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

John Maguire subbed DaMarques Johnson via armbar and took home extra 50 grand. Photo: UFC

The UFC touched down in Sweden for the first time this Saturday. To many, the most striking part of the evening in Stockholm was the knockouts: Brian Stann’s on Alessio Sakara, Siyar Bahadurzada’s on Paulo Thiago… —the Brazilian elite police trooper kissing the canvas was worth a 50,000 “Knockout of the Night” bonus for “The Great” of Afghanistan.

However, UFC on Fuel also drew wows for the number of finishes, six of them out of a total 12 fights. There were five chokes—four rear-nakeds and one guillotine—and an armbar that earned best-of-the-night honors, performed by John Maguire on DaMarques Johnson. Now the “Fight of the Night” bonus went to the Brad Pickett-Damacio Page matchup, won by the former via rear-naked choke.

In the event headliner, Alexander Gustafsson dominated Thiago Silva for three rounds and took the unanimous nod from the judges. The Brazilian is coming off three back-to-back poor results, two losses and one no contest, while local boy Gustafsson hasn’t lost in five fights.

Check out the complete results:

UFC on Fuel TV
Stockholm, Sweden
Saturday, April 14, 2012

Alexander Gustafsson defeated Thiago Silva via unanimous decision;
Brian Stann defeated Alessio Sakara via KO in R1;
Siyar Bahadurzada defeated Paulo Thiago via KO in R1;
Dennis Siver defeated Diego Nunes via unanimous decision;
John Maguire defeated DaMarques Johnson via armbar in R2;
Brad Pickett defeated Damacio Page via rear-naked choke in R2;
James Head submitted Papy Abedi via rear-naked choke in R1;
Cyrille Diabete defeated Tom DeBlass via majority decision;
Francis Carmont subbed Magnus Cedenblad via rear-naked choke in R2;
Reza Madadi subbed Toislandy Izquierdo via guillotine in R2;
Simeon Thoresen subbed Besam Yousef via rear-naked choke in R2;
Jason Young defeated Eric Wisely via unanimous decision.

[flickr set=72157629822263139]

John Maguire finalizou DaMarques Johnson com um armlock e faturou 50 mil. Foto: UFC

O UFC chegou à Suécia pela primeira vez neste sábado. Para muitos, a noite em Estocolmo ficou caracterizada pelos nocautes, o de Brian Stann contra Alessio Sakara e o de Siyar Bahadurzada sobre Paulo Thiago, que fez o caveira do Bope beijar a lona em 42 segundos e valeu o prêmio de melhor da noite, o equivalente a 50 mil dólares a mais na conta.

No entanto, o UFC on Fuel também impressionou pelas finalizações, ao todo seis nos 12 combates. Foram cinco estrangulamentos – quatro de mata-leão e um de guilhotina – e um armlock, justamente a melhor finalização, executada por John Maguire sobre DaMarques. Já a melhor luta contou com o mata-leão de Brad Pickett em Damacio Page.

No confronto principal, Alexander Gustafsson dominou e venceu Thiago Silva por decisão unânime. O brasileiro vem de três resultados ruins, duas derrotas e um no contest, enquanto o sueco Gustafsson não perde há cinco desafios.

Confira todos os resultados:

UFC on Fuel TV
Estocolmo, Suécia
Sábado, 14 de abril de 2012

Alexander Gustafsson venceu Thiago Silva por decisão unânime
Brian Stann venceu Alessio Sakara por KO no R1
Siyar Bahadurzada venceu Paulo Thiago por KO no R1
Dennis Siver venceu Diego Nunes por decisão unânime
John Maguire finalizou DaMarques Johnson com um armlock no R2
Brad Pickett venceu Damacio Page com um mata-leão no R2
James Head finalizou Papy Abedi com um mata-leão no R1
Cyrille Diabate venceu Tom DeBlass por decisão majoritária
Francis Carmont finalizou Magnus Cedenblad com um mata-leão no 2R
Reza Madadi finalizou Yoislandy Izquierdo com uma guilhotina no R2
Simeon Thoresen finalizou Besam Yousef com um mata-leão no R2
Jason Young venceu Eric Wisely por decisão unânime