With the flyweight tournament set to wrap up at UFC 152, and Ian McCall so desperate for someone to fight at flyweight that he’s resorted to calling out Louis Gaudinot, this announcement could not have possibly come at a better time. Yesterday, the manager of Shooto South American Bantamweight champion (123 lbs in Shooto) Jussier da Silva announced that “Formiga” has just signed on with the UFC.
As of now, neither a date for his first UFC bout nor an opponent for his debut have been announced.
Currently the number three ranked flyweight in the world, Da Silva is a fierce grappler with seven submission victories to his record. “Formiga” started off his career winning six straight fights and capturing Shooto South America’s Bantamweight Championship before pulling off a huge upset over then-Shooto Bantamweight World Champion Shinichi “BJ” Kojima in 2009. The only loss on his record, which currently stands at 14-1, came at the hands of the aforementioned Ian McCall at Tachi Palace Fights 8: All or Nothing last February. His most recent outing was a first round rear-naked choke over Sidney Oliveira in June.
Highlights from Jussier da Silva’s career await after the jump.
da Silva vs. Danny Martinez, part one (December 10, 2010)
da Silva vs. Danny Martinez, part two
da Silva vs. Ian McCall, part one (February 18, 2011)
da Silva vs. Ian McCall, part two
da Silva vs Mamoru Yamaguchi (August 5, 2011)
da Silva vs. Michael William Costa (October 29, 2011)
da Silva vs. Rodrigo “Indio” Santos (December 15, 2011)
Hey, the guy has a victory over Ralph Lauren. Seems legit to me.
So, how do you think he will hold up in the UFC?