With Lyoto and Jacaré in the spotlight, UFC opens its season of events in Brazil tonight

Machida (right) lands a powerful kick on Munoz (left). Photo: Josh Hedges

Machida (right) makes the main fight of UFC Fight Night 36. Photo: Josh Hedges

The UFC season in Brazil in 2014 starts tonight. What promises to be the organization's busiest year in the country begins its activities in Jaraguá do Sul, in the interior of Santa Catarina, with UFC Fight Night 36. In the main fight of the night, the former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida makes his second appearance in the middleweight category and is already aiming for a possible title fight. But for that he will have to overcome the hard Gegard Mousasi.

Lyoto, who debuted in the division with a great knockout victory over his friend Mark Muñoz, in October last year, is looking for his second triumph to have the chance to measure his strength against the winner of Chris Weidman, current owner of the belt, and Vitor belfort, who will face each other at UFC 173. Confident and without pressure for the result, Machida said he is only focused on showing his skills in the octagon.

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“Fighting Mousasi is an opportunity to fight a great champion. I consider myself a much more dangerous guy than Mousasi, despite seeing that he is a complete guy. But I'm not that worried about Mousasi. I've already shown that I can knock out or even finish this fight. The message I'm sending is that I'm next in line for the belt! I’m here to be the champion”, he warned.

However, on the other side of the Octagon, there is the tough Gegard Mousasi. Former Dream and Strikeforce champion, the Armenian will make his second fight in Ultimate. In his first appearance, in the light heavyweight category, he defeated Ilir Latifi, in April 2013, in Sweden.

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Alligator runs outside

In the second most important fight of the night, another duel that could move the UFC middleweight division. Fueled by two victories in the organization, Ronaldo Jacare faces Canadian Francis Carmont, who has won six consecutive victories in the Octagon. Although they are not favorites, a convincing victory could give the winner the opportunity to compete for the category belt.

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Check out the full UFC Fight Night 36 card below:

22:30 pm: first fight on the preliminary card

00:30: start of the main card

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03h: estimated end of the event

main card

Lyoto Machida x Gegard Mousasi

Ronaldo Jacare x Francis Carmont

Erick silva x Takenori Sato

Viscardi Andrade x Nicholas Musoke

Charles 'Do Bronx' x Andy Ogle