Vitor Belfort throws spinning back kick to cap off UFC on FX 8

Vitor Belfort knocks out Luke Rockhold in the main event of UFC on FX 8 in Brazil. Photo via UFC Facebook.

Vitor Belfort is truly a phenomenon. Star of numerous UFC events in Brazil, the middleweight proved why he is considered one of the best in the UFC with a first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold. 

Belfort started to fight more aggressively, breaking up and landing hard shots to his opponent. With a spinning back kick, the Brazilian knocked Rockhold down, following that up with strikes on the ground to close out the fight. 

Belfort needed just over two minutes to knock out the last Strikeforce champion. When interviewed, the victor said he only wants to continue doing what he loves, which is to fight, and get many more victories. In addition, Belfort asked the audience to support Anderson Silva in his next challenge against Chris Weidman on July 6. Is he thinking of facing the winner of this match?

Photo via UFC Facebook

“Jacare” Souza delights fans, subs Chris Camozzi in first round

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza has Jiu-Jitsu in his DNA.

The black belt entered the Arena Jaragua dancing excitedly. The fight began, Camozzi managed to land a high kick that full-on hit the face of Brazilian, but Jacare was only waiting for the right time to take the fight where he likes: The ground.

When he widened the gap, it was only a matter of time. With Jacare transitioning from mount, he locked on the arm triangle. The Brazilian sank in the choke — a particularly tight one — quickly finishing his opponent at the 3:08 mark of the first round.

Following the win, Jacare was asked, if given the chance, who he would like to face between Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold. He replied: “The Winner.”

Rafael dos Anjos gets controversial decision over Evan Dunham

Although the scores read 29-28 across the board, most the of the MMA world disputed the outcome of the Rafael dos Anjos-Evan Dunham fight.

Despite the protest from the fans and most analysts, dos Anjos agreed with the judges’ scores.

“I lost my balance in the first round and was taken down,” he said, adding, “but I was confident I had won the second and the third rounds.”

Rafael Natal grabs unanimous decision over former Jiu-Jitsu rival

The two faced each other in the Jiu-Jitsu world years ago as brown belts, and met again on Saturday in the Octagon.

Rafael Natal and João Zeferino went back and forth in the 50/50 guard in the first round, but Zeferino had no energy for the two remaining rounds, giving Natal the chance to outwork him for the unanimous decision, 30-27, 29-28 and 29-28.

Here are the full results for the UFC on FX 8 card:

Main Card (FX):

Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold via KO (spinning back kick, strikes) at 2:32, R1
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza def. Chris Camozzi via submission (arm triangle) at 3:37, R1
Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Rafael Natal def. João Zeferino via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Preliminary Card (Fuel TV):

Nik Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (28-27, 29-28 x2)
Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm triangle) at 3:08, R1
Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine) at 2:34, R2
Paulo Thiago def. Mitchel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (strikes) at 2:31, R1
Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollet via unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-28)

Preliminary Card (Facebook):

John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (strikes) at 1:07, R2
Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via knockout (punch) at 0:13, R3

Learn one technique by finisher Shinya Aoki, ONE FC Champion

Shinya adjusts the rear naked choke which would give him the One FC 8 belt. Photo: One FC/Disclosed

Twenty-one submissions in 32 victories. These are the numbers that accredit Japanese fighter Shinya Aoki as one of the most dangerous finishers of the current MMA scene.

He is 29 years old, already has three belts on his record, and showed his refined technique to win the ONE FC, over the feared Kotetsu “No Face” Boku, taking the lightweight belt.

At the event, ONE FC 8, Shinya showed great Jiu-Jitsu skills to neutralize Boku on the ground, and step by step, worked his way to his opponent’s neck, where he submitted with a rear naked choke at 2:02 of the second round.

In the video below you can see how he manages to combine attacks to create new positions. Also notice how he builds a trap to adjust the choke he used against Kotetsu.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnGaUzFQk40

BJJ signature moves – Sherdog Mixed Martial Arts Forums

Lets get a list of World class BJJ fighters and their signature moves. Moves made famous, mastered, or executed at a higher level than anyone else.
forums.sherdog.com/forums/.../bjj-signature-moves-2463171/

Saturday Treasure: Roger Gracie’s last step on a Worlds mat

Looking through GRACIEMAG’s archives of the Worlds, we came across this picture of Roger Gracie in 2010.

Seems like an ordinary image, but it isn’t.

It portraits the actual last step taken by Roger on a mat of a World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (until now, of course, once Roger can still comeback, but that seems unlikely).

Notice that Roger is holding the trophy of three-time black belt open class champion, a title only he has so far.

He had just received it from IBJJF, after having his arm raised without having to fight the absolute final because Romulo Barral got injured in the medium-heavyweight final against Tarsis Humphreys.

Another detail in this image is the presence of Xande Ribeiro in the stands, in the white gi.

A two-time absolute champion himself, Xande missed the opportunity to fight for that trophy when he lost the semifinal match to Rômulo Barral.

Unlike Roger, now a UFC fighter, Xande will be present at the 2013 Worlds.

He already confirmed he will be competing in the open class and who can doubt Xande has all the tools needed to get his third gold.

As an extra gift, here is Roger’s last fight in the World Championship open class division, the 2010 semifinal against Rodrigo Cavaca.

Registration for the 2013 Worlds finishes this Tuesday, 21, midnight PST. Do NOT forget to register for the 2013 Worlds at ibjjf.com.

Renan Barao injured, out of UFC 161 interim title defense

Renan Barao (pictured) is injured and off the UFC 161 card, according to reports. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Renan Barao has sustained an undisclosed injury and been forced out of his UFC 161 interim title defense against Eddie Wineland, according to reports.

Barao and Wineland were scheduled to headline the card, which takes place on June 15 at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

No replacements have been confirmed for the match, and the UFC is yet to announce a change to the UFC 161 card.

At the time of this publication, a bout between Dan Henderson and Rashad Evans is tabbed to co-main event the card, preceded by a rematch between Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

GRACIEMAG.com will update with changes to the UFC 161 card as more information becomes available.

News of the Barao injury was first reported by Tatame.

Rafael dos Anjos vs Evan Dunham is UFC on FX 8′s early ‘Fight of the Night’ pick

Dunham, a UFC fighter since UFC 95, has made a name for himself as a scrappy, aggressive fighter who always puts on entertaining fights. His game is most impressive on the mat, where he uses his lanky limbs and jiu-jitsu prowess to attack and threaten ...
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UFC on FX 8: Quick Results for Belfort vs. Rockhold

Results updated live as the fights happen, beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT

Main Card (FX):

Vitor Belfort def. Luke Rockhold via KO (spinning back kick, strikes) at 2:32, R1
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza def. Chris Camozzi via submission (arm triangle) at 3:37, R1
Rafael dos Anjos def. Evan Dunham via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Rafael Natal def. João Zeferino via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Preliminary Card (Fuel TV):

Nik Lentz def. Hacran Dias via unanimous decision (28-27, 29-28 x2)
Francisco Trinaldo def. Mike Rio via submission (arm triangle) at 3:08, R1
Gleison Tibau def. John Cholish via submission (guillotine) at 2:34, R2
Paulo Thiago def. Mitchel Prazeres via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Yuri Alcantara def. Iliarde Santos via TKO (strikes) at 2:31, R1
Fabio Maldonado def. Roger Hollet via unanimous decision (29-27 x2, 29-28)

Preliminary Card (Facebook):

John Lineker def. Azamat Gashimov via TKO (strikes) at 1:07, R2
Jussier Formiga def. Chris Cariaso via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Lucas Martins def. Jeremy Larsen via knockout (punch) at 0:13, R3

What you don’t know about UFC on FX 8 main-card fighter Joao Zeferino

The 27-year-old Zeferino said he served as the team's head jiu-jitsu instructor for a stint in 2009 and again in 2011, where he worked with notables such as upcoming UFC title challenger Anthony Pettis, UFC contender Erik Koch and Bellator champ Ben ...
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Pinoys bag gold medals in Pan-Asian BJJ tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Two Filipino fighters outclassed their respective rivals to bag gold medals on the first day of the 2013 Pan Asian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu International in Pasay City on Saturday. Jerry Legaspi of Team Kamphius-Fabricio lived up to ...
See all stories on this topic »

Pinoys bag gold medals in Pan-Asian BJJ tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Two Filipino fighters outclassed their respective rivals to bag gold medals on the first day of the 2013 Pan Asian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu International in Pasay City on Saturday. Jerry Legaspi of Team Kamphius-Fabricio lived up to ...
See all stories on this topic »