Anderson Silva. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

O mês do carnaval também promete ser agitado no canal Combate. Os eventos ao vivo prometem em fevereiro, como as três edições do UFC com disputas de cinturão e o Jungle Fight, que coloca no cercado alguns dos grandes lutadores em ação no Brasil. Mas o clima segue quente no restante da programação.

Para garantir a satisfação dos fãs mais aficionados, o canal programou uma semana dedicada a Anderson Silva.

De hoje ao dia 8 de fevereiro, o “UFC Series”, de segunda a sexta-feira, a partir de 1h da manhã, traz todas as lutas do gênio do octagon. São confrontos contra oponentes como Rich Franklin, no UFC 64, quando o Spider garantiu cinturão peso médio do UFC pela primeira vez; ou as dez defesas de cinturão de Anderson, inclusive as duas pelejas contra o desafeto Chael Sonnen.

Anderson detém o recorde absoluto de vitórias seguidas no Ultimate: 16 lutas. Uma grande chance de analisar o estilo e o desenrolar da carreira do mito brasileiro. Confira os dias e confrontos exibidos no “UFC Series”:

* UFC Series 25 (4 de fevereiro)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Chris Leben

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Rich Franklin (I)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Travis Lutter

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Nate Marquardt

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Rich Franklin (II)

UFC Series 26 (5 de fevereiro)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Dan Henderson

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs James Irvin

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Patrick Cote

UFC Series 27 (6 de fevereiro)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Thales Leites

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Forrest Griffin

UFC Series 28 (7 de fevereiro)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Demian Maia

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Chael Sonnen (I)

UFC Series 29 (8 de fevereiro)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Vitor Belfort

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Yushin Okami

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Chael Sonnen (II)

Anderson “Spider” Silva vs Stephan Bonnar

*** Eventos ao vivo no canal Combate:

UFC Brão vs McDonald – 16 de fevereiro

Jungle Fight 49 – 22 de fevereiro

UFC 157 – 23 de fevereiro

Cain Velasquez acerta Junior Cigano. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

A MGM Arena em Las Vegas recebeu a edição 155 do UFC, nesse sábado. No octagon, Junior Cigano acabou superado por Cain Velasquez e perdeu o cinturão dos pesados. Na batalha mais sangrenta do evento Jim Miller venceu Joe Lauzon por decisão unânime dos jurados. O duelo recebeu o prêmio de melhor luta da noite, já o bônus pelo nocaute e pela finalização do evento  ficaram com Todd Duffee e John Moraga, respectivamente.

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UFC 155
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
29 de dezembro de 2012

Cain Velasquez venceu Junior Cigano na decisão unânime dos jurados

Jim Miller venceu Joe Lauzon na decisão unânime dos jurados

Costa Philippou venceu Tim Boetsch por nocaute técnico aos 2min11s do R3

Yushin Okami venceu Alan Belcher na decisão unânime dos jurados

Derek Brunson venceu Chris Leben na decisão unânime dos jurados

Eddie Wineland venceu Brad Pickett na decisão dividida dos jurados

Erik Perez venceu Byron Bloodworth por nocaute técnico aos 3min50s do R1

Jamie Varner venceu Melvin Guillard na decisão dividida dos jurados

Myles Jury venceu Michael Johnson na decisão unânime dos jurados

Todd Duffee nocauteou Phil De Fries aos 2min4s do R1

Max Holloway venceu Leonard Garcia na decisão dividida dos jurados

John Moraga finalizou Chris Cariaso no triângulo de mão aos 11s do R3

Derek Brunson flexes during the UFC 155 weigh-in on December 28, 2012 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Derek Brunson won a unanimous decision over Chris Leben at UFC 155 in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Brunson worked his takedowns throughout the fight, but both fighters lacked the stamina to land any significant strikes after the first round.

In the first round, Brunson brought the fight to the ground and landed several shots on his opponent. Leben attempted to recover to the feet, but Brunson continued to pressure through the first five minutes of the contest.

Brunson got another takedown early on the second round, but looked noticeably tired as time went on. Leben landed more punches, but none landed with any significant impact. After time of the round expired, Brunson kneeled down in his corner, gasping for breath.

Both fighters were out of breath in the third round. Brunson scored another takedown late in the final frame and solidified the win.

With the victory, Brunson wins his UFC debut, while Leben hasn’t won in the octagon since July 2011.

For more UFC and MMA coverage,

visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Junior Cigano and his team at Salvador, Brazil airport (Photo posted on his Twitter account)

After toiling away to make it to his showdown with former heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in 100 percent shape, Junior dos Santos never imagined he’d still have some more suffering to do before arriving at his Las Vegas destination.

The Brazilian missed his flight to the United States on Christmas Eve. “Because of the whim of the airline the week has started out awfully for me. It would be easy to shrug it off if I didn’t have an important fight coming up on Saturday. TAM lied and told its customers that the airport was closed, and for reasons unknown to me, they made life rough on me,” Cigano posted on Twitter.

“TAM ruined my trip. It took me six hours of flying to get from Salvador to São Paulo, and then I missed my flight to Vegas. Major lack of respect. This is an outrage,” added the fighter, who finally arrived in the United States today.

Check out the following video of Cigano going through his preparations for his December 29 showdown with Cain Velasquez:

UFC 155
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
December 29, 2012

Junior Cigano vs. Cain Velasquez
Jim Miller vs. Joe Lauzon
Tim Boetsch vs. Costa Philippou
Yushin Okami vs. Alan Belcher
Chris Leben vs. Karlos Vemola
Brad Pickett vs. Eddie Wineland
Erik Perez vs. Byron Bloodworth
Michael Johnson vs. Myles Jury
Leonard Garcia vs. Cody Mckenzie
Phil de Fries vs. Todd Duffee

For more UFC and MMA coverage,

visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Junior Cigano e sua equipe no aeroporto de Salvador. Foto: Reprodução Twitter

Após ralar muito para chegar 100% para a luta contra o ex-campeão Cain Velasquez, Junior Cigano não sabia que teria de sofrer mais um pouco antes de chegar a Las Vegas.

O catarinense radicado na Bahia perdeu o voo para os Estados Unidos na noite de Natal. “Por um capricho da companhia aérea a semana começa pessimamente para mim. Seria simples deixar-pra-lá, se eu não tivesse uma luta tão importe sábado. A TAM mentiu que o aeroporto estava fechado para os clientes e, por uma razão que ainda desconheço, complicou a minha vida”, escreveu Cigano no Twitter.

“A TAM arruinou minha viagem. Levei seis horas de voo de Salvador para São Paulo e perdi meu voo para Vegas. Falta de respeito total. Estou revoltado, é um absurdo”, completou o lutador, que chega hoje aos Estados Unidos.

Relembre como foi a preparação de Cigano, no vídeo do UFC abaixo. O UFC 155 será transmitido ao vivo pelo canal Combate.

UFC 155
MGM Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
29 de dezembro de 2012

Junior Cigano vs Cain Velasquez
Jim Miller vs Joe Lauzon
Tim Boetsch vs Costa Philippou
Yushin Okami vs Alan Belcher
Chris Leben vs Karlos Vemola
Brad Pickett vs Eddie Wineland
Erik Perez vs Byron Bloodworth
Michael Johnson vs Myles Jury
Leonard Garcia vs Cody Mckenzie
Phil de Fries vs Todd Duffee

Professor Sidney Silva with his son, Ian Kaleo / Personal archive photo

Last week in Hawaii, UFC middleweight star Chris Leben was promoted to blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu by his teacher Sidney Silva, as GRACIEMAG.com previously reported, here.

Having completed the term of his suspension from the UFC for doping, the knockout artist invested his efforts in Jiu-Jitsu training to please his gentle-art professor.

“Chris has a really good ground game. He has a complete notion of basic movements, and as he’s temporarily suspended from fighting and without a date for his next fight, he’s been paying special attention to his ground game, especially in the gi—something he’s been working on for about eight months,” Sidney Silva told GRACIEMAG.com.

“It took some time, but I managed to convince Chris that the true essence of Jiu-Jitsu is in the gi. Although there are a lot of naysayers, Gi Jiu-Jitsu training is essential for MMA fighters: it’s training in the gi that helps the fighter get a tight and precise ground game,” added the black belt Romulo Barros, a Rickson Gracie student.

The UFC star’s presence in the Hawaiian academy has served as a stimulus to the other students. “He’s really stoked about Gi training, and it’s rubbing off on the other students,” said the Jiu-Jitsu professor, who had to defend Leben’s promotion.

“There were folks who disagreed with giving him the belt, saying he should be promoted even higher for being a UFC fighter, having submitted Akiyama [in 2010] and all, but it’s like I explained to him: When he said he wanted to train in the gi and humbly asked what belt he should use, I said, “A white belt.” Well, at the time he was surprised by my response, but he accepted it with the utmost humility because I explained that MMA and No-Gi grappling are not the same thing as Jiu-Jitsu,” Sidney elaborated, already making predictions about the new phase the fighter is seeing.

“The guy’s great people, a warrior, and he’ll throw down with anyone. He’s at a great stage in his life, is healthy and focused on his UFC return, which should happen shortly. I feel he’s going to make the middleweight division all the more exciting,” said the wise Jiu-Jitsu professor in conclusion.

Watch Leben taking on a “Super Dave” during a break in training.

Professor Sidney Silva com o filho, Ian Kaleo. Foto: Acervo Pessoal

Na última semana, o peso médio do UFC Chris Leben foi promovido a faixa-azul de Jiu-Jitsu no Havaí, por seu professor brasileiro Sidney Silva, como o GRACIEMAG.com noticiou, aqui.

Cumprindo suspensão no Ultimate por doping, o nocauteador investiu nos treinos de Jiu-Jitsu, para satisfação do professor.

“O Chris já tem um chão bom, ele tem total noção da movimentação básica, e como está temporariamente suspenso e sem luta marcada, ele vem dando uma atenção especial ao chão, principalmente de kimono – algo que vem treinando há uns oito meses”, comentou Sidney Silva, com o GRACIEMAG.com.

“Demorou um pouco, mas consegui convencer o Chris que a verdadeira essência do Jiu-Jitsu está no kimono. Apesar de muita gente achar o contrário, os treinos de kimono são essenciais para o treinamento do lutador de MMA: é o treino de kimono que ajuda o lutador a ter um chão justo e preciso”, completou o faixa-preta de Romolo Barros (Rickson Gracie).

A presença do astro do UFC na academia havaiana tem servido como estímulo para outros alunos. “Ele está empolgadíssimo com os treinos de kimono e em troca empolga os outros alunos”, falou o professor, que precisou defender a graduação de Leben.

“Teve gente discordando da faixa, achando que ele deveria ter uma graduação maior por ser lutador do UFC, ter finalizado com estilo o Akyama (em 2010) e tal, mas é como eu expliquei a ele. Quando ele me disse que queria treinar de kimono e humildemente me perguntou que faixa deveria usar, eu disse: “a faixa-branca”. Bem, na hora ele ficou surpreso com minha resposta, mas aceitou na maior humildade, pois expliquei que MMA e a luta sem kimono não são a mesma coisa que Jiu-Jitsu”, explicou Sidney, já prevendo uma nova fase para o lutador.

“O cara é gente finíssima, guerreiro e sai na mão com qualquer um, está numa nova fase da vida, saudável e focado na sua volta ao UFC, que deverá ocorrer em breve. Acho que ele vai voltar para embolar ainda mais a categoria médio”, concluiu o sábio professor.

Veja Leben encarando um dublê, no intervalo dos treinos.

Lesnar e Cigano expostos na academia do TUF 13. Foto: Carlos Ozório.

Já começou nos Estados unidos a 15ª edição do “The Ultimate Fighter” (TUF), o reality show do UFC, pela primeira vez na FOX, na TV aberta americana. Na terra do Tio Sam, o campeão peso galo Dominick Cruz lidera um dos times, enquanto Urijah Faber comanda o outro. O Brasil também está prestes a transmitir uma edição totalmente nacional, com os astros Vitor Belfort e Wanderlei Silva como treinadores.

O programa é um dos responsáveis pela alavancada da organização no gosto popular e, desde a primeira edição, em 2005, já contou com 21 campeões. Tantas edições serviram para mostrar muitas lições, algumas delas comentadas logo abaixo:

A raça de Forrest Griffin e Stephan Bonnar

Uma das lutas mais sangrentas, um épico do MMA. Para muitos, foi o combate que mostrou definitivamente a força da modalidade para o grande público. Jamais se entregar, jamais desistir, foi o que Griffin e Bonnar mostraram no octagon. O resultado disso: Griffin, que veio a se tornar campeão de meio-pesados, e Bonnar que, mesmo com o revés, teve o contrato assinado com a organização e segue no elenco de lutadores do Ultimate até hoje, além de ser comentarista de lutas.

(confira a visita da GRACIEMAG na academia do TUF 13 nas fotos de Carlos Ozório)

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Arte marcial e personalidade

A primeira edição do TUF rendeu alguns nomes que seguem vivos até hoje na organização. Muitos conflitos agitaram a casa, com lutadores que mantinham firmes a sua forma de pensar e se impor. Quem não se lembra, por exemplo, das discussões entre Josh Koscheck e Chris Leben. Pois ambos ganharam a simpatia do público e acabaram dentro do evento.

Acreditar sempre

Rashad Evans talvez não fosse um dos favoritos no TUF 2, ainda mais por parecer não ser tão forte quanto os oponentes na categoria de pesados. No entanto, Rashad confiou, e bateu um a um até vencer a luta final contra Brad Imes. Na sequência, na categoria meio-pesado, aniquilou os oponentes até conquistar o cinturão. Sua única derrota em 18 lutas profissionais foi para Lyoto Machida, quando perdeu o título. Mas Evans continua acreditando e mais uma vez tentará o topo, agora contra o campeão Jon Jones, que muitos acreditam ser imbatível.

Seja você mesmo no Jiu-Jitsu e MMA

Os exemplos a seguir são bem polêmicos, mas, não há como negar, foi dessa forma, além das habilidades como lutador, que alcançaram destaque. Michael Bisping e Nate Diaz fizeram assim e hoje seguem ainda entre os principais atletas do elenco do Ultimate. Bisping foi o campeão do TUF 3, enquanto Diaz venceu a quinta edição do programa. O público gosta de vê-los, apesar de, muitas vezes, criticar a postura dos atletas.

(Assista a um vídeo do galera ralando na academia do TUF por Carlos Ozório)

As aparências enganam?

Essa vale muito bem para Roy Nelson, o astro do TUF 10. Apesar do lastro de vitórias de Nelson, que já havia sido campeão da IFL, quem apostava no gordinho? Nelson ia contra todos os prognósticos, fazia corpo mole nos treinos. No entanto, sagrou-se campeão da edição tendo derrotado o verdadeiro atleta Brendan Schaub. Portanto, jamais subestime pelas aparências.

Seja sempre um exemplo positivo

Na edição de número 8, Rodrigo Minotauro, que era um dos treinadores, deixou de ser um ídolo apenas no Brasil e Japão e ganhou de vez o público americano. Detalhe, Minota superou em popularidade Frank Mir, que era americano. O brasileiro mostrou que um campeão não perde a humildade. Ganhou a simpatia de todos, enquanto o provocador Mir fez papel de vilão.

Vencer não é tudo

Campeão do TUF 8, Efrain Escudero não consegue se manter no UFC. Após o TUF Finale, perdeu duas das quatro lutas e foi demitido. Retornou no UFC 141, mas novamente foi derrotado. Ou seja, chegar ao UFC é apenas um passo. Se manter dentro da organização é algo totalmente diferente. Mantenha o foco.

Aumente o conhecimento

Pouco antes de estrear como treinador no TUF 13, Junior Cigano comentava o que considerava ser o grande desafio: se comunicar em inglês para o público americano. Pois o lutador tratou de estudar, fez bonito e se tornou um ídolo. O mesmo vale para a parte técnica, já que em seguida se tornou campeão peso pesado. Mente e corpo devem caminhar juntos, sempre em desenvolvimento. Busque sempre o conhecimento, em todos os quesitos, e evolua de uma forma geral.

Confira abaixo um pouco de todas as edições do TUF:

Lesnar and Cigano displayed in the TUF 13 gym / Photo: Carlos Ozório

The 15th season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) reality show is under way in the United States, for the first time airing on US network television channel FOX. Leading the two teams are current bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz and former featherweight champion of the WEC Urijah Faber. And Brazil is getting ready for the premiere of its own domestic version of the show, with Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva at the helm as coaches.

The show is responsible for catapulting the promotion into the mainstream, and ever since the first installment, back in 2005, 21 champions have come through its ranks. And there are plenty of lessons to reap from so many editions, some of which are remarked on below:

Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar

One of the bloodiest fights ever, an MMA classic. To many, it was the fight that definitively introduced the sport to the broader audience. Never give up—that’s was the guiding principle Griffin and Bonnar showed in the octagon. The result: Griffin was awarded the win, then going on to be crowned light heavyweight champion, and Bonnar was awarded a contract despite the loss, and he remains on the UFC roster to this day, not to mention working as a commentator on event broadcasts.

(Check out GRACIEMAG’s visit to the TUF 13 academy in photos by Carlos Ozório)

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Personality

The inaugural TUF season yielded some names that are still a part of the organization to this day. There was plenty of conflict in the house, with fighters sticking to their guns in the way they thought and behaved. Who doesn’t remember, for example, the spats between Josh Koscheck and Chris Leben? Both fell into the public’s good graces and ended up in the event.

Believe

Rashad Evans may not have been a favorite to win TUF 2, especially for his apparent size disadvantage when compared to his heavyweight counterparts. However, Rashad believed in himself, went down the line, leaving opponents in his wake all the way to the final, against Brad Imes. From there on he annihilated all opposition until capturing the light heavyweight belt. Evans’s only loss in 18 professional fights came at the hands of Lyoto Machida, to whom he lost his title. But Evans still believes, and once again he will get his shot at the top, this time against Jon Jones, who many believe to be unbeatable.

Attention grabbing

Be yourself. The following examples are quite controversial, but there’s no denying that it was thus, along with their skill as fighters, they took their place in the spotlight. Michael Bisping and Nate Diaz took the route of controversy and hence remain some of the main characters in the UFC lineup. Bisping won TUF 3, while Diaz won the fifth season of the show. The audience relishes their appearances, despite often criticizing their posture.

(Watch the video of the crew at TUF academy hard at work, taken by Carlos Ozório)

Looks can be deceiving

This one fits a certain star of TUF 10 like a glove. However many convincing wins attached to the name Roy Nelson, who was previously the champion of the IFL, but who would put their money on the chubby fighter? Nelson was a contradiction to what the winning formula should be: besides his waist line, he was a slouch in training. Still, he won the TUF title after beating the true athlete Brendan Schaub. So don’t judge a book by its cover.

Be a role model

In the 8th season, Rodrigo Minotauro, one of the coaches, graduated from being an idol just in Brazil and Japan and finally conquered the American audience. His popularity even exceeded hometown boy Frank Mir, the American coaching the opposing team. The Brazilian showed that being a famous fighter doesn’t mean you have to lose your humility. He won everyone over, while Mir was left playing the part of the villain.

Winning isn’t everything

TUF 8 champion Efrain Escudero couldn’t keep it up in the UFC. Following the TUF Finale, he lost four back-to-back fights and was fired. He returned at UFC 141, but was again defeated. In other words, making it to the UFC is one step. Staying in the promotion is something entirely different. Keep your focus.

Become more knowledgeable

Just before making his debut as a coach on TUF 13, Junior Cigano spoke of what he considered to be his greatest challenge: to communicate in English with the American public. So he hit the books, did a swell job and became a superstar. The same went for his technique, as soon thereafter he was crowned heavyweight champion. Mind and body work as one, in continuous development. Always pursue knowledge in all fiends, and evolve as a whole.

Renan Barão não tomou reconhecimento de seu adversário, Brad Pickett. Foto: UFC/divulgação

UFC 138
Birmingham, Inglaterra
November 5, 2011

Resultados:

Mark Muñoz venceu Chris Leben por intervenção médica entre R1 e R2;

Renan Barão finalizou Brad Pickett com um mata-leão no R1

Thiago Alves finalizou Papy Abedi com um mata-leão no R1

Anthony Perosh finalizou Cyrille Diabate com mata-leão no R2;

Terry Etim finalizou Edward Faaloloto com uma guilhotina no R1;

Card preliminar:

John Maguire venceu Justin Edwards na decisão unânime;

Phil De Fries venceu Rob Broughton na decisão unânime;

Michihiro Omigawa venceu Jason Young na decisão unânime;

Che Mills venceu Chris Cope por TKO no R1;

Chris Cariaso venceu Vaughan Lee na decisão dividida.

Renan Barão put on a virtuous display in his first-round win over Brad Pickett. Photo: UFC publicity

The UFC took its 138th event to a full house this evening in Nottingham, England; and provided an action-packed event where the majority of the fights didn’t make it till the final bell. Although no title fights came with the package, the maiden five-round non-title main event was abbreviated to two, with Mark Munoz rendering Chris Leben unable to continue after the second-round break. Also making a serious impression, Renan Barão showed he’s a true virtuoso in putting away hometown favorite Brad Pickett, ending the contest in the first and perhaps lining himself up to take on bantamweight champ Dominick Cruz in the near future.

Check out the complete results:

UFC 138
Birmingham, England
November 5, 2011

Mark Muñoz defeats Chris Leben via doctor’s stoppage in R1.

The first round was evenly matched, with takedowns from both sides but Munoz seeming to have the edge. The second round saw Munoz go into full gear, taking Leben to the ground and punishing him with shots from the top, one of them opening a cut above Leben’s eye. After one of several guillotine attempts from Leben, a stop is called to the match to check the gruesome bleeding coming from a gash over Leben’s left eye. At first reporting that he couldn’t see from the damaged eye, Leben changed his tune when told the doctor would stop the fight; and the second round continued. Munoz continued to dominate and an end would be called to the fight during the second-round break, after Leben confessed he could not see through his left eye.

Renan Barão submits Brad Pickett via rear-naked choke in R1.

Getting the better of the standup action, Renan Barão used a full striker playbook against Brad Pickett, throwing crisp punching combinations and even launching flying knees, before knocking Pickett to the ground, where he deftly took back mount and cranked out a rear-naked choke — all in the first round.

Thiago Alves submits Papy Abedi via rear-naked choke in R1.

With crushing fist work, Thiago Alves dropped Papy Abedi to the ground, where he took full mount and landed more stunning fists, causing Abedi to give up his back and the rear-naked choke. Alves wins by submission in round one.

Anthony Perosh submits Cyrille Diabate via rear-naked choke in R2.

Weathering a storm of strikes from Diabate in the first round, Anthony Perosh turns the tables in the second, putting on a virtuoso top-position display on the ground that culminated in a rear-naked choke.

Terry Etim defeats Edward Faaloloto via guillotine choke in R1.

Terry Etim made quick work of Edward Faaloloto. Starting off strong with punches and kicks early on, Etim cynched a tight guillotine choke and pulled guard as a response to a Faaloloto takedown, ending the action early in the first round.

Preliminary card results:

John Maguire defeats Justin Edwards via unanimous decision;

Phil De Fries defeats Rob Broughton via unanimos decision;

Michihiro Omigawa defeats Jason Young via unanimous decision;

Che Mills defeats Chris Cope via TKO in R1;

Chris Cariaso defeats Vaughan Lee via split decision.

Mark Muñoz is favored to win on Saturday. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to England this Saturday the 5th, taking UFC 138 to Birmingham’s LG Arena. In the main event, Chris Leben, who is coming off a devastating win over Wanderlei Silva in just 27 seconds, and Mark Muñoz, whose last fight was a win over another Brazilian, Demian Maia.

The fighters are set star in the first five-round fight where a title is not on the line in the UFC. Also on the card, Thiago Alves takes on unbeaten Congolese Sweden-transplant Papy ‘Makombo’ Abedi, while Renan Barão stars in the co-main event against hometown boy Brad Pickett.

Leben and Muñoz face off in five-round affair

At 30 years of age, Chris Leben boasts a record of 22 wins, of which 12 came by way of knockout, in his 29-fight career that includes seven losses. The American is coming off a spectacular trouncing of Wanderlei Silva. In 2008, Leben was overcome by Michael Bisping via decision and was subsequently banned for steroid use. After returning to the event following suspension, Leben got back on track by winning four of the six fights he has had in the UFC since.

Now, Leben will face off with “The Filippino Wrecking Machine,” Mark Muñoz.

For the first time ever in a main event, Muñoz, 33, holds a respectable record of 11 wins, five by knockout, and just two losses. In his two-year UFC tenure, the Filippino, as he is called because of his ancestry, fought eight times and won on six occasions, the most recent being against Demian Maia at UFC 131. The middleweight has also fought under the WEC banner.

English hero in Renan Barão’s path

After making his UFC debut against Cole Escovedo last May, Brazil’s Renan Barão will be making his first appearance in a co-main event, facing local hero Brad Pickett in the bantamweight division. Having collected titles in Brazil, Barão signed with the WEC and won on his debut, submitting Anthony Leone in the third round. Six months later, he submitted Chris Cariaso, as well. The fighter has only lost once in 28 professional bouts. Should he win this time around, the Brazilian could line himself up to challenge Dominick Cruz for the title.

Angry Pitbull against first-timer

Brazil’s Thiago “Pitbull” Alves will also battle on the main card at the event in England. Thiago will have his hands full against Congolese-born naturalized Swede Papy “Makambo” Abedi, who is undefeated and will be making his UFC debut. Abedi is a judo black belt and promises to turn heads at welterweight. However solid Abedi’s background, Alves too has a solid MMA record that dates back to 2005. Of the 17 fights under his belt, he has won 13, 10 of which ended in a knockout. However, he’s coming off a points loss to Rick Story and won just one of his last four UFC fights.

UFC 138
Birmingham, Inglaterra
November 5, 2011

Chris Leben vs Mark Muñoz
Brad Pickett vs Renan Barão
Thiago Alves vs Papy Abedi
Terry Etim vs Edward Faaloloto
Anthony Perosh vs Cyrille Diabate

Under card

Justin Edwards vs John Maguire
Michihiro Omigawa vs Jason Young
Rob Broughton vs Phil De Fries
Chris Cope vs Che Mills
Chris Cariaso vs Vaughan Lee