The genesis of mixed martial arts, UFC 1, was the global premiere of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a showcase for the then-new martial art’s dominance against other styles. In the modern era, as the sport has evolved, Brazilian fighters regularly grace the top tier of the UFC. Although two Brazilians lost their UFC titles in 2022, UFC Fight Pass Brazil commentator Andre Azevedo fully expects his countrymen to dominate across multiple weight classes in the next month. He elaborated on a recent episode of Trocação Franca.
“Crisis? Quite the opposite. We’re in a great moment. If you divide belts by country, it’s all very spread. United States only has one, Aljamain Sterling’s. You have Kyrgyzstan, Russia.
Can Brazil Earn Five UFC Belts in January?
We’re in a good moment and we have promising Brazilians in every weight class.” There are currently four UFC titles held by Brazilians: Deiveson Figueiredo at flyweight, Alex Pereira at middleweight, and Amanda Nunes across bantamweight and featherweight. Deiveson Figueiredo will defend his title against Brandon Moreno at UFC 283, the same night as Glover Teixeira will attempt to recapture UFC gold against Jamahal Hill. That could mean five UFC titles held by Brazilians by the end of January.
“Accidents will happen, no one will win all the time, but the [expectation] is that we end 2023 with a lot of people well-ranked in every division in the UFC.”
Azevedo continued, examining the upper weight classes, too. “We already have ‘Poatan’ at middleweight, but there are some Brazilians coming up.
[Andre Muniz] ‘Sergipano’ is the closest one [to the top] now other than [Paulo Costa] ‘Borrachinha’, who’s on this [contract] imbroglio. At 205, we have Glover, and at heavyweight we have [Jailton Almeida] ‘Malhadinho,’ who I think will be a top-five [fighter] by the end of the year. It’s still too soon for him to fight for the belt, unless the stars really align for him.
[Almeida] is hungry and he doesn’t get hurt, he doesn’t get hit,” he continued. “He finishes his fights quickly. This kid is unique. He’s a specimen, man. He fights at heavyweight and light heavyweight. Very strong and technical, doing that pragmatic game of taking people down and catching them. Heavy hands, athletic, and charismatic. This kid is the total package.”
Azevedo also expects Charles Oliveira to return to winning ways at lightweight.
“He needs to go back and see what didn’t work and come up with a better strategy to fight Makhachev. The odds of him doing the same thing and getting frustrated again are big, right? That might happen. I’m not in his shoes and I’m not a professional fighter, but that game didn’t work that night. Will you trust the same game? Cool. Can it work? Yes, you’re Charles, but you’ve already lost the first one. Look at the openings Makhachev has given you, if he has given any opening to attack, and come prepared.”
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