Werdum (left) and Miocic (right) are in the main fight. Photo: Buda Mendes/UFC
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Why has Curitiba never hosted a UFC event?
This question has been repeated countless times in recent years in the MMA community, especially each time a new Brazilian city was announced as the headquarters of Ultimate and the capital of Paraná followed on the sidelines.
Today, the answer seems clearer: the organization was waiting for the chance to create a historic card in the birthplace of a generation that marked an era in Brazilian MMA.
During the early 2000s, Chute Boxe from Curitiba was a protagonist on the international scene, building countless champions, revealing names that still shine in the sport today – such as Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva e Mauritius Shogun -, and starring in the biggest MMA rivalry in the PRIDE era with the Brazilian Top Team from Rio.
This Saturday (14), UFC 198 will take place at Atlético-PR's Arena da Baixada stadium, whose audience capacity exceeds 45 thousand people. Tickets have been sold out since the first day of open sale and the program to justify such excitement leaves nothing to be desired.
To focus solely on former Chute Boxe athletes, the event will feature Fabricio Werdum, who stars in the main fight of the night, winning the heavyweight belt against Stipe Miocic; Chris Cyborg, who will make his long-awaited Ultimate debut against Leslie Smith; It is Mauritius Shogun, which faces Corey anderson. The trio would also have the reinforcement of Anderson Silva, which would face Uriah Hall, but Spider ended up being cut from the card at the last minute, after undergoing emergency gallbladder surgery.
In addition to the home representatives, the co-main fight of the night will feature two names that, even though they are not from Curitiba, will get the crowd excited. Two of the most popular, and well-ranked, Brazilian middleweights, Vitor belfort e Ronaldo Jacare they will duel in a fight that should earn the winner the position of next challenger for the title of the category up to 84 kg.
As if that weren't enough, the preliminary card will also feature the jiu-jitsu specialist and former title challenger Demian Maia, who faces Matt Brown and could position himself very well in the welterweight category if he wins. And in the third fight of the night, Rogério Minotouro will face a great challenge against North American wrestler Patrick Cummins.
New generation will also show up
Warlley (left) will be on the main card. Photo: Buda Mendes/UFC
But the UFC 198 schedule is not limited to the big “monsters” – although they are in the majority in the main fights of the night. In addition to the established stars, the card in Curitiba will also introduce the public to a new generation of Brazilian MMA, who will be represented throughout the entire fight night.
On the preliminary card, the former participant of The Ultimate Fighter Thiago Marreta will face former Strikeforce champion Nate Marquardt. Also in the fights that open the night, John Lineker, from Paraná, with his heavy hands and exciting style, will face Rob font.
Already on the main card of the night, promoted thanks to the sudden departure of Anderson Silva x Uriah Hall, the undefeated Warlley alves, champion of TUF Brasil 3, will face the North American Bryan barberena – who became famous after debunking Sage Northcutt.
DATE AND TIME: 14/05/2016, from 19:45 pm (Brasília time)
PLACE: Arena da Baixada Stadium, Curitiba (PR), Brazil
STREAMING: Canal Combate (full card) and Rede Globo (main card)
MAIN CARD (from 23pm):
Fabricio Werdum x Stipe Miocic
Ronaldo Jacare x Vitor belfort
Chris Cyborg x Leslie Smith
Mauricio Shogun x Corey anderson
Warlley alves x Bryan barberena
PRELIMINARY CARD (from 19:45 pm):
Demian Maia x Matt Brown
Thiago Marreta x Nate Marquardt
Francisco Massaranduba x Yancy Medeiros
John lineker x Rob font
Rogério Minotouro x Patrick Cummins
Serginho Moraes x Luan chagas
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