The 22 fighters competing at tomorrow night’s UFC Fight Night 28: Teixeira vs. Bader event at the Mineirinho Arena in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, will be hitting the scales this afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT. Watch all the staredowns and shoving live in the video player above; we’ll update the results after the jump when it’s over.
The 22 fighters competing at tomorrow night’s UFC Fight Night 28: Teixeira vs. Bader event at the Mineirinho Arena in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, will be hitting the scales this afternoon beginning at 3 p.m. ET / Noon PT. Watch all the staredowns and shoving live in the video player above; we’ll update the results after the jump when it’s over.
FOX SPORTS 1 MAIN CARD (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT)
Glover Teixeira (206) vs. Ryan Bader (205)
Ronaldo Souza (186) vs. Yushin Okami (185)
Joseph Benavidez (126) vs. Jussier Formiga (126)
Piotr Hallmann (155) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (155)
Rafael Natal (185) vs. Tor Troeng (185)
Ali Bagautinov (125) vs. Marcos Vinicius (126)
FOX SPORTS 1 PRELIMS (5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT)
Felipe Arantes (146) vs. Edimilson Souza (146)
Ramiro Hernandez (135) vs. Lucas Martins (136)
Elias Silverio (169) vs. Joao Zeferino (170)
Ivan Jorge (169) vs. Keith Wisniewski (170)
FACEBOOK PRELIM (4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT)
Sean Spencer (171) vs. Yuri Villefort (170)
UFC Fight Night 28 features one of the most anticipated middleweight bouts of the year. No. 3-ranked Yushin Okami will meet No. 5-ranked Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Okami brings in a three-fight win streak. After getting back on the winning track with a TK…
UFC Fight Night 28 features one of the most anticipated middleweight bouts of the year. No. 3-ranked YushinOkami will meet No. 5-ranked Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza.
Okami brings in a three-fight win streak. After getting back on the winning track with a TKO over Buddy Roberts, Okami has grabbed two decisions over top-level talent in Alan Belcher and Hector Lombard. A win over Jacare would move him back into a position to demand a title shot.
Jacare made an impactful UFC debut against Chris Camozzi to run his win streak to four. The swift submission created a buzz around him, and a win over Okami will move him into title contention as well.
This is a fun middleweight encounter with a lot on the line.
This is your head-to-toe breakdown heading into Wednesday night’s co-main event action.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has been an absolute nightmare inside the cage as of late.
The Brazilian submission ace has built an impressive run as he’s collected four consecutive victories, putting away all four opponents by way of finish. The former Strike…
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has been an absolute nightmare inside the cage as of late.
The Brazilian submission ace has built an impressive run as he’s collected four consecutive victories, putting away all four opponents by way of finish. The former Strikeforce middleweight champion’s stock as a title contender in the UFC has risen over his two most recent showings as he’s made short work out of gritty-veterans Ed Herman and Chris Camozzi, respectively.
That being said, the 33-year-old’s next challenge will be his most difficult to date as he faces off with former title challenger, and apparent guardian to the upper-tier at 185-pounds, YushinOkami on Wednesday night at Fight Night 28 in BeloHorizonte, Brazil.
“Thunder” has faced the cream of the crop at 185-pounds and has come out victorious in the large majority of those tilts. In most cases, the fighters who have defeated the Japanese veteran have gone on to earn title shots, while those who have come up short are often reshuffled back into the middleweight deck.
Souza is well aware of the history Okami has built inside the cage, but with the momentum of a four-fight winning streak at his back and feeling better than ever, “The Alligator” is ready to prove he belongs in the title conversation in the middleweight division.
“I feel like a giant,” Souza told Bleacher Report. “I’m ready for this challenge. I know he’s a tough guy from my division, but I’m ready to go. I’m ready to get in there and I can’t wait for the day. I have trained really hard for this fight. I feel very strong and I believe my jiu-jitsu and the power in my punches will make the difference.
“I believe a victory in this match will get me closer to the title, but we’ll see where it goes. I know that once I pass him, I’m definitely going to be closer.”
In addition to a co-main event slot on a UFC card against a high-profile opponent, Souza will also have the opportunity to once again compete in his home country. Prior to his most recent bout against Camozzi at UFC on FX 8 in May, it had been over five years since he had put his skills on display on his native soil.
With the bout against Okami, the surging contender will have another opportunity to fight in front of his countrymen.
“It is a huge responsibility to fight in front of the Brazilian fans,” Souza said. “At the same time, it is good because I’m not going to be fighting alone, I’ll be fighting with the entire crowd behind me, and they are going to make things more difficult for Okami.”
“Going into this fight I feel better, stronger and that my game has improved. I’m feeling way better than I did going into my last fight and way more prepared. I’m ready to go out there and show how much my game as evolved and how much of a better fighter I am than the last time people saw me.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
It’s hard to imagine the No. 3 fighter in the world in any weight class flying under the radar, but that’s exactly where Yushin Okami finds himself as he heads into his next bout against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza this Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 28.
Okam…
It’s hard to imagine the No. 3 fighter in the world in any weight class flying under the radar, but that’s exactly where YushinOkami finds himself as he heads into his next bout against Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza this Wednesday at UFC Fight Night 28.
Okami has never been accused of being the flashiest fighter on the planet, and with a language barrier that once almost got him shot by Chael Sonnen’s mother, he’s not usually the one on television giving searing interviews and calling out opponents.
What Okami does do and has done almost better than any other middleweight over the last seven years in the UFC is win fights.
Okami‘s resume is littered with top-10 fighters, former champions and ranked contenders, so it’s somewhat mysterious, despite all these accolades and accomplishments, that he enters his fight against Souza as one of the biggest underdogs on the card.
Okami is currently listed as high as a +230-underdog to Souza, who will fight in the UFC for only the second time on Wednesday night.
“I have no idea why people are thinking that way,” Okami said when hearing about the odds. “I really do not care what people are talking about.
“I know that Jacare is a great athlete and a great fighter so he deserves that consideration. To me it’s a great honor to fight against such a great fighter.”
Whether the betting lines are for or against Okami, his job never changes. He’s faced other competitors that were highly regarded prospects touted as being ‘the next big thing,’ and more often times than not, after spending 15 minutes in the cage with him they were going back to the drawing board trying to figure out where it all went wrong.
Okami‘s powerful wrestling has suffocated more than a few fighters in the Octagon, but this time he’s facing one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners to ever step foot in the UFC. Okami is well aware of what Jacare does well, but that’s not going to change what he does to every opponent.
It generally ends with them on their back feeling a little humiliated after spending the entire fight trying to get away from Okami‘s iron-clad grip.
“Jacare is not just a jiu-jitsu fighter, he’s a specialist at jiu-jitsu,” Okami said. “I am really careful about how I fight him in the ground fight, but I’m not afraid of fighting him on the ground.”
As accomplished as he’s been in his UFC career, a victory in Brazil would put Okami on a four-fight win streak—something he’s never done before. While Okami lost in his only bid to win the UFC middleweight title back in 2011 when he lost to Anderson Silva at UFC 134, Okami is looking at the division with fresh eyes these days.
With Silva currently sitting as a challenger now instead of champion while Chris Weidman polishes the gold around his waist, Okami is ready to jump back into title contention starting on Wednesday night.
“Of course my goal is to become the top (fighter) in this division,” Okami said. “So, I’m not satisfied with my ranking right now. If I beat Jacare, it’s going to be a big step up for me to prove that I’m the No. 1 fighter in this division.
“By beating Jacare I’m going to be given that kind of right, but it’s not only important to win, but how I win the fight. Always, I’m going to fight whoever the UFC wants me to fight.”
Call it style points or call it the best way to be remembered, but just beating an opponent doesn’t always get a fighter’s name called when it comes time for fight night bonuses or getting the Internet buzzing after a performance. Okami is aware of that factor, as well, so he doesn’t just want to beat Jacare—he wants to annihilate him.
“I’m going to utilize all of my MMA techniques, and I’m going to wear him down and I’m going to smash him.”
Damon Martin is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and all quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.
UFC Fight Night 28 caps off an extended fight week for the UFC. It started in Indianapolis last Wednesday, traveled through Milwaukee for the crowning of a new UFC Lightweight Champion and ends up in Belo Horizonte, Brazil for a top-10 light heavyweigh…
UFC Fight Night 28 caps off an extended fight week for the UFC. It started in Indianapolis last Wednesday, traveled through Milwaukee for the crowning of a new UFC Lightweight Champion and ends up in BeloHorizonte, Brazil for a top-10 light heavyweight showdown.
The main card features six bouts, and below are the odds and predictions for the fights.
Marcos Vinicius (+240) vs. Ali Bagautinov (-280)
Vinicius has not been inside the Octagon in 2013, but he will return to make his flyweight debut. Bagautinov makes his UFC debut after going on an eight-fight win streak.
This will be an interesting fight to open the card with. The 125-pound matchup will help the division continue to grow. The oddsmakers may not be giving Vinicius as much of a chance that he actually has in this battle.
However, I still side with Bagautinov. I don’t think he will get the stoppage in his UFC debut, but he will do enough to take the fight on the scorecards.
Rafael Natal (-260) vs. Tor Troeng (+220)
Troeng made a successful UFC debut against The Ultimate Fightercastmate Adam Cella at UFC on Fuel TV 9, but he will face an uphill battle in Brazil.
Natal is one of the more durable fighters in the division. He has fought better competition and often comes out on top. His UFC record is 4-2-1. Troeng is the type of fighter he will put against the fence, take down and grind on for three rounds.
Expect that to happen. Troeng will want to keep this standing, but it won’t happen. Natal gets his hand raised after the judges render their decision.
Francisco Trinaldo (-320) vs. Piotr Hallmann (+260)
Hallman enters the UFC with a nine-fight win streak, but he comes in against a red-hot Trinaldo.
This is an unfortunate matchup for the prospect. He could have been pitted against a lower-ranked lightweight to acclimate himself to the UFC before moving up the ladder, but instead he goes against a very good submission artist in his home country.
3-1 in the UFC, Trinaldo will most likely get his fourth win in exciting fashion. The former Jungle Fights Lightweight Champion will rack up his third straight submission finish. That will put him in the running for some bonus cash.
Joseph Benavidez (-525) vs. JussierFormiga (+415)
The No. 1-ranked and No. 5-ranked flyweights take to the main card to do battle. Unfortunately, we are probably not going to get a competitive fight.
Formiga is a very good, fun flyweight. Benavidez is just that much better. Simply put.
After dropping the inaugural flyweight title tilt, Benavidez has returned with two straight wins. He defeated Ian McCall by decision, and he completely outclassed a tough Darren Uyenoyama. The fight against Formiga will look like the latter.
Formiga will want this fight on the ground, but he has little to no hope of getting it there. Benavidez will be able to dictate everything about this fight, and his improved striking will allow his power to shine through. He will finish Formiga in impressive fashion in the second round with strikes.
Okami had a brief two-fight losing streak, but he has since rebounded with three straight. The wins moved him all the way up to being the No. 3-ranked middleweight in the division. He will have his hands full in the co-main event on Wednesday.
Jacare is on a four-fight win streak, and his UFC debut could not have gone any better. It will be hard to replicate, as Okami is not Chris Camozzi.
This is, by far, the most intriguing bout on the card. Okami is a tough, durable and well-rounded middleweight. Jacare is a more athletic and more dynamic fighter overall. It will be interesting to see what Jacare‘s game plan is.
On the feet, Jacare has shown remarkable improvement throughout his career. His striking has looked scary at times. Okami is also skilled on the feet. His boxing is underrated. Okami‘s straight left can be a fight-ender if it hits its target.
Jacare‘s brilliance happens on the mat, but getting it there may be a problem against Okami. Also, Okami is no slouch in the defense department. This is a big test for Jacare, and if he passes he will jump into title contention.
Jacare is the rightful favorite entering this fight, but Okami‘s wrestling will be the difference. The Brazilian will be introduced to the upper echelon in the division with a grueling 15-minute battle against one of the largest, and strongest, in the division. Okami grinds this one out.
Glover Teixeira (-440) vs. Ryan Bader (+350)
At one time, Bader was in the top 10 of the division. However, a recent loss to LyotoMachida, and ChaelSonnen moving up a weight class, has pushed Bader just outside of the rankings.
Teixeira, ranked No. 3, is on the brink of a title shot. A win against Bader and he is in line for the next shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
Bader has solid wrestling and big power in his hands. That makes him a live dog in this fight. It will always give him a chance. Unfortunately for Bader, this is a fight that should highlight all Teixeira to make him look like the title contender that he is. It is a bad stylistic matchup for the Arizona State product.
Teixeira can hurt Bader on the feet, but he will finish with his third submission inside the UFC. It will be an impressive performance that announces Teixeira as the next title contender.
You may be surprised that the author of “Anderson Silva Should Not Receive an Immedaite Rematch” would write this article. But despite one’s own feelings on “The Spider” receiving an immediate rematch, only a fool would not be e…
You may be surprised that the author of “Anderson Silva Should Not Receive an Immedaite Rematch” would write this article. But despite one’s own feelings on “The Spider” receiving an immediate rematch, only a fool would not be excited about the opportunity to see Weidman and Silva face off at UFC 168.
There are seemingly countless variables that add intrigue into the bout. From the shaping of the middleweight division to the fight itself, Silva vs. Weidman II is likely to push anticipation to the limit. Regardless of the outcome, both men have created an ever-cresting wave of interest that has more than just the hardcore fans talking.
Ronaldo “Jacare”