical shape than Frank Mir,” opined Durinho, echoing statements made by Mir, to whom the longer the fight goes, the better.

If you were in Frank Mir’s place, what would you do? What would you do against a fighter with heavy hands and pinpoint accuracy?

“If I were Mir, I’d try to take him to the ground. I’d try to clinch, get the takedown. I’d try to be Rousimar “Toquinho” in there; I’d attack his heel, and always stay clear of Cigano’s hands. To beat a monster like that, you have to frenetically work at taking it to the ground. I’d work on improving my footwork, get good at faking punches and try capitalizing from the clinch. Training would have to be like this: getting the takedown, working on wrestling and going for the foot when on the ground,” said Gilbert in analysis.

The TUF Brazil participant doesn’t, however, feel Mir will be successful in his mission.

“I expect a first-round knockout from the Brazilian. Cigano’s punching is really crisp, he’s healthier for being younger, he has the confidence from being champion and he does an excellent job. All Cigano has to do is be calm and fight,” wagered the 2011 Jiu-Jitsu lightweight champion of the world.

“I think Frank Mir is going to mess up after the first punch lands. Being the champion, in my opinion Cigano doesn’t even need to press the action; he can just be calm, do his footwork and jab, because the knockout will surface,” said the black belt training partner of Vitor Belfort in closing.

Now what do you think, will the outcome of the fight be the one everyone is expecting? To you, can Frank Mir pull off a surprise? What would your strategy be?

UFC 146
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, USA
May 26, 2012

Junior Cigano vs Frank Mir
Cain Velasquez vs Antônio Pezão
Dave Herman vs Roy Nelson
Shane Del Rosario vs Stipe Miocic
Lavar Johnson vs Stefan Struve
Darren Elkins vs Diego Brandão
Edson Barboza vs Jamie Varner
Jason Miller vs C.B. Dollaway
Jacob Volkmann vs Paul Sass
Dan Hardy vs Duane Ludwig
Kyle Kingsbury vs Glover Teixeira
Mike Brown vs Daniel Pineda

O campeão Junior "Cigano" dos Santos diante de Frank Mir na conferência de imprensa do UFC 146. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

O UFC 146 que rola neste sábado, em Las Vegas, vem cheio de expectativas. No combate principal da noite, o campeão dos pesados e nocauteador Junior Cigano encara o desafiante bom de Jiu-Jitsu Frank Mir.

Dono de um boxe afiadíssimo, o atual campeão é apontado por nove entre dez especialistas como o favorito para esta peleja – a equipe do GRACIEMAG.com também aposta em Cigano, aliás.

Se o chão de Cigano ainda é uma incógnita no UFC, para alguns faixas-pretas de Jiu-Jitsu isso não fará a menor diferença na luta. A verdade é que poucos estão acreditando no queixo de Frank Mir nessa luta.

É o que acha Gilbert “Durinho” Burns, que diz confiar plenamente no amigo e treinador Luiz Dórea e aposta em nocaute do atual campeão.

“O Cigano é um monstro de atleta, e começou a carreira no Jiu-Jitsu. O Rodrigo Artilheiro estava comigo na casa do TUF Brasil e comentou que ele tem um gás sinistro. Ele tem 28 anos, começou com 22, tem pouco tempo de MMA mas já mostrou o seu valor. Eu acho que não passa do primeiro round, o Cigano derruba, mas mesmo se passar as condições físicas do Cigano são bem melhores que a do Frank Mir”, opina Durinho, ecoando declarações de Mir, para quem quanto mais durasse a luta, melhor.

E se você estivesse no lugar do Frank Mir? O que faria contra um lutador de mão pesada e certeira?

“Se eu fosse o Mir, eu tentaria derrubar, tentaria o clinche, a queda. Eu tentaria ser um Rousimar Toquinho ali, atacar o calcanhar, e sempre ficar muito esperto com a mão do Cigano. Para ganhar de um monstro assim, só se você trabalhar freneticamente na movimentação para botar para baixo. Eu teria de melhorar minha movimentação de perna, fintar muito bem e tentar aproveitar o clinche. O treino teria de ser este, botar para quedar, trabalhar o wrestling e no chão embolar no pé”, analisa Gilbert.

O participante do TUF Brasil, no entanto, não acredita que Mir será bem-sucedido na dura missão.

“Minha expectativa é de nocaute no primeiro round para o brasileiro. O Cigano está com a mão muito afiada, tem mais saúde por ser mais novo, tem a confiança de ser o campeão e tem um jogo de perna muito bom, vai ser nocaute. Confio no treinador Luiz Dórea, que fez um excelente trabalho. Basta o Cigano entrar tranquilo para lutar”, aposta o campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu peso leve em 2011.

“Acho que o Frank Mir vai errar depois de entrar o primeiro soco. Como campeão, na minha opinião o Cigano nem precisa buscar a luta, tem de ficar tranquilo, trabalhando seu jogo de perna, jabeando, porque o nocaute vai aparecer”, conclui o faixa-preta parceiro de Vitor Belfort.

E você, acha que o resultado dessa luta será o esperado também? Para você, Frank Mir pode surpreender? Qual seria sua estratégia?

UFC 146
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, Estados Unidos
26 de maio de 2012

Junior Cigano vs Frank Mir
Cain Velasquez vs Antônio Pezão
Dave Herman vs Roy Nelson
Shane Del Rosario vs Stipe Miocic
Lavar Johnson vs Stefan Struve
Darren Elkins vs Diego Brandão
Edson Barboza vs Jamie Varner
Jason Miller vs C.B. Dollaway
Jacob Volkmann vs Paul Sass
Dan Hardy vs Duane Ludwig
Kyle Kingsbury vs Glover Teixeira
Mike Brown vs Daniel Pineda

Sonnen, the moment the house came down UFC 117. Photo: publicity

It makes a Jiu-Jitsu lover’s day when a fight in the octagon ends in a submission. Rear-naked choke, kneebar, armbar… In 2010 a number of important UFC fights ended in submissions, with some of the show’s biggest stars tapping out in desistance.

Here are the submissions the promotion elected as the best of the year:

10 – Jim Miller and Charles do Bronx

Black belt Miller put the brakes on the Brazilian’s fourteen-fight unbeaten streak. The kneebar, at UFC 124, came at 1:59 min of round one.

9 – Phil Davis and Tim Boetsch

At UFC 123, Davis nimbly sunk a kimura and notched his eighth win. “Mr. Wonderful” carries on undefeated.

8 – Toquinho on Tomasz Drwal

The heel hook – one of the black belt’s specialties – was so quick (49 seconds) and tight that Drwal ended up injured. Then he claimed the BTT fighter did it on purpose, and Toquinho was punished. “I only let go once the referee steps in,” alleged Toquinho. The fight took place at UFC 111.

7. C.B. Dollaway on Joe Doerksen

At UFC 119, it took Dollaway just 2:13 min to win via guillotine.

Brock submits Carwin. Photo: Josh Hedges.

6 – Brock Lensar on Shane Carwin

After taking a thorough beating in the first round, Brock used the teachings of his coach Rodrigo Comprido and came back to finish with an arm-and-neck choke, at UFC 116. The fight was worth the heavyweight belt.

5 – Mark Bocek on Dustin Hazelett

With seven submissions in nine wins, Bocek took out his black belt opponent with a triangle at 2:33 min of the fight, at UFC 124.

4 – Chris Lytle on Matt Brown

At UFC 116, Chris Lytle landed a sweet armbar that handed Matt Brown his second loss. After that, Lytle even beat Matt Serra at UFC 119, while Brown would lose again, another submission to Brian Foster.

Hughes gets the submission. Photo: Josh Hedges.

3 – Matt Hughes on Ricardo Almeida

Following up on a well-placed punch, Hughes latched on to Cachorrão’s neck, at UFC 117. The choke put the black belt’s lights out at 3:15 min of the opening round. The submission carries even greater weight, as Hughes had come off a win over Renzo Gracie, Almeida’s master.

2 – Cole Miller on Dan Lauzon

Lauzon was coming off an eight-fight win streak, but Miller’s kimura put the brakes on that in the first round, at the promotion’s 108th event. At UFC 22, Cole got another submission, this time on Ross Pearson, via rear-naked choke.

1 – Anderson on Chael Sonnen

In one of the most exciting fights of the year, Sonnen was getting the better of champion Anderson from the start. In the fourth round of the title fight, with 1:50 minutes to go, a double-attack took the American fighter out of the contest – an armbar from the triangle. Well-deserved first place for the Spider.

What about you, reader, do you agree with the UFC’s picks?

Sonnen, no momento em que a casa caiu, no UFC 117. Foto: divulgação

O amante do bom Jiu-Jitsu fica contente quando as lutas no octagon terminam em finalização. Mata-leão, leglock, chaves de braço… Em 2010, muitos foram os golpes que definiram lutas importantes no UFC e fizeram com que alguns dos grandes astros dessem os tapinhas que caracterizam a desistência.

O evento elegeu as dez melhores finalizações do ano. Confira:

10 – Jim Miller em Charles do Bronx

O faixa-preta Miller freou uma série de 14 vitórias do brasileiro. A leglock, no UFC 124, foi a 1min59s do primeiro round.

9 – Phil Davis em Tim Boetsch

No UFC 123, Davis aplicou um chave kimura das mais plásticas e chegou à oitava vitória. O “Mr. Wonderful”segue invicto.

8 – Toquinho em Tomasz Drwal

A chave de calcanhar, uma das especialidades do faixa-preta, foi tão rápida (49s) e justa, que Drwal acabou se machucando. Depois, reclamou de ter havido má fé do atleta da BTT, que acabou punido. “Só solto depois que o juiz separa”, alegou Toquinho. A luta foi no UFC 111.

7 – C.B. Dollaway em Joe Doerksen

No UFC 119, o Americano precisou de apenas 2min13spara finalizar com uma guilhotina.

Brock finaliza Carwin. Foto: Josh Hedges.

6 – Brock Lesnar em Shane Carwin

Depois do sufoco no round inicial, Brock usou os ensinamentos do treinador Rodrigo Comprido e foi de katagatame para finalizar, no UFC 116. A luta valia como defesa do cinturão de pesados.

5 – Mark Bocek em Dustin Hazelett

Com sete finalizações em nove triunfos, Bocek não temeu a faixa-preta do oponente e usou o triângulo no UFC 124, aos 2min33s de luta.

4 – Chris Lytle em Matt Brown

No UFC 116, Chris Lytle aplicou uma bela chave de braço e fez Matt Brown amargar a segunda derrota. No seguimento, Lytle ainda venceu Matt Serra, no UFC 119, enquanto Brown perdeu novamente, uma nova finalização para Brian Foster.

Hughes finaliza. Foto: Josh Hedges.

3 – Matt Hughes em Ricardo Almeida

Depois de acertar forte, com um soco, Hughes foi com tudo no pescoço de Cachorrão, no UFC 117. O estrangulamento acabou com as chances do faixa-preta aos 3min15s do assalto inicial. A finalização tem peso, pois Hughes vinha de vitória sobre Renzo Gracie, mestre de Almeida.

2 – Cole Miller em Dan Lauzon

Lauzon vinha numa série de oito vitórias, mas a chave kimura de Miller o freou ainda no primeiro assalto, na 108ª edição da organização. No UFC Fight Night 22, Cole finalizou novamente, dessa vez Ross Pearson, com um mata-leão.

1 – Anderson Silva em Chael Sonnen

Numa das lutas mais emocionantes do ano, Sonnen levava a melhor sobre o campeão Anderson. No quarto assalto da disputa de título, quando faltava 1min50s para o fim, um ataque duplo acabou com as chances do americano, com uma chave de braço de dentro do triângulo. Primeiro lugar merecido para o Aranha.

E você leitor, concorda com as escolhas do UFC?

Even so, there were still submissions, a knockout and hotly-disputed fights.

Check out the photos by Josh Hedges:

[flickr set=72157625046403240]

Mesmo assim, não faltaram finalizações, nocautes e disputas acirradas

Confira nas fotos de Josh Hedges:

[flickr set=72157625046403240]

C.B. Dollaway won submission of the night. Photo:Josh Hedges

The names of the fighters to earn best-of-the-night bonuses at this Saturday’s UFC 119 show in Indianapolis have been released. This time the sum of 70 thousand dollars was awarded to Sean Sherk, Evan Dunham, Matt Mitrione, Joey Beltran and C.B. Dollaway for their performances.

Sean Sherk, Evan Dunham, Matt Mitrione and Joey Beltran took home fight of the night bonuses. For his fight-ending guillotine, C.B. Dollaway took the prize for best submission.

Although Frank Mir won his fight with Mirko Cro Cop by knockout, the only one of the show, in a monotonous fight, the promoters decided not to reward the achievement.

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for more on the UFC.

C.B. Dollaway faturou a melhor finalização. Foto:Josh Hedges

O UFC divulgou os bônus da noite da sua 119ª edição, que aconteceu neste sábado, em Indianápolis. As premiações, dessa vez, valeram 70 mil dólares. Sean Sherk, Evan Dunham, Matt Mitrione, Joey Beltran e C.B. Dollaway garantiram a quantia na conta bancária. 

Sean Sherk, Evan Dunham, Matt Mitrione e Joey Beltran ficaram com o bônus de melhor luta da noite. Com uma guilhotina, C.B. Dollaway faturou a melhor  finalização.   

Apesar do nocaute de Frank Mir sobre Mirko Cro Cop, o único da edição, numa luta bem monótona, a organização decidiu não premiar este quesito dessa vez. 

Saiba mais sobre o UFC no GRACIEMAG.com