Issue 053
August 2009
The spiritual home of vale tudo, Brazil may no longer be the world power in MMA but they have still produced some of the best fighters in recent memory. With sharp striking, slick submissions and some of the silliest nicknames ever, we highlight some of the best boys from Brazil.
Rousimar Palhares, 9-2-0, 185lb
IN BRIEF: Stocky, scrappy submissions specialist tipped as one of the next big things at 185lb.
KNOWN FOR: A leglock specialist, he’s a phenomenally fast, powerful and agile grappler with unorthodox attacks.
TEAM AFFILIATION: Palhares fights out of the legendary Brazilian Top Team in Rio.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: For a 15-minute master class in grappling, check out his fight with Jeremy Horn.
NICKNAME: ‘Toquinho’, meaning ‘tree stump’.
Vitor Belfort,18-8-0, 185lb
IN BRIEF: A hard-hitting, hot-and-cold veteran of the sport at only 32 years of age.
KNOWN FOR: Having some of the fastest hands in the business. Making his MMA debut almost 13 years ago.
TEAM AFFILIATION: Belfort now fights out of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: For the ‘new’ Vitor, see his recent KOs of Terry Martin or Matt Lindland.
NICKNAME: ‘The Phenom’. Belfort was handed this nickname by the UFC in his early career due to his phenomenal natural talent.
Jose Aldo, 15-1-0, 145lb
IN BRIEF: Explosive featherweight fighter currently climbing the ranks of the WEC.
KNOWN FOR: His striking prowess and the extremely high pace he fights at.
TEAM AFFILIATION: A Nova União [top BJJ team] representative, Aldo trains under the legendary Andre Pederneiras.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: Any of his four WEC appearances, all of which ended in a KO or TKO victory.
NICKNAME: The rather plain ‘Junior’, a generic nickname often given to younger team-members.
Vitor Ribeiro, 20-2-0, 155lb
IN BRIEF: Once considered among the best lightweights in the world, ‘Shaolin’ missed all of 2008 due to injury.
KNOWN FOR: His excellent grappling skills and arm triangle chokes (seven of his 20 wins were by that technique).
TEAM AFFILIATION: Another Nova União fighter, Shaolin is one of their top fighters.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: His submission win over the tough Japanese wrestler Kazuyuki Miyata.
NICKNAME: ‘Shaolin’ was a playful reference to the young fighter’s excellent martial arts ability.
Andre Amade, 6-3-1, 155lb
IN BRIEF: Hyperactive striker who has been very active in K-1 kickboxing tournaments.
KNOWN FOR: Fighting with abandon in almost every fight, not the most polished of grapplers but capable.
TEAM AFFILIATION: ‘Dida’ fights out of Universidade da Luta, the academy owned by brothers Shogun and Ninja Rua.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: Even though he lost, his scrap with Eddie Alvarez is a modern classic, a true slugfest.
NICKNAME: ‘Dida’, short for Adidas, Amade’s favourite footwear brand.
Rafael Cavalcante, 7-2-0, 205lb
IN BRIEF: One of Anderson Silva’s top training partners, ‘Feijao’ is tipped as one of the next big things.
KNOWN FOR: Stopping all of his opponents with strikes, even one of his losses (he was DQ’d for soccer kicking his opponent).
TEAM AFFILIATION: Part of Team Nogueira, ‘Feijao’ trains alongside Anderson Silva, Andre Galvao and more.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: Any of his short EliteXC fights, in which he destroyed everyone in front of him in the first round.
NICKNAME: ‘Feijao’ means bean, or big bean.
Andre Galvao, 3-0-0, 170lb
IN BRIEF: Undefeated submissions wizard. His sublime jiu-jitsu comes from his status as a former world champ in the sport.
KNOWN FOR: Making even world-class grapplers look average.
TEAM AFFILIATION: Although he was born in Sao Paulo, he trains for fights in Rio with the Nogueira brothers and co.
MUST-SEE FIGHT: He only has three fights to his name, his best so far was against John Alessio for DREAM.
NICKNAME: It is rare for a Brazilian, but Galvao has managed to go his entire career without picking up a nickname.
