Cigano (photo) will train at the Nova União gym. Photo: Disclosure
junior gypsy, former UFC heavyweight champion, is in a new home at the beginning of the year. After losing for the second time to Cain Velazquez, the fighter confirmed that he will carry out part of his training for his next fights at the Nova União gym, in Rio de Janeiro.
Led by Dedé Pederneiras, the Rio team is the only Brazilian to have UFC belts, with José Aldo (feathers) and Renan Barao (roosters). Cigano stated that he felt his game was stagnant, and, therefore, decided to change the nature of his training.
“Things were very stagnant, I wasn’t feeling very good about evolving as a professional. So, I decided to come to Rio. And of course, observing the world of MMA, we know that professor Dedé Pederneiras is one of the greatest, it's no wonder that he competes for the best in the world award every year”, praised Cigano, in an interview with SporTV. “He's a guy who I think has a lot to add to my game, not only because of his strategies, but because he's a really intelligent guy. I see the commands he gives to the José Aldo, For Renan Barao and for the other boys when they are fighting and like it a lot. I spoke to my teacher Luiz Dórea and said that I thought it was time to test myself in Rio,” he continued.
Even with the migration to Nova União, Cigano explained that he will not train exclusively with just one team. Team Nogueira, from your mentor Rodrigo Minotauro, remains an option. “I have immense respect for Minotauro, for Minotouro, for the entire Team Nogueira. I am Team Nogueira. Professor Dedé Pederneiras knows this, everyone knows this. Just as I am Team Nogueira, I am Champion, which is Professor Dórea's team, I am Nordeste Jiu-Jítsu, which is Professor Yuri Carlton's team”, he pondered.
“Today I’m training at Nova União, I think that’s what evolution is. I learned from the Minotaur himself to always seek evolution, to learn more from others, and that is what I am doing. I think that my game requires different training, different learning for me to evolve, and I came to get that here. Of course, I am Team Nogueira and I will always continue training with Minotauro, with Minotouro, regardless of who is part of the team and feels good training with me too”, added Cigano.
Since his last fight, in October, Cigano has not made his next commitment to the UFC official. “I need three months to prepare. And the UFC giving me this deadline, anyone can give it to me. I've never chosen an opponent and I won't be now. I don't know... There's Miocic who fought Napão now. There's Overeem, who fought very well with Frank mir. Either of the two, or any other… The UFC has plenty of options to close a fight for me soon,” she clarified.
Five years ago in the UFC, Cigano suffered only two defeats, precisely to Velasquez, current heavyweight champion. However, he has ten victories, eight of which were by knockout, technical knockout or submission.
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