Despite being 0-2 in the UFC, the Season 8 runner-up on The Ultimate Fighter is very confident in his submission game. He even thinks he can submit current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
“On the ground, I believe I can submit everyone on my division in the UFC, including Jon Jones,” Magalhaes said in an interview with Tatame.
Still, “Pezao” is anything but cocky and knows he will have to work his way to the top of the division:
…it’s too soon to speculate about that. I didn’t even debut yet. And more, having only a good Jiu-Jitsu won’t make anyone a UFC champion. To beat the champion, I’d need to get better in other areas too, unless he starts the fight on my guard.
After being cut from the UFC in 2009 after a loss to Elliot Marshall in UFC 97, Magalhaes has gone 7-1 on the independent circuit. His crowning achievement was winning the M-1 light heavyweight title in April of last year.
Magalhaes has won 15 gold medals in Jiu-Jitsu at the highest level of competition, including last year’s Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Wrestling World Championship, the world’s premiere no-gi BJJ tournament.
He makes his return to the Octagon on Sept. 22 at UFC 152 to face Igor Pokrajac.
Meanwhile, “Bones” is riding a seven-fight win streak, including his title-capturing victory over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March of 2011.
Since then, Jones has defeated three former champions in Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Lyoto Machida and former friend/training partner Rashad “Suga” Evans.
Jones hits the Octagon again Sept. 1 to take on former PRIDE and Strikeforce champion Dan Henderson.
Coincidentally, Jones submitted Season 8 TUF winner Ryan Bader to qualify for a title shot, while Bader knocked out Magalhaes to become “The Ultimate Fighter.”
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