Davis, who scored all of his four wins since 2011 against Brazilian opponents, returns to action in the co-main event of the UFC 179 pay-per-view card on Oct. 25, and fighting in enemy territory is not new to him.
After wins over Lyoto Machida and Wagner Prado in Rio, he meets against another dangerous light heavyweight contender in Teixeira.
“I always perform well when I’m in Rio,” Davis told MMAFighting.com. “I hope this is not my last time in Brazil. I love Brazil, I love Rio. The long travel doesn’t really bother me.”
In fact, a series of wins over Brazilians could be used to promote him in the UFC.
Alex Stiebling became “The Brazilian Killer” after six straight wins over Brazilians in 2001/02, but Anderson Silva eventually ended his streak with a quick TKO in PRIDE. Will Davis become the next Brazilian Killer in MMA?
“I’m not gonna call myself the Brazilian Killer,” he said, “but if somebody wants to name me the Brazilian Killer, you’re more than welcome.”
Davis and Teixeira have completely different fighting styles, and Teixeira’s takedown defense might be good enough to stop his wrestling and force him to stand at UFC 179.
“I certainly hope not. We’ll find out,” Davis said. But what if Teixeira does succeed with his takedown defense? “That would be a great way to get my first knockout win in the UFC.”
Returning to the Octagon following the second loss of his professional career, Davis changed a few things on his training camp after a unanimous decision loss to “Rumble” Johnson.
“I’m just staying patient, working on different things,” he said. “No need to do anything crazy on my training. I just stay focused on what I have to do.”
We will never find out what he means by “anything crazy”, though.
“Well, I’d love to tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” Davis said with a laugh. “I can’t just give up that.”
Davis expects that an impressive win over Teixeira puts him one win away from a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, and he doesn’t care if Jon Jones will stay at the top by the time he gets there.
“I look at that as a minor setback,” Davis said of the impact of his loss to Johnson in his title aspirations, “but I think a win down in Rio will put me right back in the title race.
“It doesn’t matter to me if (Jones) is (the champion) or he isn’t. I’m actually in this for a title. I would love to beat the guy that takes the belt from Jon Jones, but at the same time I’d be just as happy to take the belt from anyone else.”
Davis, who scored all of his four wins since 2011 against Brazilian opponents, returns to action in the co-main event of the UFC 179 pay-per-view card on Oct. 25, and fighting in enemy territory is not new to him.
After wins over Lyoto Machida and Wagner Prado in Rio, he meets against another dangerous light heavyweight contender in Teixeira.
“I always perform well when I’m in Rio,” Davis told MMAFighting.com. “I hope this is not my last time in Brazil. I love Brazil, I love Rio. The long travel doesn’t really bother me.”
In fact, a series of wins over Brazilians could be used to promote him in the UFC.
Alex Stiebling became “The Brazilian Killer” after six straight wins over Brazilians in 2001/02, but Anderson Silva eventually ended his streak with a quick TKO in PRIDE. Will Davis become the next Brazilian Killer in MMA?
“I’m not gonna call myself the Brazilian Killer,” he said, “but if somebody wants to name me the Brazilian Killer, you’re more than welcome.”
Davis and Teixeira have completely different fighting styles, and Teixeira’s takedown defense might be good enough to stop his wrestling and force him to stand at UFC 179.
“I certainly hope not. We’ll find out,” Davis said. But what if Teixeira does succeed with his takedown defense? “That would be a great way to get my first knockout win in the UFC.”
Returning to the Octagon following the second loss of his professional career, Davis changed a few things on his training camp after a unanimous decision loss to “Rumble” Johnson.
“I’m just staying patient, working on different things,” he said. “No need to do anything crazy on my training. I just stay focused on what I have to do.”
We will never find out what he means by “anything crazy”, though.
“Well, I’d love to tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” Davis said with a laugh. “I can’t just give up that.”
Davis expects that an impressive win over Teixeira puts him one win away from a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title, and he doesn’t care if Jon Jones will stay at the top by the time he gets there.
“I look at that as a minor setback,” Davis said of the impact of his loss to Johnson in his title aspirations, “but I think a win down in Rio will put me right back in the title race.
“It doesn’t matter to me if (Jones) is (the champion) or he isn’t. I’m actually in this for a title. I would love to beat the guy that takes the belt from Jon Jones, but at the same time I’d be just as happy to take the belt from anyone else.”
World Series of Fighting announced in 2013 plans to start a series of events in Brazil, but it never materialized. With 2015 around the corner, the promotion sees the Brazilian market as one of its top priorities.
WSOF was negotiating with Standout Fighting Tournament promoter Ivan Jatoba to build a partnership in Brazil, but it never reached agreement. WSOF is still in talks with Brazilian promotions and managers, but it’s still far from a done deal.
“We still talk to a lot of people. If you go to Brazil, you need to have a partnership in Brazil,” WSOF executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz told MMAFighting.com. “The biggest mistake we can do is to partner with the wrong people, and this is something we’re very careful about.
“Brazil is our No. 1 goal for 2015. You can’t have a MMA organization without being in Brazil,” he continued. “This is something we’re really looking forward. I’m just anxious and excited to go to Brazil.”
WSOF expanded its reach with a couple cards in Canada this year, and makes another trip to Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday night. Brazil is an important market for the UFC, and WSOF wants to capitalize on that.
“Brazil is a huge market. We had a huge success in Canada and we have great partners in Canada. We’re looking for people (in Brazil) right now,” he said. “We’re open. Anybody can contact me. If somebody thinks they’re going to be a great partner in Brazil, they can contact me.
“We’re talking to many people, but right now we haven’t found the fight partner yet.”
World Series of Fighting announced in 2013 plans to start a series of events in Brazil, but it never materialized. With 2015 around the corner, the promotion sees the Brazilian market as one of its top priorities.
WSOF was negotiating with Standout Fighting Tournament promoter Ivan Jatoba to build a partnership in Brazil, but it never reached agreement. WSOF is still in talks with Brazilian promotions and managers, but it’s still far from a done deal.
“We still talk to a lot of people. If you go to Brazil, you need to have a partnership in Brazil,” WSOF executive vice president Ali Abdel-Aziz told MMAFighting.com. “The biggest mistake we can do is to partner with the wrong people, and this is something we’re very careful about.
“Brazil is our No. 1 goal for 2015. You can’t have a MMA organization without being in Brazil,” he continued. “This is something we’re really looking forward. I’m just anxious and excited to go to Brazil.”
WSOF expanded its reach with a couple cards in Canada this year, and makes another trip to Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday night. Brazil is an important market for the UFC, and WSOF wants to capitalize on that.
“Brazil is a huge market. We had a huge success in Canada and we have great partners in Canada. We’re looking for people (in Brazil) right now,” he said. “We’re open. Anybody can contact me. If somebody thinks they’re going to be a great partner in Brazil, they can contact me.
“We’re talking to many people, but right now we haven’t found the fight partner yet.”
Mauricio Rua holds an inconsistent UFC record of six wins and seven losses, but believes that a couple impressive victories could put him right back into title contention.
The former light heavyweight champion, who is the only fighter to win both UFC and PRIDE undisputed titles, wants to bounce back in the win column against Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 56 in Uberlandia, Brazil.
He won’t think about title fights before getting past “Poster Boy” on Nov. 8, but believes he could be two wins away from another title fight.
“I believe so, but I can’t think about it,” Rua told MMAFighting.com. “I only think about winning my next fight. I have to focus only on my next fight, and not my next ones. If I start thinking about my next three fights, I might lose focus on my next one.”
The Brazilian feels extra motivation headlining a UFC card for the eight time, but his record in those main event slots isn’t the best. Winner of two of his seven UFC main events, “Shogun” just wants to have his hands raised in Uberlandia.
“I want to win no matter how. I just want to win,” he said. “I’m really happy to be doing another UFC main event. This is something that gives me an extra motivation. I’m really, really motivated.”
Competing for the first time since undergoing a nose surgery, “Shogun” expects to perform better, and have a better cardio, after fixing a deviated septum.
“I can breathe way better now. I hope it helps me during the fight as well,” Rua said. “I had a huge deviated septum, and I believe I will be better after this surgery.
“I slowly returned to training. I couldn’t spar, but I was able to train jiu-jitsu and other things, and I returned to training a long time ago.”
Rua and Manuwa have a combined record of 32 knockout finishes in 36 professional victories, and that’s how the Brazilian expects the fight to play out in Brazil.
“He likes to keep it standing and strike, and so do I,” he said. “He’s a good fighter, so it’s going to be an interesting fight for the fans. He definitely deserves my respect, but I’m getting ready to win.”
All three of Manuwa’s TKO finishes in the UFC came with injuries he caused to his opponents, and “Shogun” is aware of his dangerous attacks.
“That’s something I look at,” Rua said. “I have to be careful, but I will train a lot to stop that.”
Mauricio Rua holds an inconsistent UFC record of six wins and seven losses, but believes that a couple impressive victories could put him right back into title contention.
The former light heavyweight champion, who is the only fighter to win both UFC and PRIDE undisputed titles, wants to bounce back in the win column against Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 56 in Uberlandia, Brazil.
He won’t think about title fights before getting past “Poster Boy” on Nov. 8, but believes he could be two wins away from another title fight.
“I believe so, but I can’t think about it,” Rua told MMAFighting.com. “I only think about winning my next fight. I have to focus only on my next fight, and not my next ones. If I start thinking about my next three fights, I might lose focus on my next one.”
The Brazilian feels extra motivation headlining a UFC card for the eight time, but his record in those main event slots isn’t the best. Winner of two of his seven UFC main events, “Shogun” just wants to have his hands raised in Uberlandia.
“I want to win no matter how. I just want to win,” he said. “I’m really happy to be doing another UFC main event. This is something that gives me an extra motivation. I’m really, really motivated.”
Competing for the first time since undergoing a nose surgery, “Shogun” expects to perform better, and have a better cardio, after fixing a deviated septum.
“I can breathe way better now. I hope it helps me during the fight as well,” Rua said. “I had a huge deviated septum, and I believe I will be better after this surgery.
“I slowly returned to training. I couldn’t spar, but I was able to train jiu-jitsu and other things, and I returned to training a long time ago.”
Rua and Manuwa have a combined record of 32 knockout finishes in 36 professional victories, and that’s how the Brazilian expects the fight to play out in Brazil.
“He likes to keep it standing and strike, and so do I,” he said. “He’s a good fighter, so it’s going to be an interesting fight for the fans. He definitely deserves my respect, but I’m getting ready to win.”
All three of Manuwa’s TKO finishes in the UFC came with injuries he caused to his opponents, and “Shogun” is aware of his dangerous attacks.
“That’s something I look at,” Rua said. “I have to be careful, but I will train a lot to stop that.”
Rick Story’s unanimous decision victory over Gunnar Nelson was a costly one. Following his win over Nelson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden, Story had to undergo surgery to remove a bone fragment from his ankle.
“(MRI) went fine. I actually went in today and just had the bone fragment surgically removed,” told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on Friday. “I’m still a little drowsy from anesthesia.”
Story still has no timetable for his return to training yet.
“I will know more with the follow up. But the ligament wasn’t attached,” he said. “What the doctor said before was six weeks before any kind of impact, such as running. But I will now more in the follow up.”
Story (18-8), who holds a win over current UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, is currently riding a two-fight winning streak with victories over Gunnar Nelson and Leonardo Mafra.
Rick Story’s unanimous decision victory over Gunnar Nelson was a costly one. Following his win over Nelson in the main event of UFC Fight Night 53 in Sweden, Story had to undergo surgery to remove a bone fragment from his ankle.
“(MRI) went fine. I actually went in today and just had the bone fragment surgically removed,” told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani on Friday. “I’m still a little drowsy from anesthesia.”
Story still has no timetable for his return to training yet.
“I will know more with the follow up. But the ligament wasn’t attached,” he said. “What the doctor said before was six weeks before any kind of impact, such as running. But I will now more in the follow up.”
Story (18-8), who holds a win over current UFC welterweight champion Johny Hendricks, is currently riding a two-fight winning streak with victories over Gunnar Nelson and Leonardo Mafra.
The UFC lost one of its Mexican fighters for the promotion’s debut in Mexico City.
Erik Perez, who was scheduled to take on Marcus Brimage at the UFC 180 card in Mexico on Nov. 15, was forced to withdraw from the card with a shoulder injury, sources told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani.
The promotion is currently seeking a replacement opponent for Brimage, who will try to get back on track following losses to Conor McGregor and Russell Doane.
Prior to his losing skid, American Top Team’s Brimage was 3-0 in the Octagon with wins over Stephen Bass, Maximo Blanco and Jimy Hettes.
Headlined by Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum for the heavyweight championship, UFC 180 takes place at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico.
The UFC lost one of its Mexican fighters for the promotion’s debut in Mexico City.
Erik Perez, who was scheduled to take on Marcus Brimage at the UFC 180 card in Mexico on Nov. 15, was forced to withdraw from the card with a shoulder injury, sources told MMAFighting.com’s Ariel Helwani.
The promotion is currently seeking a replacement opponent for Brimage, who will try to get back on track following losses to Conor McGregor and Russell Doane.
Prior to his losing skid, American Top Team’s Brimage was 3-0 in the Octagon with wins over Stephen Bass, Maximo Blanco and Jimy Hettes.
Headlined by Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum for the heavyweight championship, UFC 180 takes place at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico.
A lightweight battle was added to the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale card in Las Vegas. UFC officially announced that Daron Cruickshank will take on former Strikeforce star K.J. Noons at the Nevada’s Palms Casino Resort on Dec. 12.
Fresh off a decision victory over Anthony Njokuani, Cruickshank (16-5) improved to 3-1 in his past four bouts inside the Octagon. Noons (13-7), who looked impressive in his last UFC bout with a 30-second win over Sam Stout in April, enters the bout on a two-fight winning streak with a decision win over George Sotiropoulos in late 2013.
A couple other match-ups were announced from the promotion for UFC cards in December.
Michaud (7-1) cuts down to 155 pounds after suffering his first professional loss, in his Octagon debut against Jingliang Li at UFC 173, to meet Whiteley (7-2), who desperately needs a win after back-to-back losses to Alan Patrick and Vinc Pichel under the UFC banner.
Issa (12-4) earned both “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” bonuses in his last UFC fight, finishing Tuerxun Jumabieke with a third-round armbar. Unbeaten in his past 12 fights, Sasaki (18-1-2) makes his second UFC appearance after a 66-second stoppage victory over Roland Delorme in August.
A lightweight battle was added to the upcoming The Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale card in Las Vegas. UFC officially announced that Daron Cruickshank will take on former Strikeforce star K.J. Noons at the Nevada’s Palms Casino Resort on Dec. 12.
Fresh off a decision victory over Anthony Njokuani, Cruickshank (16-5) improved to 3-1 in his past four bouts inside the Octagon. Noons (13-7), who looked impressive in his last UFC bout with a 30-second win over Sam Stout in April, enters the bout on a two-fight winning streak with a decision win over George Sotiropoulos in late 2013.
A couple other match-ups were announced from the promotion for UFC cards in December.
Michaud (7-1) cuts down to 155 pounds after suffering his first professional loss, in his Octagon debut against Jingliang Li at UFC 173, to meet Whiteley (7-2), who desperately needs a win after back-to-back losses to Alan Patrick and Vinc Pichel under the UFC banner.
Issa (12-4) earned both “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” bonuses in his last UFC fight, finishing Tuerxun Jumabieke with a third-round armbar. Unbeaten in his past 12 fights, Sasaki (18-1-2) makes his second UFC appearance after a 66-second stoppage victory over Roland Delorme in August.
