Pezão mounted on Fedor / Photo: Dan Rod

Jiu-Jitsu black belt Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva is better known for his achievements in MMA, even beating the legendary Fedor Emelianenko in his last outing. But the fighter has a wealth of grappling experience as well.

“I started Jiu-Jitsu when I was 17 and won a lot of tournaments in the Brazilian Northeast. I remember how with little over a month of training I took part in my first competition, had three matches and won,” Bigfoot tells GRACIEMAG.com.

Pezão is getting ready to take on another fighter at the top of the MMA food chain, Alistair Overeen, in the Strikeforce heavyweight GP semifinals. But come September the Brazilian will be in England to face the wizards of the ground game, having confirmed via Twitter (@BigfootSilva) that he was invited to take part in the ADCC.

“Gang, I was invited and will be at the ADCC in September. You can expect good matches for sure,” he tweeted (in Portuguese).

Check back for more news here on the website that’s 100% Jiu-Jitsu.

Photo: Esther Lin

GRACIEMAG.com kept tabs on MMA fans’ reaction to the Alistair Overeem-Fabrício Werdum fight, whether on our own website or social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. The fight went down this Saturday in Dallas, where the latest round of the Strikeforce heavyweight GP was held.

In a lukewarm affair featuring more strategy than action, each fighter did his best to avoid dealing with the other’s strong points. Werdum repeatedly summoned his opponent to the ground, with Overeem just telling him to get up. Moments of impact were few and far between. Overeem stayed on his feet more but did little to attack. Once the scorecards were in, Alistair got the nod by unanimous decision.

Regardless of the quality of entertainment on display in the fight, there were a number of fans who didn’t agree with the outcome. In their view the black belt did more to attack, while Overeem was resigned to defend.

“I feel Werdum won,” tweeted @romulobarral.

Watch the bout and leave your opinion in the comments section below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGn6WOhd05c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JcwDOj8GRc

Foto: Esther Lin.

GRACIEMAG.com acompanha a reação dos fãs de MMA em relação ao combate entre Alistair Overeem e Fabrício Werdum, seja aqui no site, ou em redes de relacionamento como Twitter e Facebook. O desafio aconteceu em Dallas, neste sábado, pelo GP de pesados do Strikeforce.

Numa luta morna, com muito mais estratégia que ação, ambos tentaram fugir das principais características do outro. Não foram poucas as vezes que Werdum chamava o oponente para o chão, enquanto Overeem dizia para o gaúcho se levantar. Raríssimos foram os momentos de contundência. Overeem ficou mais por cima, mas também pouco atacou. No final, as papeletas deram o triunfo por decisão unânime para Alistair.

Independentemente da qualidade da luta no quesito show, muitos fãs não concordaram com a decisão. Entenderam que o faixa-preta atacou mais, enquanto Overeem apenas se defendeu.

“Eu acredito que Werdum venceu”, postou @romulobarral.

Segue abaixo o combate, opine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGn6WOhd05c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JcwDOj8GRc

But there were other highlights of the evening, like Gesias Cavalcante and Jeff Monson, as well as the promotion’s comely ring girls.

Check out the photos by Esther Lin:

[flickr set=72157626996776796]

Overeem celebrates. Photo: Feg.

This Saturday in Dallas defined the heavyweight GP semifinalists.

In the main event of the evening Fabrício Werdum was unable to put his Jiu-Jitsu to work the way he did against Fedor Emelianenko previously. Alistair Overeem’s striking prevailed. Werdum tried on various occasions to get him into his guard, but the Dutchman wisely chose to keep it standing. When the black belt finally managed to get Alistair to go with him to the ground, his attacks came up short. Overeem defended handily and got the better of the three rounds of action, earning him the unanimous decision in his favor. Now he’ll face off with Antonio Pezão in the next stage.

Josh Barnett didn’t face much opposition in Brett Rogers. In the first round, Barnett used the grappling skills that won him a No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu World Championship to good effect. He got the takedown and the mount in the first, while the second saw him swiftly finish with an arm-and-neck choke just 1:17 minutes into the round. The “Baby Faced Assassin” will square off with Sergei Kharitanov in the grand prix semifinals.

The main card fight between Gesias Cavancante and Justin Wilcox ended in a disappointing no-contest.

Check out the results:

Strikeforce – Overeem vs. Werdum
Dallas, Texas
June 18, 2011

Heavyweight GP quarterfinals
Alistair Overeem defeated Fabricio Werdum via unanimous decision;
Josh Barnett submitted Brett Rogers via arm-and-neck choke at 1:17 min of R2;

Main card
Chad Griggs defeated Valentijn Overeem via TKO at 2:08 min of R1
Daniel Cormier defeated Jeff Monson via unanimous decision;
Jorge Masvidal defeated KJ Noons via unanimous decision;

Preliminary card
Isaac Vallie-Flagg defeated Brian Melancon via split decision;
Nah-Shon Burrell defeated Joe Ray via unanimous decision;
Conor Heun defeated Magno Almeida via unanimous decision;
JZ Cavalcante vs. Justin Wilcox ended in a no-contest.

Mas a noite ainda contou, entre outras coisas, com a ação de Gesias Cavalcante e Jeff Monson, além das belas ring girls.

Confira tudo nas fotos de Esther Lin:

[flickr set=72157626996776796]

Overeem comemora. Foto: Feg.

O Strikeforce definiu na noite deste sábado, em Dallas, as semifinais do GP de pesos pesados.

Na principal luta da noite, Fabrício Werdum não conseguiu impor novamente seu Jiu-Jitsu, o que fizera antes contra Fedor Emelianenko. Contra Alistair Overeem, prevaleceu o jogo do striker. Werdum tentou diversas vezes chamar para a guarda, mas o holandês, malandro, continuava em pé. Quando o faixa-preta conseguiu trazer Alistair para o chão, não conseguiu atacar. Overeem soube se defender e foi melhor na luta em pé nas três parciais, o que valeu a decisão unânime a seu favor. Agora ele encara Antonio Pezão na próxima fase.

Josh Barnett não teve tanto trabalho contra Brett Rogers. No primeiro round, Barnett, que já foi campeão mundial de Jiu-Jitsu sem kimono, usou bem o jogo de chão. Quedou e montou. Na segunda etapa, em 1mi17s, finalizou rápido com um katagatame. O “Cara de Bebê Assassino” segue para a semifinal do grand prix contra Sergei Kharitonov .

No card principal, resultado frustrante na luta entre Gesias Cavalcante e Justin Wilcox, que acabou em no contest.

Confira os resultados:

Strikeforce – Overeem vs Werdum
Dallas, Texas
18 de junho de 2011

Quartas de final do GP de pesados
Alistair Overeem venceu Fabricio Werdum em decisão unânime
Josh Barnett finalizou Brett Rogers com um katagatame aos 1min17s do R2

Card principal
Chad Griggs venceu Valentijn Overeem por TKO aos 2min8s do R1
Daniel Cormier venceu Jeff Monson por decisão unânime
Jorge Masvidal venceu KJ Noons por decisão unânime

Card preliminar
Isaac Vallie-Flagg venceu Brian Melancon por decisão dividida
Nah-Shon Burrell venceu Joe Ray por decisão unânime
Conor Heun venceu Magno Almeida por decisão unânime
JZ Cavalcante x Justin Wilcox terminou em no contest

Overeem and Werdum at Strikeforce weigh-ins / Photo: Esther Lin

Strikeforce will be serving up big-time excitement in Dallas this Saturday, with a heavyweight GP to die for. The most heavily anticipated fight, there’s no denying it, is between Fabrício Werdum and Alistair Overeem. However, on a card boasting Josh Barnett, Brett Rogers, Valentijn Overeem and Gesias Cavalcante, there will be no lack of action.

While waiting for the slug-fest to come, check out the highlights from the weigh-ins.

Check out the card:

Strikeforce – Overeem vs. Werdum
Dallas, Texas
June 18, 2011

Heavyweight GP quarterfinals
Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum
Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers

Main card
Valentijn Overeem vs. Chad Griggs
Daniel Cormier vs. Jeff Monson
Jorge Masvidal vs. KJ Noons

Preliminary card
Brian Melancon vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. Joe Ray
Magno Almeida vs. Conor Heun
Mike Bronzoulis vs. Todd Moore
JZ Cavalcante vs. Justin Wilcox

Overeem e Werdum na pesagem do Strikeforce. Foto: Esther Lin.

O Strikeforce promete grandes emoções neste sábado, em Dallas, com o GP de pesos pesados. A luta mais aguardada, não há como negar, é entre Fabrício Werdum e Alistair Overeem. No entanto, num card com Josh Barnett, Brett Rogers, Valentijn Overeem e Gesias Cavalcante a ação é garantida.

Enquanto o pau não começa a cantar, acompanhe os melhores momentos da pesagem:

Confira o card:

Strikeforce – Overeem vs Werdum
Dallas, Texas
18 de junho de 2011

Quartas de final do GP de pesados
Alistair Overeem x Fabricio Werdum
Josh Barnett x Brett Rogers

Card principal
Valentijn Overeem x Chad Griggs
Daniel Cormier x Jeff Monson
Jorge Masvidal x KJ Noons

Card preliminar
Brian Melancon x Isaac Vallie-Flagg
Nah-Shon Burrell x Joe Ray
Magno Almeida x Conor Heun
Mike Bronzoulis x Todd Moore
JZ Cavalcante x Justin Wilcox

The Strikeforce ring girls are part of the show. Photo: Dan Rod.

It’ll be open season this Saturday in Dallas, with the Strikeforce GP. Why watch? Well, seeing as GRACIEMAG.com readers like their Jiu-Jitsu, Fabrício Werdum will be defending the gentle art again, against jackhammer-fisted Alistair Overeem. If you like a good throw down, Josh Barnett will have his hands full against Brett Rogers. And if you’re an appreciator of beauty, Strikeforce’s ring girls are the comeliest – perhaps the ladies see something of beauty in the fighters, but I don’t think so!

Find out for yourself if all that is true in the videos below and, of course, don’t miss the coverage on GRACIEMAG.com.

Guaranteed strikefest

Ring Girls

Fabrício Werdum

As ring girls do Strikeforce são um show a parte. Foto: Dan Rod.

Neste sábado, em Dallas, o bicho vai pegar com o GP de pesados do Strikeforce. Por que acompanhar o evento? Bem, se o leitor do GRACIEMAG.com gosta do bom Jiu-Jitsu, Fabrício Werdum mais uma vez defenderá a arte suave contra a pedreira Alistair Overeem. Já se você gosta da pura pancadaria, Josh Barnett Não vai ter vida fácil contra Brett Rogers. E se o quesito for beleza, o Strikeforce conta com as ring girls mais belas – talvez as meninas achem algum dos lutadores bonitos, eu não acho!

Confira se tudo isso é verdade nos vídeos abaixo e, claro, não perca a cobertura no GRACIEMAG.com:

Pancadaria garantida

Ring Girls

Fabrício Werdum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFSvYpu14Zc