The Ultimate Fighter Brasil 2 - Discussion, Rumors & Results

[keithlewis]

TUF Brasil 2 - Episode 8 Recap:


The eighth episode of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil 2 had a huge importance for the Team Werdum. With only two representatives qualified to move to the quarterfinals, the yellow squad could fill the two slots remaining for the next stage and equal the number of fighters from Team Nogueira, who qualified four men after a tough start. Besides Daniel Gelo, who replaced the injured Yan Cabral, Werdum still could place two of his pupils in the wild card fight. But a series of surprises would seal the competition's future in a decisive episode of TUF Brasil 2.

Deception and surprise before the match

The environment was tense. While Daniel Gelo was booked to face Cleiton Foguete in the week’s first fight, the rest of the competitors who lost were very anxious for the wild card opportunity. That would be their second chance to keep the dream of joining the UFC alive. Minotauro Nogueira surprised with his decision, opting for Thiago "Marreta" Santos, a member of the opposite team. Fabrício Werdum picked the knockout artist Pedro Iriê. Minotauro's decision disappointed David Vieira, who still had hopes of a new opportunity.

"Who am I to disagree? But I was hopeful and I imagined I could have that second chance. Life is like that; it hits us when we're not expecting it", Vieira lamented.

Meanwhile, the fighters sweated to make weight for their fights. Daniel Gelo, through, was having a hard time doing it.

"I stayed on the treadmill for one hour, and when I checked, I had lost only a bit more than half a pound. My weight didn't go down," Gelo said.

On the other hand, his opponent, Cleiton Foguete, was starving while a barbecue was organized by Big Nog a session of outdoor training.

"For me, this barbecue was suffering." Foguete said, smiling.

At the weigh in, while every fighter scheduled reached the scale with their weight okay, Gelo was overweight, three and a half pounds over 170. According to the commission rules, a competitor can't cut more than 2.2 pounds in a period of less than one hour and, in a final decision, Cleiton Foguete advanced to the next phase while Gelo was eliminated from TUF Brasil season 2. Before that, in spite of his tears, Gelo heard not only from his coaches, but also from those of Team Nogueira.

"He didn't reach the weight and it was a lack of responsibility", said Werdum.

"I see it like a serious lack of discipline. In an ultimate opportunity like this one on The Ultimate Fighter Brasil, you can't lose to the scales", Luiz Dórea commented.

Gelo only had regrets.

"The competition has rules and to be there you need to be ready to follow them. It didn't happen for me. Unfortunately it wasn't this time."

The time has come as the fighters square off for the last spot in the quarterfinals. Both competitors were from Team Werdum, so the coaches opted to not coach. In the bleachers, the rest of the participants also didn't scream words of support, including former light heavyweight champion and Hall of Fame member Chuck Liddell, who watched the match in silence.

Thiago "Marreta" Santos and Pedro Irie opted to trade punches since the start of the fight in one of the most balanced fights of the season. In the first stanza, Irie seemed to be more effective, utilizing good Muay thai. However, in the second, Santos worked from the outside and took advantage of his gigantic reach. He landed more significant strikes and earned the victory by unanimous decision.

"In my opinion Irie won the first and Santos the second round. You can't leave it in the judges’ hands", summarized Liddell perfectly.

"Irie has heavy hands; he hit me and a few times I was dizzy. I'm super happy, I had a second chance and I said I'd do differently. I came back more pumped and determined; it's the Thiago "Marreta" Santos that you'll see from now on." Santos, the last to qualify for the quarterfinals, then stated celebrating.

The next episode of The Ultimate Fighter Brasil 2 will determine the quarterfinal matchups, and one of the competitors will be forced to leave his dream behind.

[keithlewis]

TUF Brasil 2 - Episode 9 Recap:


The ninth episode of The Ultimate Fighter Brasil 2 announced all four battles of the quarterfinals, while also producing the first semifinalist of the reality show, as William "Patolino" Macario dispatched Tiago Alves via first round TKO, widening the score in favor of Team Nogueira. Yet in spite of the victory, the green squad also suffered a setback as a hand injury sidelined Luiz "Besouro" Dutra - one of the favorites - from the competition.

After the withdrawals of Yan Cabral and Neilson Gomes - who left the competition due to a broken hand and a torn ACL, respectively - this time it was Dutra who was beaten by an injury. The first pick of Minotauro Nogueira, Dutra was feeling pain in his hand and unable to use it on the ground or punch, he looked for the doctor's help. After a few exams, he returned to the house without knowing the results, and the day after he heard from his own coach that one of the ligaments was torn, and by the Athletic Commission rules, he couldn't keep himself in the competition.

His reaction was understandably emotional and, between tears, the fighter asked to continue, even though he was hurt. Team Nogueira boxing coach Luiz Dorea tried to convince the participant that it was the best decision for his future. Nogueira, also saddened by this turn of events, commented: “He was my first pick and he's a guy that I knew before… He's a motoboy who works 15 hours per day and has three kids."

"I'll keep doing what I do every morning: I'll take my backpack and keep training. I'll be back stronger than ever. I promise to my kids, who I love more than everything, I'll be back", said Dutra.

With Dutra’s withdrawal, David Vieira, who lost in first elimination match by submission to Yan Cabral, earned a new chance, and he faces Viscardi Andrade. Thiago Marreta, who was victorious in the wild card fight, faces Leonardo Santos.

Outside the Octagon, the teams’ rivalry continued as an "attack" to Team Werdum's van initiates one more battle between the participants of the second season.

In spite of his manner inside the house, with a smile on his face all the time and ready to play with his castmates, Macario showed once again that when the horn sounds there is no place for the nice guy. Alves knew he needed to use his Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and he started trying to take his adversary down. However, all his attempts were stuffed by Macario, who bounced back with a barrage of strikes. Macario took Alves down twice and applied two knockdowns too. With three minutes on the clock, Macario unloaded a barrage of punches which wobbled Alves.

The São Paulo native weathered the initial storm, but Macario kept his blitz going. With less than one minute left, two hard knees connected, followed by a punch which sent Alves face down to the mat. Referee Mario Yamasaki was watching the action closely while Alves tried to survive. With 30 seconds on the clock, Yamasaki had seen enough, halting the battle and rendering Macario the victor.

"Nobody is gonna stop me, I'll run through whoever I need to, but humbly and grounded," said Macario. "I won't fail, my last fight here will be well done, whoever I face. Solid like a rock!"