Chang Sun Jung and his arm-triangle: submission and fight of the night bonuses / UFC publicity photo

As GRACIEMAG.com predicted, the South Korean Chang Sun Jung proved the power of his Jiu-Jitsu last night in Fairfax, Virginia, during the main event at UFC on Fuel 3.

The “Korean Zombie” didn’t just do that, he also put on a standup clinic against Dustin Poirier in the octagon. In the second round, Chang slapped on armbars, omoplatas, triangles—all duly defended by his American opponent. But the merit in Jiu-Jitsu comes from being patient and undermining the opponent with double attacks, and the Korean ultimately came up with the finish in the fourth round.

Following a flurry of solid strikes and a big flying knee, the contender for José Aldo’s belt finished up in grand style, sinking a suffocatingly snug arm-triangle.

THE BELLY’S ROLE IN THE MOVE

“He did everything just right. He sunk the triangle and thrust his belly over the opponent’s head,” noted professor of Jiu-Jitsu Elinor Batista, the leader of Garra Fight team. “The American didn’t tap in time and ended up passing out. There really was a lot of pressure behind it.”

The fight and the finish netted “Fight of the Night” and “Submission of the Night” honors for the stalwart Korean. Now “Knockout of the Night” went to Tom Lawlor, who took just 50 seconds in downing the veteran Jason MacDonald.

Check out the video below to see how to sink the arm-triangle in the gi. Pay attention to how getting a tight hold and the direction the body is placed over the opponent’s head are key in getting the move to work right.

UFC on Fuel 3
Patriot Center, Virginia
May 15, 2012

Chang Sun Jung subbed Dustin Poirier via arm-triangle in R4;
Amir Sadollah defeated Jorge Lopez via split decision;
Donald Cerrone defeated Jeremy Stephens via unanimous decision;
Yves Jabouin defeated Jeff Hougland via unanimous decision;
Igor Prokrajac defeated Fabio Maldonado via unanimous decision;
Tom Lawlor defeated Jason MacDonald via KO in R1;
Brad Tavares defeated Dongi Yang via unanimous decision;
Cody Mackenzie defeated Marcus Levesseur via guillotine in R1;
TJ Grant defeated Carlo Prater via unanimous decision;
Rafael dos Anjos subbed Kamal Shalorous via rear-naked choke in R1;
Johnny Eduardo defeated Jeff Curran via unanimous decision;
Francisco Ribera defeated Alex Soto via unanimous decision.

Chang Sun Jung e seu triângulo de mão no UFC: finalização da noite e bônus. Foto: Divulgação/UFC

Como o GRACIEMAG.com havia previsto, o sul-coreano Chang Sun Jung comprovou a força de seu Jiu-Jitsu na noite de ontem, em Fairfax, pelo UFC on Fuel 3.

O “Zumbi Coreano” encarou Dustin Poirier não ficou apenas nisso, e deu uma aula em pé e no chão no Octagon. No segundo assalto, Chang encaixou armlocks, omoplatas e triângulos, todos muito bem defendidos pelo americano. Mas o mérito do Jiu-Jitsu é ter paciência e ir minando o oponente com ataques duplos, e o lutador asiático alcançou a finalização no quarto round.

Depois de acertar bons golpes e uma joelhada voadora, o candidato ao cinturão de José Aldo enfim encerrou a luta, e em grande estilo, com um justíssimo estrangulamento de mão.

O papel do abdome no golpe

“Ele fez tudo certinho. Encaixou o triângulo e jogou o abdome para cima da cabeça do adversário”, reparou o professor de Jiu-Jitsu Elinor Batista, que é líder da equipe cearense Garra Fight. “O americano não bateu e acabou apagando, realmente é muita pressão”.

O combate e seu desfecho valeram o bônus de melhor luta e melhor finalização da noite. Já o nocaute da edição foi para Tom Lawlor, que precisou de parcos 50 segundos para levar o veterano Jason MacDonald à lona.

Confira, no vídeo abaixo, como finalizar de forma parecida com o kimono. Repare que o cadeado bem fechado e a direção do seu tronco contra a cabeça do oponente são importantes para o golpe dar certo.

UFC on Fuel 3

Patriot Center, Estados Unidos

15 de maio de 2012

Chang Sun Jung finalizou Dustin Piorer com um estrangulamento no R4
Amir Sadollah venceu Jorge Lopez na decisão dividida dos jurados
Donald Cerrone venceu Jeremy Stephens por decisão unânime dos jurados
Yves Jabouin venceu Jeff Hougland por decisão unânime dos jurados
Igor Prokrajac venceu Fabio Maldonado por decisão unânime dos jurados
Tom Lawor venceu Jason MacDonald por nocaute no R1
Brad Tavares venceu Dongi Yang na decisão unânime
Cody Mackenzie finalizou Marcus Levesseur com uma guilhotina no R1
T.J Grant venceu Carlo Prater por decisão unânime
Rafael dos Ajos finalizou Kamal Shalorous com um mata-leão no R1
Johnny Eduardo venceu Jeff Curran por decisão unânime
Francisco Rivera venceu Alex Soto por decisão unânime

Donald Cerrone in staredown with Jeremy Stephens at UFC on Fuel TV 3 weigh-ins / UFC publicity photo

Tuesday is UFC day. The most famous cage in MMA makes its way to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, with a number of promising bouts featuring on the card for UFC on Fuel TV 3. Who’s the biggest star on the card? Probably Jiu-Jitsu.

The 12-fight card is headlined by South Korea’s Chan Sung Jung, the “Korean Zombie,” who will be locking horns with Dustin Poirier. Among the other matchups, there’s Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rafael dos Anjos taking on Kamal Shalorus, and seasoned Nova União/Boxe Thai ace Johnny Eduard facing the plenty experienced Jeff Curran.

On the main card, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone will do battle with Jeremy Stephens. Both fighters are trying to get back on the winning track, with the former having lost to Nate Diaz at UFC 141 and Stephens losing to Anthony Pettis at UFC 136.

Despite his fearsome reputation as a knockout artist, Cerrone took to the UFC website to demonstrate his favorite move—the triangle, a position that’s yielded the American six of his 17 career wins. “It’s important not to let your opponent posture up,” he teaches.

Click here to get the ins and outs of Donald Cerrone’s favorite move.

UFC on Fuel TV 3
Fairfax, Virginia, USA
May 15, 2012

Dustin Poirier vs Chan Sung Jung
Jorge Lopez vs Amir Sadollah
Donald Cerrone vs Jeremy Stephens
Jeff Hougland vs Yves Jabouin
Fabio Maldonado vs Igor Pokrajac
Tom Lawlor vs Jason MacDonald
Marcus LeVesseur vs Cody McKenzie
Brad Tavares vs Dongi Yang
T.J. Grant vs Carlo Prater
Rafael Dos Anjos vs Kamal Shalorus
Jeff Curran vs Johnny Eduardo
Francisco Rivera vs Alex Soto

Donald Cerrone de frente para Jeremy Stephens, durante a pesagem do UFC on Fuel TV 3. Foto: Divulgação/UFC

Terça-feira também é dia de lutas no Ultimate. A gaiola mais famosa do MMA aterrissa hoje no Patriot Center, em Fairfax, nos Estados Unidos, e traz combates promissores pelo UFC on Fuel TV 3. O maior astro do card? Provavelmente o Jiu-Jitsu.

O evento vem com 12 combates, e a fera de chão coreana Chan Sung Jung, o “Zumbi Coreano”, faz a luta principal contra Dustin Poirier. Entre outras feras, o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Rafael dos Anjos terá Kamal Shalorus pela frente. Já Johnny Eduardo, da Nova União/Boxe Thai, cai para dentro do experiente Jeff Curran.

No card principal, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone encara Jeremy Stephens. Ambos buscam reencontrar o caminho da vitória, já que o duro vaqueiro foi superado por Nate Diaz no UFC 141, e Stephens perdeu para Anthony Pettis na edição 136.

Apesar de ser um temido nocauteador, Cerrone demonstrou ao site do UFC o seu golpe preferido, o triângulo – posição em que o americano terminou seis das 17 vitórias. “O importante é não deixar o adversário fazer postura”, ensina.

Clique aqui para saber mais sobre o golpe favorito de Donald Cerrone.

O canal Combate transmite hoje o UFC on Fuel TV 3 ao vivo, a partir de 19h30.

UFC on Fuel TV 3
Fairfax, Estados Unidos
15 de maio de 2012

Dustin Poirier vs Chan Sung Jung
Jorge Lopez vs Amir Sadollah
Donald Cerrone vs Jeremy Stephens
Jeff Hougland vs Yves Jabouin
Fabio Maldonado vs Igor Pokrajac
Tom Lawlor vs Jason MacDonald
Marcus LeVesseur vs Cody McKenzie
Brad Tavares vs Dongi Yang
T.J. Grant vs Carlo Prater
Rafael Dos Anjos vs Kamal Shalorus
Jeff Curran vs Johnny Eduardo
Francisco Rivera vs Alex Soto

Unlike most UFC events, where the gymnasium only fills up when the main card is underway, the Rogers Centre in Toronto was packed starting with the very first undercard fight this Saturday at UFC 129. And it was worth it. To illustrate, the first four fights of the night ended in two knockouts and two submissions – all of them spectacular. And the excitement carried through to the main card. Check out the breakdown on how that went:

Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields

In the evening’s main event, Georges St-Pierre defended his welterweight belt against Jake Shields, and to most it likely dragged on more than the others on the card. The action was lukewarm, nothing to write home about. GSP landed some solid punches, Shields didn’t stick his neck out much – five rounds without much to speak of. Even the most diehard Canadian fans – St-Pierre’s fans – took to booing some. However, the champion played it smart and, aside from a few bumps and bruises on his face, he didn’t run into much by way of danger. A unanimous decision – his ninth in a row.

José Aldo vs. Mark Hominick

José Aldo, fighting for the first time in the UFC since it came to encompass the WEC, faced hometown fighter Mark Hominick in a title defense that was none too easy. Despite Aldo dominating the first four rounds with leg kicks, takedowns, elbows from ground and pound, and knockdowns, Hominick didn’t fold, even with some serious damage to his eye and a welt the size of a grapefruit on his forehead. The final round saw Mark land on top and do well from the advantageous position, but nothing to put Aldo in any real danger. In the end, after a few pushups beside the challenger and waving Flamengo soccer team’s banner, Aldo could again strap on his championship belt, after his 12th win in a row. The unanimous decision of course was in his favor.

Now we may likely see him at UFC Rio against an opponent oft-mentioned behind the scenes: Chad Mendes, who is undefeated in his ten-fight career.

Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture

It was Randy Couture’s farewell, but Lyoto didn’t let it be a happy one. The Brazilian kept his distance in the first round. He did land a few strikes, but it was pretty even. The second round saw Lyoto looking keen on bringing it to an end – and with a front kick similar to the one Anderson Silva used to put away Vitor Belfort, he mercilessly knocked out Couture. The manner of the win was proof he truly is a fighter in his own league – although he is coming off back-to-back losses, the one to Quinton Jackson is widely questioned. Randy, with a broken tooth, set the record straight saying he has indeed retired. Lyoto said: “He’s the man.” And he really is.

Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz

There wasn’t time for a short coffee break – or better yet, a beer break! Matyushenko was seen having a cold one on the day of the fight, and in his case it served him well. The first big paw – a spot-on upper cut – put Jason Brilz the fireman’s lights out beyond any hope of recovery. A few strikes later, the ref had no choice but to call an end to the encounter. The fighter from Belarus won in just 20 seconds.

Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson

The first fight on the main card saw former WEC champion Ben Henderson rain on Canadian Mark Bocek’s parade. Aside from some stormy weather in the opener, the American got the better of the standup and used his elbows to effect. A gash opened up on the head of Mark Bocek, who was unable to get his Jiu-Jitsu to work for him. At the end of three rounds Henderson had the advantage in his opponent’s hometown, taking the unanimous decision.

Check out the results:

UFC 129
Toronto, Canada
April 30, 2011

Georges St-Pierre defeated Jake Shields via unanimous decision after five rounds
José Aldo defeated Mark Hominick via unanimous decision after five rounds
Lyoto Machida defeated Randy Couture via KO at 1:05 min of R2
Vladimir Matyushenko defeated Jason Brilz via TKO at 0:20 min of R1
Ben Henderson defeated Mark Bocek via unanimous decision

Rory MacDonald venceu Nate Diaz via unanimous decision
Jake Ellenberge defeated Sean Pierson via KO at 2:42 min of R1
Claude Patrick defeated Daniel Roberts via unanimous decision
Ivan Menjivar defeated Charlie Valencia via TKO at 1:03s of R1
Jason MacDonald submitted Ryan Jensen via triangle at 1:27 min of R1
John Makdessi defeated Kyle Watson via KO at 1:27 min of R3
Pablo Garza submitted Yves Jabouin via flying triangle at 4:31 min of R1

Foto: Marcelo Dunlop.

Ao contrário dos eventos mais tradicionais do Ultimate, quando o ginásio fica cheio apenas na hora dos combates principais, o público lotou o Rogers Centre, em Toronto, no Canadá, desde a primeira disputa do UFC 129, neste sábado. E valeu a pena. Nas primeiras quatro lutas da noite, por exemplo, dois nocautes e duas finalizações, todos incríveis. E a festa seguiu no card principal, confira as análises:

Georges St-Pierre x Jake Shields

Luta principal da noite, a disputa do cinturão meio-médio entre Georges St-Pierre e Jake Shields foi, provavelmente na visão da maioria, um combate que destoou dos demais. Confronto morno, sem muita ação. GSP acertou alguns bons golpes, Shields não se arriscou tanto, enfim, cinco rounds sem grandes emoções. Para ter noção, mesmo os fanáticos torcedores canadenses, fãs de St-Pierre, arriscaram algumas vaias. No entanto, o atual campeão lutou com inteligência e, apesar de algumas avarias no rosto, não sofreu muito perigo. Triunfo por decisão unânime, o nono seguido.

José Aldo x Mark Hominick

José Aldo, na estreia pelo UFC desde a fusão da organização com o WEC, encarou o lutador da casa Mark Hominick na defesa de cinturão e não teve moleza. Apesar de ter dominado os quatro primeiros rounds, com bons chutes na cocha, quedas, cotoveladas no ground and pound e knockdowns, Hominick não se entregava, mesmo com um olho bem avariado e um galo enorme na testa. No assalto derradeiro, Mark caiu por cima e trabalhou bem no chão, mas nada que colocasse Aldo muito em risco. Ao fim, depois de algumas flexões de braço ao lado do desafiante e a bandeira do Flamengo exposta, Aldo pôde afivelar novamente o cinturão nesta que foi a sua 12ª vitória seguida. Claro, a decisão foi unânime a seu favor.

Agora, devemos vê-lo no UFC Rio e o adversário já é comentado nos bastidores no Canadá: Chad Mendes, invicto em dez lutas.

Lyoto Machida x Randy Couture

Era a despedida de Randy Couture, mas Lyoto não aliviou. No primeiro round, o brasileiro manteve a distância. Até acertou mais golpes, mas foi parelho. Na segunda parcial, Machida parecia disposto a definir e, com um chute frontal parecido com o aplicado por Anderson Silva contra Vitor Belfort, nocauteou Couture, sem dó. Uma vitória para provar que é realmente um lutador diferenciado, já que Lyoto vinha de duas derrotas – embora a contra Quinto Jackson tenha sido questionável. Randy, com o dente quebrado, garantiu que não luta novamente. Lyoto disse: “Esse é o cara”. E é mesmo.

Vladimir Matyushenko x Jason Brilz

Não deu nem para o cafezinho, ou melhor, para a cervejinha! Matyushenko foi visto tomando uma gelada no dia da luta, e, no caso dele, fez bem. A primeira mãozada – um upper certeiro – fez o bombeiro Jason Brilz cair praticamente sem condições de luta. Poucos golpes depois, só restou ao juiz separar o combate. A vitória do russo foi em apenas 20 segundos.

Mark Bocek x Ben Henderson

Na primeira luta do card principal, o ex-campeão do WEC Ben Henderson atrapalhou a festa canadense que vinha comandando a noite. Apesar de tomar sufoco no assalto inicial, o americano passou a ser melhor na trocação e usou bem as cotoveladas. Um grande corte se abriu na cabeça de Mark Bocek, que não conseguiu ser efetivo com seu Jiu-Jitsu. No final das três parciais, Henderson levou vantagem na casa do adversário, o que garantiu a decisão unânime a seu favor.

Confira os resultados:

UFC 129
Toronto, Canadá
Dia 30 de abril de 2011

Georges St-Pierre venceu Jake Shields por decisão unânime
José Aldo venceu Mark Hominick por decisão unânime
Lyoto Machida venceu Randy Couture por KO a 1min5s do R2
Vladimir Matyushenko venceu Jason Brilz por TKO aos 20s do R1
Ben Henderson venceu Mark Bocek por decisão unânime
Rory MacDonald venceu Nate Diaz por decisão unânime

Jake Ellenberge venceu Sean Pierson por KO aos 2min42s do R1
Claude Patrick venceu Daniel Roberts por decisão unânime
Ivan Menjivar venceu Charlie Valencia por TKO a 1min3s do R1
Jason MacDonald finalizou Ryan Jensen com um triângulo a 1min27s do R1
John Makdessi venceu Kyle Watson por KO a 1min27s do R3
Pablo Garza finalizou Yves Jabouin com um triângulo voador aos 4min31s do R1

Tio e sobrinha brincam à margem do lago Ontario. Foto: Marcos Dunlop.

Toronto é uma cidade com uma população que mistura o inglês com mais de cem línguas e dialetos (muitas vezes na mesma frase), com velhinhos que guardam maconha em casa dentro de grandes potes brancos e com uma sede de ídolos esportivos comovente.

Os Maple Leafs, segundo time da liga de hóquei com maior número de troféus, não dá alegria à sua torcida desde 1967. Os Blue Jays não vencem no beisebol desde 1993. Os Raptors, no basquete? Melhor mudar de assunto. Os fãs de Toronto tentam ignorar isso, riem amarelo, como se o importante fosse competir, mas seus times viraram sacos de pancada. No UFC 129, no próximo sábado, eles pretendem ir à forra.

Astro maior da noite, Georges St-Pierre é de Montreal, Quebec, mas começou no Jiu-Jitsu em Toronto, é prata-da-casa. Uma derrota do maior lutador canadense de todos os tempos (foi mal, fãs de Gary Goodridge) seria demais até mesmo para os fãs dos Raptors, ou para os serenos velhinhos que fazem uso medicinal da maconha, algo legal por aqui. Mas pode acontecer.

“Muitos lutadores são perigosos, mas não são espertos. Jake é”, elogiou GSP por esses dias.

“Quando você rola com Jake no chão, você sabe que ele vai fazer algo, mas você não consegue fazer muita coisa para evitar. Será um longo dia para St-Pierre”, bota pilha Daniel Roberts, parceiro de treinos de Shields na academia de Cesar Gracie, em entrevista ao MMAWeekly. Além dos parceiros de sempre, Shields convocou Chael Sonnen e Matt Lindland para os treinos.

O papo na cidade é que todos os lutadores estão na cidade, salvo os brasileiros Lyoto Machida e José Aldo, que chegam amanhã. O Hilton está cheio de beldades atrás de fotos com GSP e demais lutadores. Cinco lutas vão ser transmitidas via Facebook, vibra quem não tem ingresso. E os jornais já começaram a dar grandes matérias, a de hoje sobre o inspirador Jason MacDonald, que vem de lesão braba no tornozelo e pensou em parar.

Ou seja, o clima está esquentando, e até a Paulinha Sack já chegou.

UFC 129

Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canadá

Sábado, 30 de abril de 2011

Georges St-Pierre x Jake Shields
José Aldo x Mark Hominick
Vladimir Matyushenko x Jason Brilz
Lyoto Machida x Randy Couture
Mark Bocek x Ben Henderson

Card preliminar na Spike TV

Nate Diaz x Rory MacDonald
Sean Pierson x Brian Foster

Card preliminar (um Canadá x EUA informal)

Yves Jabouin x Pablo Garza
Claude Patrick x Daniel Roberts
Ivan Menjivar x Charlie Valencia
Jason MacDonald x Ryan Jensen
John Makdessi x Kyle Watson

Uncle and niece play on banks of Lake Ontario. Photo: Marcos Dunlop.

The population of the city of Toronto mixes English with another hundred or so languages and dialects (often in the same phrase) and has little old men who stash cannabis at home in large white tubs and harbor a touching craving for anything to do with sports stars.

The Maple Leafs – the second winningest hockey team in the nation – has kept its fans joyless since 1967. The Blue Jays haven’t won a World Series since 1993. The Raptors, in basketball? Best change the subject. Toronto’s fans try to ignore it, forcing a laugh as though what really matters is just the fact they compete, but their teams have become punching bags. Saturday at UFC 129, though, they plan to go to town.

The biggest star of the night, Georges Saint-Pierre, is from Montreal, Quebec, but got his start in Jiu-Jitsu in Toronto, so he’s a hometown boy. A loss from the Canada’s greatest MMA fighter of all times (sorry, Gary Goodridge fans) would be too much even for Raptors fans – or for laid-back old guys with medical marijuana prescriptions (it being legal around these parts). But there’s still a chance it may happen.

“A lot of fighters are dangerous, but their not clever. Jake is,” said GSP in praise of his opponent in recent days.

“When you roll with Jake on the ground you know he’s about to do something, but there isn’t much you can do. It will be a long day for Saint-Pierre,” warned Jake’s training partner at Cesar Gracie academy Daniel Roberts in an interview on MMAWeekly.com. Besides his usual crew, Shields called on Chael Sonnen and Matt Lindland as sparring partners.

Talk around town is about how all the fighters are in the city, with exception to Brazilians Lyoto Machida and José Aldo, who arrive tomorrow. The Hilton is packed with fair-faced beauties after photos with GSP and the rest of the roster. Five fights will be broadcast over Facebook, to the joy of those left without tickets. And the newspapers have now begun pumping out thorough articles – today’s features the inspiring story of Jason MacDonald, who is coming off a nasty elbow injury and even pondered quitting.

In a nutshell, things here are heating up.

UFC 129
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada
Saturday, April 30, 2011

Georges St-Pierre vs. Jake Shields
José Aldo vs. Mark Hominick
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jason Brilz
Lyoto Machida vs. Randy Couture
Mark Bocek vs. Ben Henderson

Preliminary card on Spike TV

Nate Diaz vs. Rory MacDonald
Sean Pierson vs. Brian Foster

Preliminary card (informal Canada vs. USA)

Yves Jabouin vs. Pablo Garza
Claude Patrick vs. Daniel Roberts
Ivan Menjivar vs. Charlie Valencia
Jason MacDonald vs. Ryan Jensen
John Makdessi vs. Kyle Watson

Thales will get another title shot. The last one was in the UFC, against Anderson Silva. Photo: Josh Hedges

As he told GRACIEMAG.com previously, Thales Leites will have a shot at winning the belt at Canadian mixed martial arts event Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC). The Jiu-Jitsu black belt, coming off a win over ground-fighting stalward Dean Lister in the organization, confirmed the title bout.

“I fight for the belt in Canada on April 9. I still have three options for the confrontation. The event will decide between Bryan Baker, Jason MacDonald and Travis Lutter. Now I know the date, I just don’t know the opponent. I hope by the end of the month they’ll let me know so I’ll be able to focus. I’ve already started preparations and will increase the intensity gradually. I’m stepping it up, “says Thales.

For the challenge, the Andre Pederneiras pupil will again count on the support of Josuel Distak to get him ready. Additionally, Paulo Filho, another Distak-trained fighter,  should provide Thales some extra help.

“Beyond with Nova União, I’m also working with Distak, an excellent teacher who’s helping me a lot. Although I have never  trained with Paulão, before my last fight, against Dean Lister, I was outwith an injured rib and he was hitting the pads at the gym. He sat beside me and gave me several pointers. So I’m really thankful for the help. We’ll surely train together and that’s what I want, an exchange. I deeply respect Paulão, who’s a tough guy. When I started training he was already a champion, so I must take my hat off to him. I have a lot to learn, “concludes Leites.

Thales is happy about winning again, like in this photo. Photo: Josh Hedges

How did the fight with Dean Lister go?

It went well. I had already put it in my head that I would be more aggressive and look to fight standing as well. That’s what I did, I worked on kicking his thing and landed several of them. Lister is a really dangerous guy and I knew he would try and take me down and go for the kneebar or heelhook; he has a really refined ground game. He tried to take me down and I used my elbows and threw left-handed punches well. I had to defend his takedowns, but, truth is, I was never in any danger. I did well standing and on the ground.

When do you fight again?

I have one more fight on my contract with the event, which should be in February or early March. I don’t know whether it will be against Bryan Baker, Jason MacDonald or Travis Lutter. Probably against Baker for the belt. I don’t think there is a champion of my division there. I saw other people with belts in the other divisions, so Baker and I would be contenders for this title, which is vacant. That’s what they said at the press conference. Nevertheless, the bout could be against any of the three I mentioned (on the organization’s website the possibility of facing MacDonald is mentioned).

Canada has a lot of MMA fans. What was the MFC like?

The event was good, well organized. The difference is in that it uses a ring. It wasn’t an enormous gymnasium, like when the UFC goes to Canada, but it was packed. It was in a city further north, in Edmonton and it was cold, there was a snow storm and it hit 15 below zero. Even so a good crowd went to watch, there were no empty places. It was broadcast on HDNet and was great.

Did you feel much difference in fighting in a ring again?

It didn’t hinder me at all and I felt no difference. In the gym we train in a ring and it was chill. Everything went smoothly, thank God.