Braga Neto wins by knee bar. Photo: Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

Last weekend, Antônio Braga Neto made his UFC debut with a bang. The black belt opened up TUF Brazil 2 Finale in Fortaleza, and used a super-tight leg lock to beat Anthony Smith, who was coming off a loss to another black belt in Roger Gracie at Strikeforce back in January.

Neto now has four consecutive MMA wins and has shown Dana White that Jiu-Jitsu is not boring – it’s efficient.

In a chat with GRACIEMAG.com, the fighter spoke about his first time in the UFC Octagon, the move that gave him the victory, and more. Check it out.

GRACIEMAG: How do you analyze your first UFC bout?

BRAGA NETO: It was very good. I’m very glad about the result – getting the submission will always be my goal. Rest assured I’ll always try to get the tapout and I’ll always believe in it. I felt great; I got emotional in my entrance because I knew that was the most important moment of my life. Unfortunately for Anthony Smith, he was in my path.

You displayed good standup and good ground game and used your Jiu-Jitsu to full effect against Smith. How was the fight?

I felt two strikes and felt my nose bleeding, but nothing I wasn’t ready for. After that I thought I had to attempt a submission soon, for I wasn’t sure how bad the bleeding was. I ended up getting lucky. The moment we got in a shuffle I knew I’d use the cage to get out. After he rolled on top of me, I first tried for an ankle lock and then went straight for his knee. I used my hip to apply pressure and that was the end of it.

What did it mean to you to be a part of the UFC event that broke the record number of submissions?

I had no idea I was going to get the night’s prize, but regardless it was great to see Jiu-Jitsu’s worth in the MMA arena. I’m very happy to be in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. I know I now have a job and I may get called up to fight any time. So I’ll always be making an effort to be in my best shape.

Léo Santos handles fame with humor, but can only think of resting after long months of nonstop training. Photo: Carol Correia.

Léo Santos grew slowly in the competition. The 33-year-old was not deemed a favorite to win TUF Brazil 2, but he blew the minds of a lot of people as he fought the show’s most exciting, active bout versus Santiago Ponzinibbio in the semifinals.

Last Saturday he clashed with one of the show’s most charismatic characters in William Patolino, and saw himself in the position of the underdog. Not letting the pressure of the  crowd or his opponent’s heavy hands get to him, the BJJ black belt focused on his goal and attained a UFC contract as he got Patolino to tap out due to a katagatame.

Today, Santos is known all across Brazil, but has yet to get used to his newfound fame and lack of time. But he was gracious enough to grant GRACIEMAG.com an interview where he talked about life after winning the TUF Brazil 2 finale.

“To tell you the truth I was shocked at the power of TV,” Santos said. “I became an idol overnight, people recognize me on the streets … I want to harvest the fruits of all that’s happening, but all in good time. Right now all I can do is get some rest because I still haven’t gotten any. This Tuesday I’m heading to Nova União to thank the teammates who helped me get this far.”

On whether it was hard facing such a beloved fighter as Patolino, Léo said with a smile, “He is more extroverted and I’m more shy. I noticed most of the crowd was supporting him at
the beginning, but when they saw my will to win was greater, they decided to get behind me. I knew recognition was only gonna come through hard work.”

Coming from a Jiu-Jitsu background, the champion didn’t hide his happiness for having won with a katagatame.

“I feel unique because of my Jiu-Jitsu,” he said. “So far I hadn’t been able to show this in the UFC, so winning TUF via submission was really the best thing that could have happened to me. I was even thinking I had become a striker, but after this bout I see the gentle art is in my veins, in my soul – it’s a part of me.”

Frazzled from so many professional obligations, Santos does not yet think about returning to the Octagon. First he wants to take time to discuss with his coaches about what weight class he’ll be fighting at, but even before that he just wants to enjoy some long-overdue vacation time.

“My team and I are going to converse about weight classes,” said the new UFC employee. “Of course I’d be very strong at lower weights, but I did enjoy not having to give up eating the stuff I like. I got down to 77kg easily and the experience was good. I’ll decide this with people with more Octagon experience, but for now I’m chill. There’s no date for my next fight. When I start resting, I’ll start thinking about when I’m gonna resume my training,”

The gym in Fortaleza underwent a renovation and will host the TUF Brazil 2 Finale. Photo: Secel / Disclosed

After many speculations about the location of the finale of “TUF Brazil 2,” the UFC finally revealed on its website that the Gym Paulo Sarasate, in Fortaleza, will stage the fighting of June 8.

The coaches of the program this year, Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and Fabricio Werdum will make the main fight of the night. The debut of Rafael Feijao, former Strikeforce champion and the final of welterweight of the event will also be held on the date.

The Gym Paulo Sarasate has a capacity of around 10,000 people and underwent a major renovation that was completed earlier this year. The UFC will release ticket sales soon, after all, we are only 51 days from the show.

Check out the card of the event:

TUF Brazil 2 Finale
Gym Paulo Sarasate, Fortaleza, Ceará
June 8, 2013

Rodrigo Minotauro vs. Fabricio Werdum
Finalist 1 vs. Finalist 2
Rafael Feijão vs. Thiago Silva
Rony Jason vs. Mike Wilkinson
Daniel Sarafian vs. Eddie Mendez
Erick Silva vs. John Hathaway
Ronny Markes vs. Derek Brunson
Ildemar Marajó vs. Jason High
Raphael Assunção vs. Vaughan Lee
Antônio Braga Neto vs. Anthony Smith
Caio Monstro vs. Karlos Vemola
Godofredo Pepey vs. Felipe Sertanejo
Rodrigo Damn vs. Mizuto Hirota

The longtime cornerman discussed returning to Brazil to help Fabricio Werdum coach The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 2, and shared his thoughts on his fighter rematching Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira later this year.

Check out the exclusive video interview below.

For more UFC and MMA coverage,

visit GRACIEMAG.com’s Choke MMA section

Photo by Mike Poeschle for www.peshphoto.com

Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” / Photo by John Lamonica/GRACIEMAG.com

A four-time world champion of both Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” has got a full agenda.

This week he was called on to help Fabricio Werdum coach his team on the second season of the TUF Brazil reality show, shooting of which will only begin in 2013. The black belt will join the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Rafael Cordeiro, Felipe Werdum and Kenny Johnson on the coaching staff.

Before getting to watch the Jiu-Jitsu professor from Team Alliance every Sunday on Globo channel, though, anyone in Brazil can get to learn from him live and in person.

Cobrinha will be teaching seminars in the State of São Paulo, the first of which is coming up on the 14th, at the São Carlos Judo Association. Entry costs BRL 50, and all the proceeds will go to a social project under team Bushido. The program attends to the needs of 80 underprivileged children, helping them to gain social inclusion through the practice of sports.

On November 17, Cobrinha will be teaching his tricks at Espaço do Corpo Academy in São Paulo City. The cost is BRL 80.

For further information, call (16) 9711-3209 and speak with Mauro Pacífico, or call (11) 2606-9250.

For a taste of what’s to come, check out Cobrinha and his lethal de la Riva guard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-fU-O-9QCs

Rubens Cobrinha sinks a submission at the 2012 No-Gi Worlds. Now he’s set to shine on Brazilian television broadcasting giant Globo. Photo by John Lamonica/GRACIEMAG.

Via his Twitter account, Jiu-Jitsu ace Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” Maciel announced that he will indeed be taking part in the second season of the TUF Brazil reality show, in 2013. He will be the grappling coach for the team of Fabricio Werdum, who will take on Rodrigo Minotauro and his team of newbie welterweights.

With two-time world champion Werdum and four-time champion Cobrinha (who also added a fourth world title in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu to his ledger last weekend), the expectations of Jiu-Jitsu fans in Brazil shoot through the stratosphere: could they learn something new in Jiu-Jitsu on Globo Network next year?

Share your thoughts in the comments field below, gentle reader.

The TUF teams

Originally a capoeira stylist and now a black belt with acrobatic maneuvers, Rubens Cobrinha wields a potent guard game both in and out of the gi. He hasn’t made his MMA debut yet. He will join forces with Wanderlei Silva, former Chute Boxe coach Rafael Cordeiro, Kenny Johnson the wrestling coach, and Felipe Werdum, the capoeira-stylist brother of the heavyweight.

Minotauro’s picks for coaches

Luiz Dórea, Everaldo Penco (Jiu-Jitsu), Eric Albarracin (wrestling), Sheymon Moraes and Vitor Miranda (Thai boxing).

Rodrigo Minotauro, coaching a team on “TUF” for the second time / Publicity photo

The wait is over: the head coaches for season two of the TUF Brazil reality show have been announced. Jiu-Jitsu black belts Rodrigo Minotauro and Fabricio Werdum have verbally agreed to captain the green and blue teams.

The two heavyweight stars have already faced off once before, in the Pride FC absolute GP of 2006. Refresh your memory of the complete fight here.

The reality show is scheduled to premiere in March 2013, and this time it will only feature one weight class: the welterweight, under-77 kg/-155 lb, division. Tryouts are already underway and the names of the 32 initial participants should be released in December.

Now, the two Brazilian team captains already have prior experience coaching on the show. Minotauro coached opposite Frank Mir on the eighth season of the American version of the program, while Werdum headed the grappling training for Wanderlei Silva’s team on the inaugural TUF season in Brazil.

The maiden season of TUF Brazil was marked by the rivalry between Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. Wand didn’t end up facing Vitor, due to the latter injuring his hand before the big day. Wanderlei hence went on to face Rich Franklin, losing via judges’ decision at the UFC event in Belo Horizonte City.

What do you say, gentle reader, is Jiu-Jitsu well served in the TUF house? How do you like the choice of coaches?

Let us know in the comments field below.