Episode No. 1 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil'
It's time for the first-ever international episode of "The Ultimate Fighter."
Episode No. 1 starts out with a brief discussion of Brazil's relevance in MMA and what exactly "The Ultimate Fighter" hopes to accomplish. According to the broadcast, more than 5,000 applications were received, and 500 hopefuls actually tried out for the show. Thirty-two were selected for the show, split between the middleweight and featherweight divisions.
The action starts quickly in Rio de Janeiro's HSBC Arena, as the 32 competitors are brought into the octagon to meet coaches Vito Belfort and Wanderlei Silva. UFC president Dana White joins them shortly after, and the contestants don translation headphones to hear his English instructions. The emotion is incredible, and there are already a few tears as the fighters realize what's at stake.
The first fight sees featherweight Rony "Jason" Mariano Bezerra (10-3), who walks in with the famous hockey mask of his fighting moniker. He meets undefeated Nova Unaio product Dileno Lopes (8-0). It's eerily quiet in the empty arena, and the two go to work, trading kicks in the early going. As they start to find range, Lopes scores a massive left hand that sends Bezerra to the floor. Lopes follows and starts unleashing ground-and-pound shots. Still, Bezerra survives the onslaught and returns to the feet.
White is letting a few expletives fly, but the Portuguese-language broadcast lets them slide.
The momentum quickly shifts, and Bezerra lands a flying knee, followed by a crisp right hand. Another right scores when Lopes falls, and the referee Mario Yamasaki waves off the fight.
FEATHERWEIGHT: Rony Mariano Bezerra def. Dileno Lopes TKO (strikes) - Round 1
Next up is middleweights, and Francisco "Massaranduba" Drinaldo (10-1) vs. Charles Maicon (8-1). Drinaldo promises he'll score with heavy hands, claiming he was born to fight. Maicon says his fights are like rodeos, they only last eight seconds.
Sure enough, the two come out throwing, and Drinaldo wings heavy leather before securing a Thai clinch. He fires a knee and then throws his opponent to the floor. Big left hands follow, and the fight is waved off in just 14 seconds.
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Francisco Drinaldo def. Charles Maicon via knockout (punches) - Round 1
The fights keep rolling, and it's 145-pound action in Godofredo "Pepey" de Oliveira (8-0) vs. Johnny "Cabeca" Goncalves (4-0). Oliveira says he's rather see his opponent's mom crying than his own. Meanwhile, Goncalves reveals he's a recovering drug user who feels blessed to be clean.
"Pepey" enjoys a big reach advantage, but it's Goncalves who lands early leather. de Oliveira quickly closes the distance and brings the fight to the floor. Goncalves sweeps to top position, but de Oliveira alertly locks in a triangle choke. His long limbs are effective, and he switches to an armbar, earning the tap. Fights are flying.
FEATHERWEIGHT: Godofredo "Pepey" de Oliveira def. Johnny Goncalves via submission (armbar) - Round 1
It's quickly back to middleweights, and Belfort product Cezar "Mutante" Ferreira (4-2) vs. 35-year-old Gustavo "Labareda" Sampaio (5-1).
Sampaio lands a few early right hands, and he's throwing big punches to start.The taller Ferreira grabs a Thai clinch and lands a few knees before Sampaio hits the deck. Ferriera looks for a kimura but settles for firing a few elbows to the head. A few of them cut Sampaio's head open, but Ferriera then receives a warning for downward elbows to the leg. The fight is shown in highlight form, and a bloody Sampaio makes it to round two.
Sampaio opens the second by again throwing big right hands. Ferreira returns fire, but he's taking enough damage for White to commend his chin. Ferreira eventually shoots in, bringing the fight to the floor with a big slam. Sampaio scrambles but gets caught in a guillotine choke. Ferriera falls back and squeezes, and Sampaio is forced to tap.
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Cezar Ferreira def. Gustavo Sampaio via submission (guillotine choke) - Round 2
Moving along, it's physical therapist Hugo "Wolverine" Viana (5-0) vs. an admittedly bloodthirsty Alexandre "Sangue" Ramos (5-0). "Wolverine" boasts the necessary lamb chops, in case you're wondering.
Ramos is the taller fighter, but Viana works quickly inside and pushes the fight to the cage. Ramos jumps up and launches into a flying triangle, but Viana survives it and pulls free, setting up in top position and throwing punches. Ramos looks calm underneath, but it's Viana who controls the action with punches and elbows from the dominant position.
Ramos looks to scramble, but Viana stays pinned to him on top. He finds a little room to elevate, and brutal elbows follow. The first two leave his opponent cold. A few more come in before the fight is mercifully stopped. Brutal finish.
FEATHERWEIGHT: Hugo Viana def. Alexandre Ramos via knockout (elbows) - Round 1
Next up is middleweights with Daniel Sarafian (7-2) vs. Richardson "Monstrao" Moreira (3-0). The fight is only shown in highlight form, but Sarafian scores with a strong left that drops his foe. Moreira uses the position to latch on to a leg, but Sarafian escapes and moves to mount, looking to capitalize. Moreira somehow works free and returns to the feet, but he's struck by an illegal knee. In an odd delayed reaction, Sarafian falls to the canvas, earning a timeout.
In the second, Sarafian wasted little time in getting the fight to the floor, and he sets up in top position. Only seconds of the round are shown, but it's revealed that despite the early penalty, Serafian earns a decision with an impressive second round.
MIDDLEWEIGHT: Daniel Sarafian def. Richardson Moreira via decision
Next up, it's back to 145 pounds, as Fabricio "Guerreiro" de Assis Costa da Silva (14-1) takes on Rodrigo Damm (9-5). Again, it's the montage treatment, but da Silva enjoys some obvious success on the feet. As such, Damm takes the fight to the floor and looked to grapple.
The second plays out the same way, and Damm scrambles to the back and sinks in a rear-naked choke, earning the tap.
FEATHERWEIGHTS: Rodrigo Damm def. Fabricio de Assis Costa da Silva via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 2
We stay in the 145-pound division for the next fight. It's Wagner "Galeto" Campos (11-3) vs. Fernando Duarte Guerra (10-1).
It's the highlight treatment again, and Campos seems to get the best with some early punches, but Belfort reveals the two really fought very cautiously in an attempt not to lose. Silva says the second played out in similar fashion, and White assumes Campos has won. Instead they go to a third round, and the UFC boss looks truly shocked.
We don't see much of the third, but Guerra jaws a bit at the end, telling Campos he was running and not fighting. The judges don't agree, and Campos is awarded a decision win. Emotional after the win, he promises to evolve.
FEATHERWEIGHTS: Wagner Campos (11-3) def. Fernando Duarte Guerra (10-1) via decision
Next up, it's middleweights, with a jovial jiu-jitsu ace Sergio "Serginho" Moraes (6-1) vs. Thiago Rela (3-1). Rela opens as the aggressor, but Moraes quickly brings him to the floor. Surprisingly, it's Rela who rolls for a leg lock. The two trade punches on the floor while in an odd dual-figure-four position.
Moraes eventually tires of the punches, and he falls back for a heel hook. He scores it, and Rela taps. Afterward, Moraes apparently (if the subtitles are accurate) says, "Damn it, I'm such a bitch."
MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Sergio Moraes def. Thiago Rela via submission (heel hook) - Round 1
It's now back to featherweights, with Rafael Bueno (7-1) vs. Anistavio "Gasparzinho" Medeiros (12-7). We're only treated to highlights of the fight, but Silva isn't impressed with the purple-mohawked Bueno's decision to pull guard in the opening round.
In the second, Bueno slips on a kick, allowing Medeiros to take top position. Despite enjoying that position in the first two rounds, the fight does go to a third. Medeiros earns top again in the final round and nearly sinks an armbar. It misses, but he's given a decision win.
FEATHERWEIGHTS: Anistavio Medeiros def. Rafael Bueno via decision
It's now back to middleweights for Joao Paulo "Tuba" de Souza (8-4) vs. Thiago "Bodao" de Oliveira Perpetuo (8-1-1). Both coaches are impressed with the fight, which sees de Souza score early with a high kick and take top position on the floor. But Perpetuo, who survived shoulder cancer, is unintimidated. He survives, and he takes over in the second, earning a decision.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Thiago de Oliveira Perpetuo def. Joao Paulo de Souza via decision
back to featherweights, it's Giovanni "Soldado" Souza Jr. (10-1), who reveals he's fought in the past for as little as 30 Reais ($15), vs. an extremely calm John "Macapa" Teixeira (13-0-1).
The two quickly clinch, and Souza is kneed in the groin. Yamasaki misses the blow, but he does stop the fight shortly after. Ironically, it's then Souza who answers back with an illegal knee of his own, though he apologizes and says it's not on purpose.
On the restart, they scramble to the deck, and Teixeira moves swiftly into mount. Souza escapes the position, but Teixeira rolls and turns for an armbar. It's a beautiful transition, and Teixeira is trapped. Impressive finish.
The comical fight recap features subtitles that include Silva talking about a knee to the "buts," the "ball kick" that followed, and the importance of wearing a cup (his, he says, is "super-sized").
FEATHERWEIGHTS: John Teixeira def. Giovanni Souza Jr. via submission (armbar) - Round 1
Back to middleweights with Gilberto "Giba" Galvao (19-4-1) vs. the experienced Delson "Pe de Chumbo" Heleno (23-6). Heleno utilizes his wrestling early, bringing the fight to the floor and narrowly missing on a few chokes. In the fight montage, we see he does the same in the second. He's never able to finish, but Galvao comes up short.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Delson Heleno def. Gilberto Galvao via decision
Also at 185 pounds, it's Fabio "Bolinho" Luiz Vital da Costa (9-0-1) against Renee Forte(7-1). It's "Bolinho" who looks strong on the feet in the highlights. However, Forte is returning fire, and he takes over in the second, which Silva says is a much better round. It's enough to earn the decision.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Renee Forte def. Fabio Luiz Vital da Costa via decision
It's the homestretch now, and it's back to featherweight for Marcos Vinicius "Vina" Borges Pancini (19-3-1) vs. Pedro Nobre (10-0-1). Pancini shares a Brazilian saying, that you must kill a lion every day. A former motorcycle courier (a dangerous profession due to the traffic in Brazil), says MMA makes you kill seven or eight lions each day.
Pancini lands an early right hand, sending Nobre to the canvas. He follows to finish, but Nobre survives and returns to his feet. No matter, as Pancini is there with a big left, sending his opponent to the floor and earning a knockout win.
FEATHERWEIGHTS: Marcos Vinicius Borges Pancini def. Pedro Nobre via knockout (punches) - Round 1
The final elimination fight is between middleweights, and it's Samuel Trindade vs. Leonardo "Macarrao" Mafra Teixeira. It's Teixeira who does the most damage early, and he floors his opponent with a right hand. He doesn't follow, and Trindade is allowed to stand. Teixeira resumes the attack, but he slips on a knee, allowing Trindade to take top position. Teixeira slips and rolls, returning to his feet. It's a shortened opening round, but Teixeira seems to be getting the best of a game Trindade.
In the second, Teixeira again moves forward. Trindade stands form in the pocket and returns fire, landing some crisp shots of his own. The two look to be tiring as the round wears on, but they continue to trade on the feet. Both have takedowns stuffed, and so they simply bang away in incredible exchanges. Trindade finally scores a takedown at the bell, and the two move on to a third frame.
Both fighters are exhausted as the final frame starts. Trindade dives for a leg, but Teixeira scampers free, and they resume their insane face-punching assault. Mouthpieces are lost, referees are yelling. Trindade falls into a triangle choke in the closing seconds, but he can't capitalize. It's intense, and White and the coaches both offer a standing ovation. In the end, it's Teixeira who's awarded the decision.
Both coaches are giddy as they recount the action, and Teixeira says he's pleased with the result. However, he also has a huge mouse under his left eye. The injury could be an issue.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS: Leonardo Mafra Teixeira def. Samuel Trindade via decision
With the fights complete, White brings the winners together and says he's "blown away" by what he witnessed.
Belfort and Silva also offer a few encouraging words, and the winners are given a proper introduction to the TV audience. There are a few preview clips of the upcoming season, and it does look intense. Next week, the fighters enter the house.
MMAJunkie