Nicolas e Alexandre Pequeno, estrela do MMA. Foto: Arquivo Pessoal

Nicolas Renier, 36, is a black belt who, after making his career as a grappling competitor, undertook the mission of spreading the history of luta livre around the world. Champion of four ADCC tryouts in Europe, he even participated in the biggest grappling event six times – twice being invited by the organization of Mo Jassim, the main organizer of the Abu Dhabi Combat Club.

Today, the Frenchman resides in Rio de Janeiro, specifically in the borough of Jardim Botânico, where he runs his gym NR Fight, specializing in Luta Livre, an art for which Nicolas has a huge passion.

In parallel with his classes, Nicolas takes time to produce and create documentaries that will help popularize Luta Livre. In 2014, he single-handedly produced a documentary called “Luta Livre Spirit” with 12 episodes that brought together personalities such as Roberto Leitão, Leozada Nogueira, and Alexandre Pequeno.

“My mission is to popularize the name of luta livre, to show that there is not only one modality of ground fighting. There’s also luta livre, which can be another option besides Jiu-Jitsu. We can build “a better world” by offering an alternative for practitioners of martial arts. In the documentary, which is available on my YouTube channel, you can get to know how luta livre was important for so many people, and how this modality changed the lives of many Brazilians. I want everyone to know that”, explains Nicolas, a practitioner since 2001, when he had Flávio Peroba as his teacher.

Nicolas also gives his opinion why luta livre did not achieve the same projection as Jiu-Jitsu in terms of visibility.

“We didn’t get a big projection like Jiu-Jitsu because we lacked some thinking minds to use marketing and be able to sell our modality to a larger audience. Jiu-Jitsu fighters learned a lot from luta livre, as there was always this exchange of information between the two. Milton Vieira at BTT, master Roberto Leitão at Nova União…”, comments Nicolas, a black belt for nine years.

Nicolas wants to maintain the growth of his school in Brazil and increase its branches in France, in addition to using the internet to take the philosophy of luta livre to more practitioners.

“I have already conquered everything that my level allowed me to. Nowadays I am proud of what I managed to win and participate to have a name in this modality. Now I want to show my fight in a different way, both on the internet and with the opening of several academies in France”, concludes the professor.

Carlson Gracie Team. Graciemag.com

Miltinho Vieira tells how his first experience with Grandmaster Carlson Gracie went, and remembers the feeling of training for the first time at the old school on Figueiredo Magalhães Street, in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro.

Grandmaster Carlson Gracie was a blessing in my life; he was the person who put me in MMA. He put me, gave me the opportunity to do his MMA training at the old Carlson Gracie academy on Figueiredo Magalhães St. When I arrived at the gym, Carlson was in the office, and I was introduced to him. He curtly asked: “That skinny guy? Did you bring clothes to train in?”

Unless another athlete withdraws due to injury or any other reason, the list of athletes for the 2015 ADCC is complete at this moment.

Jiu-Jitsu black belt and UFC fighter Milton Vieira was announced this Monday as the replacement for JT Torres in the -77kg division.

Milton Vieira competed in the -77kg division at the 2007 and 2009 editions of the ADCC, and could not make past the first round in either occasions.

This was the last spot in all seven weight division for the event that takes place this weekend in São Paulo, Brazil.

Here is the full list of athletes:

Male -66 kg

1. Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Asadulaev Surkhay – Russia (1st European Trials Winner)
3. Nicolas Renier – France (2nd European Trials Winner)
4. Tezekbaev Rasul – Kyrgyzstan (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Yuto Hirao – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
6. Geovanny Martinez – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
7. Edward Cummings – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
8. Renan Sancar Santos – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
9. Gabriel Marangoni – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
10. Jeff Glover – USA (Invited)
11. Augusto Mendes – Brazil (Invited)
12. Justin Rader – USA (Invited)
13. Bruno Frazatto – Brazil (Invited)
14. Gianni Grippo – USA (Invited)
15. Mark Ramos – USA (Invited)
16. Alexandre Vieira – Brazil (Invited)

Male -77 kg

1. Gamrot Mateusz – Poland (1st European Trials Winner)
2. Abdulkadirov Magomed – Russia (2nd European Trials Winner)
3. Lachlan Giles – Australia (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Young-am Noh – Korea (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Enrico Cocco – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
6. Vagner Rocha – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
7. Davi Ramos – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
8. Gabriel Rollo – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
9. Garry Tonon – USA (Invited)
10. Otavio Sousa – Brazil (Invited)
11. Lucas Lepri – Brazil (Invited)
12. Ben Henderson – USA (Invited)
13. Dillon Danis – USA (Invited)
14. Gilbert Burns – Brazil (Invited)
15. AJ Agazarm – USA (Invited)
16. Milton Vieira – Brazil (Invited)

Male -88 kg

1. Romulo Barral – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Zbigniew Tyszka – Poland (1st European Trials Winner)
3. Jesse Urholin – Finland (2nd European Trials Winner)
4. Craig Jones – Australia (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Hidemi Mihara – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
6. Matthew Arroyo – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
7. Mike Perez – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
8. Claudio Calasans – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
9. Keenan Cornelius – USA (Invited)
10. Rustam Chsiev – Russia (Invited)
11. Pablo Popovich – USA (Invited)
12. Rafael Lovato Jr. – USA (Invited)
13. Ezra Lenon – USA (Invited)
14. Neiman Gracie – Brazil (Invited)
15. Yuri Simoes – Brazil (Invited)
16. Ricardo Ramos De Mesquita – Brazil (Invited)

Male -99 kg

1. Joao Assis – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Tomasz Narkun – Poland (1st European Trials Winner)
3. Kamil Uminski – Poland (2nd European Trials Winner)
4. Tobias Green – Australia (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
5. Yukiyasu Ozawa – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
6. Tom DeBlass – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
7. Jason Bukich – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
8. Roberto Alencar – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
9. Cassio Francis Da Silva – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
10. Alexandre Ribeiro – Brazil (Invited)
11. Hector Lombard – USA (Invited)
12. Felipe Pena – Brazil (Invited)
13. Rodolfo Vieira – Brazil (Invited)
14. Jimmy Friedrich – USA (Invited)
15. Adam Sachnoff – USA (Invited)
16. Lukasz Michalec – Poland (Invited)

Male +99 kg

1. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen – Finland (2nd European Trials Winner)
2. Lee Hyoung Chul – Korea (1st Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
3. Hideki Sekine – Japan (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Jason Lees – USA (1st North American Trials Winner)
5. Paul Ardila – USA (2nd North American Trials Winner)
6. Leonardo Nascimento Lucio – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
7. Gabriel Lyrio Lucas – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
8. Rodrigo Cavaca – Brazil (Invited)
9. Joao Gabriel Rocha – Brazil (Invited)
10. Dean Lister – USA (Invited)
11. Vinny Magalhaes – Brazil (Invited)
12. Orlando Sanchez – USA (Invited)
13. Rodrigo Artilheiro – Brazil (Invited)
14. Bernardo Faria – Brazil (Invited)
15. Jeff Monson – USA (Invited)
16. Jared Dopp – USA (Invited)

Female -60 kg

1. Michelle Nicolini – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Kethe Marie Elgesem Engen – Norway (European Trials Winner)
3. Rikako Yuasa – Japan (Asia & Oceania Trials Winner)
4. Tammi Musumeci – USA (North American Trials Winner)
5. Ana Michelle Tavares Dantas – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
6. Mayra Mello Mazza – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
7. Mackenzie Dern – USA (Invited)
8. Beatriz Mesquita – Brazil (Invited)

Female +60 kg

1. Gabrielle Garcia – Brazil (ADCC 2013 Winner)
2. Sophia Nordenö – Sweden (European Trials Winner)
3. Amanda Santana – USA (North American Trials Winner)
4. Fernanda Mazzelli Almeida Maio – Brazil (1st South American Trials Winner)
5. Jéssica Da Silva Oliveira – Brazil (2nd South American Trials Winner)
6. Marysia Malyjasiak – Poland (Invited)
7. Ana Laura Cordeiro – Brazil (Invited)
8. Alison Tremblay –  Canada (Invited)

ADCC Stars Superfight

      Mário Sperry (Brazil) vs. Ricardo Liborio (Brazil)

ADCC Main Superfight

      André Galvão (Brazil) vs. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil)

Toninho Fúria unifies two Bitetti Combat belts / GRACIEMAG archive photo

The Bitetti Combat promotion wrapped up 2012 this Sunday, Dec. 9, with a thrilling event at Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo Gymnasium. The 13th installment of the MMA show featured riveting match-ups, two title belts at stake and a hard-fought flyweight GP. The featherweight champion of the event, Toninho Fúria, moved up a weight class to beat Andre Nogueira and unify the his belt with the lightweight strap. Also, Pedro Silveira overcame Sandro China to win the interim bantamweight belt, and Pedro Nobre won two fights on the night, becoming the flyweight GP champion.

The evening’s main event was between BTT’s Toninho Fúria, who had Murilo Bustamante and Milton Vieira in his corner, and Andre Nogueira, a Team Nogueira representative. The bout started out fast-paced, with Fúria going on the offensive without giving Nogueira a chance to respond. Doing well to absorb the punishment dished out by Fúria, Nogueira kept afloat and went into the second round better prepared. Nogueira started to pull the pieces together, landing solid takedowns and pounding from top position, but Fúria was relentless, working his way back to his feet every time his opponent would put him on his back. In round three Fúria brought on more pressure to cinch the fight, thus unifying the belts in two Bitetti Combat weight classes.

After the main event, the promoter, Amaury Bitetti, shared some words about the athletes.

“Great fight! Andrezinho held out until the end, but Toninho was also tough and won it. Both of them deserve to be in the UFC, that I’m sure of,” said Bitetti.

In the flyweight GP, Pedro Nobre, who took a close unanimous decision over Eduardo Kiko, went on to face Matheus Nicolau, a Nova União representative who qualified for the final by beating Denison Silva. The fight seemed evenly matched early in round one. The athletes traded blows on their feet until Nobre connected with a solid string of strikes on Nicolau, who kept his feet while eating strike after strike until the referee stepped in to signal a technical-knockout win for Nobre, winner of the under-57 kg GP.

Another highlight of the night was the hard-fought clash between Pedro Silveira and Sandro China. The judges had their work cut out for them in designating a winner, but ultimately Pedro was deemed champion of the bantamweight division by unanimous decision.

Following the event, Amaury Bitetti spoke about his plans for Bitetti Combat in 2013.

“We’ll see about doing an event in Recife, start going to new places, but Rio de Janeiro is our focus,” said the promoter.

Check out the complete results from Bitetti Combat 13

Bitetti Combat 13
Clube do Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
December 9, 2012

• Toninho Fúria defeated Andre Nogueira via unanimous judges’ decision
• Pedro Silveira defeated Sandro China via unanimous judges’ decision
• Cristiano Ferrugem defeated Tiago Ximarú via technical knockout in R3
• Diego Davella subbed Marcio Cocada via arm-and-neck choke in R1

Flyweight GP

• Pedro Nobre defeated Mateus Nicolau via TKO in R1
• Mateus Nicolau defeated Denison Silva via unanimous judges’ decision
• Pedro Nobre defeated Eduardo Kiko via unanimous judges’ decision

Undercard

• André Minhoca subbed Eliel “Topete Dourado” via triangle in R1
• Isak Pimentel defeated Pablo dos Santos via knockout in R1
• Daniel Araújo defeated Jamilson Dadozinho via unanimous decision

Written by Carlos Arthur Jr.

Godofredo Pepey tries landing a fist on Rony Jason in the TUF Brazil final, at UFC BH. Publicity photo.

A Jiu-Jitsu black belt with eight wins and a lone loss on his MMA record, Godofredo Pepey already knows when he’ll next be stepping into the octagon. The native of the Brazilian state of Ceará will take on the seasoned Milton Vieira at the January 19 UFC Brazil show, the location for which has yet to be announced.

Pepey, a finalist on the inaugural season of TUF Brazil, has been training ialongside his brother Godofredo Claudio and black belts Tiago Marques and Rafael Gárgula at MG Pepey headquarters, in Fortaleza City’s Damas neighborhood. “I’m still training at the same, always-intense pace. But it’s going to get even tougher; in November I’m heading to Curitiba to train with [Mauricio] Shogun, André Dida and Sérgio Moraes,” said Pepey.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s promoters have also confirmed that Iuri Marajó will be dropping a weight class to bantamweight to take on Johnny Eduardo for the January show. Where will this UFC event take place, gentle reader? What’s your prediction?

Stay tuned to GRACIEMAG.com for all things Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.

Wanderlei Silva at weigh-ins for this Friday's UFC 147 BH / Photo: UFC/publicity

On newsstands across Brazil in January 2008, NOCAUTE magazine issue 60 featured a great interview with Wanderlei Silva, in which the UFC star issued praise for and a prophecy about his nemesis Vitor Belfort.

“He’s a great athlete . … His has his merit and I’m sure our fight will happen in the future,” said the fighter four years before the fight… well, almost happened.

The issue is full of gems, like images of the submissions by GSP over Matt Hughes, Fedor on Hong Man and Lyoto Machida on Sokoudjou. Our favorite excerpt, however, is one from “The tip of the iceberg,” on the fight between Wand and Chuck Liddell—two fighters who crossed paths amicably years later in Belo Horizonte.

Here’s the part in question:

“If the brilliant chronicler Nelson Rodrigues (1912-1980) were alive—he who never missed a Carlson Gracie fight in Rio—, he would likely have scribed an epic description of the second-to-last fight of the night in the UFC. Something like this:

The battle on Saturday was dramatic by nature and charged with soul, it’s stars dripping with readiness like drenched umbrellas. At the very first trade of blows, Wanderlei Silva showed just why he’s the pride of his nation: following one of the tremendous haymakers the fellow Chuck Liddell would dish out in the fight, the Brazilian took a step back to such in a lungful of air, rested his back against the fencing of the terrifying octagon, and underwent a transformation.

He was no longer a fighter, but a windmill, spinning his blades at dreadful speed and sweeping the American, the crowd, the Brazilian fans, the devil. Yes, Wanderlei lost, but it was a triumphal defeat. After all, our Silva remained on his feet, and the one who landed on his backside and crashed to the ground like a building in Downtown Rio wasn’t him, but his opponent, in the second round. Come and go: getting upended is the most harrowing experience a man can suffer in his brief time on Earth.”

Wanderlei Silva is about to embark on another epic battle, facing his old acquaintance Rich Franklin tonight. Who have you got winning it? The former UFC champion or the former Pride FC champion.

UFC 147
Mineirinho, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
June 23, 2012

Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcântara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina

Wanderlei Silva recebe aplausos e latidos durante a pesagem do UFC 147 BH, na sexta-feira. Foto: UFC/Divulgação

Lançada nas bancas do Brasil em janeiro de 2008, a Revista NOCAUTE de número 60 trazia, entre outras pérolas, uma grande entrevista com Wanderlei Silva. Lá, o ídolo do UFC fazia um elogio e uma profecia sobre o arquirrival Vitor Belfort.

“Ele é um ótimo atleta. (….) Tem seus méritos e tenho certeza que no futuro nossa luta vai acontecer”, disse o paranaense, quatro anos antes da luta…, bem, quase ocorrer.

Tal edição da revista está recheada de pérolas, como belas imagens das finalizações de GSP em cima de Matt Hughes, a de Fedor em cima de Hong Man e a de Lyoto Machida em cima de Sokoudjou. Nosso trecho favorito, no entanto, é um trecho da reportagem “Casco no iceberg”, sobre a luta entre Wand e Chuck Liddell – dois lutadores que, aliás, têm se cruzado amistosamente em Belo Horizonte, anos depois.

Eis o trecho:

“Se o genial cronista Nelson Rodrigues (1912-1980) fosse vivo, ele que não perdia uma luta de Carlson Gracie no Rio, talvez fizesse uma épica descrição do penúltimo combate da noite no UFC. Algo assim:

A batalha de sábado foi de singular dramatismo e entupida de alma, com seus personagens pingando disposição como guarda-chuvas encharcados. Logo na primeira troca de murros, Wanderlei Silva mostrou por que é o orgulho da pátria: após um dos tremendos bofetões que o cidadão Chuck Liddell iria distribuir na luta, o brasileiro recuou para puxar uma lufada de ar, apoiou as costas nas grades do assustador octógno, e se transformou.

Não era mais um lutador, e sim um moinho de vento, movendo suas pás em velocidade assustadora e varrendo o americano, plateia, os fãs no Brasil, o diabo. Sim, Wanderlei perdeu, mas foi uma derrota triunfal. Afinal, nosso Silva terminou de pé, e quem caiu sentado e desabou como um prédio do centro do Rio não foi ele, mas o oponente, no segundo assalto. Vamos e venhamos: cair sentado é a mais torva experiência que o homem pode sofrer, no seu curto estágio terreno.”

Wanderlei hoje vem embalado para mais um confronto de proporções épicas à frente, contra o velho conhecido Rich Franklin. Para você, quem vai vencer? O americano ex-campeão da categoria no UFC ou o ex-campeão do Pride?

UFC 147
Mineirinho, Belo Horizonte, MG
23 de junho de 2012

Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcântara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina

Milton Vieira getting the tapout in MMA. Is the BTT athlete at the perfect age for making his UFC debut? Photo: GRACIEMAG archives.

With over a decade’s experience stepping into rings and cages to face opponents from the most diverse corners of the world, Jiu-Jitsu black belt Milton Vieira has taken part in some of the biggest fighting shows on earth, including: Pride, Strikeforce, Shooto, Meca and Bitetti Combat. With more than his fair share of submission wins on his ledger, the BTT representative admits that making the first entrance into the octagon of his career next Saturday will be something special for him.

“Every athlete wants to compete at the best event there is, so making it to the UFC at this moment is really important to me. I’ve been working hard at Brazilian Top Team since 2003, when I joined the team, and I spared no sweat, blood or determination in getting to the UFC,” he said, as he gears up to face Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes in the first fight on the card for the UFC to take place Saturday night in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte.

While his original background is in the luta livre style of grappling, Milton has faith his Jiu-Jitsu will lead him to triumph at Mineirinho Stadium. But anyone thinking the Rio de Janeiro native will do everything in his power to win via submission would be wrong.

“I’m not planning to only show what I can do on the ground. I like punching, kicking, flying knees, elaborate moves. I like getting the crowd going. I always fight to win. It’s something important to me, to my family, but I fight to put on a show. I want to always put on fun fights,” he points out.

Aiming not just to be part of the UFC but to make it to the top of the featherweight ranks, Milton is making his debut on the big stage at 33, an age when, according to his coach Murilo Bustamante, is when MMA fighters are just reaching their prime.

“In my view MMA fighters reach their peak at around 35, 36 years of age. Anderson Silva and myself, for example, won titles when we were over 30,” said Bustamante. “Milton is a talent just awaiting opportunities, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

The BTT is now celebrating a new partnership with the marketing firm Garra.

What do you think, gentle reader, are you in agreement with Murilo? What’s the perfect age for an MMA fighter? What about for Jiu-Jitsu athletes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments field below.

Check out the card for the June 23 UFC show:

UFC 147
Mineirinho Stadium, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
June 23, 2012

Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcântara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina

Milton Vieira finalizando no MMA. Estaria o atleta da BTT na idade perfeita para a estreia no UFC? Foto: Arquivo GRACIEMAG

Há mais de uma década subindo em ringues e encarando adversários dos mais diversos cantos, o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Miltinho Vieira já participou de competições como o badalado Pride, Strikeforce, Shooto, Meca e Bitetti Combat. Com um cartel recheado de finalizações, o lutador da BTT confessa que será especial subir ao octógono pela primeira vez, no próximo sábado.

“Todo atleta quer estar no melhor lugar e é muito importante para mim chegar ao UFC neste momento. Sempre trabalhei forte na Brazilian Top Team desde 2003, quando entrei para a equipe, e não poupei suor, sangue e vontade para estar no UFC”, disse ele, que deve fazer a primeira luta da noite em Belo Horizonte, contra Felipe “Sertanejo” Arantes.

Atleta oriundo da luta-livre, Miltinho confia em seu Jiu-Jitsu para triunfar no Mineirinho. Mas se engana quem acredita que a estratégia do carioca do bairro de Vila Isabel será fazer de tudo para decidir a luta por finalização.

“Eu não pretendo mostrar somente minha qualidade no chão. Gosto de soco, chute, joelhada voadora, golpes mais plásticos. Tudo para alegrar o público. Luto pela vitória sempre. Ela é importante para mim, para minha família, para minha equipe, mas eu luto também para dar show. Quero sempre estar fazendo lutas bonitas”, destaca ele.

Com o objetivo de não apenas fazer parte do UFC, mas de estar entre os melhores do peso-pena, Miltinho debuta no evento aos 33 anos, idade em que, segundo o técnico Murilo Bustamante, os lutadores de MMA estão próximos do melhor momento.

“Ao meu ver o ápice técnico do lutador de MMA ocorre por volta dos 35, 36 anos. Anderson Silva e eu, por exemplo, conquistamos o título com mais de 30 anos”, disse Bustamante. “O Miltinho é um talento que só precisa de oportunidades e ainda tem um futuro brilhante pela frente”.

A equipe BTT celebrou uma nova parceria, na área de marketing, com a empresa Garra.

E você, concorda com Murilo? Qual para você é a idade perfeita para o lutador de MMA? E para o atleta de Jiu-Jitsu? Comente com a gente.

Veja o card do UFC do dia 23, abaixo.

UFC 147
Mineirinho, Belo Horizonte, MG
23 de junho de 2012

Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcântara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina

Sergio sinks a choke on Pé de Chumbo on TUF Brazil reality show. Publicity photo.

The UFC medical department has an announcement: there’s a Jiu-Jitsu world champion in the final of the TUF Brazil reality show. With the original finalist, Daniel Sarafian, having suffered a serious bicep injury while training, the opponent to face Cezar “Mutante” in the middleweight final is now Sérgio Moraes. The Alliance black belt had previously been knocked out by a Sarafian flying knee in the semifinals of the TUF Brazil reality show.

In the featherweight final, two fighters from the Brazilian state of Ceará, Godofredo Pepey and Rony Jason, will lock horns to see who gets their hands on a UFC contract.

On Sunday, during the final episode of TUF Brazil, Mutante earned the season’s best-knockout bonus of BRL 45,000 with a powerful kick to the head of Thiago Bodão, who himself was invited to fight on the card for UFC 147, coming up June 23 in the city of Belo Horizonte. The Vitor Belfort student also took home a spanking new pickup truck, for having been elected the best fighter of the reality show.

The prize for best submission went to Rony Jason for the armbar he used to put away Anistávio Gasparzinho, while best fight went to Thiago Bodão vs. Francisco Massaranduba.

Check out the card for the upcoming event in Minas Gerais State, and comment below: does Sérgio Moraes have what it takes to fight on even terms with Mutante on the octagon floor? Watch the ace in action at the 2011 European Jiu-Jitsu Championship against Léo D’Avilla, and let us know if you think he’s capable of catching Mutante by surprise, as he always does when sporting a gi.

UFC 147
Mineirinho Stadium, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
June 23, 2012

Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcantara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina

Serginho arrocha o pescoço de Pé de Chumbo no TUF Brasil. Foto: Divulgação.

O departamento médico do UFC informa: tem campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu na final do TUF Brasil. Com a contusão séria de Daniel Sarafian, que machucou o bíceps durante os treinamentos o oponente do peso médio Cezar Mutante será o rei da Cohab Serginho Moraes. O faixa-preta da Alliance havia sido nocauteado por Sarafian na semifinal do reality show “TUF Brasil”, com uma joelhada voadora.

Na final dos penas, os cearenses Godofredo Pepey e Rony Jason também vão disputar o contrato com o Ultimate.

No domingo, no último episódio do “TUF Brasil”, Mutante faturou o melhor nocaute do programa (45 mil reais) com um chutaço na cabeça de Thiago Bodão, que também acabou convidado a lutar no UFC 147, dia 23 agora em Belo Horizonte. O aluno de Vitor Belfort também ficou com uma picape zero quilômetro, após ser eleito o melhor lutador do reality.

O prêmio de melhor finalização foi para Rony Jason, pelo armlock aplicado em Anistávio Gasparzinho, enquanto a melhor luta foi Thiago Bodão vs Francisco Massaranduba. O prêmio também foi de 45 mil.

Veja o card completo do evento em Minas, e comente com a gente: será Sérgio Moraes capaz de equalizar as forças com Mutante no chão do Octagon? Veja o craque em ação no Campeonato Europeu 2011, contra Léo D’avilla, e palpite se ele vai conseguir surpreender Mutante, o fã do UFC e o mundo, como ele aliás sempre fez vestindo o kimono.

UFC 147
Mineirinho, Belo Horizonte, MG
23 de junho de 2012

Wanderlei Silva vs Rich Franklin
Fabricio Werdum vs Mike Russow
Cezar Mutante vs Serginho Moraes
Godofredo Pepey vs Rony Jason
Yuri Alcantara vs Hacran Dias
Milton Vieira vs Felipe Arantes
Francisco Massaranduba vs Delson Pé de Chumbo
Rodrigo Damm vs Anistávio Gasparzinho
Hugo Wolverine vs John Macapá
Leonardo Macarrão vs Thiago Bodão
Wagner Galeto vs Vinicius Vina