Debuts go Brazil’s Way (UFC on FX 8 Review)
Brazil has been the Mecca of MMA ever since Royce Gracie first stepped in to the octagon and immediately change the sport forever. Gracie would bring Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the UFC and would shock the world when he beat fighter double his size. Before that the UFC was all about the power and the knockouts with some wrestling mixed in to the fights. When Gracie entered the octagon it was not about the power and knockout ability anymore as the smaller Gracie would win fights with a new style. Since that point Brazil has been the centre of the MMA world with BJJ becoming a must for almost all fighters. Gracie would lead the charge of Brazilian fighters in the UFC as more and more fighters would emerge from the country. Now Brazilian fighters are among the best in every weight class in the UFC. With so many great Brazilian fighters from Brazil it was only natural when the UFC returned to Brazil in 2011 for the first time since 1998. They would make Brazil a regular stop throughout the year including UFC on FX 8 when one of the favorite sons of Brazil would headline a very important fight in the middleweight division. One of the first Brazilian fighters to follow Royce Gracie into the octagon was Vitor Belfort and he would quickly become one of the country’s favorite fighters. Now he would headline UFC on FX 8 when he would take on Luke Rockhold in a fight that could determine the top contender for the middleweight title. Rockhold would be making his UFC debut with a hostile crowd surrounding him as he took on one of the favorite fighters in Brazil. Rockhold would come into the UFC as the Strikeforce Middleweight champion and would be looking to move up the rankings in the UFC to earn a shot against Anderson Silva. Meanwhile Vitor Belfort was looking to keep his #2 spot in the rankings to earn a rematch against Silva while bringing his home country to their feet. The winner of the fight could become the next challenger for the title after Chris Weidman takes on Silva later this year. Going into the fight Rockhold was the favorite as he was considered the best middleweight in the world not named Anderson Silva. He was expected to come in and outdue the older Belfort who seemed to be stuck in the contender position but could never overcome the champions. Rockhold would have to stay away from Belfort’s lightning fast hands as once he gets going it is hard to stop the Knockout. Rockhold would do this with his signature kicks to keep the distance from Belfort and stay out of danger. The first round would start out with Rockhold looking to finish immediately and end the fight in amazing fashion. Throwing a head kick Rockhold would slip on the canvas missing the shot and taking no real damage. He would try to get Belfort to enter into a brawl which may not have worked out for him to begin with but Belfort showed his new discipline in not being goaded into a brawl. Instead Belfort would remain back and continue to wait for an opening which he would find in the first round. Belfort would take his moment and land a spinning back kick right to the chin of Rockhold ending the fight. Belfort would show a new side to his game as his patience would pay off and earn him the win. Rockhold took the loss in a less than perfect start to his UFC career. He will still remain a major player in the division but will have to climb back up the ladder if he wants a shot at the title. Meanwhile Belfort took the win and looks to be on a path to another title shot if depending on what happens when Anderson Silva fights Chris Weidman later this year.
The Brazilian fans would not only get to see Vitor Belfort live but would also get to see one of the most anticipated UFC debuts. Ronaldo Souza was one of the top middleweights in Strikeforce and was a former champion before being beaten by Luke Rockhold for the title. He would make his debut the same night as Rockhold and would look to show everyone that he was ready to step up and become one of the top fighters in the UFC middleweight division. He was a fighter that many considered to be a very good well-rounded fighter who can win anywhere. That meant bad news for Chris Camozzi who would take the fight on short notice and get the opportunity of the opportunity of a lifetime. Camozzi is nowhere near the top of the middleweight division but a win against Souza could put him in the top ten. He would just need to beat Ronaldo Souza to do so which is easier said than done especially on short notice. It was a respectable thing to show up on short notice but in the end Camozzi would realize why Souza came into the UFC with such hype. Camozzi would put up a good fight but in the end it was Souza’s BJJ that would come out on top. Souza would end the fight in the first round with an Arm Triangle and would begin what might be a great rise in the middleweight division.
Fight Bonuses
($50,000 for Each Fighter)
Submission of the Night
Ronaldo Souza would make his debut in the UFC with a big win as he would win end his fight against Chris Camozzi with a lesson on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and an Arm Triangle that would earn him a fight bonus
Knockout of the Night
After the main event there was not much question as to who had won the KO of the Night as Vitor Belfort would put an exclamation point on the night with a spinning back kick that would end his fight against Luke Rockhold
Fight of the Night
The night would start off on Facebook for the UFC and those who did not see those fights missed out as the first fight of the night between Lucas Martins and Jeremy Larsen which was a war that would end with Martins earning a third round KO
Fight Results
Main Event:
“The Phenom” Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold
(KO, Rd. 1)
Main Card:
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza def. Chris Camozzi
(Submission; Arm Triangle, Rd. 1)
Rafael Dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham
(Unanimous Decision)
Rafael “Sapo” Natal def. Joao “The Brazilian Samurai” Zeferino
(Unanimous Decision)
Undercard:
Nik “The Carny” Lentz def. Hacran Dias
(Unanimous Decision)
Francisco “Massaranduba” Trinaldo def. Mike “The Wolverine” Rio
(Submission; Arm Triangle, Rd. 1)
Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish
(Submission; Guillotine Choke, Rd. 2)
Paulo Thiago def. Michel “Tractor” Pazeres
(Unanimous Decision)
Yuri “Marajo” Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos
(KO, Rd. 1)
Fabio Maldonado def. Roger “The Hulk” Hollett
(Unanimous Decision)
John “Hands of Stone” Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov
(TKO, Rd. 2)
Jussier Formiga def. Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso
(Unanimous Decision)
Lucas “Mineiro” Martins def. Jeremy Larsen
(KO, Rd. 3)
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