We open with a video montage of last week and the original Ultimate Fighter theme in Portuguese which is entertaining if nothing else.
The crew arrives at the house as they give themselves the grand tour in the mansion that is provided for them to live in for the next 6 weeks.
Anistavio “Gasparzinho” Medeiros takes the role of original TUF badboy Chris Leben from the get-go dragging his top-bunk mattress to the floor which frustrates a few housemates.
Delson “Pe de Chumbo” Heleno is the first of many to voice their opinion on missing their families as Medeiros continues to be the center of attention exclaiming that he will win the series one way another, again replicating “the crippler”.
The remaining 16 go to the Ultimate Training Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil and are greeted by their coaches and UFC President Dana White who tells them they will be tested and that he’s looking for a champion.
He ups the ante by adding that the best knockout, submission and fight of the series will get a $45,000 bonus.
Wanderlei Silva wins the coin toss and opts to pick the first fighter taking Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra, Vitor fires back by taking Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira before we go into montage mode for the rest of the selections.
Full teams here:
Team Silva:
Featherweights:
Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra
John “Macapa” Teixeira
Marcos Vinicius “Vina” Borges Pancini
Wagner “Galeto” Campos
Middleweights:
2. Delson “Pe de Chumbo” Heleno
4. Francisco “Massaranduba” Drinaldo
6. Renee Forte
8. Leonardo “Macarrao” Mafra Teixeira
Team Belfort:
Featherweights:
Hugo “Wolverine” Viana
Rodrigo Damm
Godofredo “Pepey” de Oliveira
Anistavio “Gasparzinho” Medeiros
Middleweights:
Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira
Daniel Sarafian
Thiago “Bodao” Rela
Sergio “Serginho” Moraes
We go to a huddle for both sides as troubles have arisen in Belforts camp with Medeiros venting towards his coach about being picked last who assures him he wanted him on the team before he caused more troubles at the house complaining that people messed with his gear.
Back to the training sessions as we return to Wanderlei Silva shaving his arm to make him look like a major badass, he explains his concepts to his team of hard work and going back to basics and to remain focus.
Naturally, Silva brings in his mentor and a large reason behind his success during his glory days in the Pride Fighting Championships Rafael Cordeiro to help out as well as Fabricio Werdum, Renato “Babalu” Sobral and Andre Dida.
Time for Belfort to have a training session, he explains it’s all about commitment and team work for his crew and that’s what he wants from them as we go into a training montage.
We show off the fighters hitting pads as we introduce the coaches with Luiz Dorhea as the lead boxing coach as well as K-1 World Grand Prix 2001 runner-up Francisco Filho as well as e Rodrigo Artilheiro and Gilbert Durinho.
Time for Belfort to select the first fight pitting Wagner “Galeto” Campos of Team Silva against Godofredo “Pepey” de Oliveira of his squad.
Campos is shown hitting pads prepping for this fight as they run a typical introduction style piece as he speaks of his wife, mother and two daughters who sacrificed for him to have this opportunity.
He reveals that he is suffering a bit of an injury to his thighs but insists he will never give up and that’s a lesson he wants to teach to his children, an emotional segment.
Again an introduction segment for his opponent, de Oliveira as Belfort explains that he’s a bit stubborn but if he listens to his coaches he should be okay.
He explains he fights because he likes the competition; his childhood was a rough time he explains and that his mother is the most important person in his life in another emotional segment.
Both men are on weight as we get a promotional addition from the Ford Motor Company who explain that of the four finalist, the one who scores the quickest total victories will win a Ford Ranger.
As they arrive at the Ultimate Training Center they get a welcome addition as UFC featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo comes to visit, Aldo tells them to listen to their coaches and provides a few words of encouragement.
Featherweight bout: Godofredo “Pepey” de Oliveira vs. Wagner “Galeto” Campos
Mario Yamasaki is our referee as we get a long feeling out period before de Oliveira dives for a leg but a scramble later and we reset on the feet, once again de Oliveira wants it to the feet but Campos quickly shrugs his dive off. Campos is trying to get in close to land offence because his rangier opponent was hassling him with strikes outside before de Oliveira pulled guard to get the fight into his wheelhouse.
We reset in the striking department as de Oliveira once again gets in close and tries to strike but nothing of substance lands, “Pepey” is the aggressor here lunging in and doing damage with Campos unwilling to engage before Campos slips to the floor against the cage before attempting a week leg lock briefly before going to the guard of de Oliveira.
Round two begins with de Oliveira once again being the aggressor as Campos delivers little offence as we continue to exchange on the feet before de Oliveira connects with an unintentional groin shot that floors Campos. After a brief recess we continue as both men circle as de Oliveira continues to throw kicks from the outside before yet another groin shot to Campos before Yamasaki warns if there is another he will deduct a point.
Campos is not happy with the decision to not take away a point but he begin again with minutes remaining for Capos to pull something out of his hat, de Oliveira continues to use his length and throw a kick as Campos does nothing but defend. We enter the final minute as de Oliveira turns it up a bit getting in close and landing a combination as Campos continues to circle and defend before lunging forward throwing haymakers to close the round but it’s too little too late.
Godofredo “Pepey” de Oliveira def. Wagner “Galeto” Campos by Unanimous Decision
Silva is not impressed about Yamasaki’s decision not to take away a point after the second groin shot and he felt Campos won the second round prompting overtime.
Belfort on the other hand is not impressed with his teams post-fight antics to celebrate loudly because its disrespectful to a bunch of guys they have to live with for 6 weeks.
Log back to MMASucka.com next week for a full recap and run-down of the week of TUF Brazil
