Saturday’s UFC 147 was anything but a star-studded affair.
Despite being a night filled with exciting fights, casual mixed martial arts fans probably only recognized the main event rematch between legends Wanderlei Silva and Rich Franklin. This last-minute matchup came about after the card lost Vitor Belfort to injury as well as the highly-anticipated second battle between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, which was moved to UFC 148.
Despite the lack of marquee names, the event did see the rise of many top-level prospects and contenders.
Each of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil cast members put on great performances. Rodrigo Damm and Francisco Drinaldo emphatically finished their foes in the first round while finalists Cezar Ferreira and Rony Bezerra decisively took home the TUF: Brazil middleweight and featherweight crowns respectively.
Fellow countryman Hacran Dias also impressed in his UFC debut as the featherweight Nova Uniao product defeated veteran Yuri Alcantara to extend his winning streak to nine straight. Add in a first-round technical knockout win by the heavy-hitting Fabricio Werdum, and the Brazilian contingent definitely exceeded expectations in their native country.
And that’s who really came out as the star on Saturday—Brazil’s MMA market.
Time after time, the essential birthplace of the sport has proven to be a hot bed of talented fighters as well as passionate fans. MMA has grown into a global phenomenon, but Brazil remains the Mecca of the sport.
As a whole, UFC 147 featured the past, present and future of the country’s best fighters. Dias and Werdum proved themselves as rising contenders while Wanderlei gave fans a vintage performance, an ode to his past success as the former, dominant Pride champ.
Looking ahead, the success of the UFC’s inaugural season of TUF in Brazil was a major success and once again showcased the depth of the country’s talent pool. Fighters like Bezerra and Ferreira are the new wave of prospects who will open the gate for more young Brazilian fighters to enter the promotion in the future.
But seeing how the Brazilian fans came out in force for what critics claimed to be a throwaway card is a testament to their love for the sport. Whether it is Jose Aldo defending his belt in the main event or a preliminary bout broadcast on Facebook, from start to finish, the Brazilian fandom is always excited for every fights.
As the UFC continues its worldwide dominance, the Brazilian market will always remain a shining star of top talent and passionate fans.
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