Dorea (left) next to Cigano with the UFC belt. Photo: Disclosure
Last Saturday (19), junior gypsy was defeated by alistair overeem in what was his first fight after joining the American Top Team gym. After the setback, the fighter's former head coach, who accompanied him until he won the UFC heavyweight belt, was open to resuming the partnership if this was the athlete's desire.
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Luiz Dórea, boxing coach who trained Cigano since his beginnings in MMA, stated that he still has a desire to coach the fighter in the future. “It’s his decision. If it were up to me, he wouldn't have left here. This is his home, this is where it all started, this is where his base was made, this is where he was world champion. But he's seeking knowledge, and I understand, he's a young kid. This is his home, the door will always be open”, said Dórea, in an interview with the website “Portal do Vale Tudo”.
According to the coach, Cigano was lost in the fight against Overeem and will only be successful in the UFC again if he returns to his boxing roots. “Cigano couldn't find himself, he didn't have the necessary distance to connect blows, he had to move a little further forward, use his speed and be more effective. I thought he had no time, no confidence to enter. He really didn't use what he knows. He knows much more than that. Two, three years ago, he was considered the best boxer in MMA. His base is boxing. I created a training methodology and adapted it for MMA so it doesn't lose the essence of boxing. So he became UFC champion just five years into his career. He is a prodigy. He always had his boxing as his flagship. He kicks well, defends takedowns well, but boxing is his identity, so I think he always has to use it”, analyzed the coach.
In the second most important fight of UFC on FOX 17, in Orlando, United States, Cigano fell in the second round to Overeem by technical knockout. It was his fourth defeat in his career and third in the UFC – he had already lost twice to Cain Velazquez, em 2012 and 2013.
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