2009: The year of Brazil vs. Brazil in the UFC

Photos Josh Hedges

With five editions until the end of the year, UFC is prepared great emotions to the Brazilian fans, putting on six fights between Brazilian athletes, two of them in title fights. Analyzing five of these bouts for TATAME.com, the black belt and commentator Paulo Borracha pointed the favorites for the fights with huge stars as Lyoto Machida, Maurício Shogun, Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, Rogério Minotouro, Luis Cane, Thiago Alves, Paulo Thiago, Junior dos Santos and Gabriel Gonzaga. Check below the comments.

Lyoto Machida vs. Maurício Shogun:

“Analyzing by the techniques, Lyoto is the favorite. Shogun comes from an expressive victory, against (Chuck) Liddell, but wasn’t as Machida’s victories. A technical analyze it would be that. Shogun has an arsenal, he’s a monster, but he’s returning to the rhythm now. He made an excellent fight, but Liddell is not coming well, and Lyoto is fighting only the tough guys and fighting better. It doesn’t mean that Shogun can’t win, but looking at the numbers and the guys he’s catching, we can say that Lyoto is the favorite“.

Rogério Minotouro vs. Luis Cane:

“Big fight. For the time of work and international experience, I believe Minotouro more. Sokoudjou (beated by Cane on UFC) didn’t win Minotouro on UFC, was in other conditions and preparing, and that’s different in United States and Japan. It’s the same to beat Liddell and Rich Franklin today, it’s not their prime. Minotouro is versatile, I think both will take well the striking and, if someone hits, the other won’t accept... It will be like Minotouro against Shogun. I think it’s hard that a knock out happens, but I don’t they’ll go to the ground“.

Thiago “Pitbull” vs. Paulo Thiago:

“I think Paulo Thiago’s well centered, but Pitbull has a great game, he’s very technical. It’s a tough fight, but I believe more on Pitbull’s game. On the last fight, Paulo lost because was a lot of time on the ground, just like Pitbull against (George) St. Pierre, but GSP’s qualities are way superior than (Jon) Fitch’s. I believe that, if Paulo stays down, it would be hard for him to move. This fight may end before the third round, but Paulo has a heavy hand too“.

Junior “Cigano” dos Santos vs. Gabriel “Napão” Gonzaga:

“I believe more on Cigano. Napão has that amazing game, he’s kicking more, but I believe that Cigano’s preparation will make the difference. Cigano is technically excellent, but doesn’t have Napão’s ground, just like Napão, besides he’s punching and kicking, he’s not as good as Cigano in sriking. I think Napão will strike a little, but he’ll try to take him down. He’s way to win is on the ground. Standing up, Cigano’s hand or knees may enter. Ground by ground, Cigano will defend himself, besides the other one being better. Just like Napão can surprise with a punch, what’s hard, but it may happen. I think Cigano will try to defend himself on the ground, he knows the move and it’s hard to be dropped, but that’s Napão’s way to win, with a submission on the ground“.

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort:

“Another tough fight... Vitor and I trained together, and I saw Andersonstarting the career. For the time he’s presenting, the consistence, it’sAnderson. But it’s like Shogun, Vitor has all the weapons, is extremely talented to win, but, by the historical, it’s Anderson. Vitor is training Karate now, but I believe that what he may do to win is with hands, that are fast. He used to have a bigger attack sequence. Against Rich (Franklin), he was on that study, on that Karate base, and he took so long to attack. He’s more mature now. Vitor’s chance is by the hands, besides Anderson has good hands too. I don’t see him going to the ground, for what Vitor showed on the ground, he starts striking, but I think it’s hard that he go straight to the ground. He would use his boxing, and I don’t think that this Karate thing will surprise Anderson“.