Mixed martial arts fans all over Brazil stopped whatever it was they were doing on October 7. That’s because Super Challenge, nicknamed the Brazilian PRIDE, promoted the largest event in this country’s history. We will go over the results.

There is a growing expectation around the challenges that Brazilian fighters will face before the end of the year. Vitor Belfort (Pictures) attempts to remind American fans why he was known as “The Phenom.” Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) wants to find a way to find victory against a really tough guy. We talk with Jose Landi-Jons (Pictures), a man who holds a knockout over none other than Matt Hughes (Pictures), to talk about his recent win in Slovenia.

And to complete this notebook, we are excited because MMA is conquering large spaces in the Brazilian press, with two renamed athletes writing weekly columns to two newspapers of Brazil.

Vitor Belfort (Pictures) Arrives in U.S. for PRIDE “Real Deal”

Last Monday Vitor Belfort (Pictures) arrived in the U.S. where he will face Dan Henderson (Pictures) this Saturday on PRIDE’s first American card. Before leaving Brazil, “The Phenom” spent several days training with his old friends, brothers Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures).

Belfort stated that he will go into the ring prepared to fight for all or nothing against Henderson, and he will try to knock out the PRIDE 183-pound champion.

The former UFC star also said that though a fight with Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) is just rumor at this point, he would be honored to face Silva for a second time.

Jiu-Jitsu steals the spotlight on Super Challenge

The most anticipated event in recent years in Brazil took place October 7 and Super Challenge accomplished what it promised. The tremendous MMA event included two electrifying tournaments, as well as two super fights.

The event’s production was covered in the media, giving a big support to the athletes and the press. In the crowd, names like Rodrigo “Minotauro,” Rogerio “Minotoro,” Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) and Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) offered evidence to the heights that his event had reached.

In the 73-kg tournament, Jean Silva (Pictures) opened by knocking out excellent BJJ fighter Leonardo Santos in less than one minute. Silva’s opponent in the semifinals was Milton Vieira (Pictures), who submitted Johnny Eduardo in his first match.

The fight was a classic BTT vs. Chute Boxe bout, and it was one of the better fights that night. With both fighters exchanging positions, Silva won via judges’ decision while conquering the crowd with his style, which was reminiscent of Genki Sudo (Pictures).

But the biggest name of the night was Fabricio Cames, who was contacted just 15 days before the event to replace the injured Rodrigo Damm. “Morango” (“strawberry” in English) defeated the favorite Luciano Azevedo (Pictures) in the semifinals by judges’ decision. And in the finals he ran over Jean Silva (Pictures) by attacking him in the ground.

A Royler Gracie (Pictures)black belt, “Morango” submitted his opponent in the end of the first round by armlock, winning the prize of R$35,000 (approximately $15,000 U.S.).

Demian Maia was another BJJ fighter to win a title, this one coming in the 83-kg tournament. Maia won three matches using all of his techniques, submitting two opponents and beating a third by judges’ decision.

The big surprise on this tournament was the elimination of the favorite Alexandre Ferreira in his first match. “Cacareco” faced Felipe Arinelli, a student of Alexandre Franca Nogueira (Pictures). Ferreira couldn’t find himself during the fight, as he watched his opponent run over him, losing by unanimous decision to “Mongo.”

In the first of the super-fights, Jorge Patino (Pictures) stopped his archrival Roberto Godoi in the stopped round. Also in female fight, the reigning most feared girl in Brazil, Vanessa Porto, submitted the young Juliana Aguiar by arm-triangle choke.

“Pele” speaks about his victory in Slovenia

Jose Landi-Jons (Pictures) is one of the most experienced Brazilian fighters in his country’s history. On September 30, “Pele” fought in the World Free-Fight Challenge in Slovenia against Russian Alexander Shlemenko.

The Brazilian won by judges’ decision, and told us about the fight. “Jesus, that was a insane fight,” he said. “The Russian was fighting very well, but I was better. There was a moment when I took him down that he complained, ‘Aren’t you a Muay Thai fighter?’ At this point the Muay Thai spoke higher in my heart, and my strategy was gone.”

“Pele” used his low kicks to hurt his opponent, punishing Shlemenko throughout the fight. The following day, Pele talked about his battered Russian opponent. “He has his both hands broke [resting] in gypsum,” Landi-Jons said. “I never saw hands in gypsum in my life, and his leg was very wounded; he had difficulty to walk.”

“Minotauro” and Arona attack as journalists

“Minotauro” Nogueira and Ricardo Arona (Pictures) are enjoying their prestige in Brazil. And now they’re promoting MMA throughout the country in a new way: writing columns for newspapers.

“Minotauro” made his print debut in the Jornal do Sports, a famous sportive diary journal based in Rio de Janeiro, while Arona wrote a weekly column called “Living on the Edge” for the newspaper O Fluminense.

Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) will probably face Heath Herring (Pictures) in WFA

Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) had a commitment to face an American fighter at "Beatdown in Bakersfield" on Nov. 17, but a nose injury forced him out of this fight.

Now, the Ruas Vale Tudo athlete seems to have found a tougher challenge. Rizzo will likely face Heath Herring (Pictures) in the main event of the next WFA edition, December 9 in Las Vegas. Rizzo’s manager, Jorge Guimaraes, was traveling and couldn’t be located to confirm this fight.

News and notes

Mauricio Rua (Pictures) took his flight to the USA last Monday, where he will fight in PRIDE against Kevin Randleman (Pictures). Joining him are Chute Boxe’s Rafael Cordeiro (Pictures), Rudimar Fedrigo, Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) and Shogun’s brother Murilo Rua (Pictures) …

Brazilian Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) and Norwegian John Olav Einemo are training together for their next challengers. Both are scheduled to fight on Too Hot To Handle, which takes place Nov. 12 in Holland. Werdum will fight Alexander Emelianenko, while Einemo faces James Thompson (Pictures). The fighters are training in Madrid, Spain, under the coaching of Werdum's team. …

After losing his debut fight in PRIDE to Pawel Nastula (Pictures), Edson Drago (Pictures) is going to England on Dec. 2, where he will face Gilbert Yvel (Pictures) or Kristof Midoux (Pictures) on Cage Rage 19. …

The most traditional MMA Brazilian event, Storm Samurai, will hold a new event in Nov. 25 in Curitiba. The card features Cris “Cyborg” (Evangelista Santos (Pictures)’ wife), Alexandre Barros (Pictures), Felipe Borges and Marlon Mathias, among others..