Last night the TUF Brazil season opener aired on Globo network. For the first episode of the UFC reality show in Brazil, pitting teams led by Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva against each other, 32 fighters entered the octagon to determine the 16 who would move on to the TUF house, and the action that ensued did not disappoint.
Before the eyes of Dana White and the Brazilian team captains, two-time Jiu-Jitsu champion Sérgio Moraes went to the 50/50 guard to sink a footlock on Thiago Rela and seal the deal.
“I’ve never seen a fight like that. The two were sitting, hitting each other… I’ve never seen that position in MMA,” said Wanderlei Silva, refereeing to the 50/50 guard the athlete were in, in one of the first Jiu-Jitsu lessons of the Globo broadcast.
“The thing is that Sérgio waited for the right moment to go for Rela’s leg. When he launched the attack, he he adjusted the heel against his forearm and extended it. Rela didn’t even tap, he yelped,” explained current IBJJF lightweight world champion Gilbert Durinho, one of the trainers on the green team, Vitor Belfort’s group.
Now native of Ceará state Godofredo Pepey, a black belt from MG team undefeated in 10 MMA fights, was quick on the trigger, needing just a single round to put away Johnny Cabeça with an armbar from the triangle.
Others who used the gentle art to make sure they had a roof over their heads for a while were John Macapá, Rodrigo Damm and Cezar Mutante. Macapá sunk an armbar from within the guard on Giovanni Soldado in the first round. Now black belt and wrestler Rodrigo Damm, who was getting the worst of the standup exchange, used his grappling skills to drag Fabrício Guerreiro to the ground and wrap up with a rear-naked choke. Now Mutante was deft in jumping to closed guard and finishing Rodrigo Labareda with a guillotine.
COMPETING NETWORK SPILLS BEANS ON TUF FINAL
The names of the qualifying featherweights are Godofredo Pepey, Rony Jason, Hugo Wolverine, Rodrigo Damm, Wagner Galeto, John Teixeira, Anistávio Gasparzinho and Marcus Vinícius.
Now at middleweight, Francisco Massaranduba, Cezar Mutante, Daniel Sarafian, Tiago Bodão, Renée Forte, Delson Pé de Chumbo and Leonardo Macarrão will inhabit the TUF Brazil house. Check out the complete results below, and if you missed the premiere episode, click here to watch.
Today, the R7 website sought to rain on Globo’s parade, releasing the names of the four finalists. To not spoil the fun, GRACIEMAG.com will not reveal the information Record, Globo’s competitor, announced over the internet.
What about you, gentle reader, did you pick up any nifty Jiu-Jitsu tricks from the first Brazilian episode of TUF? Share it with us in the comments section below.
Featherweight (145 lbs/66kg)
Godofredo Pepey subbed Johnny Gonçalves via armbar from triangle in R1;
Rony Jason Mariano defeated Dileno Lopes via TKO in R1;
Hugo Wolverine defeated Alexandre Sangue via KO in R1;
Rodrigo Damm subbed Fabricio Guerreiro via rear-naked choke in R2;
Wagner Galeto defeated Fernando Guerra via judges’ decision;
John Teixeira subbed Giovanni Soldado via armbar in R1;
Anistávio Gasparzinho defeated Rafael Bueno via unanimous decision;
Marcus Vinícius defeated Pedro Nobre via KO in R1.
Middleweight (185 lbs/84kg)
Francisco Massaranduba defeated Charles Maicon via KO in R1;
Cezar Mutante subbed Gustavo Labareda via guillotine in R2;
Daniel Sarafian defeated Richardson Monstrão via judges’ decision;
Sergio Moraes subbed Thiago Rela via heelhook in R1;
Tiago Bodão defeated João Paulo Tuba via judges’ decision;
Renee Forte defeated Fabio Bolinho via unanimous judges’ decision;
Delson Pé de Chumbo defeated Gilberto Giba via judges’ decision;
Leonardo Macarrão defeated Samuel Trindade via unanimous judges’ decision;
