Shogun desfila com o cinturão no Bitetti Combat. Foto: Carlos Ozório

A milhas de distância de Las Vegas, no Brasil, havia um telespectador especial acompanhando à transmissão do UFC 114, no último sábado. Campeão de meio-pesados da organização, Maurício Shogun teve atenção especial no confronto entre Rashad Evans e Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Presidente do UFC, Dana White declarara anteriormente que o futuro desafiante do brasileiro sairia deste desafio.

Na luta, Evans levou a melhor nos três rounds e conquistou a oportunidade contra Shogun e de retomar o cinturão que já possuiu.

“Acho que o Rashad Evans é um grande atleta. Ele jogou na longa distância com o Rampage. Realmente o Rashad foi superior”, analisa Shogun para o GRACIEMAG.com.

Se Jackson vencesse, Maurício teria pela frente o mesmo oponente que nocauteou no GP do Pride, em 2005. Com o triunfo de Rashad, o curitibano agora encara um oponente com características diferentes.

“Ele é um lutador perigoso sim, um cara que tem a mão pesada. Com certeza é uma luta dura para qualquer um”, fala Shogun, que lembra que ainda não há nada sacramentado.

“Ainda não confirmou nada realmente, não assinamos. Mas acredito que vai ser o Rashad. Assim que o Dana White me confirmar, começo a trabalhar nessa estratégia mais efetivamente”, finaliza.

Shogun shows off his belt at Bitetti Combat. Photo: Carlos Ozório

Far from Las Vegas, in Brazil, there was a special television viewer watching last Saturday’s broadcast of UFC 114. The promotion’s light heavyweight champion, Maurício Shogun, paid special attention to the bout between Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. Before the proceedings, UFC president Dana White would announce the Brazilian’s next challenger would be the winner of this matchup.

Evans saw the better of the action during the three rounds and conquered his shot at Shogun and the opportunity to take back the belt that was once his.

“I feel Rashad Evans is a great athlete. He kept his distance against Rampage. Rashad was truly superior,” Shogun told GRACIEMAG.com.

Had Jackson won, Maurícion would have had the chance to face an opponent he knocked out back in 2005, at the Pride FC GP where he won his first title. As it was Rashad who triumphed, the Curitiba native will have to face an opponent with different characteristics.

“He’s a dangerous fighter, has heavy hands. It would be a tough fight for anybody,” says Shogun, who reminds us nothing is set in stone yet.

“Nothing is confirmed yet; nothing’s been signed. But I do believe it will be Rashad. As soon as Dana White confirms it I’ll start working on a strategy,” he says in finishing.

Bisping versus Dan Miller. Photo: Josh Hedges

Always controversial Englishman Michael Bisping had a smooth ride to his win over Jiu-Jitsu black belt Dan Miller at UFC 114 this Saturday in Las Vegas.

“All the Jiu-Jitsu guys think they’re going to submit me, but I’ve been training Jiu-Jitsu for ten years. I won a championship when I was 16 years old. People don’t know these things. I just prefer to get the knockout,” says the fighter, who is dying to get another stab at the man responsible for his last loss.

“Wanderlei Silva said he would take a rematch and I would love a rematch,” he said.

Excited about his latest result, Bisping projects what his hopes are in the octagon.

“I want to carry on like and by the end of the year or beginning of next season get a shot at the title. I want to be the first Englishman to win a UFC title. I’m the first to win The Ultimate Fighter, the first to be in a main event and I’ll be the first English champion of the world,” he says in finishing.

Bisping contra Dan Miller. Foto: Josh Hedges

Sempre polêmico, o inglês Michael Bisping venceu com tranquilidade o faixa-preta de Jiu-Jitsu Dan Miller no UFC 114, no último sábado, em Las Vegas. 

“No Jiu-Jitsu, todos acham que vão me finalizar, mas eu treino Jiu-Jitsu há muitos anos. Venci um campeonato com 16 anos. As pessoas não sabem dessas coisas. Eu apenas prefiro nocautear”, diz o lutador, que está louco para encarar novamente o responsável pela sua última derrota. 

“O Wanderlei Silva disse que daria a revanche e eu adoro revanches”, disparou. 

Empolgado com o bom resultado, Bisping faz projeções do que pretende no octagon. 

“Quero continuar assim e no final do ano ou início da próxima temporada ter a chance pelo título. Quero ser o primeiro inglês a vencer um título do UFC. Sou o primeiro a vencer no The Ultimate Fighter, o primeiro a fazer uma luta principal e serei o primeiro inglês campeão mundial”, finaliza.

Check out the photos taken by Josh Hedges.

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Photo: Josh Hedges

Rogério Minotouro didn’t have it easy at UFC 114 this Saturday in Las Vegas. He narrowly escaped attacks like the second-round guillotine Jason Brilz nearly won the fight with. The narrowly-won split decision displeased those present in the arena.

“I promise next time I’ll be better,” he said in apology while still in the octagon, to boos.

Minotouro was originally set to face Forrest Griffin, but the latter pulled out due to injury a few weeks before the event. The fighter admitted that the change caused him some problems:

“I had to change my game plan. He (Brilz) is a good striker and has good wrestling. I had to change my plan, but I’m happy to be here among the best,” he says.

“I trained a lot of muay thai because I was going to face Forrest. When they changed my opponent I had to change everything because he comes from a wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu background, likes to grapple, which is totally different from Griffin, who fights at a distance and likes to kick. I think that was hard for me,” he continues.

Despite the disagreeing audience, Minotouro feels he deserved the decision.

“I was more aggressive and I took the fight to him the whole time. I got hit some, but I was always looking for the knockout,” he said in analysis.

“He tried to take me down a lot, but I kept going for the knockout. He won the second round but everyone saw that I dominated him in the third round,” he said, without forgetting to address his boss.

“I want to thank Dana White for the opportunity. This is my place and I want to stay here for a long time still with my brother and team,” he says in finishing.

Check out the results and the analysis of the fights on the main card:

Rashad Evans vs Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Photos: Josh Hedges

Rashad Evans showed what was to come in the first 30 seconds with a powerful punch that dropped Quinton Jackson. However, the fight that started out heated only began to stir excitement in the third and final round. Rampage was being handled by Rashad when he landed a punch that knocked Evans to the ground. Rashad managed to recover and reciprocate with a takedown followed by ground and pound. The unanimous decision that came thereafter in Evans’s favor looks to have decided who will face Maurício Shogun in a light heavyweight title challenge.

Michael Bisping vs Dan Miller

In a lackluster affair, Michael Bisping calmly set the pace against Dan Miller throughout the three rounds. The bout played out entirely standing and the Englishman connected with better strikes. In the end, Bisping recovered from his loss to Wandlerlei Silva by taking the unanimous decision.

Todd Duffee vs Mike Russow

Holder of the record for quickest knockout in UFC history (7 second) Todd Duffee had a taste of his own medicine against Mike Russow. After nearly ending the bout in the first round, Duffee went on to dictate the pace from there on out, but the chubby Russow caught his muscle-bound opponent off guard in the third with a hook that dropped Duffee definitively.

Rogério Minotouro vs Jason Brilz

Anyone who thought Rogério Minotouro would have it easy against late replacement Jason Brilz was sorely mistaken. The Brazilian had his work cut out for him. After an evenly-matched first round that saw Minotouro taken to the ground, but recovered with a sweep and more aggressive striking, Brilz sunk a tight guillotine in the second. Mino managed to get back in the action, but suffered solid strikes in the standing exchanges. In the final round, the American ran out of gas and the Brazilian worked well on the ground with sweeps, gaining top position and landing a crucifix, where he trapped his opponent’s arm with his legs and threw punches to his helpless opponent’s face. The split decision rewarded Minotouro angered the crowd, which was rooting for Brilz.

John Hathaway vs Diego Sanchez

Undefeated in MMA, John Hathaway passed his first big test in the UFC in grand style. Against a Diego Sanchez returning to the welterweight division the Englishman landed a knee in the first round and nearly ended the fight with the ground and pound that ensued. In the final stages, Hathaway got the better of the standup and contained Sanchez in the minutes preceding his well-deserved unanimous-decision victory.

Preliminary fights

In the UFC 114 opening show, Ryan Jensen put away Jesse Forbes with a guillotine choke in the first round. Luis Banha lost his second fight in a row in the promotion, having been knocked out by Cyrille Diabate. Now Melvin Guillard kept up his winning ways with a knee that knocked Waylon Lowe out in the opening round.

Full results:

Las Vegas, United States

May 29, 2010

Rashad Evans defeated Quinton “Rampage” Jackson via unanimous decision

Michael Bisping defeated Dan Miller via unanimous decision

Mike Russow defeated Todd Duffee  by KO at 2:32 min of R3

Rogério Nogueira defeated Jason Brilz via split decision

John Hathaway defeated Diego Sanchez via unanimous decision

Dong Hyun Kim defeated Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision

Efrain Escudero defeated Dan Lauzon via unanimous decision

Melvin Guillard defeated Waylon Lowe via TKO at 3:28s of R1

Cyrille Diabate defeated Luiz Cane por TKO at 2:13s of R1

Aaron Riley defeated Joe Brammer via unanimous decision

Ryan Jensen submitted Jesse Forbes via guillotine at 1:06 min of R1

Confira as imagens de Josh Hedges: 

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Foto: Josh Hedges

Rogério Minotouro não teve moleza no UFC 114, neste sábado, em Las Vegas. Contra Jason Brilz, teve que se safar de armadilhas como uma justa guilhotina no segundo round. A luta foi parelha e a vitória por decisão dividida não agradou ao público presente. 

“Prometo que na próxima vez estarei melhor”, se desculpava ainda no octagon, sob vaias.  

Minoto estava escalado para encarar Forrest Griffin, mas o adversário foi trocado poucas semanas antes do desafio, por contusão. O lutador admite que isso atrapalhou: 

“Tive que mudar todo o meu plano de jogo. Ele (Brilz) é um bom striker e  tem o wrestling muito bom. Tive que mudar o meu plano, mas estou feliz de estar aqui com os melhores”, diz. 

“Treinei muito muay thai, porque enfrentaria o Forrest. Quando mudaram o oponente tive que mudar tudo, porque ele é um cara do wrestling e Jiu-Jitsu, que gosta de lutar grudado, um lutador totalmente diferente do Griffin, que joga mais afastado e gosta de chutar. Acho que isso foi muito difícil para mim”, continua.  

Apesar de o  público local não ter aprovado o resultado, Minotouro crê que mereceu a decisão.  

“Fui mais agressivo e procurei a luta todo o tempo. Sofri alguns golpes, mas sempre busquei o nocaute”, analisa.  

“Ele tentou me quedar muitas vezes, mas sempre procurei o nocaute. Me venceu o segundo round, mas, no terceiro, todos viram, eu dominei ele”, completa, sem se esquecer do patrão.  

“Agradeço ao Dana White pela oportunidade. Aqui é o meu lugar e quero estar aqui por muito tempo com o meu irmão e a minha equipe”, finaliza.

Aconteceu neste sábado, em Las Vegas, o UFC 114. Com a presença de astros como o jogador da NBA Tim Duncan, do pugilista Mike Tyson e do rapper Snoop Dogg, o ex-campeão Rashad Evans eliminou o desafeto Quinton Jackson na corrida pelo cinturão de meio-pesados. Os dois se estranham desde as gravações do reality show “The Ultimate Fighter”, mas Evans levou a melhor e poderá lutar pelo título. Em outras lutas aguardadas, Rogério Minotouro venceu a segunda no UFC e o inglês Michael Bisping se recuperou do revés para Wanderlei Silva. Mostrando a força da Inglaterra no MMA, John Hathaway não deu chances ao favorito Diego Sanchez.

Confira abaixo os resultados e as análises dos principais combates:  

Rashad Evans x Quinton “Rampage” Jackson

Foto: Josh Hedges

Nos primeiros 30 segundos, Rashad Evans já mostrou a que veio com um forte soco que abalou Quinton Jackson. Mas a luta, que começou quente, foi dar grandes emoções apenas round derradeiro. Rampage era controlado por Rashad, quando acertou uma boa sequência de socos e derrubou o oponente. Rashad conseguiu se recuperar e retribuiu com uma queda para depois trabalhar no ground and pound. A vitória por decisão unânime credencia o americano a encarar Maurício Shogun, pelo título de meio-pesados.  

Michael Bisping x Dan Miller

Numa luta sem grandes emoções, Michael Bisping controlou com tranqüilidade Dan Miller nos três rounds. O combate foi todo na trocação e o inglês conectou os melhores golpes. Ao final, Bisping se recuperou da derrota para Wanderlei Silva por decisão unânime.  

Todd Duffee x Mike Russow  

Protagonista do nocaute mais rápido na história do UFC (7 segundos), Todd Duffee provou um pouco do próprio remédio contra Mike Russow. Depois de quase definir no assalto inicial, Duffee passou a administrar o combate. Mas o gordinho Russow surpreendeu no terceiro round. Depois de um soco cruzado, viu Duffee cair nocauteado.   

Rogério Minotouro x Jason Brilz

Foto: Josh Hedges

Quem achava que Rogério Minotouro teria moleza na luta contra Jason Brilz se enganou. O baiano teve que suar para bater o oponente. Depois de um primeiro round parelho, em que Minotouro foi quedado, mas raspou e foi mais ofensivo na trocação,  Brilz apertou com tudo na guilhotina na segunda parcial. Minoto conseguiu se soltar, mas também sofreu duros golpes na trocação. No assalto final, acabou o gás do americano e o brasileiro trabalhou bem no chão com raspagens, por cima e num crucifixo, em que prendeu os braços do oponente com as pernas e soltou golpes no rosto. A decisão dividida  a favor de Minoto desagradou o público, que torcia para Brilz.

John Hathaway x Diego Sanchez

Invicto no MMA, John Hathaway passou bem pelo primeiro grande teste no UFC. Contra Diego Sanchez, que voltou a lutar no peso meio-médio, o inglês acertou uma joelhada de encontro no primeiro assalto e quase nocauteou no ground and pound. Nas etapas seguintes, Hathaway foi melhor na trocação e soube conter Sanchez nos minutos finais. Merecida vitória por decisão unânime.   

Lutas preliminares

Nos combates de abertura do UFC 114,  Ryan Jensen não deu bobeira e tratou de finalizar Jesse Forbes com uma guilhotina logo no primeiro round.  Luis Banha acabou perdendo a segunda seguida na organização, nocauteado por Cyrille Diabate. Já Melvin Guillard segue vencendo com uma joelhada que nocauteou Waylon Lowe no assalto inicial.  

Todos os resultados: 

UFC 114

Las Vegas, Estados Unidos

Dia 29 de maio de 2010

Rashad Evans venceu Quinton “Rampage” Jackson por decisão unânime  

Michael Bisping venceu Dan Miller por decisão unânime

Mike Russow venceu Todd Duffee  por KO aos 2min32s do R3

Rogério Nogueira venceu Jason Brilz por decisão uânime

John Hathaway venceu Diego Sanchez por decisão unânime

 Dong Hyun Kim venceu Amir Sadollah por decisão unânime

 Efrain Escudero venceu Dan Lauzon  por decisão unânime

Melvin Guillard venceu Waylon Lowe por TKO aos 3min28s do R1

 Cyrille Diabate venceu Luiz Cane por TKO aos 2min13s do R1 

Aaron Riley venceu Joe Brammer por decisão unânime  

Ryan Jensen finalizou Jesse Forbes com uma guilhotina aos 1min6s do R1

Mario Yamasaki raises Thales Leites's arm at Bitetti Combat 6. Photo: Carlos Ozorio

UFC referee and Jiu-Jitsu black belt Mario Yamasaki will see action this Friday at Bitetti Combat in Rio de Janeiro. To make it for the occasion, Mario had to ask to be released from his duties at UFC 114 in Las Vegas this Saturday. What were his reasons for doing so? To support MMA in his country.

“To give you an idea, there’s going to be a UFC this Saturday. I spoke to Bitetti and Fernando and they told me they wanted me at their event. I chose to stay out this time because I want to help MMA in Brazil. The sport started in Brazil and we have to be strong. People have to support the events and not just try and get in free or criticize. What we need in the country is support and sponsors,” he told GRACIEMAG.com.

The fact he will referee at BC doesn’t mean he is unsatisfied with the UFC. Indeed, Yamasaki is more than satisfied with the biggest event in the world, even with his boss, the controversial Dana White.

“He’s always been great to me and is a great guy. I have no complaints. There are a lot of people who criticize Bitetti Combat, for example. But the guys at the event have always dealt with me properly and that’s why I’m here. Dana’s a good boss.”

In the USA the ref supports different events too, like he did with Washington Combat recently, where he had Pedro Rizzo and Gustavo Ximu put in appearances.

“What I do is support the event, whether it be by using my fighter or sponsor contacts. I can’t get involved in the production because I’m a referee. I leave that to my brother, but I give all the support needed for success,” he says in finishing.