Known for applying Muay Thai resources within professional MMA, Vitor miranda He is constantly asked to assist in preparatory camps for the biggest names on the world stage. Recently hired by the UFC, the Santa Catarina native spent the last month in the United States helping his friend Antonio Pezão to refine his techniques in stand-up fighting to face the Belarusian Andrei Arlovski, in a fight valid for UFC Fight Night 51, scheduled for this Saturday (13), in Brasília.
Enthusiastic about what he observed during his training period in the United States, Vitor guarantees that Pezão is ready to put up a big fight. In his opinion, the excellent evolution that the Giant of Paraíba has been having in stand-up fighting is due to the exhaustive work with Katel Kubis, his muay thai coach.
“The preparation was very intense, like all the opportunities we trained together. Pezão is doing very well and I think that if Arlovski is not well prepared he will be left behind. Pezão is willing to fight similar to the one against Hunt, so I foresee a great duel. He has evolved a lot in all aspects, especially in his standing, thanks to the work that Katel Kubis has been developing alongside him. It has become increasingly difficult to train with him, because he is very heavy and his technique is very refined. Anyone who sees him sparring and fighting doesn’t say he weighs around 130kg,” he commented.
Despite Arlovski's excellent record in stand-up fighting – he won 15 of his 22 victories by knockout –, the former participant in the third edition of the reality show The Ultimate Fighter Brasil believes that Pezão is trained to surpass his opponent's qualities. Miranda thinks that the fact that he fights with the fans at his side will be a big advantage for the Brazilian heavyweight.
“Arlovski is a great fighter, he kicks very well and has great boxing. It is necessary to pay close attention to his hands and follow the strategy set up. The fact that he fights with the fans alongside him, especially in his hometown, will be another motivating factor for Pezão. The positive atmosphere will definitely help you. Fighting professionally within Brazil has always been a dream of his, as well as that of the big names in MMA who were successful even before the sport was recognized in our country.”
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