R. Bebezão wants victory in the UFC Singapore. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @raphaelpessoamma
The month was August. The carioca Raphael Bebezão would fulfill his dream of debuting in Ultimate, at UFC Uruguay against Cyryl Gane. Everything was going well, but the Brazilian ended up being surprised at the end of the first round by a submission from his opponent. Two months have passed and the heavyweight will, this Saturday (26), perform his second presentation for the company, at UFC Singapore, and guarantees to be prepared for his first victory, against Jeff Hughes. The statement was made in an interview with 'Combate'.
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“My UFC debut wasn’t very good. I surprised the athlete (Cyryl Gane), but I ended up finishing in an area that I really like, which is Jiu-Jitsu. This time, I'm going to do it differently. I'm going to surprise my opponent too and take this victory to Brazil. It's a very big responsibility. There's only me and Demian Maia representing Brazil. I open the card and he closes it. I have to take this victory. I came here to make history”, declared the fighter.
Raphael, in fact, will have a difficult task this weekend. In addition to facing a tough opponent, with only two defeats in his career, the Brazilian will be one of those responsible for opening the show to the public present at the venue.
Like Bebezão, Hughes is also starting his career in Ultimate. The North American debuted for the company in March this year and had two matches and is looking for his first positive result for the company. In his last appearance, his fight against Todd Duffee was ended after an illegal eye strike in the first round of the match. UFC Vancouver, In September.
The Brazilian, who was undefeated in his career, will be able to prove that, in fact, he learned from the defeat and is ready to move forward in his career, being one of the Brazilian representatives in one of the most competitive and dangerous divisions in the company.
“I prepared very well. Master Dida (Thai Evolution) even told me that I was doing very well, but, due to my mistake, I ended up giving up. Now I'm training a little more jiu-jitsu with a guy everyone knows, who is Serginho Moraes. He is giving me a lot of tips so I can do this fight well and not be surprised on the ground”, said the confident athlete. “I've been training a lot, I was very motivated after this defeat and I was already waiting for someone to call me to fight,” he said.
Raphael knows that his opponent has the same drive and need to win as he does. In this way, the athlete expects a tough fight, but awaits a positive result for Brazil.
“He really likes striking. Go all out. But on the other side there is an opponent as strong as him. He will have to pay close attention because I will be very cold and calculating. I'm going to dominate the center of the cage (octagon) and impose my game, not letting him impose his. I'm learning a lot at Evolution Thai, so that's going to be my strategy”, concluded the heavyweight.
At 30 years old, Bebezão, who debuted in MMA in 2016, now has 10 fights and only one defeat in his professional career.
Jeff, 31, has already competed in 13 fights, with 10 victories, two setbacks and one unsuccessful fight.
UFC Singapore fight program
MAIN CARD (9pm, Brasília time):
Welterweight (up to 77kg): Demian Maia x Ben Askren
Light weight (up to 70,3kg.): Michael Johnson x Stevie Ray
Lightweight (up to 70,3kg): Frank Camacho x Beneil Dariush
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Cyryl Gane x Don'Tale Mayes
Welterweight (up to 77kg): muslim salikhov x Laureano Staropoli
PRELIMINARY CARD (6:30 p.m., Brasília time):
Straw weight (up to 62,1kg): Randa markos x Ashley yoder
Lightweight (up to 70,3kg): Alex White x Raphael Fiziev
Featherweight (up to 65,7kg): Enrique Barzola x Movsar Evloev
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Sergei Pavlovich x Maurice Greene
Straw weight (up to 52,1kg): Loma Lookboonmee x Alexandra Albu
Heavy weight (up to 120,2kg): Raphael Bebezão x Jeff Hughes
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