During a period of dramatic change in the mixed martial arts world thanks to the acquisition of PRIDE by UFC owners Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta, Brazilian athletes continue to train very hard.
In April
Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) faces the biggest test of his career against
Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), while
Thales Leites (Pictures) has a chance to redeem himself after losing his UFC debut.
Also Nova União, a traditional developer of great fighters, was outstanding in Shooto Brasil 2, winning eight of nine fights.
Talking to Sherdog.com,
Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures) promised that
Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), his opponent in Manchester, England on April 21, will not have an easy fight.
"I will win by submission or knockout," boldly stated Gonzaga, who took his family to live in the U.S. four months ago. With three wins in three Octagon fights, the Brazilian heavyweight sent a direct message to "Cro Cop."
"He will have to try his title shot among the light heavyweights, against
Chuck Liddell (Pictures), because the name of the next No. 1 contender to the heavyweight title is
Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures)," Napao predicted.
Known as one of the best athletes from Nova União,
Thales Leites (Pictures) will make his second appearance in the Octagon on April 7 against
Pete Sell (Pictures).
"I have the best expectations about this fight," said Leites. "I'm training hard, along with great athletes. I'm very focused and I will be 100 percent."
In his Octagon debut, Leites lost by decision to
Martin Kampmann (Pictures). "I think I felt the pressure of fighting in the UFC," stated Leites. "I felt the difference of the air from Las Vegas. I was ready. I'm sure I was in my best shape, so I think I felt the psychological pressure."
The second Shooto Brasil edition took place last Saturday in Rio de Janeiro, and displayed to everybody the depth of Nova União. With eight wins and only one loss in the event, the team that raised
Vitor Ribeiro (Pictures),
Thales Leites (Pictures) and
Danilo Cherman (Pictures) promised to make a lot of noise in coming years.
Promoted by André Pederneiras, Shooto Brasil 2 showed impeccable organization by giving the audience 13 amazing MMA fights, including an outstanding knockout by
Vitor Miranda in the only Muay Thai bout on the bill.
Muay Thai
Vítor Miranda def. Ronaldo Leite TKO R3
MMA
Leandro Manhaes def.
Salvatori Iberico armbar R1
Rodolpho Marques def.
Eduardo Felipe TKO R1
Eduardo def.
William Parrudinho judges decision
Rafael Primo def. Reginaldo "Da Hora" armbar R1
André Santos def. Diogo Castro judges decision
Ronnys Torres Def. Rodrigo "Pitbull" armbar R1
Rafael dos Anjos def. Matheus Trindade judges decision
Geovani Diniz def. Marco Túlio TKO R2
Marlon Sandro def.
William Vianna judges decision
Hacran Dias def. Gustavo "Careca" disqualification R1
Erinaldo Pitbull def.
Will Ribeiro judges decision
Leandro "Batata" def.
Wendell Oliveira TKO R2
Getting ready for the main event of Demolition Fight 5 against Japan's Tomo Kire on April 14, Marfio Canoletti scored another victory.
The top Brazilian striker among lightweights faced Alex "Cobra" and won following an extra round. This bout was the main event from the Demolition Fight Festival in São Paulo.
"Alex has my congratulations, he is very strong and very tough," said Canoletti. "I was sparing myself, because I have another important fight in three weeks, but everything ran all right. I hurt my ankle and my thigh, but by the next Demolition I'll be healed. After this, we will have a rematch."
Brazilian Top Team athletes will be very busy through mid-April.
Roan Carneiro (Pictures) makes his UFC debut against
Rich Clementi (Pictures) on April 5. Three days later in Tokyo
Ricardo Arona (Pictures) fights
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures) at PRIDE 34. And on April 13,
Murilo Bustamante (Pictures) and
Edson Drago (Pictures) will be in action in Deep.
Luta-Livre black belt
Luciano Azevedo (Pictures), who made his debut last year in PRIDE against
Hayato Sakurai (Pictures), was chosen by fans on the Internet to fight in the upcoming Lightweight Grand Prix.
In poll on TATAME's Web site, Azevedo led amongst Brazilian fans at 26 percent, followed by Fabrício Camoes, the second place, with 14 percent.
Chute Boxe's Luis Azeredo is in the third position, with 13 percent and
Leonardo Santos sits in fourth with 12 percent of the votes.
Rounding out the voting are
Luiz Firmino (Pictures) (fifth place with 10 percent),
Marcus Aurelio and
Milton Vieira (Pictures) (8 percent),
Jean Silva (Pictures) (5 percent) and Fabrício Monteiro, in the last spot, with 4 percent.
Azevedo said his manager is in negotiations with PRIDE about possibly participating in the GP.
In the fight against Sakurai, Azevedo had a clear advantage but a cut near his eyebrow forced doctors to stop the fight.
"If the fight continued I'm sure I would have won," said Azevedo. "But I'm training and waiting to be invited to fight there again. If I would be in the GP I would like to face Sakurai for a rematch."
Manager and promoter Paulo Vasconcellos revealed that the next Super Challenge is going to be scheduled for October, one year after his debut event.
In a realistic analysis, Vasconcellos admitted that the Brazilian business was not ready for an event the size of Super Challenge, where roughly R$1 milhão ($500,000 U.S.) was invested.
"We are working for a next edition," said Vasconcellos, "I'm sleeping, but I'm not dead. I heard things like ‘Paulo Vasconcellos lost too much money; it wasn't good to him so he quit the business.' But everybody who knows me knows my real intentions are to develop MMA in Brazil. I won't quit. I'm still working. I have other business taking my time, but I'll still make this sport a fever in Brazil."
One of the newest Brazilian Top Team acquisitions,
Jefferson Silva, will make his debut as a BTT fighter on the co-promoted K-1 "Dynamite USA" card June 2 in Los Angeles in the light heavyweight division. Tanque's opponent will be announced soon. …
One of the most traditional MMA events in Brazil, Storm Samurai, will have its next edition on either May 12 or 19. Organized by the Chute Boxe leaders,
Rafael Cordeiro (Pictures) and Rudimar Fedrigo, the event will bring seven MMA fights and two Muay Thai fights. The expectation is to make seven Storm editions in 2007, being four with MMA matches and three with Muay Thai matches. …
José Aldo will make his debut in MARS on April 15. The BJJ black belt, who used to fight at 143 pounds, will step up in weight to compete at 154 for the first time. …
Zuluzinho is training hard for his next match against Eric "Butterbean" Esch at PRIDE 34, said to
Antoine Jaoude (Pictures), one of the coaches of the Brazilian giant in Rio de Janeiro.
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