Overeem nem precisou gastar o Jiu-Jitsu na estreia no UFC. Agora o desafio é o campeão Cigano. Foto: UFC/Divulgação.

Logo após a vitória de Alistair Overeem sobre Brock Lesnar, no primeiro assalto da luta principal do UFC 141, hordas de repórteres foram atrás de Junior Cigano com a singela e inevitável pergunta. “E agora, campeão?”.

Cigano, calejado como seu punho direito, comentou que não se impressionou com o muay thai ou com o chutaço do holandês, que abalroou as costelas do gigante americano Lesnar, por sinal devidamente aposentado após o nocaute técnico.

“Overeem é um grande lutador, bate forte, mas eu confio no meu boxe”, resumiu o campeão peso pesado.

Em termos de mão, dificilmente alguém discorda do astro brasileiro para a luta que vai valer o cinturão, lá pelo meio do ano. No chão, numa eventual troca de posições, é que pode morar o perigo. Cigano sabe disso.

Na ponta do lápis, Overeem, invicto desde 2007, finalizou 17 adversários com a ajuda do Jiu-Jitsu, oito apenas com a famigerada guilhotina. Mas seu jogo é mais versátil que isso, como o GRACIEMAG mostra a seguir. Com vocês, cinco dos maiores momentos da feição suave de Alistair Overeem.

1. Overeem pega Belfort no Jiu-Jitsu

Na Saitama Super Arena, Vitor Belfort e o holandês se embolaram, na primeira fase do Pride GP meio-pesado, em 2005. Grogue em pé, Vitor foi presa fácil no Jiu-Jitsu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upIx2hxFE2E

2. O melhor da Europa na luta agarrada

Na seletiva europeia para o ADCC 2005, Overeem sobrou. Finalizou todos os oponentes no pescoço. Na final, encarou o sueco Mikael Grothe, e passou grande parte da luta na meia-guarda. Tentou alguns botes sem sucesso, mas que foram importantes para desviar a atenção do oponente. Até que, no cem-quilos, veio o ataque final. Overeem deixou um espaço para o sueco virar de quatro, e aí sim, com o pescoço na mira certinha para a guilhotina.

 3. Overeem também tem guarda

No ano 2000, o novato Alistair era apenas o irmão promissor de Valentijn Overeem, o homem que no ano seguinte finalizaria Randy Couture. Alistair encarou no Japão, pelo evento Ring Millenium, o local Yasuhito Namekawa, quando mostrou que sua guarda de Jiu-Jitsu era mais do que um escudo, era uma arma das perigosas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLp2pxRYbA

4. Jiu-Jitsu invertido

No Dream 5, em 2008, contra o mão-de-pedra Mark Hunt, Overeem investiu no jogo de solo. Encaixou a americana invertida, que o neozelandês tentou defender capotando. Veja como terminou.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pty8Ma8QDbU

5. Esganando o ganso com o Jiu-Jitsu

Overeem, em 2000, provou mais uma vez a lei de Helio Gracie: “Contra o sono, não tem valente”. Contra Vladimer Tchanturia, no Ring 2000, Overeem fintou o braço, mas ele queria mesmo era o pescoço. Com o gogó inimigo exposto, o holandês encaixou o esgana-ganso, apelido do mata-leão sem o braço atrás da cabeça.

E para você leitor, faltou algum grande lance? Você acha que o Jiu-Jitsu de Overeem é capaz de surpreender o campeão Cigano? Comente a seguir, logo abaixo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gtUo-_02U

Overeem didn't need to rely on his Jiu-Jitsu on his UFC debut. His next challenge is the champ, Cigano. Photo: UFC/publicity.

Just after Alistair Overeem pummeled Brock Lesnar into retirement in the first round of their encounter at UF 141, there were hordes of reporters on Junior Cigano’s tailcoats with a simple and inevitable question: “What now, champ?”

Cigano, as calloused as his right fist, remarked that he wasn’t impressed by the Dutchman’s Muay Thai or the liver kick that crumpled the monstrous-proportioned Lesnar to the ground and opened the way to the technical knockout.

“Overeem is a great fighter; he hits hard but I have faith in my boxing,” said the heavyweight champion in summary.

Where fists are concerned, it’s hard to argue against the Brazilian heavyweight holding his own when the two square off midway through the year. On the ground, though—should it go there—, that’s where the danger lies. Cigano knows it.

On paper, Overeem, who hasn’t lost a fight since 2007, has put away 17 opponents using his Jiu-Jitsu, eight of them with his notorious guillotine choke. But his game is more well-rounded than that, as GRACIEMAG.com will paint a picture of below, with five of Alistair Overeem gentle art highlights.

1. OVEREEM NABS BELFORT’S NECK

Vitor Belfort and the Dutchman tangled at the Saitama Super Arena for the opening stage of the Pride middleweight GP of 2005. Already dazed on his feet, Vitor was easy pray for “The Reem’s” Jiu-Jitsu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upIx2hxFE2E

2. BEST GRAPPLER IN EUROPE

At the European tryouts for the 2005 ADCC, Overeem was a cut above the rest, choking every one of his opponents out for the win. In the final he took on Mikael Grothe and spent most of the match in the Swede’s half-guard. He made a few unsuccessful attack attempts; they were important in that they diverted his opponent’s attention, though. Until the final attack came, from side-control Overeem allowed Grothe enough room to turn on all fours; that’s when the guillotine showed up in Overeem’s cross-hairs.

3. OVEREEM’S GOT GUARD TOO

In the year 2000, Alistair the rookie was just the promising brother of Valentijn Overeem, the man who the following year would submit Randy Couture. Alistair took on local boy Yasuhito Namekawa in Japan and showed that his guard was more than just a shield; it was a lethal weapon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtLp2pxRYbA

4. REVERSE JIU-JITSU

At Dream 5 in 2008, facing the heavy-handed Mark Hunt, Overeem put all his chips on his ground game, sinking a reverse americana armbar, which the Kiwi tried defending by flipping over. Watch how it ended.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pty8Ma8QDbU

5. STRANGLING THE GEORGIAN GOOSE WITH JIU-JITSU

In 2000, Overeem again proved Helio Gracie’s Law: “There isn’t a tough guy out there who can hold out against oncoming sleep.” Against Vladimer Tchanturia at Rings 2000, Overeem faked a lunge at an arm, but what he really wanted was a neck. With his enemy’s throat exposed, the Dutchman sunk a goose-strangler, the nickname for a rear-naked choke without the arm behind the head.

What do you think, dear reader, is some big highlight missing? Think Overeem’s Jiu-Jitsu can catch the champion off guard? Post your thoughts in the comments section below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8gtUo-_02U

Photo: UFC

The purses paid out to the fighters on the card for the final UFC event of the year have been released by the promoters. Neither Luis Beição and Matt Riddle—a match-up dropped from the card due to Riddle falling ill—were left without their keep, although their purses were not mentioned in the report. The biggest earner was Brock Lesnar, who entered retirement after falling at the hands of Alistair Overeem. Taking home extra money for putting in the best performances of the event: Nate Diaz and Donald Cerrrone earned an extra 75 K each for the “Fight of the Night”, Johny Hendricks earned the same sum for “Knockout of the Night”, while nobody got the prize for best submission because none surfaced.

Check out the purse list:

Alistair Overeem: $385,714.28
Brock Lesnar: $400,000

Nate Diaz: $74,000 + $75,000 (Fight of the Night bonus)
Donald Cerrone: $30,000 + $75,000 (Fight of the Night bonus)

Johny Hendricks: $52,000 + $75,000 (Knockout of the Night bonus)
Jon Fitch: $60,000

Alexander Gustafsson: $32,000
Vladimir Matyushenko: $40,000

Jim Hettes: $16,000
Nam Phan: $8,000

Ross Pearson: $40,000
Junior Assunção: $8,000

Danny Castillo: $38,000
Anthony Njokuani: $12,000

Dong Hyun Kim: $82,000
Sean Pierson: $8,000

Jacob Volkmann: $32,000
Efrain Escudero: $10,000

Diego Nunes: $24,000
Manny Gamburyan: $18,000

Brock Lesnar hung up his gloves after losing in the first round. Photos: UFC/Publicity.

The last fight on the card at UFC 141, the promotion’s final event of the year 2011, turned out to be Brock Lesnar’s swan song. After having suffered from diverticulitis and two subsequent operations to treat it, could the giant be a match for the strength and skill of the experienced promotional first timer Alistair Overeem? The outcome Friday night proved he couldn’t.

Brock, who shot to fame on the pro-wrestling circuit, did start out well that night in Las Vegas, though, opening a cut by Overeem’s eye with a solid punch. But Alistair was just biding his time till encountering the right distance and moment to unleash his strikes without getting taken to the ground, which Brock made two attempts at doing. Until Overeem landed a shin to the monster’s ribs. One, two , three seconds and Lesnar finally felt the pain, backpedaling until his back was against the fencing, and the Dutchman wound up the massacre.

“I promise the fans and my wife that I’m officially retiring from MMA,” Lesnar announced in the cage during the post-fight interview with Joe Rogan. “If I’d won today, I’d have tried for the belt one last time; but since I lost, I’ll retire,” said Lesnar in closing out his career in the promotion, then congratulating the multi-promotional champion who drove him into retirement.

Diaz and Cerrone in a barnburner

On seeing his opponent again sporting his trademark cowboy hat just before Bruce Buffer made the official announcement of his unanimous decision victory, Nate Diaz couldn’t resist and gave it a flick—this time with no ill will about it.

With the gesture he seemed to be saying that, however disconcerting, his having sent the very hat flying at the pre-event press conference proved to be good luck. Indeed, Nate Diaz put in the best performance of his career that Friday night in Vegas, the last fight of the night. At the outset, he clinched with Cerrone up against the fencing and tried to get Cerrone off his feet. Next, though, he pulled a surprise, backing up and punishing the “Cowboy’s” nose with lightning quick straight punches, jabs and hooks that landed without causing too much discomfort.

 

And there was much of the same up until the third round. Greg Jackson, in Cerrone’s corner pleaded with his protege desperately, “Five minutes of hell! I want five minutes of hell from you; or do you want to go home with that taste of defeat?” But aside from getting uprooted by some kicks to his back leg and landing on the ground, Nate kept bringing it. All the cowboy had left to do was go home defeated for the first time in seven fights, and hide his sorrow behind the brim of his hat. The rodeo didn’t go as he’d expected it would.

Leading up to the climax

UFC 141 was sputtering as it got started but picked up steam as it went. The first let-down came just before the show kicked off in the MGM Arena, when the promoters announced Matt Riddle had come down with the flu and wouldn’t be able to make his commitment with Luis “Beição” Ramos.

Due to the pay-per-view time allotment, the event was delayed by 15 minutes before Diego Nunes and Manny Gamburyan got the show started. Having voiced his anger towards the Nova União fighter before the fight, Manny started out getting the better of the takedown and striking action. But Diego was turned the tides as the fight played out, earning the unanimous decision once the three rounds were done, something no one quite understood.

Jacob Volkmann and Efrain Escudero were up next, taking the place on the card of Beição and Riddle, and chugged along in first gear. Escudero irked the crowd by repeatedly trying the same guillotine hold over and over again to no avail, landing on bottom and letting Volkmann get side control and pressure him using his shoulder. But in the third round, when all seemed to be lost for Escudero, he showed he did in fact know what he was doing, latching on to Volkmann’s neck with what looked to be a fight-ending choke, as the clock ticked out the final seconds of the fight. “He’s breathing through a straw,” remarked “Joinha” Guimarães, the commentator on Brazil’s Combate channel,” as Volkmann hung on until the final bell and took the unanimous nod.

The always reliable South Korean Dong Hyun Kim moved the show into second gear, using his judo and ever-improving striking to outdo Canada’s Sean Pierson, who kept in the fight throughout but dropped the Facebook-broadcast fight by unanimous decision to his opponent’s convincing performance.

Lights out for Fitch: a first

The action picked up pace in the fights that followed, with Danny Castillo eking out a decision win over the Nigerian Anthony Njokuani and Ross Pearson outpointing the Brazilian Junior Assunção. While Castillo won by getting more takedowns and putting on a bit of pressure on the ground, Ross Pearson won by landing a few more strikes over Assunção in the standup action.

The event would only make it to third gear in the main card. A Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida purple belt, the fresh-faced Jimy Hettes displayed the Jiu-Jitsu of a veteran in drubbing Vietnam’s Nam Phan. Also a judo black belt, Jimy annuled Nam standing and punished him on the ground with strikes, armbar attempts mounts—a complete menu. “Judo and Jiu-Jitsu together are like a filet and good red wine,” posted UFC heavyweight Shane Carwin over Twitter.

From there on out things heated up, and Sweden’s Alexander Gustafsson plowed his Volvo through the seasoned Vladimir Matyushenko, 40; knocking him out with a well-placed fist to the jowl two minutes after the opening bell. Even quicker on the trigger was welterweight Johnny Hendricks, who made a promise and kept it: he threw a left hook that knocked Jon Fitch out just 12 seconds into the fight. A dazed Fitch, who was coming off a shoulder injury, tried grappling with the referee who threw himself in the line of fire to prevent further injury to the downed fighter, before realizing he had been disconnected. Hendricks should now face GSP for the title by the end of 2012.

Savvy young Jimy against Nam Phan: undefeated thus far in his career

UFC 141

Las Vegas, United States

December 30, 2011

Alistar Overeem defeated Brock Lesnar via technical knockout at 2:26 min of R1;

Nate Diaz defeated Donald Cerrone via unanimous judges’ decision;

Johny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch at 0.12 min of R1;

Alexander Gustafsson knocked out Vladimir Matyushenko at 2:13 min of R1;

Jim Hettes defeated Nam Phan via unanimous decision.

Preliminary card (American TV):

Ross Pearson defeated Junior Assunção via unanimous decision;

Danny Castillo defeated Anthony Njokuani via split decision.

Card Preliminar (Facebook):

Dong Hyun Kim defeated Sean Pierson via unanimous decision;

Jacob Volkmann defeated Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision;

Matt Riddle vs Luis Ramos – canceled (Matt was pulled from the card due to influenza, according to UFC);

Diego Nunes defeated Manny Gamburyan via unanimous decision.

Ross dishes out elbows on Junior Assunção from the bottom. "I did everything I could to win", lamented the Brazilian, who lost the decision.

Foto: UFC.

O UFC já divulgou os salários do último evento do ano. Nem mesmo Luis Beição e Matt Riddle – a luta caiu pois Riddle ficou doente – deixaram de receber, apesar de os salários não aparecerem na relação. Quem recebeu a maior quantia foi Brock Lesnar, que se aposentou após o revés para Alistair Overeem. Jaós bônus da noite foram para Nate Diaz e Donald Cerrone (Melhor Luta) e Johny Hendricks, com o nocaute sobre Jon Fitch. Não houve finalizações no UFC 141.

Confira todos os salários:

Alistair Overeem: $385,714.28
Brock Lesnar: $400,000

Nate Diaz: $74,000 + $75,000 (bônus de melhor luta)
Donald Cerrone: $30,000 + $75,000 (bônus de melhor luta)

Johny Hendricks: $52,000 + $75,000 (bônus de melhor nocaute)
Jon Fitch: $60,000

Alexander Gustafsson: $32,000
Vladimir Matyushenko: $40,000

Jim Hettes: $16,000
Nam Phan: $8,000

Ross Pearson: $40,000
Junior Assunção: $8,000

Danny Castillo: $38,000
Anthony Njokuani: $12,000

Dong Hyun Kim: $82,000
Sean Pierson: $8,000

Jacob Volkmann: $32,000
Efrain Escudero: $10,000

Diego Nunes: $24,000
Manny Gamburyan: $18,000

Brock Lesnar pendurou as luvas após perder no primeiro assalto. Fotos: UFC/Divulgação.

A última luta do UFC 141, no último evento do ano, era um tira-teima para Brock Lesnar. Após uma diverticulite e cirurgias, seria o gigante capaz de continuar lutando em alto nível, e contra um estreante do porte de Alistair Overeem? O resultado desta sexta-feira provou que não.

Brock, superastro do pro-wrestling, bem que começou a luta em Las Vegas ferindo Overeem no olho, com um bom soco. Mas Alistair aguardava apenas a distância e a hora certas de bater sem ser derrubado, o que Brock tentou umas duas vezes. Até que Overeem soltou a canelada nas costelas do monstro. Um, dois, três segundos, e Lesnar enfim sentiu a dor. Arriou, de costas para a grade, e o holandês terminou a demolição.

“Prometo aos fãs, e à minha esposa, que estou aposentado do MMA oficialmente”, disse Lesnar a Joe Rogan, ainda no octagon. “Se eu vencesse hoje, tentaria uma última luta pelo cinturão, mas como perdi, me aposento”, encerrou, parabenizando o oponente holandês.

Levinhos levantam plateia

Boné na cabeça, Nate Diaz não resistiu. Ao ver o rival Donald Cerrone vestido novamente de caubói, pouco antes de Bruce Buffer anunciar sua vitória por decisão unânime, o pupilo de Cesar Gracie o cumprimentou, e deu um leve tapinha (agora amistoso) no chapéu do oponente.

Parecia dizer, com o gesto, que o voo do chapéu na coletiva de imprensa, apesar do mal-estar criado, tinha dado sorte. Nate Diaz, de fato, realizou a melhor exibição de sua carreira na noite desta sexta, em Las Vegas, pelo UFC 141, na penúltima luta da noite. Primeiro, ficou agarrado a Cerrone, tentando derrubar o rival dono de bons chutes e finalizações. A seguir, no entanto, surpreendeu ao se afastar e castigar o nariz do “Cowboy” com socos retos e muito rápidos, jabs e diretos que entravam sem ser incomodados.

E assim foi até o terceiro assalto. Greg Jackson, no córner de Cerrone, invocava desesperado: “Cinco minutos de inferno! Eu te peço cinco minutos de inferno, ou você quer ir para casa com aquele gosto da derrota na boca?”. Mas apesar de algumas bandas, Nate não perdeu o rumo. Restou ao caubói ir embora com o sangue amargo na boca, e o chapéu escondendo a cara triste. O rodeio não saiu como esperado.

Antes do clímax

O UFC 141 começou como um carro engasgado, e a partir daí foi engrenando. A primeira enguiçada deu-se antes do início da noite na MGM Arena, quando os organizadores anunciaram que Matt Riddle estava sentindo-se mal, devido a uma forte gripe, e não lutaria contra Luis “Beição” Ramos, da Nova União.

Por conta do horário de pay-per-view, o evento atrasou uns 15 minutos por conta disso, mas enfim deu a partida com Diego Nunes contra Manny Gamburyan. Após se dizer com raiva do gaúcho da Nova União, Manny quedou e socou melhor. Mas Diego erguia-se rápido, e no fim os jurados deram uma vitória por decisão unânime para o brasileiro, algo que ninguém compreendeu direito.

Jacob Volkmann e Efrain Escudero entraram para lutar a seguir, na hora de Beição e Riddle, e passaram a primeira marcha. Escudero irritou os fãs ao tentar toda hora a mesma guilhotina, caindo por baixo e permitindo que Jacob caísse do lado, socando e amassando o mexicano com o ombro. Mas, no terceiro assalto, o até então perdido Efrain provou que sabia o que fazia, e arrochou o pescoço de Volkmann sem piedade, enquanto o relógio corria. “Ele está respirando de canudinho”, comentou Jorge “Joinha” Guimarães no canal Combate, enquanto Volkmann resistia até o gongo final. No fim, vitória unânime para Jacob.

A segunda marcha foi passada por um sul-coreano, sempre confiável. Mais esguio, Dong Hyun Kim usou seu judô e a envergadura para jogar por cima do canadense Sean Pierson, que jamais se entregou no chão, mas perdeu por decisão unânime, em luta transmitida no Facebook.

Fitch desplugado: cena rara no UFC.

As lutas seguintes, ainda mais aceleradas, trouxeram as vitórias apertadas de Danny Castillo sobre o nigeriano Anthony Njokuani, e a de Ross Pearson sobre o pernambucano Junior Assunção. Se Castillo venceu ao derrubar mais e ficar amassando um pouco no chão, Ross Pearson venceu Junior por alguns golpes em pé a mais.A terceira marcha só seria passada no card principal. Faixa-roxa de Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida, o garoto Jimy Hettes mostrou um Jiu-Jitsu de veterano ao passear sobre o vietnamita Nam Phan. Faixa-marrom de judô, Jimy acuava Nam em pé e castigava no chão, com socos, tentativas de chave de braço, bordoadas da montada, um cardápio completo. “Judô e Jiu-Jitsu juntos são como um filé e um bom vinho tinto”, elogiou Shane Carwin, peso pesado do UFC, no Twitter.

A partir daí a coisa esquentou, e o sueco Alexander Gustafsson passou seu Volvo por cima do veterano “Zelador” Vladimir Matyushenko, 40 anos, que tomou um nocaute no queixo a dois minutos do primeiro assalto. Mais rápido ainda foi o meio-médio Johny Hendricks, que prometeu e cumpriu: soltou a mão canhota e nocauteou Jon Fitch aos 12s de luta. Fitch, que vinha de contusão no ombro, chegou a se embolar com o árbitro, até perceber que tinha sido desconectado. Hendricks deve enfrentar GSP pelo cinturão até o fim de 2012.

O garoto Jimy contra Nam Phan: invicto na carreira.

UFC 141

Las Vegas, Estados Unidos

30 de dezembro de 2011

Alistar Overeem venceu Brock Lesnar por nocaute técnico aos 2min26s do R1

Nate Diaz venceu Donald Cerrone por decisão unânime dos jurados

Johny Hendricks nocauteou Jon Fitch aos 12s do R1

Alexander Gustafsson nocauteou Vladimir Matyushenko aos 2min13s do R1

Jim Hettes venceu Nam Phan por decisão unânime

Card Preliminar (TV americana)

Ross Pearson venceu Junior Assunção por decisão unânime dos jurados

Danny Castillo venceu Anthony Njokuani por decisão dividida

Card Preliminar (Facebook)

Dong Hyun Kim venceu Sean Pierson por decisão unânime dos jurados

Jacob Volkmann venceu Efrain Escudero por decisão unânime

Matt Riddle vs Luis Ramos – cancelada (Matt ficou fortemente gripado segundo o UFC)

Diego Nunes venceu Manny Gamburyan por decisão unânime

Por baixo, Ross solta o braço em Junior Assunção. "Eu fiz tudo o que foi possível para vencer", lamentou o brasileiro, após a derrota por decisão.

UFC 141
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
December 30, 2011

Alistair Overeem knocked out Brock Lesnar in R1

Nate Diaz defeated Donald Cerrone via unanimous decision

Johnny Hendricks knocked out Jon Fitch early in R1

Alexander Gustafsson knocked out Vladimir Matyushenko in R1

Jim Hettes defeated Nam Phan via unanimous decision

Under card (American TV)

Ross Pearson defeated Junior Assunção via unanimous judges’ decision

Danny Castillo defeated Anthony Njokuani via split decision

Under card (Facebook broadcast)

Dong Hyun Kim defeated Sean Pierson via unanimous judges’ decision

Jacod Volkmann defeated Efrain Escudero via unanimous decision

Matt Riddle vs. Luis Ramos—fight cancelled due to Riddle suffering from influenza

Diego Nunes defeated Manny Gamburyan via split decision

Segundo a Dieta Gracie, o bom remédio natural para a gripe é água de coco e tâmara, ou ainda suco de rabanete com cenoura. Matt Riddle, seguramente, não conhece a receita, e após uma forte gripe, foi retirado do card do UFC 141, esta noite em Las Vegas. Segundo informações do UFC, Matt teria pedido para lutar mesmo mal, mas a Comissão Atlética de Nevada vetou.

O cancelamento da luta entre Matt e Luis “Beição” Ramos acabou atrasando a transmissão do UFC 141 em 15 minutos. A expectativa segue para o card do evento. “Este UFC vai chegar a um bilhão de pessoas, o céu é o limite para o MMA então”, disparou o comentarista do canal Combate, Jorge “Joinha” Guimarães.