Brazil's Greatest UFC Moments
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- Category: UFC News
- Published on Friday, 19 August 2011 05:00
- Written by By Thomas Gerbasi
When you think of Brazilian fighters in the UFC, what are the moments that immediately pop into your head? In advance of the organization’s return to Brazil for UFC RIO , here are a few to jog your memory before more additions ultimately make the list on August 27th.
Royce Gracie introduces Jiu-Jitsu to the world
If you thought Royce Gracie had a chance of winning the first Ultimate Fighting Championship tournament in 1993, you were either A) crazy B) a jiu-jitsu practitioner or C) a member of the Gracie family. For everyone else, the arrival from seemingly out of nowhere of this young man from Rio de Janeiro to win three fights in one night over bigger and stronger opposition wasn’t just a remarkable athletic feat; it started a revolution and a sport. All in four minutes and 59 seconds.
The Phenom
By the time UFC 12 rolled around in 1997, UFC fans had seen some pretty remarkable fights and fighters. But they had never seen anything like Vitor Belfort . Just 19 years old, Rio’s “Phenom” blasted through Tra Telligman and Scott Ferrozzo in a combined two minutes on February 7th of that year to win that night’s tournament, but it was the way he did it that amazed fight fans. With speed, power and extreme confidence, Belfort was MMA’s Mike Tyson. 14 years later, when you mention his name to fans, that’s still the first picture that pops into view.
The Spider arrives
Anderson Silva was no stranger to diehard fight fans when he signed with the UFC in 2006, but for newer followers of the sport, the lanky middleweight from Curitiba was a mystery, so much so that many believed his debut on June 28th was a pick ‘em fight. Uh uh. Showing off a level of speed, power, and technical striking prowess that was a joy to watch. Silva picked Chris Leben apart with ease, knocking him out in just 49 seconds. If you want to make a statement in your debut, this was the way to do it. Five years later, he remains without a loss in the Octagon.
The Dream Match Finally Happens
For years, the idea of a dream match between PRIDE champion Wanderlei Silva and his UFC counterpart Chuck Liddell was just that – a dream. But after years of starts and stops, the two 205-pound legends met at UFC 79 on December 29, 2007, and despite coming four days after Christmas, it was a belated gift for all fight fans. Yes, the two were past their primes, but on this night, it didn’t matter, as each blistering exchange was met with a rousing and deserved roar from the packed house in Las Vegas. Liddell would beat Silva that night via decision, but after having the honor of watching both fighters throw hands with each other, the end result really didn’t matter.
Karate is back
Lyoto Machida is unlike any Brazilian fighter in history. He’s not a jiu-jitsu ace like Royce Gracie or Demian Maia , or an unrepentant knockout artist like Wanderlei Silva or “Shogun” Rua . Instead, Machida came to the UFC armed with a unique style of karate taught to him by his father Yoshizo, and for years, no one – including BJ Penn , Tito Ortiz , or Rich Franklin – was able to decipher it. At UFC 98 on May 23, 2009, Machida knocked out Rashad Evans in the second round to win the world light heavyweight title. When his dazzling performance was over, the first thing Machida had to say was “Karate is back.”
The Rock stops a Tank
One of the most highly anticipated bouts of the UFC’s first trip to Brazil was between popular brawler Tank Abbott and unbeaten local prospect Pedro Rizzo . For the 5-0 Rizzo, it was his first major step up in competition, and he was doing it in front of his home country fans in his UFC debut. For Abbott, it was another night in the office, and an important bout considering he was riding a two fight winning streak. “The Rock” made sure it wasn’t going to be three in a row, as he delivered a crushing...
