Antonio Silva begins his knockout assault at the UFC yesterday. UFC publicity photo.

There was no shortage of excitement at UFC on FX 5 this Friday in Minneapolis, USA.

In the evening’s main event, Brazil’s Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva put a brutal end to Travis Browne’s 14-fight unbeaten streak. Launching an on-foot onslaught in the first round, Silva landed a cross that crumpled Browne to the ground, where he followed up with a flurry of strikes that ended the fight. Click here to watch it on the ESPN website..

In the flyweight fight on the main card, John Dodson overcame team Nova União product Jussier Formiga with a second-round knockout.

Now the one who managed to right his ship at the event was Diego Nunes, who took a well-deserved unanimous decision over the dangerous Bart Palaszewski. The effort earned the two of them an extra 40,000 dollars apiece for “Fight of the Night”, but it came close to being worthy of a “Come-from-Behind Win of the Night” prize.

In the fight between Michael Johnson and Danny Castillo, Johnson managed quite a feat: he was nearly knocked out in the first round, nearly tapped out thereafter, and in the second round he got his bearings back and took Castillo out, earning the “Knockout of the Night” prize.

Attacking Jiu-Jitsu was present in the octagon, especially when it came to Darren Uyenoyama, who clamped on to Phil Harris’s back and ended the action with a snug rear-naked choke. The same move worked just as well for Jacob Volkmann, who used it to take out Shane Roller in the first round.

The “Submission of the Night” award went to a different move, though: Justin Edwards caught Josh Neer off guard with solid strikes before going to the clinch, where he sunk a guillotine, fastened his legs around Neer’s waist and squeezed out the choke hold. It was almost just like what Brazil’s Carlo Prater tried in his fight but to no avail—and without the win.

Justin Edwards against Josh Neer at UFC on FX 5 / UFC publicity photo

UFC ON FX 5
MINNESOTA, USA
OCTOBER 5, 2012

Antonio Silva defeated Travis Browne via TKO in R1;
Jake Ellenberger defeated Jay Hieron via unanimous judges’ decision;
John Dodson defeated Jussier “Formiga” da Silva via TKO in R2;
Justin Edwards tapped out Josh Neer via guillotine in R1;
Michael Johnson defeated Danny Castillo via KO in R2;
Jacob Volkmann tapped out Shane Roller via rear-naked choke in R2;
Diego Nunes defeated Bart Palaszewski via unanimous decision;
Darren Uyenoyama tapped out Phil Harris via rear-naked choke in R2;
Marcus LeVesseur defeated Carlo Prater via split decision;
Mike Pierce defeated Aaron Simpson via TKO in R2.

A patada de Pezão, na luta principal do UFC de ontem. Foto: UFC/Divulgação

O UFC on FX 5 rolou na sexta-feira, em Minneapolis, Estados Unidos, e não economizou no quesito emoção.

Na luta principal, o paraibano Antonio “Pezão” Silva foi brutal e quebrou a sequência de 13 vitórias do havaiano Travis Browne. Ao partir para a trocação no primeiro assalto, Pezão acertou um cruzado que fez Travis desabar. No chão, poucas pancadas encerraram o duelo. Clique aqui para rever, no site da ESPN.

Na luta dos moscas, John Dodson mostrou que era mesmo superior ao potiguar Jussier Formiga, e nocauteou o atleta da Nova União no segundo assalto.

Quem se recuperou no UFC foi Diego Nunes, que foi mais perigoso do que Bart Palaszewski e venceu por decisão unânime. O confere rendeu 40 mil dólares, bônus oferecido à melhor luta da noite, mas o UFC poderia ter premiado uma virada eletrizante.

Na luta de Michael Johnson contra Danny Castillo, Johnson conseguiu um feito: quase foi nocauteado no primeiro assalto, quase foi finalizado na sequência, e na segunda etapa sacudiu a poeira e derrubou Castillo. Nocautaço, premiado como melhor da noite.

O Jiu-Jitsu ofensivo marcou presença no octógono, em especial com Darren Uyenoyama, que grampeou as costas de Phil Harris e definiu a peleja com um justo mata-leão. O mesmo golpe foi utilizado por Jacob Volkmann, obrigando Shane Roller a desistir no primeiro assalto.

A finalização da noite foi outra, no entanto: Justin Edwards surpreendeu Josh Neer ao encaixar bons golpes e, no clinche, arrochou a guilhotina, fechou a guarda e deu o aperto fatal no pescoço. Quase o que o brasileiro Carlo Prater tentou na luta dele, mas sem efeito, e sem a vitória.

Justin Edwards contra Josh Neer no UFC on FX 5. Foto: UFC/Divulgação

O nocaute do evento foi para Michael Jonhson, que despejou um direto em Danny Castilho na segunda etapa.

UFC on FX 5
Minnesota, Estados Unidos
5 de outubro de 2012

Antonio “Pezão” Silva venceu Travis Browne por TKO no R1
Jake Ellenberger venceu Jay Hieron por decisão unânime dos jurados
John Dodson  venceu Jussier “Formiga” da Silva por TKO no R2
Justin Edwards finalizou Josh Neer  com uma guilhotina no R1
Michael Johnson venceu Danny Castillo por KO no R2
Jacob Volkmann finalizou Shane Roller com um mata-leão no R2
Diego Nunes venceu Bart Palaszewski por decisão unânime dos jurados
Darren Uyenoyama finalizou Phil Harris com um mata-leão no R2
Marcus LeVesseur venceu Carlo Prater por decisão dividida dos jurados
Mike Pierce venceu Aaron Simpson por TKO no R2

Brazilian fighter Carlo Prater in the UFC / Personal archive photo

By Dão Tavares

Are you an MMA fan? Do you like watching UFCs, know all the fighters, whether on the main or under cards, but are always curious to find out even more about the fighter’s extra-octagon lives?

Then check out this short documentary about a UFC fighter’s routine, from the standpoint of Carlo Prater’s anxieties, joys and reflections.

O lutador brasileiro Carlo Prater no UFC. Foto: Acervo pessoal

Você é fã de MMA, curte assistir ao UFC no Canal Combate, conhece todos os lutadores, seja do card principal ou do preliminar, mas tem sempre aquela curiosidade de saber mais sobre a vida dos lutadores fora do octagon, certo?

Confira nesse pequeno documentário um pouco mais da rotina de um lutador do UFC, a partir das ansiedades, alegrias e reflexões de Carlo Prater.

Chang Sun Jung and his arm-triangle: submission and fight of the night bonuses / UFC publicity photo

As GRACIEMAG.com predicted, the South Korean Chang Sun Jung proved the power of his Jiu-Jitsu last night in Fairfax, Virginia, during the main event at UFC on Fuel 3.

The “Korean Zombie” didn’t just do that, he also put on a standup clinic against Dustin Poirier in the octagon. In the second round, Chang slapped on armbars, omoplatas, triangles—all duly defended by his American opponent. But the merit in Jiu-Jitsu comes from being patient and undermining the opponent with double attacks, and the Korean ultimately came up with the finish in the fourth round.

Following a flurry of solid strikes and a big flying knee, the contender for José Aldo’s belt finished up in grand style, sinking a suffocatingly snug arm-triangle.

THE BELLY’S ROLE IN THE MOVE

“He did everything just right. He sunk the triangle and thrust his belly over the opponent’s head,” noted professor of Jiu-Jitsu Elinor Batista, the leader of Garra Fight team. “The American didn’t tap in time and ended up passing out. There really was a lot of pressure behind it.”

The fight and the finish netted “Fight of the Night” and “Submission of the Night” honors for the stalwart Korean. Now “Knockout of the Night” went to Tom Lawlor, who took just 50 seconds in downing the veteran Jason MacDonald.

Check out the video below to see how to sink the arm-triangle in the gi. Pay attention to how getting a tight hold and the direction the body is placed over the opponent’s head are key in getting the move to work right.

UFC on Fuel 3
Patriot Center, Virginia
May 15, 2012

Chang Sun Jung subbed Dustin Poirier via arm-triangle in R4;
Amir Sadollah defeated Jorge Lopez via split decision;
Donald Cerrone defeated Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision;
Yves Jabouin defeated Jeff Hougland via unanimous decision;
Igor Prokrajac defeated Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision;
Tom Lawlor defeated Jason MacDonald via KO in R1;
Brad Tavares defeated Dongi Yang via unanimous decision;
Cody Mackenzie defeated Marcus Levesseur via guillotine in R1;
TJ Grant defeated Carlo Prater via unanimous decision;
Rafael dos Anjos subbed Kamal Shalorous via rear-naked choke in R1;
Johnny Eduardo defeated Jeff Curran via unanimous decision;
Francisco Ribera defeated Alex Soto via unanimous decision.

Chang Sun Jung e seu triângulo de mão no UFC: finalização da noite e bônus. Foto: Divulgação/UFC

Como o GRACIEMAG.com havia previsto, o sul-coreano Chang Sun Jung comprovou a força de seu Jiu-Jitsu na noite de ontem, em Fairfax, pelo UFC on Fuel 3.

O “Zumbi Coreano” encarou Dustin Poirier não ficou apenas nisso, e deu uma aula em pé e no chão no Octagon. No segundo assalto, Chang encaixou armlocks, omoplatas e triângulos, todos muito bem defendidos pelo americano. Mas o mérito do Jiu-Jitsu é ter paciência e ir minando o oponente com ataques duplos, e o lutador asiático alcançou a finalização no quarto round.

Depois de acertar bons golpes e uma joelhada voadora, o candidato ao cinturão de José Aldo enfim encerrou a luta, e em grande estilo, com um justíssimo estrangulamento de mão.

O papel do abdome no golpe

“Ele fez tudo certinho. Encaixou o triângulo e jogou o abdome para cima da cabeça do adversário”, reparou o professor de Jiu-Jitsu Elinor Batista, que é líder da equipe cearense Garra Fight. “O americano não bateu e acabou apagando, realmente é muita pressão”.

O combate e seu desfecho valeram o bônus de melhor luta e melhor finalização da noite. Já o nocaute da edição foi para Tom Lawlor, que precisou de parcos 50 segundos para levar o veterano Jason MacDonald à lona.

Confira, no vídeo abaixo, como finalizar de forma parecida com o kimono. Repare que o cadeado bem fechado e a direção do seu tronco contra a cabeça do oponente são importantes para o golpe dar certo.

UFC on Fuel 3

Patriot Center, Estados Unidos

15 de maio de 2012

Chang Sun Jung finalizou Dustin Piorer com um estrangulamento no R4
Amir Sadollah venceu Jorge Lopez na decisão dividida dos jurados
Donald Cerrone venceu Jeremy Stephens por decisão unânime dos jurados
Yves Jabouin venceu Jeff Hougland por decisão unânime dos jurados
Igor Prokrajac venceu Fabio Maldonado por decisão unânime dos jurados
Tom Lawor venceu Jason MacDonald por nocaute no R1
Brad Tavares venceu Dongi Yang na decisão unânime
Cody Mackenzie finalizou Marcus Levesseur com uma guilhotina no R1
T.J Grant venceu Carlo Prater por decisão unânime
Rafael dos Ajos finalizou Kamal Shalorous com um mata-leão no R1
Johnny Eduardo venceu Jeff Curran por decisão unânime
Francisco Rivera venceu Alex Soto por decisão unânime

Donald Cerrone in staredown with Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fuel TV 3 weigh-ins / UFC publicity photo

Tuesday is UFC day. The most famous cage in MMA makes its way to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, with a number of promising bouts featuring on the card for UFC on Fuel TV 3. Who’s the biggest star on the card? Probably Jiu-Jitsu.

The 12-fight card is headlined by South Korea’s Chan Sung Jung, the “Korean Zombie,” who will be locking horns with Dustin Poirier. Among the other matchups, there’s Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rafael dos Anjos taking on Kamal Shalorus, and seasoned Nova União/Boxe Thai ace Johnny Eduard facing the plenty experienced Jeff Curran.

On the main card, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone will do battle with Jeremy Stephens. Both fighters are trying to get back on the winning track, with the former having lost to Nate Diaz at UFC 141 and Stephens losing to Anthony Pettis at UFC 136.

Despite his fearsome reputation as a knockout artist, Cerrone took to the UFC website to demonstrate his favorite move—the triangle, a position that’s yielded the American six of his 17 career wins. “It’s important not to let your opponent posture up,” he teaches.

Click here to get the ins and outs of Donald Cerrone’s favorite move.

UFC on Fuel TV 3
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
May 15, 2012

Dustin Poirier vs Chan Sung Jung
Jorge Lopez vs Amir Sadollah
Donald Cerrone vs Jeremy Stephens
Jeff Hougland vs Yves Jabouin
Fabio Maldonado vs Igor Pokrajac
Tom Lawlor vs Jason MacDonald
Marcus LeVesseur vs Cody McKenzie
Brad Tavares vs Dongi Yang
T.J. Grant vs Carlo Prater
Rafael Dos Anjos vs Kamal Shalorus
Jeff Curran vs Johnny Eduardo
Francisco Rivera vs Alex Soto

Donald Cerrone de frente para Jeremy Stephens, durante a pesagem do UFC on Fuel TV 3. Foto: Divulgação/UFC

Terça-feira também é dia de lutas no Ultimate. A gaiola mais famosa do MMA aterrissa hoje no Patriot Center, em Fairfax, nos Estados Unidos, e traz combates promissores pelo UFC on Fuel TV 3. O maior astro do card? Provavelmente o Jiu-Jitsu.

O evento vem com 12 combates, e a fera de chão coreana Chan Sung Jung, o “Zumbi Coreano”, faz a luta principal contra Dustin Poirier. Entre outras feras, o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Rafael dos Anjos terá Kamal Shalorus pela frente. Já Johnny Eduardo, da Nova União/Boxe Thai, cai para dentro do experiente Jeff Curran.

No card principal, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone encara Jeremy Stephens. Ambos buscam reencontrar o caminho da vitória, já que o duro vaqueiro foi superado por Nate Diaz no UFC 141, e Stephens perdeu para Anthony Pettis na edição 136.

Apesar de ser um temido nocauteador, Cerrone demonstrou ao site do UFC o seu golpe preferido, o triângulo – posição em que o americano terminou seis das 17 vitórias. “O importante é não deixar o adversário fazer postura”, ensina.

Clique aqui para saber mais sobre o golpe favorito de Donald Cerrone.

O canal Combate transmite hoje o UFC on Fuel TV 3 ao vivo, a partir de 19h30.

UFC on Fuel TV 3
Fairfax, Estados Unidos
15 de maio de 2012

Dustin Poirier vs Chan Sung Jung
Jorge Lopez vs Amir Sadollah
Donald Cerrone vs Jeremy Stephens
Jeff Hougland vs Yves Jabouin
Fabio Maldonado vs Igor Pokrajac
Tom Lawlor vs Jason MacDonald
Marcus LeVesseur vs Cody McKenzie
Brad Tavares vs Dongi Yang
T.J. Grant vs Carlo Prater
Rafael Dos Anjos vs Kamal Shalorus
Jeff Curran vs Johnny Eduardo
Francisco Rivera vs Alex Soto

Carlo Prater: "Frieza é fundamental".

Fã da mão no bíceps, seja no katagatame, triângulo de mão ou mata-leão (golpes que definiram três das últimas quatro vitórias), a fera Carlo Prater foi surpreendido na última sexta-feira, com o convite para se jogar no card do UFC 142, no Rio de Janeiro, no dia 14 de janeiro.

“Sim, fiquei surpreso. Meu empresário tinha me dito que a gente ia entrar no primeiro semestre de 2012, mas não esperava entrar de substituto, nem tão cedo”, disse o paulista criado nos Estados Unidos, ao GRACIEMAG.com.

Treinando em Brasília, onde mora, o faixa-preta se prepara com um time da pesada para encarar o nocauteador Erick Silva, no palco da HSBC Arena, com Galvão Bueno de narrador.

“A preparação está ótima, e apesar da rapidez com que tudo rolou estou muito focado. Meus treinadores, Julio Pudim, Sandro Bala, Kru Nilson Jr e Marcus Góes, estão sempre me orientando. O treinador Neto por sua vez está cuidando da minha preparação física, o negócio é chegar lá e surpreender”, conta ele, avisando que todo cuidado é pouco no chão.

“Se ele me der brecha, certamente vou finalizar”, resumiu o boa-praça. “Eu sei que não será fácil. Sou tranquilo geralmente, estilo fogão à lenha, que leva um tempo para esquentar. Mas esse meu jeito ajuda muito, pois já passei por muita situação difícil na carreira, horas em que a frieza foi fundamental. Esta oportunidade será apenas uma delas”, encerrou.

E você, sagaz leitor, acha que o combate entre Carlo Prater e Erick Silva vai esquentar? Quem leva?

UFC 142

HSBC Arena, Barra, Rio de Janeiro

14 de janeiro de 2012

José Aldo vs Chad Mendes

Vitor Belfort vs Anthony Johnson

Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares vs Mike Massenzio

Erick Silva vs Carlo Prater

Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim

Thiago Tavares vs Sam Stout

Mike Pyle vs Ricardo Funch

Yuri “Marajó” Alcântara vs Michirio Omigawa

Fabio Maldonado vs Caio Magalhães

Ednaldo “Lula” Oliveira vs Gabriel Napão

Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes vs Antônio Carvalho

Carlo Prater: "Keeping cool under pressure is key".

A big fan of hand-on-bicep holds, whether it be an arm-triangle, arm-and-neck or rear-naked choke, Carlo Prater was caught off guard last Friday, when he got called up for the UFC 142 card in Rio de Janeiro on the coming 14th of January.

“Yes, I was taken by surprise. My manager had told me we were going to get a fight during the first half of 2012, but I never expected to be a replacement, nor that it would come so soon,” the São Paulo native brought up in the United States told GRACIEMAG.com.

“My preparations have been going great, despite how fast everything has unfolded. My trainers—Julio Pudim, Sandro Bala, Kru Nilson and Marcus Góes—are always guiding me. Coach Neto is taking care of my physical conditioning. It’s all about getting out there and taking him by surprise,” he says, adding that on the ground one can’t be too cautious:

“If he leaves an opening, I’ll sub him for sure. I know it won’t be easy. I’m usually laid back, wood-burning stove style, taking a little while to get warmed up. But that style of mine helps a lot, since I’ve been through a lot of rough situations in my career, moments when keeping cool under pressure is key. This opportunity will be one of them,” he said in closing.

What do you think, keen reader, do you think things will heat up between Carlo Prater and Erick Silva? Who takes it?

UFC 142

HSBC Arena, Barra, Rio de Janeiro

January 14, 2012

José Aldo vs Chad Mendes

Vitor Belfort vs Anthony Johnson

Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares vs Mike Massenzio

Erick Silva vs Carlo Prater

Edson Barboza vs Terry Etim

Thiago Tavares vs Sam Stout

Mike Pyle vs Ricardo Funch

Yuri “Marajó” Alcântara vs Michirio Omigawa

Fabio Maldonado vs Caio Magalhães

Ednaldo “Lula” Oliveira vs Gabriel Napão

Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes vs Antônio Carvalho

Gomez has been a black belt since 2006, but has been teaching for other people for about 10 years, since he was a blue belt. He’s always wanted to own his own school. “It’s about time,” he says, “This opportunity showed up and I took it. Temecula’s a great spot. There are lots of families here. People love Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and fighting.”

Mikey Gomez competing again after a four year hiatus / Photo: Deb Blyth

Gomez started out at Nova União in Paraguay at 16 years of age. When he got his blue belt, he moved to Boston, but at that time there were no Nova União gyms in the States. “Kenny and Keith Florian were teaching classes under Roberto Maia. I tried it for a month, but it was too cold for me!” he laughs, “I was going to go to Renzo’s, but that was New York, so it was still too cold for me.”

So, in 2001, Gomez ended up making the move to Florida and began training at GB Orlando with Marcio Simas. “I was 19 years old and didn’t have the money to train,” he says, “I worked at a clothing store, folding clothes. It was my first job ever. After work I would go to GB Orlando and watch the classes until I saved up enough money to train.”

Gomez loved Jiu-Jitsu so much, he asked Professor Simas if he could start a kids program for them. “That’s how I started teaching and getting paid,” he says, “I started teaching the kids and then slowly started helping with adult classes and eventually took over. I loved GB Orlando. It was great. I call that ‘home’ now. I lived there for 9 years.”

Gomez says competing in Florida was “crazy.” He had to travel all over for tournaments. “Miami, Jersey, California, different parts of Florida… I had to travel all over to compete,” he says, “Then I would go to the Worlds in Brazil to gauge myself and see how I was progressing. I never placed, but I always won three or four matches and I’d win them all by submission.”

Gomez started training in MMA in 2003. He spent one year training and by this time, he was a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu. In 2004, his instructor, Todd Broadway, told him he was ready to have his first fight. Gomez took that fight and won.

Mikey in MMA / Photo: Steadfast Videos

By the time Gomez took his third fight, he was feeling pretty good. He took on Carlo Prater, whom Gomez says was “like 22-2,” and lost on a decision. “I didn’t have a manager,” he says, “It was just me doing my thing. After that it was so hard for me to get fights. People kept dropping out.”

Gomez then made the mistake that many fighters make by trying to make it big in MMA. “I started fighting just for the money,” he says. Like many before him, he’d take fights on a couple of days to a couple of weeks’ notice and won a few of them, but lost many, too. With no manager and no routine training schedule, Gomez was lost. He took two professional muay thai fights. “I lost my first fight against UFC fighter Thiago “The Pitbull” Alves,” he says, “I only had three weeks to get ready for that fight and I lost to a decision.” Gomez won his second fight. “The guy I fought had a record of like 24-0. It was a title fight and they brought me in to lose. I ended up winning by TKO in the third round and won the belt,” he laughs, “I never stopped training after Thiago.”

Gomez moved to California in 2009. “I needed to fight out of Florida,” he says, “I was known in Florida and felt I couldn’t get the exposure I needed to fight in bigger shows. I wanted to get noticed.” So, Gomez hooked up with Renato “Babalu” Sobral and started training muay thai at GB Cerritos. “I wanted to train more,” he says, “I felt like everyone was getting better but me. I wanted to be a student again.” But once again, Gomez got lost in the shuffle of freeways and busy cities in California and couldn’t get it together. “I didn’t know California was so crazy with everything so far apart,” he says, “It was really difficult for me to train and I didn’t have a set camp.”

Gomez and teammate Fabiana Borges winning Gold / Photo: Deb Blyth

So, with a record of 12-8, Gomez decided to take some time off from being the student and once again, became the instructor, teaching at different GB schools in Southern California. He became roommates with Fabiana Borges and Rodrigo Simoes and they enjoyed a year of training and friendship together. “We helped each other be better,” he says, “Living with them was great. It was like heaven. That was my little family last year.”

Gomez has now returned to the MMA scene with a new perspective and a new training team, but he still trains everyday with his GB team. “I never stopped training with the gi,” he says, “It makes everything tighter.” Gomez trains with GB greats Otavio Sousa, Kayron Gracie, Romulo Barral, Flavio Almeida, Marcio Feitoso and even Master Carlos himself. “It’s been so great,” he says, “I love training Jiu-Jitsu with such a high-end team.”

Gomez is training so much now, he’s even started competing in Jiu-Jitsu again. Gomez won the 2010 No-Gi Nationals. “It was really great because I hadn’t competed since ’06,” he says, “I won my first match at the 2010 No-Gi Worlds, but then I let Tussa keep on going because he was the defending world champion.” Gomez says he’s honing his skills. “I feel great in my game now,” he says, “I’m a completely different fighter. I have better listening skills, better striking, my Jiu-Jitsu is better. I’m better all the way around.”

One major reason for his improvement is that he now trains at Reign with Mark Munoz. “There I train with Mark Munoz, Fabricio Werdum, Jason “Mayhem” Miller, Brett Cooper, and Marcel Louzado to name a few,” Gomez says, “They’ve helped me so much. It’s the first time I have an actual team.”

Gomez also finds strength through his training at Juggernaut Training Systems with Chad Smith. He trains there with all of his GB friends, like Fabiana Borges, Rodrigo Simoes, Romulo Barral, Kayron and Ronis Gracie and Bruno Antunes. “For the first time, I’m really getting stronger,” he says, “A lot of times when I lost to Division 1 wrestlers by decision I didn’t have that raw strength that they did. Now I feel like I do have it. I’m stronger and more explosive.”

Gomez prepping for James Brasco / Photo: Steadfast Videos

Put all that together and you have a new fighter with a strong mind and a well-conditioned body to go with it. Gomez recently put his new skills and training to the test when he faced James Brasco in his WEF fight last week and won by TKO in the first round. Gomez trained seven weeks for the fight. “I stunned him (Brasco) with a jab and tried to finish it, but I slipped and fell,” he says, “We traded some punches and he stunned me for a second. I worked in a few punches and stuffed his takedowns. Then he clinched and I threw a knee to the body that dropped him. I followed with punches from the guard then from half-guard. The ref eventually stopped the fight.”

The win stoked Gomez’s MMA fire more than ever. “I want to fulfill my own dreams as a fighter,” he says, “I didn’t go on to school because I always wondered if I’d have regrets about not fighting. So I followed the fighting path. I don’t regret a single thing. I want to get into the UFC and make a run for that 185-pound title.”

Big dreams for a kid out of Paraguay who, at one time, was folding clothes in a store to make enough money to train Jiu-Jitsu. But while he has his own personal dreams to realize, as usual, this born-teacher is helping others manifest their dreams as well. “I’ve trained so many fighters and they’re doing great,” he says, “Jim Ailers, Bruce Connors, and Frank Sharipov. They all have a shot at getting in the UFC. I helped Jonathan Brookins before he went into the TUF house. All those guys back in Florida. I’m really proud of that.”

And now Gomez has his own school in GB Temecula. “My goal for the school is to be successful and to help people,” he says, “I like teaching a lot. I’ve seen grown men who’ve been bullied their whole lives. I like helping them out. Seeing them progress and watching them become so confident. I like to make good fighters. Everyone’s fighting for something – being more confident, losing weight, becoming an MMA fighter. I like helping them in their lives.”

Gomez says he lives his life by the tenets his mom taught him. “She always said, ‘Every time someone leaves your life, they should leave feeling like they gained something positive from you.’ That’s what I try to do,” he says, “You always start somewhere. Someone always gave you a hand along the way. I want to be that person to others. My reward is being a positive addition to anyone’s life.”

Juju, the most sought-after ring girl in Brazil / Photo: publicity

To make noise with an MMA event in Brazil you got to pull up your sleeves and get to work. That’s what the promoters of the IFC did in preparing for the event to take place this coming April 29 in Olinda, Brazil.

The IFC is promising a star-studded card, with former champions of the now-retired WEC event Paulão Filho and Hermes França, former UFC fighter Ronys Torres, Gregor Gracie, Carlo Prater and a number of others to feature on the 12-fight card. And there’s also TV knockout Juliana Salimeni, or “Juju”, from the ever popular Pânico na TV television show.

Tickets go on sale starting March 12 at Vitabrasilnet shops in the cities of Recife, Caruaru, João Pessoa and Natal.

Prices vary from 35 (stands) to 300 reais (VIP seating). Stay tuned for more news on the final card right here, on GRACIEMAG.com.