This Sunday (22), a different day than usual, the UFC will hold the first of seven events scheduled to take place in Brazil in 2015. It will be UFC Fight Night 61, which will mark the first visit of the largest MMA organization in the world to Rio Grande do Sul, in the capital Porto Alegre.
LIVE: Follow the UFC in Porto Alegre on SUPER LUTAS
As has been happening with some frequency in recent UFC events, the Rio Grande do Sul attraction underwent changes until the final card was defined. Originally, the main fight would be between light heavyweights Glover Teixeira e Rashad evans, but both athletes suffered injuries and were unable to participate in the event.
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So, it was up to the heavyweights Antonio Pezão e Frank mir the responsibility of heading the card. The two would face each other at UFC 184, in Los Angeles (USA), but injuries to Teixeira and Evans meant that the meeting was brought forward by a week.
Despite being selected for the main fight of the night, both fighters are going through delicate moments in their careers. Pezão, ranked eighth in the category, hasn't known what it's like to win since February 2013, when he knocked out in spectacular fashion alistair overeem. Since then, the Paraíba native has suffered two defeats, to Cain Velazquez e Andrei Arlovski, and got a draw, against Mark Hunt.
The fight in Rio Grande do Sul will also be the opportunity for Pezão to make a comeback in front of the Brazilian fans, since his last fight, the knockout suffered by Arlovski, in Brasília (DF), was his first in his home country.
If Pezão's situation is not the easiest, Mir finds himself in an even more delicate position. The North American, former UFC heavyweight champion, will make a “life or death” fight to continue his career, as he has accumulated four defeats in a row in his last four fights, against junior gypsy, Daniel Cormier, Josh Barnett and alistair overeem. His last triumph in the octagon was at the distant UFC 140, when he submitted Rodrigo Minotauro. At 35 years old, Mir could see his long and successful career come to an end in the event of another setback.
Barboza tries to maintain his rise in the UFC against Johnson
In the second most important fight of the night, Edson Barboza hopes to continue his upward trajectory in the UFC lightweight division in search of his third straight victory. The Friburguense comes from good results against Evan dunham e Bobby Green, which placed him in sixth position in the category's official ranking, and will face Michael Johnson at the Gaucho event.
Runner-up in TUF 12, Johnson has a more inconsistent career in MMA, with 15 wins and eight losses. However, the North American is undeniably enjoying a good moment in the UFC, with recent triumphs over veterans Joe lauzon, Gleison Tibau and Melvin Gullard. Six positions behind Barboza in the rankings, Johnson is aiming for a big jump in the division if he wins on Sunday.
As with all events in Brazil, UFC FN 61 will be full of fighters from the local country. The other highlights go to the TUF Brazil 1 champion, Cezar Mutant, which faces Sam alvey for the middleweights, and for Adriano Martins, who has a tough challenge ahead against the ranked Rustam Khabilov.
Check out the complete UFC FN 61 technical sheet:
Location: Gigantinho Gym, Porto Alegre (RS)
Card start time: 19pm (Brasília time)
TV broadcast: Combate Channel (full card)
MAIN CARD
Heavy: Antonio Pezão x Frank mir;
Mild: Edson Barboza x Michael Johnson;
Medium: Cezar Mutant x Sam alvey;
Mild: Adriano Martins x Rustam Khabilov;
Roosters: Iuri Marajó x Frankie Saenz;
Welterweights: Santiago Ponzinibbio x Sean Strickland;
PRELIMINARY CARD
Roosters: Jessica Andrade x Marion Reneau;
Welterweights: William Patolino x Matt Dwyer;
Feathers: Tiago Trator x Mike de la Torre;
Roosters: Douglas D'Silva x Cody Gibson;
Mild: Ivan Batman x Josh Shockley
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