At 37, Gonzaga eschewed the masters’ and opted for the adults’ section. In the final, the world champion faced Shaun Durfee and, with a choke using the lapel starting from side control, he spun to try and squeeze.

With a well-positioned foe moving along with the spin, Gonzaga passed the arm and put pressure on the lapel from the front, like a pair of pliers. There was nothing left for Durfee but surrendering. Check out in the video the position that gave Gonzaga the win.

Aos 37 anos de idade, Napão rechaçou a categoria de masters e foi no adulto. Na final do torneio, o faixa-preta campeão mundial encarou Shaun Durfee, e com um estrangulamento usando a lapela, partindo da posição de cem-quilos, Napão girou para tenar o arrocho.

Com o adversário bem posicionado ao acompanhar o giro, Gabriel passou o braço e fez pressão na lapela de frente, como um alicate. Só restou ao oponente ceder os três tapinhas.

Confira a posição no vídeo abaixo!

Napão em sua maior vitória da carreira: o nocaute com chute alto sobre Cro Cop. Foto: UFC

Após 13 anos em ação no MMA, 11 deles no UFC, Gabriel Napão está pronto para pendurar as luvas. Campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu na faixa-preta, o peso pesado do Ultimate, que vem de derrota para Derick Lewis na organização, revelou não ter mais planos de atuar nos cages, a não ser que seja por uma astronômica bolada em dinheiro.

Em entrevista ao jornalista Guilherme Cruz, do MMA Fighting, Napão revelou seus planos futuros para o esporte, e voltar ao MMA é, de fato, o último deles.

“Eu não tenho planos de voltar, estou cuidando da minha academia, a Square BJJ. Se eu receber uma proposta para voltar ao MMA, tem que ser uma ótima proposta. Vou continuar competindo no Jiu-Jitsu, contra caras da minha idade. Provavelmente eu já estou aposentado, nenhuma organização vai pagar o que eu quero”, disse o faixa-preta.

Aos 37 anos de idade, e vitórias históricas no octógono, como o nocaute com um chute alto sobre Mirko Crocop, a fera não quer mais arriscar sua veterana carcaça a qualquer custo. Seu preço para voltar aos cages? 100 mil dólares, ou nada feito.

“Eu não luto por menos de 100 mil. Já estou com 37 anos e não vou arriscar minha saúde ou perder tempo em camps por menos que isso. Não preciso mais. Por menos que 100 mil eu não piso mais nos cages.”

E para você, amigo leitor, foi certa a decisão de Gabriel Napão em pendurar as luvas e só lutar Jiu-Jitsu de agora em diante? Comente conosco!

Velasquez is the new heavyweight champion. Photo: Josh Hedges.

This Saturday’s UFC 121 show in Anaheim, California, crowned a new champion. Cain Velasquez ran rampant over Brock Lesnar and is the new king of the heavyweights. In the other fights on the main card, Jake Shields, Diego Sanchez, Matt Hamill, and Brendan Schaub all came up on the right end of the judges’ decisions. Check out the results and breakdown of the main-event matchups:

Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez

He was undefeated in MMA (9 wins), and so he remains, but now he possesses the coveted UFC heavyweight belt. Brock Lesnar went guns a blazing after his adversary and managed the takedown. But one of Cain’s never-fold spirit. With his enviable endurance, he got out from bottom position and started firing off rounds on Lesnar standing and on the ground. Brock tried to escape, but ended up groggily losing his balance. And the challenger continued to tee off till the bout was called to an end, after 4:12 min of combat. Now Cain will have to defend his title against Brazil’s Junior Cigano, who will be looking to avenge mentor Rodrigo Minotauro’s loss at UFC 110. Brock humbly admitted that his opponent was better on the night.

Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampann

Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields entered the UFC scene as the man tipped to beat the promotion’s current welterweight champion, George St.-Pierre. However, the Cesar Gracie black belt’s welcome matchup wasn’t smooth sailing against Martin Kampmann. During the fight, Shields managed to take the fight to the ground, pass guard, mount, and get back mount, but not without showing significant fatigue for his efforts. Kampann got the best of the standup action and landed damaging knees. In the end, the scorecards gave Shields the nod by split decision, the fighter’s fifteenth win in a row.

Diego Sanchez vs. Paulo Thiago

Diego Sanchez and Paulo Thiago put on a show for the crowd. In the opening round, the officer from Brazil’s Bope police special forces unit had the upper hand. He landed solid strikes standing, got the takedown, and made things complicated for his rival with an arm-triangle. In the second, Diego took the initiative to bring the action to the ground. Paulo managed to invert the situation with a sightly overhead sweep, but Sanchez returned the attack with a swooping takedown. In the final round, Diego returned his efforts to the takedown, achieveing back mount and controlling the fight. A well-earned unanimous decision for the American followed, now recovering from back-to-back losses.

Matt Hamill vs. Tito Ortiz

Matt Hamill was the better fighter, was more effective striking and in takedowns. Over the three rounds, he took the fight to the ground and worked the ground-and-pound to his advantage, throwing strikes and elbows. Tito tried to react, but he had nothing potent to throw at his opponent. After the final bell, the unanimous decision went to Hamill, who notches his fifth win in a row in the UFC.

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Brendan Schaub

Brendan Schaub felt right at home against Gabriel Napão. The entire three-round affair played out on the feet. He went to his boxing and managed to take the Brazilian to the ground with a first-round knockdown. Throwing good striking combinations, Brendan dominated the fight, avoided his opponent’s Jiu-Jitsu, and took the unanimous judges’ decision.

Complete results:

UFC 121
Anaheim, California, USA
October 23, 2010

Cain Velasquez defeated Brock Lesnar via TKO at 4:12 min of R1

Jake Shields defeated Martin Kampmann via split decision

Diego Sanchez defeated Paulo Thiago via unanimous decision

Matt Hamill defeated Tito Ortiz via unanimous decision

Brendan Schaub defeated Gabriel Gonzaga via unanimous decision

Court McGee submitted Ryan Jensen via arm-triangle at 1:21 min of R3

Tom Lawlor defeated Patrick Cote via unanimous decision

Daniel Roberts submitted Mike Guymon via arm-triangle at 1:13 min of R1

Sam Stout defeated Paul Taylor via split decision

Chris Camozzi defeated Dongi Yang via split decision

Jon Madsen defeated Gilbert Yvel via TKO at 1:48 min of R1

Velasquez é o novo campeão de pesados. Foto: Josh Hedges.

O UFC 121, em Anaheim, na Califórnia, fez um novo campeão neste sábado. Cain Velasquez detonou Brock Lesnar e é o novo rei dos pesos peados. Em outras lutas do card principal, mandaram bem Jake Shields, Diego Sanchez, Matt Hamill e Brendan Schaub. Confira os resultados e análises dos principais combates:

Brock Lesnar x Cain Velasquez

Invicto no MMA (9v), assim continua Cain Velasquez, só que agora com o cinturão de pesados do UFC afivelado. Brock Lesnar partiu com tudo para cima e derrubou o adversário. Mas uma das grandes virtudes de Cain é jamais desistir. Dono de um fôlego invejável, saiu de baixo e passou a metralhar Lesnar com socos, seja em pé ou ao chão. Brock tentou se desvencilhar, mas, tonto, caiu desequilibrado. Viu o oponente continuar socando até o combate ser separado, aos 4min12s. Agora o próximo oponente de Cain deve ser o brasileiro Junior Cigano, que poderá vingar a vitória do campeão sobre Rodrigo Minotauro, no UFC 110. Já a Brock restou admitir, humildemente, que o oponente foi melhor nesta noite.      

Jake Shields x Martin Kampmann

Campeão do Strikeforce, Jake Shields chegou ao UFC como o homem indicado a bater o atual campeão de meio-médios, Georges St. Pierre. Entretanto, o faixa-preta de Cesar Gracie não teve moleza na estreia contra Martin Kampmann. Durante a luta, Shields conseguiu quedar, conquistou posições como a passagem de guarda, montada e costas, mas se cansou bastante. Kampmann foi melhor na trocação e acertou boas joelhadas. No fim, as papeletas anotaram decisão dividida para Shields, que chega à 15ª vitória seguida.     

Diego Sanchez x Paulo Thiago

Um espetáculo para o público fizeram Diego Sanchez e Paulo Thiago. No assalto inicial, o policial do Bope foi muito bem. Encaixou bons socos, derrubou e incomodou com o triângulo de braço. Na segunda parcial, quem derrubou foi Diego. Paulo reverteu com uma bela raspagem de balão, mas Sanchez devolveu o ataque com uma queda que levantou o brasileiro alto. Na última etapa, Diego voltou a quedar, pegou as costas e administrou bem. Merecida vitória por decisão unânime do americano, que se recuperou de duas derrotas seguidas.

Matt Hamill x Tito Ortiz

Matt Hamill foi melhor, mais efetivo na trocação e nas quedas. Nos três rounds, derrubou e trabalhou bem no ground and pound, com socos e cotoveladas. Tito tentava reagir, mas não conseguia acertar forte o oponente. Depois do gongo final, decisão unânime a favor de Hamill, que chega à quinta vitória seguida no UFC.

Gabriel Gonzaga x Brendan Schaub

Brendan Schaub se sentiu em casa na luta contra Gabriel Napão. Nos três rounds de combate, lutou em pé, na trocação de socos. Pôde usar bem o boxe e, no primeiro assalto, conseguiu derrubar o brasileiro em konckdown. Com boas combinações de socos, Brendan dominou o combate, evitou o Jiu-Jitsu do adversário, e faturou a decisão unânime dos jurados.

Resultados completos:

UFC 121
Anaheim, Califórnia, EUA
Dia 23 de outubro de 2010

Cain Velasquez venceu Brock Lesnar por TKO aos 4min12s do R1
Jake Shields venceu Martin Kampmann por decisão dividida
Diego Sanchez venceu Paulo Thiago por decisão unânime   
Matt Hamill venceu Tito Ortiz por decisão unânime   
Brendan Schaub venceu Gabriel Gonzaga por decisão unânime  
Court McGee finalizou Ryan Jensen com um triângulo de mão a 1min21s do R3  
Tom Lawlor venceu Patrick Cote por decisão unânime
Daniel Roberts finalizou Mike Guymon com um triângulo de braço a 1min13s do R1
Sam Stout x Paul Taylor por decisão dividida
Chris Camozzi venceu Dongi Yang por decisão dividida
Jon Madsen venceu Gilbert Yvel por TKO a 1min48s do R1

Amal in action in Brazil.

Amal Easton will be accompanying Brendan Schaub for his fight against Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 121 this Saturday. In a chat with GRACIEMAG.com, the Renzo Gracie black belt breaks down the way he sees the fight between Schaub and Gonzaga playing out and comments on the Jiu-Jitsu of the fighter’s he trains, like Shane Carwin, Nate Marquardt, and Eliot Marshal.

Here’s what he had to say:

What do you expect for Brendan Schaub’s fight with Napão?

I shared the dressing room with him before he faced Randy Couture and I felt there was no way he could lose. Napão is really good; he knocked out Cro Cop and dropped Shane Carwin. He hits hard and goes for the kill. He’s good on the ground, a world champion, and is well-rounded. He’s a big heavyweight, but Brendan has great qualities, too. It will be a war and I’m stoked to see this fight.

You coach a lot of MMA beasts in Jiu-Jitsu, all of them in the UFC or having been through the promotion. How are they on the ground?

Eliot Marshall, who’s been my student for years, is really experienced in Jiu-Jitsu. He won the Pan as a blue belt, purple belt, and brown belt, and took third at the Worlds at brown belt. If he hadn’t gone on to MMA, he could be a black belt world champion. Nate, Brendan, and Carwin, of course, gear their training towards what they’ll need in their fights. But they evolve with every passing day and are really good. Brendan and Shane played professional American football, and that’s no joke. They are blessed with extraordinary talent and genes. Now Nate never stops. He reminds me a lot of one of my teachers, Roberto Gordo, who is always on the mat training. He hardly rests after a fight, and is really experienced on the ground.

The monsters at Amal Easton's acaPhemy. Photo: Torr Lewis

How did you get started working with MMA athletes?

It was a natural path. I trained muay thai ever since I was a kid and am a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. I teach and, when I see an athlete’s good, I check out how he is in the ring. These days I work with really experienced athletes, some who have been with me for a long time and others who showed up more recently, but who are looking for the best help they can get.

But is your base still Jiu-Jitsu?

I don’t feel MMA is the most important thing. I always put on the gi and I like Jiu-Jitsu a heck of a lot. Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone. MMA a lot of people like while sitting on the coach with a cold beer, watching. Jiu-Jitsu everyone can do.

Cigano celebrates another knockout. Photo: Josh Hedges

Junior “Cigano” dos Santos is now a sensation in the UFC. In the world’s most famous octagon, he has had five knockout wins. To further endear him to the public, the Brazilian has also brushed up on the English language, which he makes an effort to use in interviews. On his knocking out Gabriel Gonzaga this Sunday at UFC on Versus, he remarks:

“I’m very happy. We were expecting another knockout. That’s what I look for in all my fights, “he says.

One of the most feared weapons in his opponent’s arsenal is a powerful kick, which has knocked out such powerful strikers at Mirko Cro Cop in the past. Gypsy was attentive.

“I trained a lot the kick situation. I just waited for the best time to attack him. In my recent fights I’ve faced opponents who kicked well. Now I want to fight the best, “says the fighter who, it seems, will carry on gracing UFC with knockouts.

“I strongly believe in myself and in my hands. I am confident I can knock out a lot of guys, “he warns.

On his meteoric career rise, Gypsy explains:

” I’ve been training for four years, but I’ve really been training. So, for all my fights I’ve had four years of training and the solid results were expected. I’m really happy about that,” he says in finishing.

Cigano gets the knockout again. Photo: Josh Hedges

This Sunday UFC on Versus took place in Colorado, USA. It’s the first installment of the event to be broadcast live in the United States on the Versus cable channel. Check out how the main events went and the complete results below:

Jon Jones vs Brandon Vera

22-year-old Jon Jones, tipped to be a major obstacle in the already packed light heavyweight division of the UFC, put on a clear display of his wrestling prowess. Despite Vera having the style among his main weapons, Jones took his opponent down with ease. On the ground, he had to recover from an illegal upkick, resulting in Brandon being docked a point. In what ensued after the stoppage, Jon worked the ground and pound and threw a concussive elbow that ended Vera’s chances, all in the first round.

Junior Cigano vs Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga

In the all-Brazilian fight, Junior Cigano stuck with tradition and got his fifth knockout in a row in the UFC. Gabriel Napao tried for the takedown to use his highly touted Jiu-Jitsu, but the fight played out on the feet. Napao tried to work in his dangerous high kick, while Cigano threw precision punches. When Gabriel tried for another kick, Junior landed a spot-on left that knocked his opponent to the canvas, where he continued to rain down with punches until the referee called an end to the action, still in the first round.

“Master, I dedicate this win to you,” he would say after the triumph, in homage to coach Luiz Alves, who passed away last Friday.

“I want to fight the best. When the UFC feels I’m ready to fight for the title, I’m ready,” he said in finishing.

Check out the complete results:

UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Broomfield, Colorado

Jon Jones defeated Brandon Vera via TKO at 3:19 min of R1
Junior Dos Santos defeated Gabriel Gonzaga via TKO at 3:53min of R1
Cheick Kongo defeated Paul Buentello via TKO (desistance) at 1:16min of R3
Alessio Sakara defeated James Irvin  via TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at 3:11 min of R1

Preliminary bouts

Clay Guida submitted Shannon Gugerty via arm-and-neck choke at 3:40min of R2
Vladimir Matyushenko defeated Eliot Marshall via split judges’ decision
Darren Elkins defeated Duane “Bang” Ludwig via TKO at 0.44min of R1
John Howard defeated Daniel Roberts via KO at 2:20 of R1
Brendan Schaub defeated Chase Gormley via TKO at 0.47min of R1
Mike Pierce defeated Julio Paulino via unanimous decision
Jason Brilz defeated Eric Schafer via unanimous decision

UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Broomfield, Colorado

Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera
Junior Dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga
Paul Buentello vs. Cheick Kongo
James Irvin vs. Alessio Sakara

Preliminary card
Shannon Gugerty vs. Clay Guida
Eliot Marshall vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Darren Elkins vs. Duane “Bang” Ludwig
John Howard vs. Daniel Roberts
Chase Gormley vs. Brendan Schaub
Julio Paulino vs. Mike Pierce
Jason Brilz vs. Eric Schafer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V-Mm6EgNH0

Cigano hits Yvel hard. Photo: Josh Hedges

You will practically not have any rest after your last victory. Do you feel that will hinder you?

I’m happy to have this next opportunity. It’s a good fight for me. Napão is a tough and dangerous guy, but I’m in rhythm and I believe it will be enough time to prepare myself. I’m happy about the UFC’s decision.

You were supposed to have faced Napão in your last matchup, but he had a health problem and gave up his place to Gilbert Yvel. Does the fact you’ve studied and trained for him help?

I think so. As you said, I was already studying him and my training was totally geared to facing him. I’ll take that up again and focus on his way of fighting again to set up my strategy.

Your success in the UFC, up until now, has come by way of striking and your only loss in 11 fights came on the ground. Have you applied yourself to Jiu-Jitsu, which may be Gonzaga’s main weapon this fight?

I’ve done a lot of ground fighting, very frequently. Also, I train Jiu-Jitsu every day, just as I train boxing. Before the fight with Yvel, for example, Demian Maia dropped by Bahia and I trained with him. In Rio Feijão helps me out a lot. I have the help of a lot of first-rate black belts. I think I’m up to date on the ground and I may even surprise people there.

Minotauro by submission,” Junior Cigano

Your teammate who is also in your division in the UFC Rodrigo Minotauro faces Cain Velasquez on February 20. What is your assessment of Velasquez for this fight?

Cain is a great fighter, has a lot of gas and really good wrestling. He’s from the top team in the United States. I believe his strategy will be to fight for three rounds. He will surely get the takedown, but the fight ends with Minotauro by submission. Velasquez is good, but Rodrigo’s technique on the ground and striking is well superior. Therefore, I think his way out will be to get the takedown and try to drag things out on the ground.

Check out the card:

UFC on Versus 1
March 21, 2010

Jon Jones vs Brandon Vera
Junior Dos Santos vs Gabriel Gonzaga
John Howard vs Anthony Johnson
Clay Guida vs Sean Sherk
Spencer Fisher vs Duane “Bang” Ludwig
Eliot Marshall vs Vladimir Matyushenko
Chase Gormley vs Brendan Schaub