Sergio celebrates triumph over Finfou. Photo: Alicia Anthony

After suffering his first setback in MMA against Brett Cooper, Sergio Moraes made a comeback and using Jiu-Jitsu, the style in which he is world champion, he made quick work of Etoube Manuelo at Jungle Fight. All set for the Jiu-Jitsu Pan-American, the black belt comments on his comeback:

“For me it was great. I really needed this win. I stopped to analyze my last fight, when I lost, and was in too much of a hurry to finish. I had my money on getting a quick finish and I prepared for the, since I took one fight right after another. A lot of folks said I underestimated my opponent, but I never do. That’s never what goes on in my head. I just plain got tired and was just trying to survive. I ended up suffering my first loss. ”

Jiu-Jitsu secured his win at Bellator. Photo: Bellator

“This time I corrected my mistakes and I was well prepared, in great shape. If the fight had gone 10 rounds, I’d have fought fine in all of them. But, thank God, it was over in the first. So it was a very important victory, which I entered focused, without losing positions. I did Jiu-Jitsu and the finish came quickly,” he added.

Few fighters can compete at the highest level in two styles. In Sergio’s case, the results are coming in both Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.

“My training is always based on the gi. I hardly train without the gi, of course. My focus is always Jiu-Jitsu. I’m going to do the Pan forcinha and we’ll see how it goes. I can reconcile the two (MMA and Jiu-Jitsu). Any fighter in MMA has to train ground fighting, so there’s a way to do both.”

In addition to the Pan, the Alliance rep also intends to go to the World Pro in Abu Dhabi. But his main focus is the IBJJF World Championship.

“I want a sponsor so I can go to the World Pro, if it isn’t too much. Incidentally, if someone wants to lend us a hand, the message is out there! I’m trained and ready to fight. Whatever comes up I’ll do, of course always focusing on the Worlds every year. ”

Serginho is also awaiting a call up from Bellator, where he should be in action soon. In the mean time, he carries on training at Alliance, in Sao Paulo, alongside the “General” Fabio Gurgel. With a natural inclination to take on challenges, the fighter just issued a challenge to the GRACIEMAG.com reporter:

“Let’s see if we can meet to play Playstation. Let’s see if you’re good at eleven (soccer)! In fact, I’m winning eleven professional, more than I am a fighter!” he chides, without knowing he was speaking to the champion of the game!

Watch out, Serginho!

Serginho celebrates his win over Alan Finfou in the semifinal of the Worlds 2009. The Alliance star closed out the weight group with Marcelo Garcia. Photo: Alicia Anthony

After the last installment held in the city of Vila Velha, Espirito Santo, the next Jungle Fight Championship arrives in city of São Paulo promising excellent match-ups.

Eight MMA fights have been confirmed, with the participation of of world middleweight champion Sergio Moraes, of Claudio Godoy, Edilberto Crocotá and Gil de Freitas, standing out.

Like the event in Vila Velha, the 18th Jungle Fight show will host a dispute for the title of Brazilian low-kick kickboxing championship between athletes Hernani Perpétuo and Marcelo Amaral.

Jungle Fight Championship 18
Pacaembu Gymnsasium, São Paulo, Brazil
Saturday, March 20, 2010

77kg – Sergio Moraes (Alliance-SP) vs Etoube Manuelo (Fight Club-Peru)
77kg – Pedro Iriê (Ichigueki-SP) vs Edilberto Crocotá (Champion-BA)
61kg – Pedro Munhoz (Gibi Thai-SP) vs Pablo Alfonso (Cuba MMA Master America)
93kg – Claudio Godoy (Fight Center-SP) vs Fernando “Zopilote” Duany (Fight Club-Peru)
66KG – Dani Chaves (MMA Master USA-Colombia) vs Marcos de Almeida (ASLE-AM)
93kg – Afrânio Silva (Hurricane / Heavyweight Gold Team-SP) vs Marcos “Pezão” Rogério (Barbosa JJ Team-SP)
+93 KG – Alexandre “Bebezão” (X-Gym-RJ) vs Ronny Marques (Kimura / NU-RN)
77kg – Gil de Freitas (Barbosa JJ team-SP) vs Junior “Killer” (Fight Sports-EC)
Brazilian low kick kickboxing title dispute: Marcelo Amaral vs Hernani Perpétuo.