Roan Carneiro (Pictures) is in Atlanta, training for his return to the Octagon on Dec. 29 against Peruvian Tony DeSouza (Pictures). The Brazilian welterweight, 11-6, fought most recently in June, losing via rear-naked choke to Jon Fitch (Pictures).


Carneiro knows he won't have an easy time with DeSouza, 10-3, who is coming off a knockout loss in December 2006 to Thiago Alves (Pictures).

"I thought he is an excellent choice," Carneiro said of the matchup with DeSouza. "He is a well-known guy. He is very experienced and tough. Man, I like this guy!"

UFC 79 promises to be one of the better events this year, and Carneiro guarantees that, if it's up to him, he will make his fight the best of the night.

"It will be an amazing fight," Carneiro said. "Both of us lost our last fights, so we have to give our best."

Torres Wins Again in Shooto Brazil

The fourth edition of Shooto Brazil, organized by André Pederneiras on Oct. 27, featured young Ronni Torres' stoppage of "Bicudinho" in the first round. Torres had already been victorious in the first three editions of the show. Will Ribeiro and Geovani Diniz also shined with outstanding victories.

Results:

Class A
Geovani Diniz (Nova União/Nobre Arte) def. Jamil Silverio (Pequeno) arm triangle choke R2
Will Ribeiro (Boxe Thai) def. Willian Viana (Tatá) KO R3
Rodolpho Marques (Nova União) def. Fábio Oliveira (Tatá) decision
Ronni Torres (Nova União) def. "Bicudinho" (BTT) TKO R1
Renan Barão (Nova União) def. Danilo Brasília (RFT) rear-naked choke R1

Class B
Leonardo (Nova União) def. Carlos Tuca (Pequeno) decision
Hernani (Nova União) def. Taedes Mendonça (Jorge Turco) KO R1
Fernando Bruno (Nova União) def. Kiko (NG Combate) decision
Fernando da Matta (Nova União) def. Emerson (Pequeno) decision
D'Ângelo (Pequeno Team) drew with Luis Henrique Drago (RFT)

Class C
Sérgio Rodrigues (Tata) def. Saulo de Souza (BTT) decision

Max Fight 4 Set

Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and Max Fight promoter Ricardo Saldanha is betting on his Nov. 24 event in Campinas to be his best yet.

"In the few weeks before Max Fight, we can note the growing expectation by people around, being sent by e-mails, in the gyms and talking on the streets," he said. "Everybody wants to know more about the event, who will face who, fan stuff…. It's nice. And I can say more: This show is even better. Since the first edition, we are always improving Max Fight's production and the fighters' level."

Lineup:

Adalto Martins (Rush/Chok Dee Team) vs. Cesar Tozi (Tozi - Godoi)
Maurício Reis (BTT) vs. Geordashy (Niniko Team)
Fernando Tressino (Claudio Bueno) vs. Edson Conterrâneo (Repanas - Tozi - Godoi)
Vitor Pimenta (BTT) vs. Rodrigo Caporal (Pessoa)
Leonardo Queiroz (BFC - Impacto) vs. Walter Roberto (Macaco)
Levi da Costa (Pit Bull Gracie Barra) vs. Pedro Iriê (Ichigeki)
Mateus Serafim (Macaco) vs. Roberto Tozi (Tozi - Godoi)
Cassiano Tyschyo (Niniko) vs. Juliano Belgine (Brasa - André Gomes)
Kexada (Giudici) vs. Flávio Álvaro (Macaco)
Munil Adriano (Central da Luta - Nikolai) vs. Marcelo Giudici (Giudici)

RFT Turns 6

The Renovação Fight Team, led by luta livre black belt Márcio "Cromado," is making a name on the Brazilian scene with victories all over the country. Luciano Azevedo (Pictures), Leonardo Nascimento and Andre Santos (Pictures) are some standouts on the team.

In October, RFT celebrated six years together, and their leader, Cromado, told us who inspired him in creating this winning team.

"I always admired the way that Andre Pederneiras led his team," Cromado said of the Nova União coach. "He opens opportunities to humble people, teaching them discipline and emphasizing the physical and technical skills. My short participation on Brazilian Top Team was also important for me to absorb a lot of concepts to apply to my team."

Cromado also revealed the reason he is most proud of his team: "When any athlete faces one of my boys from RFT, even when my boy isn't known, the other guy knows he is tough."

Lightweights Showcased in Demolition Fight

Demolition Fight will hold its sixth event on Nov. 10. The main attraction will be an eight-man 70-kg (154-lb) tournament considered by some to be the most difficult field in recent years.

"The athletes were selected under criteria, and I tried to bring the better ones to Demolition's ring," said promoter Mauricio Netto. "There are so many high-level athletes that it is hard to bet on one name. Any one of them can be the champion and take the belt home."

Tournament
Luis "Sorriso" (Chute Boxe - PR) vs. Marfio Canoletti (Sit Master Roney - SP)
Edson Jr. (Fight CO Anderson França - RJ) vs. Marcos Rodrigues (Gibi Thai - SP)
Fernando "Maestro" (Combat Sport - SP) vs. Alex "Cobra" (Thai Center - SP)
Inaftali Gomes (Ac. Edu Chaves - SP) vs. Tadeu San Martino (Associação San Martino - SP)

Alternate Bout
Ivonildo "Cafu" (Werdini Team - SP) vs. Flavio Pardinho (Flavio Pardinho Team - SP)

Other Fights
Adriano Nascimento (Toshinkaikan - RS) vs. Diego Sebastião (Thai Center - SP)
Anderson "Braddock" (Combat Sport - SP) vs. Guto Inocente (RKT - DF)

Machado a Champ in Premier CF

The experienced Gustavo Machado (Pictures) won a title in Premier Championship Fighting on Oct. 16, beating John Cronk (Pictures) by decision.

"That was a tough fight, but I dominated it since the beginning," said "Ximu," who was happy with his performance. "I landed a few strikes on my feet, took him down, and I applied some ground-and-pound, reached dominating positions, and that's why I got the unanimous decision."

Machado was impressed with the treatment he received from the promoters and organizers in Denver.

"Everything was awesome," he said. "I was treated well, plus the fact everything was well organized. The promoters have my congratulations. I will enjoy this opportunity to thank my friends Renato Sobral (Pictures) and Luis "Sapão," who were in my corner supporting me."

News and Notes

Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) will fly to the Netherlands this week. The Art of War heavyweight champion will spend three weeks training with friend Peter Aerts (Pictures), who will fight in the K-1 finals in December. Rizzo has no date set for his return to the ring. …

Nova União black belt Fabrício Nascimento stopped Spanish fighter Manu Garcia in 26 seconds at the Oct. 27 Hammer Man Fight in Guadalajara, Spain. In the main event, Edson "Paredão" drew with local fighter Rogent Lloret after a well-disputed battle. …

One of the oldest rivalries in Brazilian MMA may end in the ring. According to Jorge "Macaco" Patino, promoters are trying to match him against rival Ryan Gracie (Pictures) in 2008.