SUPER FIGHTS lists athletes who should be closely monitored in 2021. Photo: SUPER FIGHTS montage
With the end of another UFC season, the Brazilian public can be optimistic for 2021. In 2020, some names did well and put on a show in the Octagon and this could bear good fruit in the near future.
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Among men and women, there are some examples who fulfilled their role in the company well. If they continue to win, it may not be long before one of them is seen fighting for a title or getting considerably closer to a title fight.
Amanda ribas
A. Ribas victory for Ultimate. Photo: Reproduction/ Facebook UFC
The new darling of Ultimate, Amanda may no longer be a promise, as she has fallen into the public's favor after great performances with UFC gloves. However, it is important to continue following Minas Gerais’ trajectory within the organization.
Today, Ribas is number nine in the strawweight division (up to 52,1kg) and continues to rise. In 2020, the Brazilian went further. The fighter agreed to test herself in the top division and won the match against paige vanzant. Amanda, then, is an athlete who can do well in both divisions.
Mackenzie dern
M. Dern (center) fought on three occasions in 2020, winning each time. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
After suffering his first defeat in the UFC – and in his career – Mackenzie dern The good phase has resumed and doesn't seem to stop. With three fights in 2020, the North American with strong roots in Brazil achieved the 100% desired for the season and, after her last commitment, asked for more.
After winning the battle against Virna jandiroba No. UFC 256, Dern stated that she wants to remain active inside the octagon. The intention is to get closer and closer to the top 5 in the division and, consequently, the belt.
Taila Santos
Taila (right) beats McCann (left). Photo: Reproduction / Facebook @ufc
With 18 fights and just one defeat in his career, Taila Santos He is definitely a name to be watched with good eyes by fans. Representative of the flyweight category (up to 56,7kg), the Brazilian completed, in the UFC Las Vegas 17, his third fight with UFC gloves.
With a confident performance against Gilliam Robertson, the Santa Catarina native confirmed her good form and reached her second consecutive victory. The triumph over the Canadian made Taila officially reach the ranking led by Valentina Shevchenko. Today, the Brazilian woman occupies 13th position.
Viviane Araujo
V. Araújo (left) defeated M. De la Rosa (right) by points in the UFC Las Vegas 9. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Recovered from the defeat suffered by Jessica Eye, in December 2019, Viviane Araujo has everything to continue its trajectory towards the top of the division led by Valentina Shevchenko. The 34-year-old has not performed since September, when she dominated rose mountain and confirmed his third victory in five appearances with the Ultimate gloves.
Araújo, today, is number nine in the group and has a fight scheduled against veteran Roxanne Modafferi. If she wins, the Brazilian must take eighth place, which belongs to her rival.
Livinha Souza
Livinha wins in her UFC debut. Photo: Reproduction / Twitter ufc
Brazilian promise in strawweight, Livinha Souza is another name that joins Ribas and Mackenzie for the future of the division led by Weili Zhang. In 2020 he returned to the octagon after more than a year without competing.
This season, the return of the São Paulo native went against Ashley yoder. In the duel, the Brazilian fought well and controlled the actions against her rival, winning on points and reaching 15th place in the ranking.
With the result, the athlete recovered from the defeat she suffered against Brianna Van Buren, in July 2019. Livinha, who is a former Invicta FC champion, now has three wins in four appearances in the UFC.
Raoni barcelos
R. Barcelos in victory for the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Brazilian novelty in bantamweight (up to 61,2kg.), Raoni barcelos was highlighted by the UFC in early November. In the fight against Khalid Taha, the Rio native promoted one of the most discrepant clashes in terms of balance. Although his rival showed a lot of resistance to the punishment, the Brazilian didn't give his opponent a chance and easily won the judges' decision.
After the show promoted in 2020, Barcelos is scheduled to face Raphael Assunção on February 27th. If he emerges victorious, Raoni will officially reach the top 5, in addition to extending an undefeated streak that has already lasted nine fights and more than six years.
Carlos Diego Ferreira
C. Diego Ferreira in victory for the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @diegoufctx
Fans comment less than they should, but in addition to Charles of the Bronx and now, Rafael dos Anjos, the lightweight division (up to 70,3kg.) has a representative who has made the country proud. Coming from six consecutive victories and currently number nine in one of the most dangerous groups in the organization, Carlos Diego Ferreira remains in great shape at the company.
Although he is outside the group of fighters who could be selected to compete for the category title in 2021, if Diego continues to win, it won't be long before the fighter assumes an even more prominent position in the division.
In his last fight, the Amazon native impressed with a dominant performance over the former category champion, Anthony Pettis. The confrontation took place on January 18. Ferreira has a fight scheduled for February 6, against Beneil Dariush.
Herbert Burns
H. Burns in victory for the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook @UFC
Even though he lost his first with the UFC in his last commitment, Herbert Burns It is not a name that can be discarded. Always willing to fight, the athlete had three fights in seven months in the organization. In the first two clashes, victories in the first round: one by submission and the other by knockout.
In the duel that sealed his participation in the 2020 season, Burns ended up surprised by the then rookie Daniel Pineda with a knockout in the second round. After the setback, the Brazilian stated that he would take time for the next performance. Thus, the athlete remains a promise for the featherweight division (up to 65,7kg), which is currently led by Aelxander Volkanovski.
André Sergipano
A. Sergipano submitted B. Fabinski in the UFC Las Vegas 9. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook @ufc
A pleasant surprise in 2020, André Sergipano had a gala performance this season. After winning in his debut with Ultimate gloves against his compatriot Antonio Arroyo, Sergipano proved that he is a name to watch by beating Bartosz Fabinski in September this year.
In the confrontation, the Brazilian needed less than three minutes to settle the score with a submission. After the duel, André won one of the 'Performance of the Night' bonuses, taking home more than R$200. The 30-year-old athlete, therefore, remains a great promise for the middleweight division of Ultimate.
Rudolph Vieira
R. Vieira is undefeated in his MMA career. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Jiu-jitsu legend, known as the 'Black Belt Hunter', Rudolph Vieira He has also been carving out a successful career within MMA. Undefeated in seven professional fights, the athlete completed his second fight for the UFC in March.
A middleweight representative, Vieira debuted in the organization in August 2019, against Oskar Piechota, and won via submission in the second round. In March 2020, another triumph for Rodolfo. Before Saparbek Safarov, the carioca, despite having a scare at the beginning, which resulted in a cut on his eyebrow, overcame the adversity and won again with a new submission, in the first round.
The Brazilian has a fight scheduled against anthony hernandez for January 16th. The duel will take place on 'Fight Island', in Abu Dhabi.
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