Brazilian commission refuses medical exams, but Manhoef vs. ‘Cyborg’ is still on

Only in Brazil.

The anticipated rematch between Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and Melvin Manhoef was in jeopardy on Saturday morning, when Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) refused the medical exams issued by Manhoef.

The welterweight title bout, scheduled to headline Gringo Super Fight 10 on Sunday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is basically the only big attraction on the card. Losing Manhoef-Cyborg would be big deal for the promotion, so they decided to go on without the commission.

“We could have handled this situation better if the commission had given a better support to the fighters and the promotion rather than establishing rigid bureaucracy that is not the reality of the sport in Brazil,” GSF promoter Antonio Tolentino stated in a release.

“I don’t think the promoter should be the one to ask for the medical exams because we don’t have the technical knowledge to deal with it. The commission should do it. But, after all, the show is guaranteed.”

According to sources close to the situation, CABMMA didn’t accept the exams Manhoef did in Netherlands.

With CABMMA out of the picture, Gringo Super Fight will no longer air live on Combate channel. The pay-per-view channel, that airs the UFC cards in Brazil, signed a partnership with CABMMA earlier this year, and won’t air cards that are not regulated by the commission. Jungle Fight is the only exception to the rule due to particularities in their contract with the pay-per-view channel.

Only in Brazil.

The anticipated rematch between Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and Melvin Manhoef was in jeopardy on Saturday morning, when Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) refused the medical exams issued by Manhoef.

The welterweight title bout, scheduled to headline Gringo Super Fight 10 on Sunday night in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is basically the only big attraction on the card. Losing Manhoef-Cyborg would be big deal for the promotion, so they decided to go on without the commission.

“We could have handled this situation better if the commission had given a better support to the fighters and the promotion rather than establishing rigid bureaucracy that is not the reality of the sport in Brazil,” GSF promoter Antonio Tolentino stated in a release.

“I don’t think the promoter should be the one to ask for the medical exams because we don’t have the technical knowledge to deal with it. The commission should do it. But, after all, the show is guaranteed.”

According to sources close to the situation, CABMMA didn’t accept the exams Manhoef did in Netherlands.

With CABMMA out of the picture, Gringo Super Fight will no longer air live on Combate channel. The pay-per-view channel, that airs the UFC cards in Brazil, signed a partnership with CABMMA earlier this year, and won’t air cards that are not regulated by the commission. Jungle Fight is the only exception to the rule due to particularities in their contract with the pay-per-view channel.