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Written by F. Machado
Monday, 22 January 2007
São Paulo kept up the high level MMA events coming and after featuring Super Challenge, Fury FC, Demolition, Real Fight, the major Brazilian city featured the fifth edition of Showfight, on November 9. With a great fight card and great show featuring sound and lighting, around 5,000 people rooted for their favorite fighters at Ibirapuera's Gymnasium, in the middle of the town. As the same time São Paulo was rocked by Showfight, another fight show warmed up the cold city of Imbituba, in Santa Catarina. The second edition of Sul Fight impressed the audience with local fighters; proving not only major capitals have values. MMARR's F. Machado was at both events and brings now the best of happened inside the ring.
Showfight: newcomer Margarida rocks Jorge Macaco
Pride veteran Jorge Patino Macaco has experienced one of the bitterest feelings of his professional life, on November 9. The chuteboxer was defeated by former BTT's fighter Fernando Margarida by judge's decision. In a fight between two Jiu-Jitsu black belts, the audience expected as much Jiu-Jitsu skills as possible from both sides. However both of them avoided Jiu-Jitsu and almost didn’t go to the ground at all during the first round. Exchanging punches, Macaco realized he would have troubles with the Vale-Tudo newcomer Margarida. Applying a sharpened punch sequence, Margarida brought the crowd into a frenzy. In his best moment of the fight, he took Macaco down and almost caught his back. In the end of the bout, judges pointed Margarida as champion by decision.
ImageBehind the scenes, Pride Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva got very upset with his teammate's loss, but was impressed with the event. "I have to tell you man. From all editions I've been this is the fullest crowd ever. Besides Macaco’s loss, it's a beautiful fight night," stated Silva, who also watched former chuteboxer suffering another take down. At this time, Margarida tried to reach his back. Jose Pelé Landi also had a hard time and was defeated by local fighter Eduardo Pamplona. At Showfight 4, Pamplona had defeated Jorge Patico Macaco by unanimous judges' decision, and at this time, he was face to face with the legend of -83kg division: Cuban/Brazilian Pelé Landi.
Landi was confident about his performance after giving no chances to Croatian Damir Mirenic at World Free Fighting Championship, in Slovenia, on September 30. However, Pamplona was training hard with Brazilian Muay Thai champion Moisés Gibi and his Gracie São Paulo's crew. "I knew I would defeat him when I first clinched and put him down. It was very easy and I knew I would win the fight," stated Pamplona after the fight. With the right game, Pamplona did not allow Landi to show his Muay Thai and for several times took the fight to the ground. "I used the perfect strategy, because theses days everybody knows everything, so once he doesn't know Jiu-Jitsu, I used it against him," explained Pamplona.
COMPLETE RESULTS
Show Fight 5
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Ibirapuera Gymnasium, São Paulo
Jiu-Jitsu: Gabriel Napão defeated Gabriel Vella by 12x0;
Submission: André Galvão submitted Paulo Horito by foot-lock in 1R;
Boxing: Pedro Otas defeated Rafael Zumbano by KO in 6R;
Muay Thai: Fernando Maestro defeated Luis Sorriso by unanimous judge's decision;
MMA:
- Michelle Tavares defeated Yasmin Tahira by unanimous judge's decision;
- Thiago Silva defeated Dino Pezão by KO in 1R;
- Assuério Silva defeated Eduardo Maiorino by KO in 1R;
- Fernando Margarida defeated Jorge Macaco by unanimous judge's decision;
- Roan Jucão submitted Yoshitomo Watanabe by kata-gatame in 1R;
- Eduardo Pamplona defeated José Pelé by unanimous judge's decision.
Sul Fight 2: the value of local fighters
Those who went to Imbituba, Santa Catarina (Southern State of Brazil), on November 4 enjoyed one of the beautiful beach places in the South of Brazil and also a perfect fight night. At Olivar Francisco Gymnasium, the audience was able to watch the second edition of Sul Fight. Local fighters did show they have potential to become top Brazilian fighters. And that all they needed was opportunity. Sul Fight 2 was their shot and in the main event of the night, Mexicano (Ataque Duplo) follwed a great strategy to defeat Henrique Mello (Nova União), a ground specialist. In three rounds, Mexicano didn't allow Mello to take the fight to the ground and punished the fighter with a sharpened game on the feet. In some other great bout, Leandro Gordo gave no chances to João Zeferino and in early round 1, he took the opponent down, passed his guard, reached the mount and punished Zeferino until the ref stoppage. The night also featured other nine bouts, which gave the audience much to smile about on their way home.
Girls kick ass in both events
ImageNot only male fighters have performed great in the ring. Both Showfight and Sul Fight featured girls, proving Mixed Martial Arts in Brazil is not a matter of sex. Stronger than lots of fighters of the –57kg division, Nova União’s black belt Michelle Tavares has done one of the best matches of Showfight, impressing the audience. Tavares, who also has fought at Japanese Shooto and other events in Brazil as Bitetti Combat, had to face new female revelation Yasmin Tahira. Besides being a tough fighter, Tahira gave Michelle a hard time not allowing her to take the fight to the ground so easily. However, Michelle was more aggressive and in her best moment, Tavares caught Tahira’s back, but Tahira showed great defense skills and didn’t allow Michelle to fix any position.
At Sul Fight, the female fight was between Maiana Pit Bull (Junior Aguiar Team) and Mara (Boxe Thai). Differently from Showfight, both strikers did fight mostly on the feet, using strong kicks seeking the KO. Besides exchanging punches, Boxe Thai representative used her wrestling to impress the judges. She attacked Maiana with three takedowns in three rounds and won by split decision. Check out the full results of Sul Fight below:
COMPLETE RESULTS:
Sul Fight II
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Olivar Francisco Gymnasium, Imbituba, Santa Catarina
- Patrick Ale defeated André Sufista by unanimous judge's decision;
- Rafael Braga submitted Edílson Baby by RNC in R1;
- Leandro Gordo defeated João Zeferino by TKO;
- Mara defeated Maiana Pit Bull by split decision;
- Ronis Torres defeated Feijão by split decision;
- Mexicano defeated Henrique Mello by unanimous judge's decision;
- Tiago Bonito submitted André Bugre by arm-lock in R1;
- Hélio Junior defeated Eliziel Zanela by verbal submission;
- Xuxa defeated Niltom by TKO in R1;
- Dirlei Guga defeated Eliser Zanela by KO (knee) in R1;
- Robson Pedra defeated Ceará by KO (kick) in R1.
Personality: Anderson Silva
After leaving Chute Boxe, years ago, Muay Thai black belt Anderson Silva has been working hard to be one of the top fighters of –83kg division. He gathered together some Chute Boxe’ dissidents and formed a new group called Muay Thai Dream Team. Defending this new flag, he rocked the Cage Rage organization and took the belt of the organization, showing a sharpened Muay Thai and KO’ing several opponents. Such fame drove him to fight in another cage and this time inside the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he ran over Chris Leben in only 49 seconds of fight.
But his big shot came four months later at UFC 64 Unstoppable, held on October 14th. By that time, Silva replied to the critics, who pointed at his title shot as premature. “I own a belt at Shooto and Cage Rage and I am ready to bring to Brazil a new title. But the responsibility to retain the belt is his”, said Silva about former champion Rich Franklin. Using a deadly sequence of knees, Silva earned the belt with majesty, KO’ing Franklin at only 2:59 of the first round.
And now UFC has decided. Anderson Silva days with the belt may be in countdown. In February, Silva will defend his belt for the first time, against Travis Lutter, who during the last Ultimate Fight Night submitted Patrick Cote with an arm-lock. In a new academy, the Black House, Anderson Silva promises to train hard to retain the belt. “I know Lutter has such a great ground skill and I will train harder on my Jiu-Jitsu. I’ve faced tougher opponents, but every fight is a different fight and I will be ready for when my time comes”, finished Silva.
