Co-headlining Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 57 in Austin, Texas, Barboza told MMAFighting.com he has 100 percent of his focus on “King,” but still eyes another fight with “Cowboy” next.
“Of course. If the UFC offers this fight, I will take it,” Barboza said of Cerrone, who finished him with a rear-naked choke in April, “but my focus is on Green now.”
At 8-2 under the UFC banner, Barboza wants to get closer to a shot at the lightweight championship, and beating the No. 7 in the world, who is unbeaten in the Octagon after UFC fights, will likely put him in the top 10 of the 155-pound division.
“Every fight is important,” Barboza said. “It doesn’t matter where in the rankings my opponent is. I want to get the title, that’s the focus. Like I always say, I’m focused on my game and my strategy to beat him. I expect a war.”
Barboza trained in three different gyms for his UFN 57 co-main event bout, and that brings extra confidence.
“My camp was great,” he said. “I started my camp at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, because I live there and also have a gym in Palm Beach Gardens, Valor. The other half of my camp was in New Jersey with my coaches Mark Henry, Ricardo Almeida, Anderson Franca and the whole team.
“I’m always confident, no matter how my last fight went. I believe confidence comes from hard training, and I always have that.”
Co-headlining Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 57 in Austin, Texas, Barboza told MMAFighting.com he has 100 percent of his focus on “King,” but still eyes another fight with “Cowboy” next.
“Of course. If the UFC offers this fight, I will take it,” Barboza said of Cerrone, who finished him with a rear-naked choke in April, “but my focus is on Green now.”
At 8-2 under the UFC banner, Barboza wants to get closer to a shot at the lightweight championship, and beating the No. 7 in the world, who is unbeaten in the Octagon after UFC fights, will likely put him in the top 10 of the 155-pound division.
“Every fight is important,” Barboza said. “It doesn’t matter where in the rankings my opponent is. I want to get the title, that’s the focus. Like I always say, I’m focused on my game and my strategy to beat him. I expect a war.”
Barboza trained in three different gyms for his UFN 57 co-main event bout, and that brings extra confidence.
“My camp was great,” he said. “I started my camp at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, because I live there and also have a gym in Palm Beach Gardens, Valor. The other half of my camp was in New Jersey with my coaches Mark Henry, Ricardo Almeida, Anderson Franca and the whole team.
“I’m always confident, no matter how my last fight went. I believe confidence comes from hard training, and I always have that.”
The UFC welterweight contender is set to challenge grappling wizard J.T. Torres at Metamoris 5 in Long Beach on Nov. 22, and Torres wants to ruin MacDonald’s perfect year.
Torres, who fought to a draw with Victor Estima at Metamoris 2, wasn’t expecting to face MacDonald at the upcoming Metamoris event.
“I was a little surprised when Metamoris offered me to compete against Rory,” Torres told MMAFighting.com, “but I was 100 percent down for it.”
With a 9-2 UFC record, including wins over jiu-jitsu black belts B.J. Penn, Demian Maia and Nate Diaz, MacDonald hasn’t competed in grappling tournaments in a while, and that’s why Torres believes his ground game is in another level.
However, MacDonald’s size advantage can play a big factor Saturday night.
“I wasn’t surprised (MacDonald took the fight), to be honest with you, because he is a high level athlete himself, who happens to have a black belt in BJJ as well,” Torres said. “To be honest, I really do not know what to really think of his BJJ other than that he is a solid black belt.
“I don’t think his level of technicality in BJJ can be compared to my level, but his 20-30 pound size advantage over me can even things out during the match.”
MacDonald is currently riding a three-fight winning streak inside the Octagon, and his victory over Demian Maia taught Torres a few things about MacDonald’s grappling skills.
“Absolutely,” he said of the MacDonald-Maia bout in February, “I was able to see a glimpse of his ground game in that fight which has helped me develop a few lines of attack.”
Former World BJJ Nogi champion Torres wants to make his MMA debut “one day soon,” and a win over a UFC contender, even in grappling competition, would be huge for his future plans.
“I have always had an interest in MMA and I for sure plan to fight in the near future,” Torres said. “Regardless of this match, I will definitely be making my MMA debut one day soon.
“I think a submission win over Rory will help me get my name out there to the MMA fans, so when I go ahead decided to make that MMA debut I will a solid following.”
The UFC welterweight contender is set to challenge grappling wizard J.T. Torres at Metamoris 5 in Long Beach on Nov. 22, and Torres wants to ruin MacDonald’s perfect year.
Torres, who fought to a draw with Victor Estima at Metamoris 2, wasn’t expecting to face MacDonald at the upcoming Metamoris event.
“I was a little surprised when Metamoris offered me to compete against Rory,” Torres told MMAFighting.com, “but I was 100 percent down for it.”
With a 9-2 UFC record, including wins over jiu-jitsu black belts B.J. Penn, Demian Maia and Nate Diaz, MacDonald hasn’t competed in grappling tournaments in a while, and that’s why Torres believes his ground game is in another level.
However, MacDonald’s size advantage can play a big factor Saturday night.
“I wasn’t surprised (MacDonald took the fight), to be honest with you, because he is a high level athlete himself, who happens to have a black belt in BJJ as well,” Torres said. “To be honest, I really do not know what to really think of his BJJ other than that he is a solid black belt.
“I don’t think his level of technicality in BJJ can be compared to my level, but his 20-30 pound size advantage over me can even things out during the match.”
MacDonald is currently riding a three-fight winning streak inside the Octagon, and his victory over Demian Maia taught Torres a few things about MacDonald’s grappling skills.
“Absolutely,” he said of the MacDonald-Maia bout in February, “I was able to see a glimpse of his ground game in that fight which has helped me develop a few lines of attack.”
Former World BJJ Nogi champion Torres wants to make his MMA debut “one day soon,” and a win over a UFC contender, even in grappling competition, would be huge for his future plans.
“I have always had an interest in MMA and I for sure plan to fight in the near future,” Torres said. “Regardless of this match, I will definitely be making my MMA debut one day soon.
“I think a submission win over Rory will help me get my name out there to the MMA fans, so when I go ahead decided to make that MMA debut I will a solid following.”
Rickson Gracie, one of the greatest names in jiu-jitsu and vale tudo history, is a fan of Metamoris.
The legendary Gracie, who is undefeated in MMA and jiu-jitsu matches, was always critical of what jiu-jitsu has become over the years, with the change of rules and the way BJJ fighters compete today. With submission-only 20-minute matches, Metamoris founder Ralek Gracie got his attention.
“I think it’s a progressive idea,” Rickson Gracie told MMAFighting.com. “Metamoris tries, by removing the rules and bringing longer matches, to bring more dynamic matches with more finishes.”
Despite being a fan of the promotion, it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make some changes on its format.
“If there’s no penalty for stalling, fighters will find a way to control the match and the time, looking for a comfort zone,” Gracie said. “It makes it exactly like a modern jiu-jitsu fight, but longer. It’s the same boring match, but lasting longer.
“You should have the option to say ‘come on, if you don’t fight the way people expect you to, go home. You’re disqualified. Go away.’ You’re there to watch a match and it doesn’t happen because the rule allows you to do whatever you want, so people go there and fight for a draw because they already got paid.
“A real match, with fighters going for all or nothing, is what people want to watch.”
Metamoris’ upcoming card is scheduled for Saturday night in Long Beach, Calif., and features Renzo Gracie in a long awaited rematch with Kazushi Sakuraba in the main event. In the previous event, Royler Gracie was the one coming back to the mat to face old rival Eddie Bravo.
Rickson Gracie, who turned 56 years old Thursday, rules out competing at Metamoris.
“I don’t see myself competing anymore because I’ve completely lost interest in competition, and my injuries wouldn’t allow me to perform the way I would like,” he said. “It’s not something I think about anymore. For those who still have this motivation, I think it’s cool.”
Rickson Gracie, one of the greatest names in jiu-jitsu and vale tudo history, is a fan of Metamoris.
The legendary Gracie, who is undefeated in MMA and jiu-jitsu matches, was always critical of what jiu-jitsu has become over the years, with the change of rules and the way BJJ fighters compete today. With submission-only 20-minute matches, Metamoris founder Ralek Gracie got his attention.
“I think it’s a progressive idea,” Rickson Gracie told MMAFighting.com. “Metamoris tries, by removing the rules and bringing longer matches, to bring more dynamic matches with more finishes.”
Despite being a fan of the promotion, it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make some changes on its format.
“If there’s no penalty for stalling, fighters will find a way to control the match and the time, looking for a comfort zone,” Gracie said. “It makes it exactly like a modern jiu-jitsu fight, but longer. It’s the same boring match, but lasting longer.
“You should have the option to say ‘come on, if you don’t fight the way people expect you to, go home. You’re disqualified. Go away.’ You’re there to watch a match and it doesn’t happen because the rule allows you to do whatever you want, so people go there and fight for a draw because they already got paid.
“A real match, with fighters going for all or nothing, is what people want to watch.”
Metamoris’ upcoming card is scheduled for Saturday night in Long Beach, Calif., and features Renzo Gracie in a long awaited rematch with Kazushi Sakuraba in the main event. In the previous event, Royler Gracie was the one coming back to the mat to face old rival Eddie Bravo.
Rickson Gracie, who turned 56 years old Thursday, rules out competing at Metamoris.
“I don’t see myself competing anymore because I’ve completely lost interest in competition, and my injuries wouldn’t allow me to perform the way I would like,” he said. “It’s not something I think about anymore. For those who still have this motivation, I think it’s cool.”
Undefeated lightweight Gilbert Burns will take some time off MMA to get back to his jiu-jitsu roots.
Fresh off a submission victory over Christos Giagos at UFC 179 in Brazil, “Durinho” will put on the gi to meet fellow jiu-jitsu world champion Leandro Lo at Copa Podio on Nov. 22 in Rio de Janeiro. But there’s a catch.
Unlike Metamoris, where grapplers battle in 20-minute matches, Burns and Lo will grapple until one taps. It could be over in one minute or in one hour, and that’s what makes “Durinho” excited about it.
“This is my first time in a challenge like this,” Burns told MMAFighting.com. “I always loved watching this type of challenge. Wallid (Ismail) against Royce (Gracie) was unforgettable. I’ve written my name in the history of jiu-jitsu and I’m trying to make history in the UFC, and this match (against Lo) is really important for me. I’m super excited.”
After taking a few days off following his quick win at UFC 179, Burns put on the gi to train for Lo.
“I love to train,” he said. “I got back to the gym to train three days after my last fight. I’m always training, especially jiu-jitsu. I just had to use the gi this time, work on my grip. I had three weeks to prepare, but it wasn’t hard. No secret. I’ve competed for years, I’m experienced. I know what I have to do to perform well in this competition.”
Burns became the jiu-jitsu lightweight world champion in 2011, and Lo won the lightweight title in 2012 and 2013. The last time they met on a grappling mat Burns won by points at the NoGi World Championship in 2013.
“Lo is a really tough fighter, but I’m trained,” Burns said. “If you buy a ticket to watch the event, or buy the online pay-per-view, you’ll see me attacking the whole time. I won’t stop until I submit him.
“Everything is in my favor. I only see the positive side of things. I’m a submission guy. He works for points most of the times, but there are no points in this match, so that’s an advantage for me. I will attack and submit. I’ll eventually end this match with a submission.”
After facing Lo at Copa Podio, Burns turns his attention back to the UFC.
At 2-0 inside the Octagon with wins over Giagos and Andreas Stahl, “Durinho” eyes an early 2015 return against top competition.
“I’m hungry. I won’t stop training. I’m focused on this match against Lo, and then I’ll start my camp for my next UFC fight,” Burns said. “I believe I’ll be ready to fight in January or February. Right after Copa Podio, I’ll go back to Florida and train at Blackzilians.
“There are a lot of great fighters I’d like to fight in the UFC,” he continued. “I’m new in the UFC, but I would love to fight Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller, fighters with a good jiu-jitsu, or maybe Michael Chiesa. I’m willing to face tough competition. I want tough fights, but I can’t choose opponents. I’m fighting to be the UFC champion.”
Undefeated lightweight Gilbert Burns will take some time off MMA to get back to his jiu-jitsu roots.
Fresh off a submission victory over Christos Giagos at UFC 179 in Brazil, “Durinho” will put on the gi to meet fellow jiu-jitsu world champion Leandro Lo at Copa Podio on Nov. 22 in Rio de Janeiro. But there’s a catch.
Unlike Metamoris, where grapplers battle in 20-minute matches, Burns and Lo will grapple until one taps. It could be over in one minute or in one hour, and that’s what makes “Durinho” excited about it.
“This is my first time in a challenge like this,” Burns told MMAFighting.com. “I always loved watching this type of challenge. Wallid (Ismail) against Royce (Gracie) was unforgettable. I’ve written my name in the history of jiu-jitsu and I’m trying to make history in the UFC, and this match (against Lo) is really important for me. I’m super excited.”
After taking a few days off following his quick win at UFC 179, Burns put on the gi to train for Lo.
“I love to train,” he said. “I got back to the gym to train three days after my last fight. I’m always training, especially jiu-jitsu. I just had to use the gi this time, work on my grip. I had three weeks to prepare, but it wasn’t hard. No secret. I’ve competed for years, I’m experienced. I know what I have to do to perform well in this competition.”
Burns became the jiu-jitsu lightweight world champion in 2011, and Lo won the lightweight title in 2012 and 2013. The last time they met on a grappling mat Burns won by points at the NoGi World Championship in 2013.
“Lo is a really tough fighter, but I’m trained,” Burns said. “If you buy a ticket to watch the event, or buy the online pay-per-view, you’ll see me attacking the whole time. I won’t stop until I submit him.
“Everything is in my favor. I only see the positive side of things. I’m a submission guy. He works for points most of the times, but there are no points in this match, so that’s an advantage for me. I will attack and submit. I’ll eventually end this match with a submission.”
After facing Lo at Copa Podio, Burns turns his attention back to the UFC.
At 2-0 inside the Octagon with wins over Giagos and Andreas Stahl, “Durinho” eyes an early 2015 return against top competition.
“I’m hungry. I won’t stop training. I’m focused on this match against Lo, and then I’ll start my camp for my next UFC fight,” Burns said. “I believe I’ll be ready to fight in January or February. Right after Copa Podio, I’ll go back to Florida and train at Blackzilians.
“There are a lot of great fighters I’d like to fight in the UFC,” he continued. “I’m new in the UFC, but I would love to fight Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller, fighters with a good jiu-jitsu, or maybe Michael Chiesa. I’m willing to face tough competition. I want tough fights, but I can’t choose opponents. I’m fighting to be the UFC champion.”
All 24 fighters who participated on Oct. 25’s UFC 179 card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were tested for steroids and drugs of abuse and passed the screenings, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) announced Friday.
The event, the only…
All 24 fighters who participated on Oct. 25’s UFC 179 card in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were tested for steroids and drugs of abuse and passed the screenings, the Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) announced Friday.
The event, the only UFC pay-per-view card in Brazil in 2014, took place at Maracanazinho gymnasium in Rio de Janeiro.
Featherweight champion Jose Aldo successfully defended his UFC title for a seventh time against Chad Mendes in the main event. Phil Davis improved to 3-0 when fighting in Brazil with a unanimous decision victory over Glover Teixeira in the co-main event slot. All four tested negative to additional HGH and EPO tests.
The next UFC card in Brazil is scheduled for Dec. 20 with Lyoto Machida facing C.B. Dollaway in the main event.
Formiga’s head coach Andre Pederneiras told MMAFighting.com that the flyweight has suffered a knee injury, a partial LCL tear, and won’t be able to recover in time to compete for the Dec. 13 card. MMA Junkie first reported the news.
Moraga (15-3), a former UFC title contender, enters UFC on FOX 13 coming off a submission victory over Justin Scoggins, bouncing back to the win column following a loss to 125-pound contender John Dodson.
Formiga’s head coach Andre Pederneiras told MMAFighting.com that the flyweight has suffered a knee injury, a partial LCL tear, and won’t be able to recover in time to compete for the Dec. 13 card. MMA Junkie first reported the news.
Moraga (15-3), a former UFC title contender, enters UFC on FOX 13 coming off a submission victory over Justin Scoggins, bouncing back to the win column following a loss to 125-pound contender John Dodson.
