In 2010, Vinicius Kappke de Queiroz became one of the UFC’s most unfortunate busts of the year when the 6’7″ Chute Boxe product gassed early in his Octagon debut against Rob Broughton, succumbed to a rear-naked choke in the third round, then pissed hot for the anabolic steroid Stanozolol. “VKdQ” (as he’s known to lazy MMA bloggers such as myself) was immediately released by the promotion, and hasn’t competed in MMA since.
But it looks like Bellator is taking a chance on him for their Season 7 Heavyweight Tournament, which will start this fall. During an interview with Matt Nixon, Queiroz confirmed the news: “I’m recovering now one injury I had in my knee, and I just had surgery, and I’m gonna fight again in September. I just signed with Bellator, I’m gonna fight in the heavyweight grand prix in Bellator. I’m excited to come back to fight, that’s my job, and I’m excited to do it again.” As Queiroz explains, he left Chute Boxe to move to America, and now trains with Black House/Team Nogueira.
It should be pointed out that Queiroz maintained his innocence regarding his 2010 steroid accusation, and suggested that maybe he caught steroids from the sauna at the gym, because that happens sometimes, you know? That explanation was apparently good enough for Bellator, and we don’t blame them. When your promotion’s heavyweight elite consists of Cole Konrad, Eric Prindle, and Thiago Santos, you’ll take any fresh blood you can get.