Renan Barão Photo: UFC

On Wednesday afternoon, April 10, a press conference promoted the start of ticket sales of UFC 161, which will be held on June 15, in Winnipeg, Canada.

With the presence of Renan Barão, current holder of the interim bantamweight title, and his opponent, Eddie Wineland, the UFC champ spoke about the event, the city selection and fights for this card. The Brazilian hasn’t escaped being asked about Dominick Cruz, but focused on his next opponent.

“I want the fight against Dominick Cruz to happen,” he said. “It will be a big challenge, but I’m focused on Wineland. UFC has done well choosing Eddie to challenge for this belt. He’s a tough guy, and now he is my goal.”

Showing how, as a great champion, he values Jiu-Jitsu within the Octagon, Barão said his day always starts with the gentle art.

“I wake up really early and start the training with Jiu-Jitsu,” he explained. “It’s something that I don’t give up. Then I go to boxing, Muay Thai, but the first preparation of my day is Jiu-Jitsu.”

Alexis Davis also attended the conference in Winnipeg. Her opponent, Rosi Sexton, couldn’t be present. This will be the first UFC women fight in Canada. The homegrown fighter was asked about the case of transsexual Fallon Fox, who was allowed to compete against women. Davis replied, but dodged.

“I must not talk about it,” she said. “I would face her. I train with men every day, but I can’t say when the body changes. It’s a difficult question to answer”.

Here’s the video of the press conference:

At UFC 161, Barão makes his second title defense and can become the category’s definitive champion if Cruz takes much longer to return to action.

Also scheduled for the event is a great rematch between former PRIDE fighters, Rogério Nogueira and Shogun Rua.

Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 12, through Ticketmaster.

See the card below:

UFC 161
Winnipeg, Canada
June 15, 2013

Renan Barão vs Eddie Wineland
Alexis Davis vs Rosi Sexton
Rashad Evans vs Dan Henderson
Rogério Minotouro vs Maurício Shogun
Jake Shields vs Tyron Woodley
Stipe Miocic vs Soa Palelei
Pat Barry vs Shawn Jordan
Sam Stout vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Sean Pierson vs TJ Waldburger
Ryan Jimmo vs Igor Pokrajac
Mitch Clarke vs John Maguire
Roland Delorme vs Edwin Figueroa
Dustin Pague vs Yves Jabouin

Professor Zingano, Cat Zingano e o treinador Sakmongkol.

O card do próximo Strikeforce, no próximo dia 29, está recheado de candidatos à finalização mais bonita da noite.

Na luta principal, Gilbert Melendez representa o Jiu-Jitsu ensinado por seu professor Cesar Gracie. Na luta feminina, Cat Zingano disputa com Amanda Nunes quem tem mais chão, força e técnica.

Nas demais lutas, só fera: Guto Inocente, Jorge Gurgel, Jorge Santiago, Yuri Villefort… Duro de escolher quem será o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu mais comentado ao final.

Entre todos eles, há um campeão da arte suave que faz sua estreia do alto de uma longa carreira.

Com 23 vitórias em 29 combates, o amazonense Adriano Martins faz sua estreia no Strikeforce em Sacramento após anos de batalhas de kimono no Tijuca, e nos ringues do Jungle Fight.

Principal representante da Top Life, em Manaus, Adriano encara Isaac Vallie-Flagg e defende os treinos no calor amazônico. “Não preciso estar lá fora passando por dificuldades, porque sei que nosso Estado tem como me ajudar, apoiando não só eu como outros atletas daqui” disse ele ao colaborador Arthur Castro. Adriano conta com o apoio de grandes empresas amazonenses.

Adriano fechou um contrato de quatro lutas com o Strikeforce, e a primeira é contra este americano de 13 triunfos em 17 lutas – Isaac vem de vitória sobre Gesias Cavalcante, por decisão dividida dos jurados.

O brasileiro embarca sábado para os Estados Unidos com sua equipe e lá finaliza o processo de perda de peso. “Essa é a parte mais difícil, pois preciso perder 16kg para bater 70 um dia antes do show. Para obter sucesso  na carreira internacional, estou me espelharndo em lutadores renomados como meu conterrâneo José Aldo, Anderson Silva e Vitor Belfort “, comentou.

Também entre os leves, Gilbert Melendez e Pat Healy se engalfinham pelo título.

Já Cat Zingano é vista como uma das grandes estrelas da noite.

“Ela tem toneladas de talento, e agora está chegando ao Strikeforce para se testar contra as melhores. Com uma sólida carreira no wrestling e sua própria escola de Jiu-Jitsu, no Colorado, ela é uma lutadora completa, que representa uma ameaça a todas as concorrentes do peso-galo”, disse o produtor Scott Coker ao MMAJunkie.com.

No vídeo abaixo, você confere as habilidades da lutadora. Ela ensina a derrubar, bloquear o double-leg, contra-atacar, pegar as costas e derrubar de novo.

Strikeforce – Melendez vs Healy
Sacramento, Califórnia, EUA
29 de setembro de 2012

Gilbert Melendez vs Pat Healy
Josh Thomson vs Caros Fodor
Gian Villante vs Guto Inocente
Adriano Martins vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Quinn Mulhern vs Jorge Santiago
Mike Kyle vs Dion Staring
Jorge Gurgel vs Mizuto Hirota
Nah-Shon Burrell vs Yuri Villefort
Amanda Nunes vs Cat Zingano
Estevan Payan vs Michael Bravo

Professor Zingano, Cat Zingano  Coach Sakmongkol

The card for the next Strikeforce show, coming up on the 29th, is packed with candidates for the “Submission of the Night” award.

In the main event, Gilbert Melendez will be carrying the flag of his Jiu-Jitsu teacher Cesar Gracie. In the female fight, Cat Zingano and Amanda Nunes will lock horns to see who’s got more grappling, skill and technique.

The rest of the card is also studded with stalwart fighters: Guto Inocente, Jorge Gurgel, Jorge Santiago… Predicting the Jiu-Jitsu black belt to make the most noise is a tough pick.

Among them, one gentle-art whiz will be making his promotional debut after a lengthy career.

With 23 wins in 29 fights, Amazonas State native Adriano Martins will be making his Strikeforce debut in Sacramento, California, after years of gi-clad combat at the Tijuca Tennis Club, as well as MMA action in his native Brazil at events like Jungle Fight.

The biggest name out of Top Life team, Adriano will be taking on Isaac Vallie-Flagg to prove the training in the equatorial heat of his home is all he needs. “I don’t need to be abroad going through a rough time, because I know our state can help me, backing not just me but other athletes from these parts,” he told our contributor Arthur Castro. Adriano is sponsored by a number of big companies from the state of Amazonas.

Adriano sealed a four-fight deal with Strikeforce, of which this fight against Isaac – an American with 13 wins in 17 fights, as well as a split decision win over Gesias Cavalcante – is the first.

The Brazilian and his team will be taking off for the United States this Saturday. There, he will go through the final process of shedding weight. “That’s the toughest part, because I have to lose 16 kg [35 lbs] to make 70 one day before the show. To achieve success in my international career I’m modeling myself on renowned fighters from my homeland like José Aldo, Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort,” he said.

The show will also feature a lightweight title fight, with Gilbert Melendez defending his crown against Pat Healy.

Now Cat Zingano is also being touted as one of the big stars of the night.

“She’s got tons of talent, and now she’s arriving at Strikeforce to test herself against the best. With a solid wrestling career and her own Jiu-Jitsu school in Colorado, she’s a complete fighter who’s a threat to all the competition at bantamweight,” promotional president Scott Coker told the MMAJunkie.com website.

Check out some of her skills in the video below, where she teaches how to get the takedown, block the double-leg, counter-attack and take the back, to again get the takedown.

Strikeforce – Melendez vs Healy
Sacramento, Califórnia, EUA
29 de setembro de 2012

Gilbert Melendez vs Pat Healy
Josh Thomson vs Caros Fodor
Gian Villante vs Guto Inocente
Adriano Martins vs Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Quinn Mulhern vs Jorge Santiago
Mike Kyle vs Dion Staring
Jorge Gurgel vs Mizuto Hirota
Nah-Shon Burrell vs Yuri Villefort
Amanda Nunes vs Cat Zingano
Estevan Payan vs Michael Bravo