Exclusive: Aiming to return to the UFC, Glaico wants victory at Aspera 49 to erase recent defeats

TUF Brasil 4 champion in the lightweight category, Glaico 'Nego' França is back in national MMA. After accumulating one victory and two defeats in the UFC, the Santa Catarina native was dismissed from the organization, but nothing that shook him. This Saturday (18), in Balneário Camboriú (SC), Glaico returns to the octagon in the main fight of Aspera 49, against Ludy Goulart, in a duel that, according to the Astra Fight Team athlete, will serve as a fresh start in his career.

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“Aspera is a very good event, there are many editions for several fighters to present themselves and one day make it to the UFC or some international event. They decided to hold an edition of Aspera here in the city where I train (Balneário Camboriú), it's cool for me to compete and perform again, I want to erase the two recent defeats. It also serves to show that I continue to be that Glaico TUF champion. Even better technically, because I haven’t stopped training”, declared França, in an exclusive interview with SUPER LUTAS.

For the next confrontation, Glaico chose to change a detail that, according to him, was detrimental to his career in Ultimate: his weight. Previously fighting in the lightweight category (up to 70kg), 'Nego' moved up to welterweight (up to 77kg) and guarantees that the change will be essential to improving his performances and, consequently, paving his way back to the UFC.

“I'm feeling better. Today, I am naturally a (fighter up to) 77kg, a welterweight. (…) I no longer need to wear myself out so much to reach 70kg, at lightweight. I can train well. (…) I should have sat down with my master, Marcelo Brigadeiro, and told him that I would no longer be able to weigh 70kg in the UFC. Unfortunately I paid for it by being cut, but it will come back naturally. My parents taught me that we can always start over, and I'm sure I'll return to the UFC, because at 77kg I'll technically show what I really know”, guaranteed Glaico.

Read the full interview with Glaico França: 

Super Fights: Tell us a little about the experience of participating in TUF Brasil 4. What did you learn from it?

Glaico France: It was a very cool experience. For starters, it was out of the country and I had never been on a plane before, so it was really cool for me. We spent 50 days in Las Vegas, with the coolest guys in Brazil. I always dreamed of being on TUF. Even before watching TUF 1, 2 and 3 in Brazil, I followed TUF in the United States, I was already in love (with the reality show) before I even joined the program. Because I watched the other editions, it helped me a lot. I watched and thought: 'The guys are going to be away from their families for so many days, 50 days away from their daily lives'. I was already imagining and mentalizing myself, I put myself in the shoes (of previous participants). In The Ultimate Fighter you have to be prepared physically and psychologically. (…) It’s a unique experience, nothing (better) than experiencing it.

SL: How do you evaluate the UFC's decision not to record any more editions of TUF Brasil?

GF: To be honest, the guys who invented The Ultimate Fighter had a really good idea. Everyone who participated, both the fighters and the people who work around the reality show, always liked it. (…) I feel very sorry, because TUF is a platform that projects good fighters, taking people out of anonymity and taking them into the 'UFC world', which a lot of people know about.

SL: What do you think influenced this decision?

GF: I could be wrong, but I believe that if TUF is no longer (being recorded) in Brazil, perhaps it is because of the schedule. I understand that there is an age range, they can't show it before 22pm, but if it were within that limit, if they made a TUF Brazil today, in 2017, and put it at 23pm on a Friday or Saturday, it would be perfect, considering the time and for the day. It's one thing to put it up at midnight on Saturday, it's another to put it up at midnight on Sunday. Many people who like (the program) end up not watching it, because they have to work early the next day.

SL: When you were cut from the UFC, did you still have more fights left in your contract or were there just three fights and they chose not to renew?

GF: There were more fights, they decided to end the contract after the loss to (Gregor) Gillespie. Due to a clause in the contract, the UFC has the option to terminate the contract if you lose.

SL: What is your assessment of your first stint in the UFC? Is there anything you regret or would you have done differently?

GF: Regarding the fights, I prepared and dedicated myself to the maximum, I didn't miss any training, I always tried to listen to my coaches/masters, I fed myself in the best way possible. The results didn't come, but I believe that the crux of this issue, of me no longer being in the UFC, was my mistake alone. I should have sat down with my master, Marcelo Brigadeiro, and told him that I would no longer be able to weigh 70kg. Unfortunately I paid for it by being cut from the UFC, but that will come back naturally. My parents taught me that we can always start over, and I'm sure I'll return to the UFC, because at 77kg I'll technically show what I really know. I'm sure I'll come back. (…) Maybe, if after I fought Fernando (Açadogueiro) I had gone up to 77kg, I would still be in Ultimate.

Glaico became the TUF Brasil 4 lightweight champion. (Photo: Getty Images)

SL: Why did you choose Aspera FC to try to return to the UFC? Was it more a question of proximity to the event owners or do you think the event reached a different level within the national scene?

GF: Aspera is a very good event, there are many editions for several fighters to present themselves and one day make it to the UFC or some international event. They decided to hold an edition of Aspera here in the city where I train (Balneário Camboriú), it's cool for me to compete and perform again, I want to erase the two recent defeats. It also serves to show that I continue to be that Glaico TUF champion. Even better technically, because I haven't stopped training. (…) Aspera is a good option, it has grown a lot, and on a very good card, with Thiago tavares, Alberto Uda, Cleiton Foguete, among the other 'quarries' who will also fight on the card.

SL: If you received an offer from an international organization, such as Bellator, would you accept it or is your focus on doing some fights in national events and achieving good results to return to the UFC?

GF: I respect Bellator a lot, it's a good event, but I wouldn't want to go to Bellator. I am convinced that I will return to the UFC. If I have to perform at other renowned events, I believe a Pancrase, which is a great event and would give me the opportunity to perform in Japan, or perhaps an LFA, which are gateways to returning to the UFC. As I said, I respect Bellator a lot, but I wouldn't want to fight there, unless the door (to the UFC) was sealed and it wasn't possible for me to return, then yes. I like the UFC, I have always been treated very well by all the employees, from the person who picked us up at the airport to the guy who took us to the octagon on the day of the fight. (…) I feel at home in the UFC and I certainly intend to return, which is why I want to perform at a big event that qualifies me for my return. If I could pick two events, it would be LFA and Pancrase. I believe that with three wins and performing well in one of these two events, I qualify to fight for the UFC again.

SL: How do you see the current moment of national MMA? Do you think there is a lot to improve?

GF: National MMA is going through a difficult time, because it is very difficult to get sponsorship and this is reflected in the events. People who hold events in Brazil have great difficulty paying the athlete's scholarship, putting together a good card, so the situation is very complicated. However, a very good event came to mind, which is still growing: Fight2Night, by Bruno Gagliasso. It's an option, too. Of course, the one who chooses is Marcelo Brigadeiro, my manager, but whatever he chooses, I'm calm. (…) I don't worry about that, I just train and go show my work. Our goal is to return to the UFC, I train and dedicate myself to that.

SL: Your next objective is the fight against Judy Goulart, next Saturday. How are you preparing to play in the welterweight category (up to 77kg)?

GF: I'm feeling better. Today, I am naturally a (fighter up to) 77kg, a welterweight. (…) I no longer need to wear myself out so much to reach 70kg, at lightweight. I can train well. Before, when I was up to 70kg, we had to stop training hard around two weeks before the fight, otherwise I could get injured, as it was a lot of weight cutting and I ate an amount far below what my body needed daily. . Today is different, I managed to train hard until last Saturday (11), which won't affect my performance at all. Before there was no way I could do this because of the weight cut. Before I put weight cutting as a priority over everything, today we have a schedule in the right way. With two weeks to go we started lightly, leaving to be a little more aggressive in the last week, which is natural.

SL: For those who don't know, which gym do you train at and who are your main training partners and coaches?

GF: I train in Balneário Camboriú, on the Astra Fight Team and train with Darren till, Alan dos Santos, Pedro Junior, Anderson 'Big Bones'. (…) My ground coach is Marcelo Brigadeiro, my head wrestling coach is Tim Ruberg, an American who has been an All American twice, and I have no words for our striking teacher, Darren till, but currently the person taking over is Professor Alexandre Guerra, who also needs no comments. Our team is 100%, so just train and wait to reap the rewards.

SL: What do you know about Ludy Goulart's game, your next opponent? What did you study about him and how did you prepare for the duel?

GF: He has a good level of takedowns and a good ground game, he has a black belt in jiu-jitsu. Standing up, he has a heavy hand, but he's not a striker, his game is about suffocating and looking for takedowns, he's very physically strong. He finished most of their fights. He has already faced Edilberto 'Crocota', ex-UFC, and won the decision. It's like I said, he's not that technical on the feet, but he has very tough hands, a consistent takedown game, but his strong point is jiu-jitsu.

SL: You will do the main fight of the event. Do you see this as recognition of your work, of your potential?

GF: This opportunity to lead this Aspera 49 card is very rewarding, as it is a big event, as we were talking about before. It will be a great stage for me to perform and show that Glaico, who won The Ultimate Fighter Brasil 4, is more alive than ever and even better technically, physically and mentally.

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