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

UFC and Jiu-Jitsu fighter Caio Magalhães training hard in Fortaleza / Photo: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

On the coming 8th of June in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jiu-Jitsu black belt Caio Magalhães will finally be making his UFC debut against also-first-timer Buddy Roberts, 29.

While going through his final preparations at team Nova União headquarters in Rio, the fighter revealed his strategy for winning, and possibly finishing, to GRACIEMAG.com.

“First I’m going to get a feel for the fight. He knows what he’s doing on his feet but always goes to the ground. I’m going to play my game, stand and trade looking for the knockout, but if it goes to my turf I’ll impose my Jiu-Jitsu,” said the native of the Brazilian state of Ceará.

Undefeated in his MMA career, Caio Magalhães was first hired by the UFC to fight at light heavyweight at the UFC Rio show. When his match-up with Fabio Maldonado fell through, he had enough time to shed some weight and join the fray as a middleweight.

“Now it’s the final stretch. I’m training a lot in Rio. I want to show up for the fight in good shape and show my potential,” he stated, before demonstrating one of the positions he intends to use at UFC on FX 3.

“The trick is to put your hand on the hip, keeping your elbow tucked in to not let him get the armdrag. I lower one of my legs and advance; that causes him discomfort on his knee. After raising and lowering it, it’s important to put the knee at his hip and keep the pressure on,” he explains.

Check out the fighter explaining the position to the slightest detail.

The UFC show in Florida will also feature other attraction, for Jiu-Jitsu fans too.Demetrious Johnson and Ian McCall will square off for a second time to determine who takes on Joseph Benavidez for the title in the fledgling flyweight division. Now another son of Ceará State, Carlos Eduardo “Tá Danado”, will face the USA’s Mike Pierce, while Eddie Wineland toes the line against Scott Jorgensen, a bantamweight Daniel Moraes student. Dustin Pague will do battle with Jared Papazian, while the rampant Erick Silva will be looking to take out Charlie Brenneman, and Bernardo Trekko will be going for his first win under the UFC banner, against Henry Martinez.

UFC on FX 3
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
June 8, 2012
 Ian McCall vs Demetrious Johnson
Eddie Wineland vs Scott Jorgensen
Erick Silva vs Charlie Brenneman
Jared Papazian vs Dustin Pague
Josh Neer vs Mike Pyle
Sean Pierson vs Jack Hecht
Leonard Garcia vs Matt Grice
Mike Pierce vs Carlos Eduardo “Tá Danado”
Seth Baczynski vs Lance Benoist
Caio Magalhães vs Buddy Roberts
Tim Means vs Justin Salas
Bernardo Trekko Magalhães vs Henry Martinez

Promessa do UFC e do Jiu-Jitsu, Caio Magalhães treinou forte em Fortaleza. Foto: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

No próximo dia 8 de junho, o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Caio Magalhães enfim estreia no UFC. Em Fort Lauderdale, na Flórida, o cearense vai encarar o também estreante Buddy Roberts, 29 anos.

Durante os preparativos finais com a cúpula da Nova União no Rio, o lutador revelou ao GRACIEMAG.com sua estratégia para sair com a vitória, se possível por finalização.

“Vou primeiro sentir a luta. Ele é um cara que se comporta bem em pé, mas sempre procura o chão. Então vou fazer meu jogo, trocar e buscar o nocaute em pé, mas se cair na minha praia vou impor meu Jiu-Jitsu”, detalhou o cearense.

Invicto no MMA, Caio Magalhães foi contratado primeiro pelo Ultimate para lutar na categoria meio-pesado no UFC Rio. Como a luta com Fabio Maldonado caiu, ele teve tempo para descer de peso e entrar com tudo na divisão dos médios.

“Agora é a reta final, estou trreinando muito no Rio. Quero chegar bem na luta e mostrar meu potencial”, resume ele, que não se furtou a mostrar uma posição que pretende usar no UFC on FX 3.

“O macete é botar a mão no quadril, encolhendo o cotovelo para não tomar o arm-drag. Eu baixo uma das pernas e me adianto, isso já vai fazê-lo sentir um incômodo no joelho. Depois de levantar e descer, é importante botar o joelho no quadril, mantendo a pressão”, explica.

Confira o lutador explicando a posição nos minímos detalhes.

O UFC na Flórida tem muitas outras atrações, para o fã de Jiu-Jitsu inclusive. Demetrious Johnson decide com Ian McCall quem vai enfrentar Joseph Benavidez pelo recém-criado cinturão peso-mosca. Já o também cearense Carlos Eduardo “Tá Danado” encara o americano Mike Pierce, enquanto Eddie Wineland enfrenta Scott Jorgensen, o pupilo levinho de Daniel Moraes. Já Dustin Pague pega Jared Papazian, enquanto a fera descontrolada Erick Silva quer derrubar Charlie Brenneman. Já Bernardo Trekko busca a primeira vitória no Ultimate contra Henry Martinez.

UFC on FX 3
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, EUA
8 de junho de 2012


Ian McCall vs Demetrious Johnson
Eddie Wineland vs Scott Jorgensen
Erick Silva vs Charlie Brenneman
Jared Papazian vs Dustin Pague
Josh Neer vs Mike Pyle
Sean Pierson vs Jack Hecht
Leonard Garcia vs Matt Grice
Mike Pierce vs Carlos Eduardo “Tá Danado”
Seth Baczynski vs Lance Benoist
Caio Magalhães vs Buddy Roberts
Tim Means vs Justin Salas
Bernardo Trekko Magalhães vs Henry Martinez

Diego Moraes and Scott Jorgensen in Rio de Janeiro / Publicity photo

UFC fighter Scott Jorgensern took a two-week trip to Rio de Janeiro, from April 23 to May 3, at the invitation of his black belt Jiu-Jitsu coach Diego Moraes.

Enchanted by the scenic city, the bantamweight made a point of touring the more popular spots, even paying a visit to the São Janúario stadium, where he watched Vasco da Gama play a game in the Libertadores da American soccer tournament.

Jorgensen was charmed by the children at the outreach projects he visited, delighted with the açaí, and of course, he got in plenty of training. Set to take on Eddie Wineland on June 8 in the UFC, the Jiu-Jitsu purple belt brushed up on his MMA-focused Jiu-Jitsu with Diego and Daniel Moraes at Ilha do Governador, and did Thai boxing with Vander Valverde and Angelo Sergio’s team.

Watch the honorary “Carioca” getting in some training and learn from him in the following video:

UFC on FX 3
Fort Lauderdale, Estados Unidos
June 8, 2012

Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall
Erick Silva vs Charlie Brenneman
Josh Neer vs Mike Pyle
Scott Jorgensen vs Eddie Wineland
Matt Grice vs Leonard Garcia
Carlos Eduardo Rocha vs Mike Pierce
Seth Baczynski vs Lance Benois
Dustin Pague vs Jared Papazian
Justin Salas vs Tim Means
Caio Magalhães vs Buddy Roberts
Bernardo Magalhães vs Henry Martinez
Sean Pierson  vs Jake Hecht

Diego Moraes e Scott Jorgensen no Rio de Janeiro. Foto: Divulgação

O atleta do UFC Scott Jorgensen passou duas semanas no Rio de Janeiro, do dia 23 de abril a 6 de maio, a convite do treinador e faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Diego Moraes.

Encantado com a beleza da Cidade Maravilhosa, o peso-galo fez questão de conhecer alguns dos mais badalados pontos turísticos da cidade, inclusive um jogo de futebol em São Januário, do Vasco da Gama pela Libertadores da América.

O americano encantou-se pelas crianças dos projetos sociais, vibrou com o açaí fresco e, claro, treinou muito. Com compromisso marcado no Ultimate para o próximo dia 8 de junho, contra Eddie Wineland, o faixa-roxa de Jiu-Jitsu afiou seu chão voltado para o MMA com Diego e Daniel Moraes na Ilha do Governador, e treinou muay thai com a equipe de Vander Valverde e Angelo Sergio.

Veja a movimentação do novo carioca honorário, e aprenda um pouco com ele.

UFC on FX 3
Fort Lauderdale, Estados Unidos
8 de junho de 2012

Demetrious Johnson vs Ian McCall
Erick Silva vs Charlie Brenneman
Josh Neer vs Mike Pyle
Scott Jorgensen vs Eddie Wineland
Matt Grice vs Leonard Garcia
Carlos Eduardo Rocha vs Mike Pierce
Seth Baczynski vs Lance Benois
Dustin Pague vs Jared Papazian
Justin Salas vs Tim Means
Caio Magalhães vs Buddy Roberts
Bernardo Magalhães vs Henry Martinez
Sean Pierson  vs Jake Hecht