Despite skid, Paulo Thiago signs new four-fight deal with UFC

Paulo Thiago is on a losing skid, but he will continue in the UFC.

Thiago, who shocked the world in 2009 with a first-round TKO victory over Josh Koscheck in his Octagon debut, has lost six of his last eight bouts in the UFC, but he has earned another chance as he signed a new four-fight deal with the promotion.

The fighter confirmed the deal to MMAFighting.com following a report from Combate.

“I was cool, but anxious because all of the recent cuts they did,” Thiago told MMAFighting.com. “I wasn’t that tense. Whatever they decided, I would be cool.”

Thiago’s last wins in the Octagon came against Michel Prazeres and David Mitchell, sandwiched by losses to Gasan Umalatov, Brandon Thatch, Dong Hyun Kim, Siyar Bahadurzada, Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann.

The UFC will return to Brazil on Sept. 13 at the Nilson Nelson gymnasium in Brasilia, Thiago’s hometown, and he’s hoping to be part of the Fight Night card.

“I’m looking forward to be on this card, the first UFC here in my hometown,” he said. “It would be huge for me.”

While he waits for his next bout assignment, Thiago is working as a special forces police officer during the World Cup in Brasilia. The UFC welterweight worked at last week’s Switzerland vs. Ecuador match and Thursday’s Colombia vs. Ivory Coast, and he will be at the next five games in the city.

“It’s really calm and peaceful,” he said. “Today was the second match in Brasilia and I worked on both. It’s a beautiful party, lots of different cultures gathering together. I just heard that there was like 50 thousand Colombians for today’s game. Last week, there were a lot of Swiss and Ecuadorians. It’s really peaceful, everybody having a good time. No riots at all.”

Brazil tied with Mexico on Tuesday, but Thiago is confident that Neymar will lead the squad and win the sixth World Cup for Brazil.

“Brazil wins it, no doubt about it,” he said. “It could be Brazil vs. Argentina on the final. That would be awesome.”

Paulo Thiago is on a losing skid, but he will continue in the UFC.

Thiago, who shocked the world in 2009 with a first-round TKO victory over Josh Koscheck in his Octagon debut, has lost six of his last eight bouts in the UFC, but he has earned another chance as he signed a new four-fight deal with the promotion.

The fighter confirmed the deal to MMAFighting.com following a report from Combate.

“I was cool, but anxious because all of the recent cuts they did,” Thiago told MMAFighting.com. “I wasn’t that tense. Whatever they decided, I would be cool.”

Thiago’s last wins in the Octagon came against Michel Prazeres and David Mitchell, sandwiched by losses to Gasan Umalatov, Brandon Thatch, Dong Hyun Kim, Siyar Bahadurzada, Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann.

The UFC will return to Brazil on Sept. 13 at the Nilson Nelson gymnasium in Brasilia, Thiago’s hometown, and he’s hoping to be part of the Fight Night card.

“I’m looking forward to be on this card, the first UFC here in my hometown,” he said. “It would be huge for me.”

While he waits for his next bout assignment, Thiago is working as a special forces police officer during the World Cup in Brasilia. The UFC welterweight worked at last week’s Switzerland vs. Ecuador match and Thursday’s Colombia vs. Ivory Coast, and he will be at the next five games in the city.

“It’s really calm and peaceful,” he said. “Today was the second match in Brasilia and I worked on both. It’s a beautiful party, lots of different cultures gathering together. I just heard that there was like 50 thousand Colombians for today’s game. Last week, there were a lot of Swiss and Ecuadorians. It’s really peaceful, everybody having a good time. No riots at all.”

Brazil tied with Mexico on Tuesday, but Thiago is confident that Neymar will lead the squad and win the sixth World Cup for Brazil.

“Brazil wins it, no doubt about it,” he said. “It could be Brazil vs. Argentina on the final. That would be awesome.”