Issue 098
February 2013
The unknown fighters who left their mark on the records of mma’s biggest stars
Seven years ago the feared UFC 145lb king, and 2010 ‘Fighter of the Year,’ was made to look human by Luciano Azevedo
José Aldo. 21 wins, one defeat. Hard to believe now, but the UFC’s ever-dominant featherweight champion did lose once. And not by debatable decision, by undebatable submission in front of a few thousand people. At Jungle Fight 5 in November 2005 in Brazil, Aldo tapped to a second-round rear naked choke from Luciano Azevedo.
Azevedo did what no one else has ever done in competition, and with a remarkably simple game plan: takedowns. He remembers Aldo’s striking was feared even then and that standing with him “would be lottery; that any caught blow could knock me out.” But unlike Aldo, who afterward would go undefeated and earn WEC and UFC gold, Azevedo went 10-7-1 and has been a full-time policeman since 2011 – working every day, including weekends. Here, he remembers beating the 2010 Fighters Only Awards ‘Fighter of the Year.’
What did you know about José before the fight?
“When we fought he said he was starting out, but he wasn’t. We were in a similar situation: coming off win streaks. Whoever won would get a very good status, but that’s not what happened. I knew he had several victories by knockout and was dangerous. The strategy I had was to take him down. As always, the cheering was behind him more – he’s from a jiu-jitsu school and I´m from luta livre… I knew that his striking was very strong, as it is today.”
How did you get the finish?
“I was going for takedowns, and got three or four attempts very well. In one he tried to escape outside the ring. Carlson Gracie was there and rooting for me and complained to the referee, who did nothing. In the second he tried to run out of the ring again, but the referee, who was Carlão Barreto, rightly put the fight in the centre of the ring. Then Aldo tried to turn, I secured his back and finished with a rear naked choke.”
Have ever you fought someone tougher than Aldo?
“Yes, Fabricio ‘Morango’ Camoes in São Paulo (October 2006). I thought the fight with him was unfair because it was two rounds, and physically he is very tough and hits hard.”
What does José say about the fight today?
“He doesn’t need to say he was defeated by me. We met in some events, he shook my hand, but we have no ties of friendship. On television he only says he lost, but not to who. That’s no problem to me. He doesn’t talk much about it and I respect it… I root for him.”
How much did you earn for the fight?
“It was R$1,000 (about £470). I accepted the fight not for the money, but because it was early in my career and would be shown on the Premiere Combate channel and I could gain visibility.”
How does it feel to watch him succeed knowing you beat him?
“I don’t feel jealous; I’m happy. I recently passed the police force tests where many fail, and now I have stability. I’m happy for his success. I wish him all the best and don’t feel resentment or envy.”
Could you beat him today?
“I’ll be realistic, I would not have a chance to defeat him. I’m training very sporadically. Last year, I probably trained five times, and I was dying, very tired. I’m just running and working out. My technical side is very weak.”
Did your fight contracts improve after beating Aldo?
“Not much. At the time there wasn’t that MMA ‘boom’ that started two years ago here. He knows that because he fought in England as I did. I didn’t succeed because there wasn’t this MMA ‘boom’ there is nowadays. Because sponsorships were rare, I had to keep a job outside the ring. But if it was today my story would have been better.”
