I don’t think there is a trip on the planet now that gets me more excited than going to Brazil. From the minute I started my journey to Rio for UFC 142 I was having a ball, especially after bumping into Jon Jones at Miami International Airport. 

Waiting for our flight together, we decided to grab a bite when, as we approached an escalator that led to the food court, the UFC light heavyweight champion showed he’s still a kid at heart by asking me: “You think I should slide down the handrail?”

It was about 30 feet. “Go for it,” I said. And he was gone, slid down it just as smooth as he fights. At the bottom I informed a lady who was working on the escalator that the rail-slider is in fact a UFC champ, to which she laughed and told Jon to look at his pants. Across his tan colored trousers was a black four-inch stain right across his ass; an early reminder of his trip to Rio.

‘Bones’ was traveling to Brazil as an ambassador of the UFC and was readily concerned as to how the people of Rio would react to him, knowing that he had beaten two Brazilian legends in ‘Shogun’ Rua and Lyoto Machida. But I told him the fans would welcome him with open arms. They respect the sport and the warriors that come with it. I was right, of course. He was a hit.

The UFC buzz was everywhere, and the fans who found our hotel had a field day with pictures and autographs. The beach was right across the street, and even the sun-tanning Brazilians recognized all of us. A lady, breast feeding her child, even ran her fingers over her eyebrow like I do when applying the Vaseline on the fighters. How can I not love Brazil?

The UFC 142 main card had some impressive endings, like Edson Barboza’s perfect spin kick on the jaw of Terry Etim. I got to Terry immediately and saw the glaze in his eyes. I applied the ice pack, and he showed no movement. I suggested that the doctors bring in oxygen as a precaution. After a few minutes, he came around. I was relieved to know that he was okay the following day.

Vitor Belfort made his entrance and the arena got so loud that my eardrums started itching from the buzz that was created by the sold-out arena. While wrapping Belfort’s hands, I knew he was focused. He was quiet with his headphones on and didn’t say a word during the whole 15-minute wrapping process. After a hug, I wished him well and headed to the Octagon for the first fight on PPV.  

Vitor was focused and gave a brilliant performance in subbing Anthony Johnson. The crowd went wild. A fan threw a Brazilian flag into the Octagon and so I picked it up and gave it to Vitor, who placed it over his shoulders. Later, he saw me in the back and gave me another hug, and told me he loved me. What a special feeling.

No writer could have scripted the ending any better than the final fight with José Aldo and Chad Mendes. Upon arriving at cageside, I told Aldo to remove his clothes, hug his team, and then I’d apply the Vaseline. He did so, but the only problem was he was bouncing up and down like a Mexican jumping bean. 

“Relax,” I laughed, but his energy was so high he didn’t hear me, so I carefully applied the Vaseline to his eyebrows and cheeks and left him to the referee for his final check.

It was a competitive fight until Aldo broke away with a three-step technique, and planted a perfect knee to the face of the challenger.

And as soon as Aldo finished Mendes, he did the unthinkable and ran into the audience. The fans went crazy as the ‘son of Brazil’ shared his victory with them. They will remember that moment for the rest of their lives. I will also remember that moment as it was yet another great ending to another great show in Brazil.

Following Mirko ‘Cro Cop’s last UFC fight he mentioned to me that he’d been everywhere in the world, but seen nothing because he was always in his room or fighting. Those words hit me hard and I realized that we do travel the world and see what many people only dream of.

I was invited to go on a jungle tour with referees Dan Miragliotta, Leon Roberts, and others, so I jumped at it and it was awesome. We even stopped at a vista and three police officers recognized me with one of them using the same technique that was used by the lady breastfeeding her child. He ran his fingers over his eyebrows acknowledging that I was the cutman of the UFC. 

I am excited to be going to Sao Paulo for the big show, but also honored to be part of the first international TUF reality show that is having my friends, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as coaches. Brazil… how can anyone get bored?