Lightweight star Clay Guida behind the scenes at the UFC / UFC publicity photo

Será um fim de semana com o cardápio variado para o fã de MMA. Nesta sexta-feira, há o UFC on FX 4, em Atlantic City, Nova Jersey, e no sábado o UFC BH com Wanderlei, Rich Franklin e os novos talentos do Jiu-Jitsu e MMA brasileiros.

No card em Atlantic City, o selvagem Clay Guida encara Gray Mainard na luta principal, enquanto Spencer Fisher enfrentará Sam Stout e Ross Pearson terá Cub Swanson pela frente. Um dos conferes mais interessantes será entre a revelação japonesa Hatsu Hioki contra Ricardo Lamas. Quem será que leva a finalização da noite, fiel leitor?

Em outras lutas de rico Jiu-Jitsu, Matt Brown vai tentar despachar brasileiro da Nova União Luis Beição, enquanto Ricardo Funch e Dan Miller medem forças.

O que podemos aprender com o “Homem das Cavernas” Guida? Muito, pelo vídeo abaixo, onde ele e Urijah Faber mostram o básico do Jiu-Jitsu.

UFC on FX 4
Atlantic City, Estados Unidos
22 de junho de 2012

Gray Maynard vs Clay Guida
Sam Stout vs Spencer Fisher
Brian Ebersole vs T.J. Waldburger
Ross Pearson vs Cub Swanson
Hatsu Hioki vs Ricardo Lamas
Ramsey Nijem vs C.J. Keith
Joey Gambino vs Steven Siler
Rick Story vs Brock Jardine
Luis Beição vs Matt Brown
Ricardo Funch vs Dan Miller
Ken Stone vs Francisco Rivera
Chris Camozzi vs Nick Catone

O astro do peso leve Clay Guida, nos bastidores do Ultimate. Foto: Divulgação/UFC

Será um fim de semana com o cardápio variado para o fã de MMA. Nesta sexta-feira, há o UFC on FX 4, em Atlantic City, Nova Jersey, e no sábado o UFC BH com Wanderlei, Rich Franklin e os novos talentos do Jiu-Jitsu e MMA brasileiros.

No card em Atlantic City, o selvagem Clay Guida encara Gray Mainard na luta principal, enquanto Spencer Fisher enfrentará Sam Stout e Ross Pearson terá Cub Swanson pela frente. Um dos conferes mais interessantes será entre a revelação japonesa Hatsu Hioki contra Ricardo Lamas. Quem será que leva a finalização da noite, fiel leitor?

Em outras lutas de rico Jiu-Jitsu, Matt Brown vai tentar despachar brasileiro da Nova União Luis Beição, enquanto Ricardo Funch e Dan Miller medem forças.

O que podemos aprender com o “Homem das Cavernas” Guida? Muito, pelo vídeo abaixo, onde ele e Urijah Faber mostram o básico do Jiu-Jitsu.

UFC on FX 4
Atlantic City, Estados Unidos
22 de junho de 2012

Gray Maynard vs Clay Guida
Sam Stout vs Spencer Fisher
Brian Ebersole vs T.J. Waldburger
Ross Pearson vs Cub Swanson
Hatsu Hioki vs Ricardo Lamas
Ramsey Nijem vs C.J. Keith
Joey Gambino vs Steven Siler
Rick Story vs Brock Jardine
Luis Beição vs Matt Brown
Ricardo Funch vs Dan Miller
Ken Stone vs Francisco Rivera
Chris Camozzi vs Nick Catone

Renzo and Rômulo Barral talk in NY. Photo: Luca Atalla.

As GRACIEMAG.com readers arewell away, when the subject is Jiu-Jitsu, you’ve got to turn to the ones who know their stuff. Renzo Gracie took a breather from the pre-UFC Rio rush to talk to us about his expectations for the event soon to kick off in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, at 7pm.

“The card is excellent, but when it comes to grappling, the best fight of the night to me will be BTT’s Toquinho against Dan Miller from New Jersey. I expect it to be a barn burner, one that will be great to watch. Both guys are really tough in their Jiu-Jitsu, and things will really go off once it hits the ground. I can’t wait for that fight. To me that’ll be the one providing the most to talk about,” said the master.

UFC Rio/134
August 27, 2011
HSBC Arena, Barra da Tijuca, Brasil

Anderson Silva vs Yushin Okami
Forrest Griffin vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Brendan Schaub
Edson Barboza vs Ross Pearson
Luiz Cane vs Stanislav Nedkov

Undercard

Rousimar Toquinho vs Dan Miller
Spencer Fisher vs Thiago Tavares
David Mitchell vs Paulo Thiago
Raphael Assunção vs Johnny Eduardo
Erick Silva vs Luis Beição
Yuri Marajó vs Felipe Sertanejo
Yves Jabouin vs Ian Loveland

Renzo em conversa com Rominho Barral em NY. Foto: Luca Atalla.

O leitor do GRACIEMAG.com sabe que quando o assunto é Jiu-Jitsu, é preciso recorrer a quem entende. Na correria pré-UFC Rio, Renzo Gracie arrumou um tempinho para conversar com a gente sobre suas expectativas para o evento que começa logo mais, na Barra da Tijuca, às 19h.

“O card está excelente, mas em relação a luta de chão, a melhor luta da noite para mim vai ser a do Toquinho, da BTT, contra o Dan Miller, lá de Nova Jersey. Minha expectativa para este confere é de um arranca-rabo daqueles, que vai dar gosto de ver. São dois caras muito duros de Jiu-Jitsu, e quando a luta for para o chão o bicho vai pegar mesmo. Eu não vejo a hora dessa luta, para mim essa é a que mais vai dar o que falar”, disse o mestre.

UFC Rio/134
27 de agosto de 2011
HSBC Arena, Barra da Tijuca, Brasil

Anderson Silva vs Yushin Okami

Forrest Griffin vs Mauricio “Shogun” Rua

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Brendan Schaub

Edson Barboza vs Ross Pearson

Luiz Cane vs Stanislav Nedkov

Lutas preliminares

Rousimar Toquinho vs Dan Miller

Spencer Fisher vs Thiago Tavares

David Mitchell vs Paulo Thiago

Raphael Assunção vs Johnny Eduardo

Erick Silva vs Luis Beição

Yuri Marajó vs Felipe Sertanejo

Yves Jabouin vs Ian Loveland

Toquinho treina com Miltinho na BTT. Foto: Carlos Ozório.

Programado para enfrentar Alexandre Cacareco no UFC Rio, no dia 27 de agosto, Rousimar Toquinho vai ter outro oponente pela frente. Notícia dada em primeira mão pelo pessoal do Portal do Vale Tudo, o GRACIEMAG.com também confirmou que Toquinho vai enfrentar Dan Miller.

Estranhamente, o nome de Toquinho não aparecia no card oficial do UFC Rio. No entanto, seu treinador, Murilo Bustamante, confirmou ao GRACIEMAG.com na última semana que o faixa-preta estaria em ação no evento. Miller, 13 vitórias e cinco derrotas, vem de revés para Nate Marquardt. Já Toquinho vem de triunfo sobre Dave Branch.

Recentemente, o lutador saiu do card do UFC on Versus 3, quando também enfrentaria Toquinho, seu ex-parceiro de treinos. Na ocasião, Cacareco alegou ter perdido parentes na enchente que atingiu Teresópolis, no Rio de Janeiro.

“Dessa vez ficamos sabendo que ele alegou dificuldade em perder peso. O Toquinho disse que aceitava a diferença, que lutava num peso combinado, mas a luta caiu. É uma pena ele ter ficado nessa novela e só avisar em cima da hora. Estávamos nos preparando para ele e agora teremos que mudar toda a estratégia. Mas o Toquinho está muito preparado, ele vai bem de qualquer forma”, diz Murilo Bustamante.

Veja como está o card:

UFC Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Dia 27 de agosto de 2011

Anderson Silva x Yushin Okami
Rodrigo Minotauro x Brendan Schaub
Maurício Shogun x Forrest Griffin
Edson Barboza x Ross Pearson
Luiz “Banha” Cane x Stanislav Nedok
Thiago Tavares x Spencer Fisher
Paulo Thiago x David Mitchell
Erick Silva x Mike Swick
Yuri Marajó x Antonio Carvalho
Rousimar Toquinho x Dan Miller
Yves Jabouin x Ian Loveland

Toquinho training with Milton Vieira at the BTT / Photo: Carlos Ozório

Tipped to fight Alexandre Cacareco August 27 at UFC Rio, Rousimar Toquinho will now have to prepare for a different opponent. First reported by the Portal do Vale Tudo website, GRACIEMAG.com has now confirmed that “Toquinho” will be facing Dan Miller instead.

Oddly, the name Toquinho wasn’t showing on the official card for UFC Rio. However, last week his coach, Murilo Bustamante, confirmed to GRACIEMAG.com that the black belt will be fighting at the event. Miller, who boasts a 13-win and five-loss career, is coming off a loss to Nate Marquardt, while Toquinho is coming off a win over Dave Branch.

The reason for Cacareco being pulled from the fight is still unknown. Recently the fighter dropped off the card for UFC on Versus 3, where he would have faced the very Palhares, his former training partner. On the occasion Cacareco alleged to have lost family members in the landslides that devastated the town of Teresópolis in Rio de Janeiro.

Check out the card as it stands:

UFC Rio
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
August 27, 2011

Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami
Rodrigo Minotauro vs. Brendan Schaub
Maurício Shogun vs. Forrest Griffin
Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson
Luiz “Banha” Cane vs. Stanislav Nedok
Thiago Tavares vs. Spencer Fisher
Paulo Thiago vs. David Mitchell
Erick Silva vs. Mike Swick
Yuri Marajó vs. Antonio Carvalho
Rousimar Toquinho vs. Dan Miller
Yves Jabouin vs. Ian Loveland

Loro with his Ring of Combat featherweight belt / Photo: John Tabor

Sure he spent years as a top-ranked bantamweight and can even boast of being one of UFC champion José Aldo’s first teachers, but Marcos “Lôro” Galvão knows he’ll have his work cut out for him when he faces Joe Warren in the Bellator 41 main event this Saturday in Yuma, Arizona. That’s why it was so startling to hear him say he’s taking the fight so seriously he’s “taken a three-month vacation.”

Odd as it sounded, Lôro wasn’t kidding. But neither was he overlooking the dangers inherent in facing a world champion wrestler like Warren – one who barged onto the MMA scene emphatically, taking out former WEC champion Chase Beebe and all-time great Kid Yamamoto in his first two outings and going on to wrecking-ball his way through the Bellator Featherweight GP. It just means Loro’s fighting career had taken a back seat to his teaching career – and that the fans can look forward to a great fight come Saturday night, with two virtuosos in their respective martial arts likely to put on a great main event.

The three featherweights: Lôro, José Aldo, and Marlon Sandro / Photo: John Tabor

It wasn’t long ago that Loro was at the pinnacle of the world MMA ranks. Before the WEC became the premier lighter-fighter promotion, the standout Jiu-Jitsu black belt (among numerous achievements in the gentle art, he once won successive world championships as a blue belt and a brown belt, skipping purple belt altogether) was a fixture atop the World Shooto bantamweight rankings, beating top-tier fighters of the time like Kenji Osawa and Fredson Paixão. Then, two WEC losses sandwiched around a draw in a Shooto World title challenge set him back in his bid to become the world’s number one bantamweight. After the disappointing end to his WEC tenure came the switch to teaching mode, move to New York, and three-fight unbeaten run as a featherweight.

Lôro and his mentor, "Dedé" Pederneiras / Photo: John Tabor

“I feel so much better at this weight,” he said, shortly after winning the Ring of Combat featherweight title in December of last year. “I feel so much stronger, and I train a lot better.” Now being so pleased with the results obtained at his new weight, it would go to figure he’d be somewhat put off at having to face the champion of his new division at his new event but at a catch-weight closer to the one he just vacated. But Lôro’s chipper about the situation and happy he’s getting his shot:

“It’s a great opportunity for me. I don’t care that it’s not for the belt; I’m going to fight a champion in the main event and the event will be broadcast live on MTV2. I couldn’t ask for more,” he said. “He wanted this fight at a 137-lb catch-weight because he’s going to move down to try and win the bantamweight division, too. That’s fine, I can make bantamweight again. Here in America I learned the science behind making weight – it’s not so hard for me anymore,” he said, hinting at further changes since moving to North America.

Lôro grapples with Shaolin. Photo: Luca Atalla.

Now in New York, where when not on vacation he teaches Jiu-Jitsu and MMA full time at Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro’s Manhattan academy, he no longer trains regularly with the fierce Nova União outfit where he used to spar daily with the UFC’s José Aldo and Renan Barão, former Sengoku champ Marlon Sandro, and seasoned strikers like Johnny Eduardo; but that doesn’t mean the level he trains at has dropped off any: “I train MMA with the Millers and their guys,” he said, referring to Jim Miller, who is now at the top of the stacked UFC lightweight food chain, and his brother Dan Miller, who just went the distance with the dreaded Nate Marquardt as a late replacement at UFC 128. “They’re so strong it’s unbelievable. They’re technical too, but they’re just ridiculously strong,” he said of his new workout partners, when asked whether he would be ready for the kind of strength a world champion wrestler like Warren brings to the table; then explaining what is different for him now that he is in the States:“Those guys know how to train smart: I’ve learned how to train just enough not to overtrain, how to eat just enough not to go hungry and still make weight, and how to make the weight cut without suffering so much. People here have it down to a science.”

The Millers' and Shaolin's crews united / Photo: personal archives

But all the changes in approach and life he mentions urge the question: is there anything left of the methods that got him to the top of the Shooto rankings and into the WEC as a contender, during the previous incarnation of his career? The answer came as little wonder, given how the only man to stop Warren to date hails from Lôro’s hometown of Manaus and has the same martial arts background: “I’m still training Jiu-Jitsu. Bibiano (Fernandes) beat him – why can’t I?”

The other question begging to be asked we’ll just hang on to for if and when it happens: if he successfully puts the brakes on Warren’s dominant run in Bellator, will he take a real vacation?

Unlike in recent editions of the pre-event weight-in, there were no scandalous antics during the staredowns. Even so, the main event between Maurício Shogun and Jon Jones, for the light heavyweight title, promises great emotion.

“I feel fine, it’s the greatest opportunity of my life and is definitely a good situation,” said Jones, the challenger.

“He’s certainly a great fighter, but the belt is mine. I see some of the things he said as disrespectful. I can even understand him feeling confident, but tomorrow we’ll see who the better man is,” says Shogun.

Check out some of the highlights from the weight-in:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp8TGgFCiXQ

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Check out the complete card below:

UFC 128
Newark, New Jersey
March 19, 2011

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Jon Jones
Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus
Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub
Luiz Cane vs. Eliot Marshall
Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani
Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau
Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland
Raphael Assunção vs. Erik Koch
Nick Catone vs. Costantinos Philippou

Ao contrário das edições recentes, não houve encaradas polêmicas. Mesmo assim, a luta principal entre Maurício Shogun e Jon Jones, que vale o cinturão de meio-pesados, promete grandes emoções.

“Me sinto bem, é a grande oportunidade da minha vida e definitivamente é uma boa situação”, diz Jones, o desafiante.

“Com certeza ele é um grande lutador, mas este cinturão é meu. Encaro algumas coisas que ele disse como desrespeito. Até entendo que ele esteja confiante, mas amanhã a gente vai ver quem é o melhor”, fala Shogun.

Confira os melhores momentos da pesagem no vídeo e fotos abaixo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xp8TGgFCiXQ

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Confira o card completo:

UFC 128
Nova Jersey, Newark
Dia 19 de março de 2011

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua x Jon Jones
Urijah Faber x Eddie Wineland
Jim Miller x Kamal Shalorus
Nate Marquardt x Dan Miller
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic x Brendan Schaub
Luiz Cane x Eliot Marshall
Edson Barboza x Anthony Njokuani
Ricardo Almeida x Mike Pyle
Kurt Pellegrino x Gleison Tibau
Joseph Benavidez x Ian Loveland
Raphael Assunção x Erik Koch
Nick Catone x Costantinos Philippou

According to our numerous “commentators,” champion Shogun will beat his challenger thanks to his greater experience, his Jiu-Jitsu and because he is more well-rounded.

On the Sports Science television program on ESPN channel, Shogun proved that he is truly out of this world: in terms of the power behind his punch. Could this be Shogun’s true weapon come Saturday?

Check out the card below, and then comment: who will win UFC 128?

UFC 128
Newark, New Jersey
March 19, 2011

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Jon Jones (light heavyweight-title fight)
Urijah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland
Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus
Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub
Luiz Cane vs. Eliot Marshall
Edson Barboza vs. Anthony Njokuani
Ricardo Almeida vs. Mike Pyle
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Gleison Tibau
Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian Loveland
Raphael Assunção vs. Erik Koch
Nick Catone vs. Costantinos Philippou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvU8vzrBjeQ

Segundo nossos diversos “comentaristas”, o campeão Shogun vence o desafiante graças à experiência, ao seu Jiu-Jitsu e por ser mais completo.

No programa da ESPN americana “Sports Science”, porém, Shogun provou no que ele é realmente fora de série: na força de suas pancadas. Será esssa a verdadeira arma de Shogun no sábado?

Confira abaixo, e depois aproveite para comentar: quem serão os vencedores do UFC 128?

UFC 128
Prudential Center, Newark, NJ
Sábado, 19 de março de 2011

Mauricio Shogun x Jon Jones
Urijah Faber x Eddie Wineland
Jim Milller x Kamal Shalorus
Nate Marquardt x Dan Miller
Mirko Cro Cop x Brendan Schaub

Preliminares (Spike TV e Canal Combate)
Edson Barboza x Anthony Njokuani
Luiz Banha Cane x Eliot Marshall

No Facebook:
Kurt Pellegrino x Gleison Tibau
Ricardo Cachorrão x Mike Pyle

Preliminares sem transmissão:
Joseph Benavidez x Ian Loveland
Raphael Assunção x Erik Koch
Nick Catone x Costantinos Phillipou

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvU8vzrBjeQ

In the main event of this Saturday’s UFC 124 event in Montreal, Georges St.-Pierre successfully defended his welterweight crown against Josh Koscheck, but there were other bouts on the card were cause for excitement, too.

Check out the results and summaries of the main-card bouts:

Georges Saint-Pierre vs. Josh Koscheck

St.-Pierre stamped his authority on the bout. He wreaked havoc on Koscheck while still in the first round, leaving the challenger’s right eye swollen. GSP followed up with effective jabs and kicks, and whenever opportunity knocked, he took Josh to the ground. In the interval before the third round the doctor wanted to stop the bout, but Koscheck urged to continue. The Canadian continued to dominate the bout until the end, winning by unanimous decision, successfully defending the welterweight belt and notching his eighth win in a row.

Sean McCorkle vs. Stefan Struve

McCorkle started out on top: he got the takedown and caused some discomfort with a kimura. But Stefan Struve escaped and proved why he was favored to win, sweeping, mounting, and pounding away until the referee intervened, all in the first round.

Jim Miller vs. Charles “do Bronx” Oliveira

Charles started out well with some solid kicking, but Jim Miller quickly took it to the ground. There, Miller showed what his black belt in Jiu-Jitsu is worth, defending a number of attacks and finishing up with a kneebar just two minutes into the first round. The result put an end to Bronx’s fourteen-fight invincibility and notched Miller his sixth win in a row, putting him on course for a lightweight title challenge.

Mac Danzig vs. Joe Stevenson

The fight was evenly matched, with Joe Stevenson slightly ahead. However, Mac Danzig landed a solid left that laid Stevenson out. A few strikes later, the referee had no choice but to stop the action, while still in the first round.

Thiago “Pitbull” Alves vs. John Howard

Pitbull dominated the entire fight against John Howard, landing a number of strikes, sightly knees, and kicks to the leg. In the second round, the American Top team rep moved ahead with a takedown that took his opponent and the crowd off their feet. A knockdown in the third sealed his victory via unanimous decision. The win was quite a relief for the Brazilian, who had been seeing negative results.

Cachorrão beat T.J. Grant. Photo: Josh Hedges.

In the preliminary action, Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida returned to his winning ways against T.J. Grant. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt landed good takedowns over three rounds and arrived at advantageous positions, like the mount. The performance earned him a unanimous decision in his favor. Now Cachorrão’s teammate Rafael Sapo and opponent Jesse Bongfeldt fought to a draw. Mark Bocek didn’t need long to put away Dustin Hazelett, with a triangle choke after just two minutes and thirty-three seconds.

Check out the results:

UFC 124
Montreal, Canada
December 11, 2010

Georges St-Pierre defeated Josh Koscheck via unanimous decision

Stefan Struve defeated Sean McCorkle via TKO at 3:55 min of R1

Jim Miller submitted Charles Oliveira via kneebar at 1:59 min of R1

Mac Danzig defeated Joe Stevenson via TKO at 1:54 min of R1

Thiago Alves defeated John Howard via unanimous decision

Dan Miller defeated Joe Doerksen via split decision

Mark Bocek defeated Dustin Hazelett via triangle at 2:33 min of R1

Sean Pierson defeated Matthew Riddle via unanimous decision

Jesse Bongfeldt and Rafael Natal fought to a draw

Ricardo Almeida defeated T.J. Grant via unanimous decision

John Makdessi defeated Pat Audinwood via unanimous decision