Up Close and Personal with Caio Terra
By Gabriel Pangalangan
At first glance, you’d never guess that Caio Terra could choke you out or snap your joints without even breaking a sweat. The 5”8’, 60-kilo Brazilian could pass as your average soccer fan, but is actually a 6-time World BJJ champion and the 2011/ 2012 Pan American Black Belt champ; pretty bad-ass for a guy with a Beckham-like hairdo.
At just 26 years of age, Terra has risen to become one of the elite grapplers of our generation and is the only person to win the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Black Belt World No-Gi Championships a total of four times. The Rio de Janeiro-born Terra now trains and teaches at his Institute of Martial Arts in San Jose, California and endeavors to spread his unique brand of BJJ by conducting an annual Asian tour. Every year, he flies from country to country giving
seminars that showcase his own winning techniques, and for the second-straight year, the Philippines was one of his destinations.
Last weekend, from April 13 to 14, Project Lifestyle Manila arranged a two-day seminar with Caio Terra right here in Manila, and nearly 70 participants from clubs such as Deftac, KMA- Fabricio, Origins BJJ, and Atos JJ took part in the event.
Throughout the seminar, Terra proved to be a great teacher, explaining his techniques and his approaches very clearly. He also entertained questions and helped students learn the details of the moves they were trying to execute. It was astonishing to watch this BJJ genius at work; the way he moved so fluidly and could find submissions from the most unexpected angles. There’s no doubt that everyone who took part in the event left with lessons they’ll never forget.
After the seminar, Caio was kind enough to set aside some time for a Q&A, so that the Filipino grappling community could get to know him a little better. He was very candid in talking about life before BJJ and admitted that martial arts wasn’t his first interest. “Before Jiu-jitsu, I was playing soccer,” he explained. “I actually left a club to play Jiu-jitsu. I could’ve been a millionaire by now, just like David Beckham—I could see that David Beckham copied my hair [laughs]. And before I moved to America [to teach BJJ], I was finishing my college for business, so I was about to have a degree in business before.” Terra had completed four years of college but decided to pursue his passion for BJJ instead. And now, several years later, he’s traveling the world doing what he loves.
Despite the jetlag he acquired from flying from halfway around the globe, Terra said that he’s still in good spirits. Prior to his visit to the Philippines, he had already conducted seminars in Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. And after his Manila stint, he’ll proceed to Taipei, Australia, and Japan for several other seminars. It’s a rigorous schedule for an in-demand grappler like Caio, but he’s always happy to visit the Philippines. “I love being in Manila”, he said. “This is the second time I’ve been here. I’ve been to Cebu as well. I’d like to go to Boracay, but unfortunately I didn’t have the time to do it in this trip. Hopefully next time, [I can go].”
In addition to that, Terra expressed his thoughts on Filipinos as martial arts students and our potential for growth in the realm of BJJ. “Filipinos in general, not just in Jiu-jitsu, they are very easy to [teach] martial arts. I think it’s because people here are so used to doing martial arts that it’s really easier to teach, sometimes even easier than in the [United] States where Jiu-jitsu is bigger. I do think they have a lot of talent here; it’s just a matter of time for Jiu-jitsu to be big and for [Filipinos] to have world champions and everything. You cannot compete with America where millions of people train Jiu-jitsu and in Brazil where millions of people train Jiu-jitsu, and in the Philippines, there’s just 10,000 [practitioners] maybe; there’s a big difference. But of course, if there are a million people training Jiu-jitsu in the Philippines, I would be pretty sure [the country] would have at least 2 or 3 world champions.”
Apart from being a household name among BJJ practitioners, Caio Terra has also gained recognition in the world of MMA. In fact, UFC welterweight Carlos Condit enlisted the help of Caio in preparation for his fight with Johny Hendricks last March. Terra has trained several other MMA fighters, but doesn’t see himself getting into the cage professionally any time soon.
“I fight [in MMA] sometimes but not that much,” he said. “I have considered [going into MMA] many times and I always give up, because even though I would love to train and fight in MMA, I‘m not the type of angry person to be on the mat to just beat someone up. And I also don’t feel, like for the small guys, you can’t actually get any type of support from the MMA scene, you don’t get paid enough. Even the champions of the UFC— 125-135 [pound division champions], they don’t get paid that much, because you have to pay so much on taxes, trainers, and managers. You don’t keep anything to yourself and you make very little money and you just break your body. The MMA career is very short, so I would rather do what I love, which is spread Jiu-jitsu to the whole world and try to spread my philosophy instead of just going and battling someone in a cage and have people drink beer.”
When asked about what makes BJJ so alluring to him as compared to other martial arts, Caio turned to his more romantic side.
“I love martial arts in general, and I play a lot of sports. But I train Jiu-jitsu because, you know, it’s just like with a girl. Sometimes you date someone, you’re with her and you like being with her. And then there’s this girl that you’ve just met for the first time and you’re almost in love with her, and you don’t know why. Jiu-jitsu is just like that: I don’t know why, it just fits.”
Later on, talks shifted to what might be in store for Caio Terra and even Philippine BJJ in the near future, but the grappling champ appeared content with living in the here and now. “I don’t think too much ahead. You never know what’s going to happen; Jiu-jitsu can fall down or it can grow immensely. So I’m trying to live in the moment and be prepared for whatever happens.”
Nevertheless, there is one certainty in Terra’s future: that he’ll be competing in the Mundials this coming June. Terra said that he will be starting his training camp on May 13 and that he’ll be “100% focused on training”. He explained that his preparation for the competition will not include weight training or running, but will revolve around BJJ training and the use of the Versa Climber. The 6-time world champ clearly doesn’t lack motivation for this event, and he seems deadest on putting on a great performance. “I always want to face the best so that I keep on improving”, Terra said. “But I hope my opponents are prepared, because I will try to be on my best on that day.”
Everyone who was able to work with Terra during his Manila visit surely gained a deeper appreciation and understanding of The Gentle Art. And before flying off to his next seminar, Terra had one final message for those aspiring to excel in BJJ:
“If you really like BJJ, then just keep that. Keep training happy. Keep being motivated when you come to the academy. In whatever sport you’re doing, you’ve got to be happy with what you’re doing. You can’t just do it because you need to; nobody should have to force you into this. If you really want to get better: study. It’s not just about the training. I know that the training is where it’s fun, but it would be more fun if you’re better at it. And I know that in the beginning, it’s very, very hard, but you just got to keep on coming, even though it’s not going to be that happy. You have to find happiness in every situation. So be happy that you’re going to be sore, be happy that you’re going to be smashed. Just keep on coming.”
Don’t forget to check out Caio Terra’s website (http://caioterra.com/) for more info and our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/projectlifestylemanila) for images of the seminar.
For feedback, feel free to contact the writer through Twitter (@gabpangalangan) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/dojodrifter).
And of course, thank you to all the seminar sponsors!
“Buchecha wins Absolute Gold in 2013 Pan Ams and Evens the score with Galvao”
March 24, 2013, Irvine, California
Author: Raymond Varilla
The highly anticipated match between Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida(Checkmat) and Andre Galvaò (Atos) lived up to the hype. Without a doubt, it was the most exciting match in the 2013 Pan American Championships as the two went guns blazing the moment the clock started.
Both were aggressive in obtaining a good grip but “Buchecha” was the first to attempt a takedown. Galvao stuffed Almeida’s first attempts but the younger “Buchecha” didn’t stop driving in until he secured the two (2) points.
When the fight went to the ground, Almeida went for his signature pass which almost got him the sidemount but Galvao’s unbelievable hip movement allowed him to replace his guard. Andre didn’t stop attacking from the dela Riva and sitting guard positions to confuse his adversary. “Buchecha” calmed the storm and fired back with his attempt to take Andre’s back. He tried going for the Bow and Arrow Choke. Andre, being the more experienced fighter was calm under pressure and managed to escape.
With less than 45 ticks remaining, “Buchecha” was ahead by 2 points and 2 advantages. The crowd knew “Buchecha” had in the bag but there’s no quitting in Galvao. He pulled an ace up his sleeve and scored a takedown and landed on Almeida’s closed guard silencing the Checkmat gallery. Andre tried passing “Buchecha’s” guard standing but when he was about to open it, Almeida went for an omoplata sweep and ended on top which pretty much sealed the gold for him. When the match ended, the two hugged each other like true gentlemen. “Buchecha” walked out of the Brens Center with two more gold medals to add to his collection. In addition, he avenged his 2011 loss to Galvao and remains the undisputed king of BJJ.
Irvine, California will be a historical place for tomorrow, March 24, 2013 (PST), two titans in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida and Andre Galvao will collide for the 2013 Adult Black Belt Pan American Open Weight title.
This is a dream come true for all the BJJ fans out there. It is a matchup that people will talk about for ages. Both guys are exciting to watch and they always go for the submission. Things could have been different in last year’s World Championships if Galvao had not been ejected after he had a heated argument with one of the officials. Anyway, we need not worry about that because this year, at the Pan Ams, they are getting it on.
The road to the Absolute Championship was very much different for the two future Hall of Famers. Marcus Almeida took the easier path and breezed through his opponents winning his first two matches by submission via loop choke and triangle choke respectively. Although he didn’t get the finish in his next two fights, he proved his dominance by winning with a double-digit lead on points. Guto Campos and number 1 ranked fighter in the BJJ Black Belt league, Bernardo Faria only scored two points against “Buchecha.” On the other hand, Galvao had a pretty hard time. Like “Buchecha,” he won his first two matches via submission. However, he had to thread the needle in his succeeding fights. His quarterfinals match against “The Cuban Tree Stump,” Orlando Sanchez of Gracie Barra was a really close one. The Ultra Heavy Weight’s pressure gave Galvao nightmares but he managed to escape with a referee’s decision victory. Moving on to the semis, he faced Nivaldo Lima of Checkmat who shocked everyone in UCI by beating one of the favorites in the quarterfinals, Leo Nogueira (who happens to rank number 2 in the Black Belt League). Galvao’s match against Lima was a thriller and was decided by just two points. A win is a win and that was enough to get a shot at Almeida.
The young gun, “Buchecha” will try to continue his reign as the King of BJJ while the seasoned veteran, Galvao promised to give his very best and guaranteed that it will not be easy for the youthful champ. The two have met before in the 2011 Abu Dhabi World Professional Championships- Trials in San Diego where Galvao prevailed. Tomorrow ”, Buchecha” will try to avenge that loss and secure his place on top. Both have much respect for each other but that doesn’t mean that they won’t go for the kill.
When John “The Bull” Makdessi steps into the cage at UFC 158 on Saturday night, he will be doing so with a new mindset and fervor for fighting.
Makdessi (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) made his debut in the UFC after just seven professional fights. Prior to competing in the world’s premiere fighting organization, the Halifax, Nova Scotia, native tore through his local circuit, dispatching six of seven opponents via TKO.
By his eighth fight, he was already basking in the main stage spotlight, fighting Pat Audinwood at UFC 124. Makdessi won a decision on that night and followed it up with highlight-reel spinning backfist knockout of TUF 12 alum Kyle Watson at UFC 129. Unfortunately, after the two initial outings, Makdessi hit a rough patch and suffered back-to-back losses to MMA veteran Dennis Hallman and the flashy Anthony Njokuani, respectively.
Like many young prospects, somewhere along the way, the pressure started building for Makdessi.
It wasn’t the fear or pressure of failure as much as it was the pressure to excel.
“The pressure started before my losses. I turned professional at the age of 23. I always thought guys were more experienced than me,”Makdessi told MMAweekly.com.
“It was my style and skills that, I believe, got me to where I am at now. My first couple of fights I had some exciting wins, and I don’t know, I guess I just let the pressure get to me. I wanted to perform.”
Apparently the problem stemmed from not being able to curtail his desire to learn and absorb as his career skyrocketed.
“I made it (to the UFC). I had no life. It’s all I did. Learning, training – I let it consume me. It’s all I’d think about. Sometimes it’s just a love-hate relationship. I just had to learn how to re-focus and focus on the present.”
As the pressure mounted, Makdessi suffered back-to-back losses in his next two UFC outings. With the current climate of fighter cuts and shaky job security, he sought out a professional to help get his mental game on par with his physical prowess.
“The thing is, I did let the pressure get to me,” he recounted. “I never imagined I’d have to go through talking (to a mental coach). I never imagined I’d be in the UFC. I always believed in my fighting. I always believed in myself. I always believed in my skills, but I just went with the process.
“Now, I’m working with a mental conditioning coach, Brian King, and he’s been great. I love the way he works. He’s been helping me a lot. I remember him saying, and it made a lot of sense, ‘Once you reach a certain level, it’s no longer about your skill level or how hard you work. It then becomes about your mental game.’”
This new mental approach allowed Makdessi to view the fight as it was; a one-on-one contest between two like-minded scrapers.
“At the end of the day, we’re both punching each other – he trains, I train – it then becomes about who did the mental preparation. I truly believe that. Now I’m training my mind more than my body.”
A workhorse in the gym, this Tri-Star product has a laundry list of champions and former champions to question at the famed Montreal sweathouse if he’s ever struggling with the finer nuances of mixed martial arts. Luckily for the proud Canadian, one of those partners just so happens to be UFC welterweight champion and countrymenGeorges St-Pierre.
“(St-Pierre) is my inspiration; I look up to the guy. He’s a veteran. He’s been around a long time and he’s the perfect example of a true martial artist,” Makdessi proclaimed. “He’s never satisfied and he’s always trying to get better. I truly believe that’s why he one of the best fighters on the planet – because of his mind state.”
Having a world champion like St-Pierre to impart valuable fight wisdom upon him is something that’s not lost on the young fighter.
“He would always tell me – because I went so hard at practice – ‘save it for the fight, save it for the fight.’
“And I understand that now. It’s not about how hard you train; you have to train smart. You hear about all these fighters getting injured in training and it’s probably because they go so hard in the gym. Don’t get me wrong, I still train hard. I’m a believer in ‘the harder you train, the easier the fight.’ But you have to learn when to save it and I’m doing that now.”
It’s not only St-Pierre’s fight rhetoric that’s rubbing off on Makdessi; the Canadian brethren also share a propensity for walking softly and carrying a big stick.
“I’m not much of a big talker. They say actions speak louder than words, and I’ve always believed in that,” he said. “Some guys have to sell fights, and for some guys, their fighting sells the fight. I’ve already proven in the cage that I’m an exciting fighter and I still haven’t reached my full potential. And that’s a dangerous thing because knowing that I’m still learning every day and there’s still so much I can bring out in the cage, that’s really dangerous.”
In his most recent outing, “The Bull” was able to showcase his expanding talents with a unanimous decision victory over fellow Canadian stand-up wizard Sam Stout at UFC 154. A win, that he says, put to rest any questions he may have had about his place in the sport, and set in motion a wave of confidence heading into his UFC 158 bout this Saturday with TUF: Live alum Daron Cruickshank.
“The Stout win really showed me that I belong,” stated Makdessi. “There are a lot of doubts as a fighter. People don’t understand that professional athletes are some of the most negative people. I don’t know why we have that syndrome, honestly. It’s probably because we’re always wanting to be the best.
“But I found my road. I found my journey. It showed me that I do belong in the big leagues and that I do belong with the best fighters in the world.”
As the newly refocused 27-year-old prepares for his showdown with Cruickshank (12-2 MMA; 2-0 UFC), the tae kwon do expert is treating this fight like all the others before it; like a proverbial nightmare.
“Every opponent I have, I dream about being a monster,” said Makdessi. “That’s what makes me wake up every day and train as hard as I can and be as dominant as I can be. I never underestimate any of my opponents, but at the same time I think I am a pretty dangerous fighter. He’s tough, obviously, but so am I.”
And Makdessi’s toughness leads him to other bigger goals, and Saturday night’s fight is just one step in the process of achieving his goals.
“My goal is to be world champion. I got a picture of the belt at home and I look at it every day. Obviously I’m not focused on the outcome, but it’s a process. It’s something to have as a goal. You never know, I may never become a world champion, but at least I’ll die trying.”
source: http://www.mmaweekly.com/john-makdessi-found-his-road-hopes-it-eventually-leads-to-a-title
he’s marrying a woman who’s a keeper: After learning her boyfriend had been tapped to fight Urijah Faber in The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale’s main event, she demanded Jorgensen cancel their vacation to Hawaii so he didn’t have to skip training and media commitments.
Little did she know that Jorgensen planned to propose to her during their vacation, which included a private beach house and a week of relaxation in paradise.
She said, ‘No, cancel it. You need to get ready,’” he told MMAjunkie.com Radio(www.mmajunkie.com/radio).
Jorgensen, who took her advice and dropped by the MMAjunkie.com Radio studio as part of the initial media push, said he took a financial hit by canceling the vacation. Despite travel insurance, only half of his airfare was refunded. Everything else was nonrefundable.
But Jorgensen said that’s the price you pay when you’re in the title hunt. This past month, when injured flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson was forced out of a title with John Moraga, UFC officials tapped Faber (27-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) vs. Jorgensen (14-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) as the new TUF 17 Finale headliner. The event takes place April 13 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
While in Sin City this past week to publicize the FX-televised event, Jorgensen stayed at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. His girlfriend came to visit, and though it wasn’t exactly what he planned, he popped the question anyway. The Bellagio Fountains danced in the background, and Jorgensen embraced his new fiancee.
“But then she left the next day,” he said. “I traded her in for my jiu-jitsu coach.”
Such is the life of a main-event fighter with a shortened training camp.
As most fans know, Faber and Jorgensen are friends. In fact, when UFC officials first pitched Jorgensen the idea of the fight, he immediately sent a text message to Faber.
“So, what’s up, buddy?” it read.
Faber called him, and they discussed the bout, the odd timing, the shortened camp. But they never really discussed the possibility of them turning down the fight. He said wrestlers aren’t built that way.
“We are close,” Jorgensen said. “Urijah is one of the guys who urged me to start fighting back when I was finishing up my college career at Boise State. We have the same management. My son is a big fan of his. He knows my family. I know his family. So it as a little weird seeing how we’re still close, but it doesn’t matter. We’re still going to go out there and beat the hell out of each other and win ‘Fight of the Night’ and show why two friends can fight and put on a show as part of the business.
“We always knew this day would probably come. And we always wanted it to be for a title fight, something that was big. We’re headlining an event, a TUF Finale, and it’s going to be a huge event. It’s going to be exciting for the fans. It’s on FX. So we both accepted our fates.”
Jorgensen recently snapped a two-fight skid, which included a decision loss to now-interim champ Renan Barao and a “Fight of the Night” loss to Eddie Wineland. At UFC on FOX 5, the former WEC title challenger scored “Submission of the Night” and “Fight of the Night” bonuses in a rousing victory over John Albert.
He can maintain the momentum and move up the bantamweight ladder with a win over Faber, one of MMA’s most recognizable names. He said that’s precisely why he didn’t turn the fight, even if it meant fighting a friend.
“We’re wrestlers,” he said. “You grow up competing against your friends, and there’s only one winner in wrestling just like there is now (in MMA). You don’t have a team to rely on. If your buddy is at the same weight, what are you going to do, forfeit a finals match because he’s your friend? No, you’re going to go out there and wrestle. It’s the same thing here.”
source: http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/tuf-17-finales-jorgensen-faber-a-friend-but-well-beat-the-hell-out-of-each
Tatame first brought word of the matchup, though UFC officials haven’t made a formal announcement.
UFC on FUEL TV 10 takes place June 8 at Ginasio Paulo Sarasate in Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil. The event’s main card airs on FUEL TV following prelims on Facebook.
It’s not clear where Brunson vs. Markes will be placed on the lineup.
Brunson recently made his UFC debut and ended a two-fight skid with a unanimous-decision victory over Chris Leben at UFC 155. The former Strikeforce fighter and three-time NCAA Division II All-American wrestler opened his career with a 9-0 mark before losses to Kendall Grove and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Markes, who fights in his home country, looks to extend his current win streak to seven fights, which has included UFC wins over Karlos Vemola, Aaron Simpson and Andrew Craig. All of the Nova Uniao fighter’s UFC wins have come via decision, though nine of his 11 other victories have come via stoppage.
The latest UFC on FUEL TV 10 lineup now includes:
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Fabricio Werdum
- Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante vs. Thiago Silva*
- John Hathaway vs. Erick Silva
- Caio Magalhaes vs. Karlos Vemola*
- Derek Brunson vs. Ronny Markes*
- source: http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/derek-brunson-vs-ronny-markes-targeted-for-ufc-on-fuel-tv-10
During a Las Vegas media tour for his newly announced headliner with fellow bantamweight Scott Jorgensen at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale, Urijah Faber stopped by theMMAjunkie.com Radio(www.mmajunkie.com/radio) discuss a variety of topics, including his alternative approach to medicine.
Faber (27-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC), a former WEC champion and recent UFC title challenger, has often spoken openly about his unique childhood. Growing up in something akin to a Christian commune, he and his family favored raw foods and a different approach to medicine.
The 33-year-old fighter, who meets friend and occasional training partner Jorgensen (14-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) on April in an FX-televised main event at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Events Center, said he hasn’t changed much since then.
“I have never taken an aspirin or a Tylenol or anything like that,” he said. “When I had my hand surgery (in 2009), they put me out, and I think I had something there. But it’s very, very far and few between. I’ve never had immunization shots, and I rarely use conventional medicine.”
With nearly a decade in the sport and 33 professional bouts, Faber has mixed five-round fights into the usual three-rounders. He’s faced vicious strikers such as Jose Aldo, grappled with ground specialists such as Raphael Assuncao and Brian Bowles, and traded punches with strikers such as Dominick Cruz and Eddie Wineland. Mix in frequent and grueling training sessions with his Team Alpha Male teammates, and Faber said he’s become intimately familiar with his body’s recovery process.
“I’m like a firm believer that if you have an ailment, there’s a reason why,” he said. “You don’t treat the symptoms; you treat the ailment.
“If I have a headache, I don’t want to cover that up and all the sudden not have a headache but for some reason my body wants me to have one to let me know to get some sleep or don’t hit your head again or you’re dehydrated. I feel like everything is a cue that you need to take of in a different fashion.”
With a nickname like “The California Kid,” Faber knows many fans are curious about his stance on marijuana, especially in pro sports. While fighters have failed drug tests and gotten their UFC walking papers for using a drug that seemingly adds little to no benefit to a training camp, Faber isn’t a supporter.
It’s natural and safer than most drugs, but Faber said he didn’t use it. Still, he said he’s got no problem if his opponents want to.
“I don’t really mind it,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a performance-enhancing thing, and for that reason, if my opponent wants to smoke a bunch of weed, that’s great for me. I don’t think it helps at all. Go ahead, guys.
“I don’t really do it myself. … I’m not like a pothead or anything. That’s probably the one part of ‘The California Kid’ nickname that can get misinterpreted. I’m not really a big advocate for it.”
source: http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/tuf-17-finales-urijah-faber-discusses-alternative-approach-to-medicine
will apparently be Rio de Janeiro’s gain.
According to Brazilian websiteTatame.com, Rio de Janeiro’s HSBC Arena will play host to August’s UFC 163 – an event first reported byMMAjunkie.com(www.mmajunkie.com) that features featherweight champ Jose Aldo (22-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) defending his title against Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC).
When the fight was first booked this past month, UFC President Dana White said that sites in Texas, Chicago, Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro were all under consideration to host the event.
UFC executives have yet to make an official announcement regarding the fight card’s location, and multiple sources close to the event told MMAjunkie.com that contracts have not yet been finalized. Still, it appears Rio de Janeiro is the leading candidate to host the card. If finalized, UFC 163 would mark the promotion’s fourth trip to the city in the past two years.
The bout marks Pettis’ first fight at 145 pounds, as he drops down from lightweight for the promise of an immediate title shot.
The 26-year-old Pettis is best known for his December 2010 win over current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in the final event for the now-shuttered World Extreme Cagefighting promotion. In that bout, “Showtime” clinched a decision win by leaping off the cage wall and knocking down his opponent with a flying kick to the face. After dropping a decision to Clay Guida in his UFC debut, Pettis has since put together a three-fight win streak that includes back-to-back “Knockout of the Night” wins over top contenders Joe Lauzon and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone.
Meanwhile, Brazilian striker Aldo boasts a 15-fight win streak and has not tasted defeat since 2005. He’s earned 11 career first-round stoppages and possesses some of the sharpest and most devastating muay Thai skills in the sport. Still, tae kwon do black belt Pettis believes he’s capable of upsetting the 26-year-old champ.
Should the location be made official, Aldo will have pulled headlining duties in two of the UFC’s trips to Rio de Janeiro, with Anderson Silva handling that role in the other two events.
source: http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/report-ufc-163-aldo-vs-pettis-booked-for-rio-de-janeiros-hsbc-arena
British fighter John Maguire (18-5 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will make the move to lightweight and take on Canadian 155-pounder Mitch Clarke (9-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) at UFC 161.
The Canadian Press first reported the matchup, and UFC officials later confirmed the booking.
Featuring an interim bantamweight title fight between current champ Renan Barao and top contender Eddie Wineland, UFC 161 takes place June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The evening’s main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
The positioning of the Clark vs. Maguire matchup was not revealed but is expected for the evening’s preliminary card.
Maguire, who at one time competes as a middleweight, dropped to 170 pounds in 2010 and opened his UFC run with a pair of wins over DaMarques Johnson and Justin Edwards. The win over Johnson even earned Maguire a “Submission of the Night” bonus. However, he’s since dropped back-to-back decisions over powerful wrestlers Matt Riddle and John Hathaway and will now make the move to lightweight in an attempt to right the ship.
Meanwhile, “Danger Zone” Clark came to the UFC in 2011 as an undefeated prospect. However, he’s since suffer a split-decision loss at the hands of Anton Kuivanen and was handed a TKO defeat by John Cholish.
A third-straight loss for either fighter would likely mean their release from the promotion.
source: http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/john-maguire-drops-to-lightweight-faces-mitch-clarke-at-ufc-161
UFC officials today announced the bout, citing an original report fromThe Canadian Press‘ Neil Davidson.
UFC 161 takes place June 15 at MTS Centre in Winnipeg and is the promotion’s first visit to the Canadian province of Manitoba. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and Facebook.
Jimmo vs. Pokrajac likely will be part of the prelims.
Jimmo looks to rebound from his first loss in six years after he suffered a decision defeat to James Te Huna at UFC on FUEL TV 7. Prior to the February bout, the former MFC champion and Canadian fight circuit vet had won 17 consecutive fights, which included a quick stoppage of Anthony Perosh in his UFC debut. The seven-second knockout is tied as the fastest in the promotion’s history.
Pokrajac, meanwhile, had posted three consecutive wins (with knockouts of Todd Brown and Krzysztof Soszynski) before his recent two-fight winless streak. The Croatian suffered a submission loss to Vinny Magalhaes in September and then a decision defeat to Joey Beltran in December. However, the Beltran loss was overturned and ruled a no-contest after the fighter failed a post-fight drug test due to an anabolic steroid.
The latest UFC 161 card now includes:
- Champ Renan Barao vs. Eddie Wineland – for interim bantamweight title
- Rashad Evans vs. Dan Henderson
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Mauricio Rua
- Jake Shields vs. Tyron Woodley
- Sean Pierson vs. Anthony Waldburger
- Patrick Barry vs. Shawn Jordan
- Sam Stout vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg
- Ryan Jimmo vs. Igor Pokrajac
- Stipe Miocic vs. Soa Palelei
- Mitch Clarke vs. John Maguire
- source: http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/ufc-161-adds-ryan-jimmo-vs-igor-pokrajac-to-winnipeg-card