Holly Holm vai para cima de Ronda Rousey no UFC 193. Foto: Divulgação

O UFC 193 foi reservado para um grandioso estádio na Austrália do tamanho do susto que os fãs do MMA teriam, ao cabo do evento e da luta principal entre Ronda Rousey e a desafiante Holly Holm, pelo cinturão peso-galo.

Aos 34 anos e com 1,73m de altura, a longelínea e perigosa americana Holly Holm fez valer o poder de seus diretos e de sua canelada, e deixou Ronda abatida, estirada na lona do UFC, aos 59s do segundo assalto. Foi apenas sua terceira luta no Octagon de Dana White.

No primeiro round, Ronda não quis tocar as luvas – fruto da pesagem quente na véspera – e foi para cima. A campeã de judô até conseguiu se aproximar, fazer o clinche e ir para o chão, mas Holly se sacudiu para livrar-se de um bote nas costas e de um armlock. Em pé, no entanto, Ronda já sangrava no nariz.

Na segunda etapa, Ronda manteve o ímpeto e a tática de caçar Holm, mas o punho da desafiante a deixou grogue, logo no primeiro minuto. Enquanto Ronda recuava e procurava voltar a si, o chute que mais pareceu um míssil deu cabo então da grande rainha das finalizações.

Nas redes sociais de GRACIEMAG, dezenas de professores, atletas e treinadores comentaram a derrota de Ronda. “Você não deve caçar uma striker desse nível”, opinou Bruno Tanque, professor da Soul Fighters. “Especialmente se você é a campeã. O mais inteligente seria aguardar a desafiante tomar a iniciativa, e não ir para cima e dar brechas”.

Que o UFC marque logo a maior revanche da história do MMA feminino. E Deus salve a nova rainha.

UFC 193
Melbourne, Austrália
14 de novembro de 2015

Holly Holm nocauteou Ronda Rousey a 59s do 2R

Joanna Jedrzejczyk manteve o cinturão peso-palha ao vencer Valérie Létourneau na decisão unânime dos jurados

Mark Hunt nocauteou Antônio Pezão aos 3min51s do 1R

Robert Whittaker derrotou Uriah Hall na decisão unânime

Jared Rosholt venceu Stefan Struve na decisão unânime

Card preliminar


Jake Matthews venceu Akbarh Arreola por interrupção médica no R2
Kyle Noke nocauteou Peter Sobotta aos 2min01s do 1R

Gian Villante nocauteou Anthony Perosh aos 3min56s do 1R

Danny Martinez venceu Richie Vaculik na decisão unânime

Dan Kelly derrotou Steve Montgomery na decisão unânime

Richard Walsh venceu Steve Kennedy na decisão unânime

James Moontasri nocauteou Anton Zafir aos 4min36s do 1R

Ben Nguyen finalizou Ryan Benoit com um mata-leão aos 2min35s do 1R

Satoshi prepara o estrangulamento. Foto: W.L Fight Photography

Os craques Roberto Satoshi e Michelle Nicolini sacudiram a cidade de Melbourne, na Austrália, no último fim de semana. Pela segunda edição do Boa Super 8 de Jiu-Jitsu, Satoshi foi o destaque do GP de pesos leves e Nicolini brilhou na superluta da noite.

O faixa-preta foi campeão após vencer três lutas. No caminho até o título, finalizou Alexandre Santos (Cia Paulista), raspou Rodrigo Caporal (Atos) e na final, estrangulou Lachlan Giles (Absolute MMA) na montada. Além do cinturão, Satoshi foi premiado com um cheque de 5 mil dólares.

Na superluta feminina da noite, Michelle encarou a local Josephine Mazzielo. A faixa-preta da Checkmat usou a sua tradicional chave de pé para vencer.

Already in the country for a stint teaching at Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro’s academy in New York, Marcelino was signed up for the World Championship and raring to go, when an unfortunate training injury dashed his hopes of making the big splash in the world Jiu-Jitsu circuit he craved. In spite of the setback, though, the André Pederneiras black belt and training partner to MMA stars like José Aldo Jr, Marlon Sandro, Wagnney Fabiano and the rest of the rugged Nova União roster still sees a broad horizon ahead of him and has high hopes for what is to come, as he embarks on another big adventure, in the Land Down Under.

Marcelino at Australian embassy in Washington DC. Photo: Personal archive

“I had a good idea I wouldn’t be able to compete when it happened,” said Marcelino, regarding the ribs that popped out when training partner and stalwart black belt Steve Rosenberg fastened a figure-four around his rib cage as the two went through their final preparations for the Worlds at GMA Gustavo Dantas’s gym in Arizona. “I knew it was serious and would probably mean I couldn’t compete. I just held on to hope and trained as best I could, to have a go at it,” he continued, revealing the magnitude of the let down to him – and the degree of misfortune Jiu-Jitsu lovers unknowingly suffered in not catching the ace in action –, “I knew I was in great shape. I was in much better shape than I was at the New York Open and the Pan. I only really started real competition training after the New York Open because I was teaching the whole time and didn’t have time to train properly. I did proper competition training for the Worlds, and that I wasn’t able to show it was just bad luck.”

Marcelino ignored the discomfort and went for it at the Worlds, only to desist after taking a two-point lead one minute into his first and only match. The pain was unbearable.

Marcelino celebrates gold over Renan Borges at NY Open. Photo: Luca Atalla

But Marcelino’s long-term plans were not contingent on success at the Worlds, and now, after a week’s visit home, he heads to Melbourne, Australia, to take the reins as Jiu-Jitsu instructor at Extreme JJG (Jiu-Jitsu and Grappling), the academy of Australia’s foremost grappling-arts master John Donehue, a black belt in judo under the legendary Gene LeBell as well as one in Jiu-Jitsu under the great Rigan Machado.

His competitive aspirations may have suffered a setback, but 2008’s Brazilian National champion is upbeat about his prospects in the vocation of Jiu-Jitsu teacher he has practised over the last five years.

“I’m just really excited about going. I’ve been excited about going ever since the opportunity arose, and I can hardly believe the time has finally come,” he said, when asked about what his flight to the other end of the world this Friday, June 26, means to him. “I’m just really thankful for the opportunity. I really want to get out in the world and teach what I know to people who want to learn what I have to teach. This opportunity means so much to me because I will get to have my own class, teach using my own style, have my own students. Getting to see and teach in New York was cool, but I didn’t have any of that; I had to teach someone else’s students using his method. Now I get to teach my way,” he set forth, painting a picture of what he looks forward to when he gets to his new destination.

Marcelino against Gustavo Carpio at NY Open. Photo: Luca Atalla

But if anyone is led to believe the ill-fated incursion into the 2010 World Championship and subsequent move means Marcelino’s competitive career is on hold, they are sorely mistaken. “There’s a bunch of black belts and competitions down there. I plan to carry on competing. I’m going to compete at the regional tournaments and have the World Pro tryouts marked on my calendar. I want to get my students ready to win and compete alongside them,” he says, announcing the arrival of a new force to be reckoned with in the Land Down Under.

Check out Marcelino’s highlight video:

For Marcelino’s students in Australia to prepare for what’s in store for them, check out this video of seven positions taught by Marcelino that was previously featured here on GRACIEMAG.com: