UFC Scotland brings golden opportunity for 'Argentino Gente Boa' and Brazilian promises

Nelson (left) faces Santiago (right)(Photo: Reproduction/Youtube UFC)

Nelson (left) faces Santiago (right) this Sunday (Photo: Reproduction/Youtube UFC)

UFC Scotland, which takes place especially this Sunday (16), starting at 13pm (Brasília time), will put two “and a half” Brazilians into action. In the main fight, the Argentine almost brasuca Santiago Ponzinibbio, faces Gunnar Nelson in a welterweight duel. It is the opportunity that “Argentino Gente Boa”, revealed on TUF Brasil, asked for and deserved, as he has won four in a row. training partner Conor McGregor, Icelandic Nelson is number eight in the rankings at 77 kg. and a victory over him could place Ponzinibbio, currently 14th, among the 10 best welterweights on the planet.

In addition to the main fight, the highlights are two Brazilian MMA promises. Alexandre pantoja, who was already a champion of smaller events, arrived in the UFC through TUF 24, where he was eliminated in the semifinals. Even so, the flyweight recovered and beat the dangerous Eric Shelton in his debut and now faces veteran Neil Seery in the preliminary portion of the event.

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Debutant in Ultimate, the Brazilian Amanda lemos opens the proceedings in Scotland with the first fight of the night. Former bantamweight champion Jungle Fight and undefeated in MMA to date, she will face an undigestible challenge in her first fight in the UFC: she faces veteran Leslie Smith, who has already fought against Chris Cyborg, has stints at Invicta and Strikeforce and is coming off a victory over the talented Mexican Irene aldana.

Close to the top-10

S. Ponzinibbio: almost Brazilian (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC)

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For Santiago Ponzinibbio, the duel against Gunnar Nelson doesn't just mark his first main fight in the UFC. The Argentine has the unique opportunity to face a top-10 player in the world and infiltrate the top ten welterweights in Ultimate if he wins. For “Gente Boa” to do well, however, it will be necessary to avoid the ground game.

A specialist in jiu-jitsu and karate, Nelson is dangerous in all areas of combat, but the difference between the two is big on the ground. The Icelander was dominated only once when the fight reached the stage, when he lost to Demian Maia at UFC 194. In the UFC alone, he has six victories by submission, including the last two, where he forced Albert Tumenov and Alan Jouban to give up.

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Even though “Gente Boa” has a good level on the ground, his best chances are standing up. Relying on excellent boxing and heavy hands, the almost Brazilian Argentine knocked out three opponents in Ultimate: Wendell “Negão”, Andreas Stahl and Court mcgee. And, even in the decision victories, he showed progress in the stand-up fight, managing to control the gas and the pace to reach the end of the three rounds. As the duel is scheduled for five rounds, Ponzinibbio will need, more than ever, his physical preparation to climb into the top-10.

Brazilians in action

A. Pantoja has his second fight in the UFC (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC)

flyweight Alexandre pantoja is another trying to get close to the top of its category. Like Ponzinibbio, Pantoja is in 14th place in the 57 kg division. Even though his opponent, Neil Seery, is not ranked, a victory could bring him closer to the top-10. The Brazilian, former champion of the RFA, a local North American organization, is coming off a victory in his UFC debut, when he used takedowns and positional control to overcome Eric Shelton.

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Facing a veteran like Seery, who is 37 years old and will have his farewell fight at UFC Scotland, Pantoja will have to impose himself physically to get the better of him. The Irishman has quick hands and good takedowns, but he doesn't do well fighting with his back to the ground. It's a full plate for the Brazilian, a jiu-jitsu black belt, to do well and get a submission.

In addition to Pantoja, Amanda lemos will also be in action. Former champion of Jungle Fight, she has an undefeated record, with six wins and one draw. But he will face Leslie Smith, an American, with a lot of experience, including in hostile territory. It was the first challenge of Chris Cyborg in the UFC – the two fought at the historic UFC 198, with 45 thousand Brazilians in favor of the featherweight division. Despite suffering a tough knockout in the first round, Smith recovered well to win Irene aldana, talented bantamweight from Mexico. Against Amanda, “The Peacemaker” will try again to stop the potential of a promise.

Other fights

Calderwood (right) faces Calvillo (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC)

Calderwood (right) faces Calvillo (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/Jo Jo Calderwood)

Besides Amanda lemos vs. Leslie Smith, UFC Scotland has another excellent women's fight in store. In the strawweight category, the promise Cynthia calvillo face the lady of the house Joanne calderwood. Mexican-American Calvillo has been impressive so far in the UFC – there were two fights and two wins via rear-naked choke submission, over Amanda Cooper and Pearl Gonzalez. Despite being 30 years old, the Team Alpha Male fighter Urijah faber and the current bantamweight champion cody garbrandt) has only five fights and is undefeated so far.

Calderwood is more experienced, with a record of 11 wins and two losses. A member of the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter, the Scot hopes to take off against Calvillo and leave behind the ups and downs of her UFC career so far. She is coming off a defeat to Brazilian Jessica Andrade, but before “Bate-Estaca”, she had achieved two good victories, against Cortney Casey and Valerie Letorneau.

Another interesting fight pits the lightweights Paul felder and Stevie Ray. A personal friend and occasional training partner of Cowboy Cerrone, Felder has a similar style to his partner, but with a greater focus on brutal low kicks. He will look to build on that foundation against home owner Ray, who is on a two-fight win streak, including a triumph over the veteran Joe lauzon.