A. Pezão (left) and G. Napão (right) face each other in a bare-knuckle boxing match. Photo: Montage SL/MMA Press
Veterans and former UFC heavyweight title challengers (up to 120,2kg) Antonio Pezão e Gabriel Napao confirmed their presence at BKFC 8, a type of bare-knuckle boxing. The meeting between the athletes will take place on October 19, in Florida (USA). The information was released on the official Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship page on Facebook.
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The confrontation between the compatriots will take place in a different format than the one played when they were hired by the UFC. BKFC is famous for staging matches in which fighters come forward to exchange blows without using a glove. What we often see is a bloodbath during the presentations.
Although they are not at the peak of their careers, both fighters have already had moments of glory within MMA. Pezão, who was among the stars of Ultimate between 2012 and 2016, became one of the heavyweight challengers, when he faced the former champion, Cain Velazquez in the main fight of UFC 160, in 2013.
On that occasion, Antônio ended up suffering a quick knockout and managed to endure just 1m21s of the duel. After the setback, Pezão entered a worrying phase in his MMA career. There were seven fights and only one victory. The last straw for the company was when the Brazilian succumbed to folkloric Roy Nelson, in 2016, completing his third defeat in a row and leading to his dismissal from the organization. Outside of Ultimate, Antônio had two more fights, losing on both occasions; the last, in 2017.
Napão, who is also experiencing an unstable moment in his career, joined the group of UFC athletes in 2005. For the organization, the athlete experienced good and bad times. The best part of his time in Ultimate was when the fighter shared the octagon with the legendary Randy Couture, in the fight for the heavyweight title, in 2007. Napão was defeated by knockout in the third round.
The fight for the belt, however, is not Gabriel's most memorable moment as a UFC athlete. The fighter is always remembered for the beautiful knockout he delivered to Mirko Cro Cop, when the Brazilian defeated his opponent using his opponent's greatest weapon, the high kick to the head. The fight took place in April 2007 and served as a passport for Gonzaga to compete for the title four months later, in August.
Pezão, today, is 39 years old. The fighter, in MMA, currently has 31 fights, with 19 wins and 12 losses. In his last 10 appearances, the Brasiliense has only one victory, with eight setbacks and one draw.
Gabriel, 40, has 29 fights with 17 victories and 12 negative results. His last performance took place in May last year, when he lost to Alexander Emelianenko.
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