UFC Vegas 111: Marretinha Seeks to Follow in the Footsteps of Durinho and Carlos Prates Towards the Top 10 of the Welterweight Division

Marretinha and Brown face off at UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram/UFC

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Gabriel Marretinha has a golden opportunity to change his level in MMA. This Saturday (8), the Brazilian headlines UFC Vegas 11 alongside Randy Brown , in an extremely important fight valid for the welterweight division (up to 77,1 kg). In it, the athlete defends his 14th position in the ranking of the disputed category and seeks to consolidate himself in the elite, following in the footsteps of his compatriots Carlos Prates and Gilbert Durinho , currently, and Demian Maia and Rafael dos Anjos , in the past.

Besides Marretinha in the main event, Brazil will be represented by six more professionals at UFC Vegas 111. Also on the main card are Ismael Marreta , Gabriel's brother, and Marco Tulio Matuto, who will face Chris Padilla and Christian Leroy Duncan in the lightweight (up to 70,3 kg) and middleweight (up to 83,9 kg) divisions, respectively.

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In the preliminary portion of the show, Raoni Barcelos faces Ricky Simon in the bantamweight division (up to 61,2 kg). In the strawweight division (up to 52,2 kg), Denise Gomes faces Tecia Pennington . In the bantamweight division, Mayra Sheetara fights the Portuguese Jacqueline Cavalcanti . Max Gimenis will have a debutant duel with Josh Hokit in the heavyweight division (up to 120,2 kg).

Marretinha in the top 10?

Currently, Marretinha is enjoying a great run in the UFC, but he still has the status of a promising welterweight. To become a reality, it's crucial that the athlete, riding a three-fight win streak, gets past 'Rude Boy', a well-known and qualified professional. Currently, the Brazilian is ranked 14th in the division. If he manages a fourth victory, Gabriel will get closer to joining the top 10, a select group that Demian, Dos Anjos, and Durinho occupied for years and that Prates has now joined.

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Historically, the weight division has been somewhat unfavorable for Brazilians. In the UFC, the country has never had a champion in the 77,1 kg weight class. Durinho and Demian fought for the welterweight title, but lost to Kamaru Usman and Tyron Woodley , respectively. Rafael dos Anjos fought for the interim belt, but lost to Colby Covington . Now, Prates aims to have his chance at the top. In turn, Marretinha also wants to be seen as a threat to the top fighters and the champion, Jack Della Maddalena.

Marretinha backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

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What to expect from the fight?

The main fight of the night is a clash of styles. Marretinha is a jiu-jitsu specialist, while Brown's main weapon is striking. The ideal strategy for the Brazilian to continue his winning streak is to fight strategically, focusing on takedowns. Once on the ground, Gabriel has everything he needs to not only control 'Rude Boy' but also submit him. However, if the athlete fails to impose his game and the fight continues standing, Randy is likely to gain the upper hand and punish him.

Brown backstage at the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/UFC

How to watch UFC Vegas 111

Starting at 18 PM (Brasilia time), UFC Las Vegas 111 will be broadcast live and in its entirety on UFC Fight Pass , the Ultimate's official streaming platform. The main card is scheduled to begin at 21 PM. The UFC has NOT been broadcast on 'Combate' since the end of 2022.

SUPER LUTAS coverage begins at 17:50 PM. All fights will be followed in REAL TIME, minute by minute, with results and highlights. SUPER LUTAS will also provide live coverage of all fights from the event on YouTube with narration, commentary, and videos.