TUF: Brazil winner Cezar Ferreira cuts down to 170 pounds, eyes June return to the UFC

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 1 middleweight winner Cezar Ferreira will return to the Octagon as a welterweight.

The Blackzilians fighter, who bounced between wins and losses after a 3-0 start in the promotion, told MMAFighting.com that he will cut down to 170 pounds for his next fight.

“I’m just waiting for the UFC’s call to sign my next fight,” Ferreira said. “I’m training, I’m focused. I will fight at welterweight now. I will make a ‘new debut’ in the UFC.”

According to “Mutante”, he was already planning on cutting down in weight before his last fight, a first-round knockout loss to Sam Alvey at UFC Fight Night 61 in February.

“I couldn’t gain weight again after my back surgery, and the doctor said that it would be better for me to put on less weight because of my spine,” he said. “I feel perfect now, I don’t feel any pain.”

The 6-foot-1 fighter, who plans on fighting again in June, expects to have an advantage over his opponents at 170 pounds.

“I believe I will have advantage because of my reach and height,” Ferreira said. “I cut weight pretty easily. While other middleweights are eating salad on fight week, I’m eating potatoes and pasta. It was a wise decision to move to 170.”

“Mutante” won the first season of the Ultimate Fighter: Brazil with a unanimous decision over Sergio Moraes at UFC 147, and scored another wins over Thiago Santos and Daniel Sarafian right after. Following a quick KO loss to C.B. Dollaway, Ferreira bounced back to the win column with a decision victory over Andrew Craig, then losing to Alvey in Brazil.

RIO DE JANEIRO — The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 1 middleweight winner Cezar Ferreira will return to the Octagon as a welterweight.

The Blackzilians fighter, who bounced between wins and losses after a 3-0 start in the promotion, told MMAFighting.com that he will cut down to 170 pounds for his next fight.

“I’m just waiting for the UFC’s call to sign my next fight,” Ferreira said. “I’m training, I’m focused. I will fight at welterweight now. I will make a ‘new debut’ in the UFC.”

According to “Mutante”, he was already planning on cutting down in weight before his last fight, a first-round knockout loss to Sam Alvey at UFC Fight Night 61 in February.

“I couldn’t gain weight again after my back surgery, and the doctor said that it would be better for me to put on less weight because of my spine,” he said. “I feel perfect now, I don’t feel any pain.”

The 6-foot-1 fighter, who plans on fighting again in June, expects to have an advantage over his opponents at 170 pounds.

“I believe I will have advantage because of my reach and height,” Ferreira said. “I cut weight pretty easily. While other middleweights are eating salad on fight week, I’m eating potatoes and pasta. It was a wise decision to move to 170.”

“Mutante” won the first season of the Ultimate Fighter: Brazil with a unanimous decision over Sergio Moraes at UFC 147, and scored another wins over Thiago Santos and Daniel Sarafian right after. Following a quick KO loss to C.B. Dollaway, Ferreira bounced back to the win column with a decision victory over Andrew Craig, then losing to Alvey in Brazil.