RIO DE JANEIRO — Three years after his last MMA bout, Luciano Avezedo returned to competition with a win at Sunday’s Shooto Brazil 49 – Fight for BOPE 4 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The only man to beat Jose Aldo in a MMA bout, Azevedo (17-9-1), who submitted the UFC featherweight kingpin with a second-round rear-naked choke in 2005, scored a unanimous decision victory over Alejandro Solano (19-11-1).
The grappling expert came close to finishing Solano with punches in the first round, and spent most of the second round working for a choke on his back. The three years away from MMA paid its price in the final round, and Azevedo survived for five minutes after two fast-paced rounds.
Shooto Brazil 49 – Fight for BOPE 4 was headlined by a title fight between former 170-pound champion Carlos Alexandre Pereira and welterweight prospect Luiz Gustavo Dutra. “Gugu Besouro”, younger brother of UFC fighter Luiz Dutra, failed to make weight for the championship fight, so the belt remained on the line only for Pereira.
“Indio” Pereira (32-10-1) was getting the best of the stand-up game early in the fight, but Dutra (5-1) quickly changed the fight with his grappling game. He couldn’t get much done on the mat and close to the fence, but controlled the pace of the fight whenever he decided to stand and trade punches or go to the ground. After three rounds, Pereira as surprisingly announced the winner via split decision.
In the co-main event, Ismael de Jesus (11-4-1) returned to the win column after his run at The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3, stopping Evilasio Silva (8-15) with violent punches in the second round. “Marmota’s” run at TUF: Brazil 3 ended at the elimination round, when he lost to season winner Warlley Alves.
Check below the complete results of Shooto Brazil 49 – Fight for BOPE 4:
Carlos Alexandre Pereira def. Luiz Gustavo Dutra via split decision
Ismael de Jesus def. Evilasio Silva via TKO at 3:37 of round two
Luciano Azevedo def. Alejandro Solano via unanimous decision
Felipe Froes def. Walter Zamora via unanimous decision
Matheus Nicolau def. Derinaldo Guerra via TKO at 4:35 of round two
Fernando Bruno def. Julio Cesar de Almeida via split decision
Bruno Korea def. Jafel Filho via unanimous decision
Eduardo Betini def. Rodrigo Carlos via unanimous decision
Jonas Cyborg def. Haroldo Bunn via TKO at 2:37 of round one
William Ferrera def. Andre da Silva via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 2:56 of round two
Eric dos Santos def. Almir Junior via TKO at 0:29 of round two
Luciana Pereira def. Mariana Morais via unanimous decision