Shooto Brasil 54: Former UFCs win and Felipe Froes is the new featherweight champion

Felipe Froes is the new Shooto Brasil champion

With two former UFC fighters in action and a new featherweight champion, Shooto Brasil moved to Clube Hebraica, in Rio de Janeiro, this Sunday (17). In the main fight of the night, 23-year-old Felipe Froes beat Thiago Manchinha in a unanimous decision by the judges and won the featherweight belt. Among the most renowned fighters on the card, former UFC Ronys Torres defeated Benito Tavares. Already Luiz Banha, another with a stint in Ultimate, debuted in the organization with a lightning knockout over Felipe Dourado.

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Young champion with veteran attitude

Despite being just 23 years old, Felipe Froes showed the calmness of an experienced fighter in the main fight of the night. With greater initiative at the beginning, a sequence of right and left rights put him at an advantage, but in the second round, after moments of frank striking and an intense search for a knockout on both sides, Thiago Machinha managed to cause a deep cut on his eyebrow. Froes right. This could have hindered the dominance of the Nova União athlete, who however proved to be as confident as a veteran and in the decisive round he controlled his opponent on the ground to emerge victorious and with the Shooto Brasil belt.

“I was prepared physically and psychologically. When I opened my eyebrows, I knew I couldn't go for open striking, as it could get worse and the doctors would end up interrupting the fight. So, I fought strategically and worked more on the ground, since what mattered was victory. The belt is with me now, I'm very happy and that's what matters”, analyzed Felipe Froes, who now has a record of 11 wins, two losses and one draw.

Lightning technical knockout gives victory to Luiz Banha

One of the most experienced fighters who performed at Shooto Brasil 54 this Sunday, the former UFC Luiz Banha made his debut in the organization against Felipe Dourado, from Relma Combat, who accepted the fight a week in advance. With 10 years as an MMA professional, five of which as part of the UFC roster, and a record of 16 wins and six losses, the São Paulo native gave his opponent no chance and imposed himself from the first moments of the duel. After a straight left, he managed the knockdown and on the ground he only had to punish his opponent with ground and pound, forcing the referee to stop the fight just 49 seconds into the first round.

“The fight was good. Felipe, despite being inexperienced, is a great warrior and I respected him from the moment the fight started. He agreed to fight a week before the event and that's not for everyone. I managed to set a good pace, do what I was trained to do. The next step is to return to the gym on Monday and train hard again to help my friends who are still fighting. My focus is on a good international contract. Nowadays, there are other events that rival the UFC at a high level and that is my goal. I seek to fight in large organizations,” he said. Luiz Banha.

Ronys Torres returns and wins in combined weight

Champion in the up to 70kg category at Shooto Brasil, Ronys Torres returned to activity at a combined weight of 73kg against Benito Tavares, after a long recovery process from facial surgery. Also with stints in the UFC, the 28-year-old Nova União fighter controlled the fight in all rounds, alternating intensity on the feet and good ground game. Benito Tavares, from Amapá, was only in danger in the first round, when he tried to land a kimura, which was defended by the jiu-jitsu black belt. With the victory by unanimous decision of the judges, Ronys Torres He now has 29 wins and five losses in his career.

“I was out of action for over a year, I was very insecure about my face, but I managed to impose my ground game and win the three rounds. I think all this time stopped has slowed me down a little. I'm negotiating an event in Portugal for June and then I'll put the Shooto Brasil 70kg division belt up for grabs,” he said. Ronys Torres.

In the other six fights at Shooto Brasil 54, there was a lot of action. Alex Trem Bala had an exciting fight against Felipe Colen, from Nova União. The TFT athlete defeated his opponent by unanimous decision from the judges. The Flamengo neighborhood team, however, had three wins, with Guilherme Doin, Elves Oliveira and Leo Jacaré over Relma Combat rivals Denilson Oliveira, Carlos Eduardo and Julio Splinter, respectively. The event also saw Francivaldo Nego win over Ivan Paiva by submission and in the first fight of the night, Matheus Naccache won by forfeit against Almir de Oliveira.

Shooto Brasil 54 – Official Results

Under 66kg: Felipe Froes beat Thiago Manchinha by unanimous decision of the judges
Up to 73kg: Ronys Torres beat Benito Tavares by unanimous decision of the judges
Up to 93kg: Luiz Banha beat Felipe Dourado by technical knockout at 49 seconds of the first round
Under 57kg: Leo Jacaré beat Julio Splinter by unanimous decision of the judges
Under 66kg: Alex Trem Bala beat Felipe Colen by unanimous decision of the judges
Under 70kg: Francivaldo Nego submitted Ivan Paiva with rear naked choke at 3min and 31sec of the first round
Under 54kg: Elves Oliveira submitted Carlos Eduardo with rear naked choke at 3min and 8sec of the first round
Under 70kg: Guilherme Doin beat Denilson Oliveira by split decision from the judges;
Under 57kg: Matheus Naccache beat Almir de Oliveira by withdrawal at 3min and 2sec of the second round

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