WATCH UFC 212 THIS SATURDAY

It's time for UFC 212, an event that takes place this Saturday (03), in Rio de Janeiro. The fight program features a card packed with 13 Brazilians and fights that promise to excite MMA fans. The main duel of the night will feature the unification of the featherweight title: the lineal champion José Aldo faces the owner of the interim belt Max Holloway.

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In addition to the fight for the 66kg belt, another important fight is between the strawweights Claudia Gadelha e Karolina Kowalkiewicz, which could decide the next challenger in the division. The 'phenomenon' Vitor belfort There is another one who will be present at the show: he is having his last fight in the organization against Nate Marquardt. Other relevant names that are present at the show are Erick silva, Paulo borrachinha, Raphael Assunção, Marlon moraes and Antonio Shoe Face.

To get you in the mood for UFC 212, the SUPER FIGHTS prepared five reasons for you to attend the event

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1) Duel of champions

Aldo and Holloway face each other in the main fight (Photo: Facebook /UFC)

After two fights in Las Vegas in 2015 and 2016, José Aldo returns to Rio de Janeiro to try to unify the featherweight belt against the interim champion Max Holloway. Even though he guarantees total focus on the dangerous Hawaiian, the Brazilian admits that he is already thinking about new flights, especially in the upper weight class, where he continues to dream of facing Conor McGregor in a rematch.

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Before thinking about a new category, the objective of “Scarface” is to maintain the crown in its original division. And it won't be easy at all. Max Holloway comes from 10 consecutive victories, leaving big names along the way, such as Ricardo Lamas, Cub swanson and mainly, Anthony Pettis. “Blessed” impressed by becoming the first man to knock out the former lightweight champion, when the two fought for the interim belt at UFC 206. Even though Pettis suffered in the weight cut, failing to make the featherweight limit, the fight it was still worth the title for Holloway, who dispatched his opponent in the third round.

Yes, José Aldo recovered spectacularly from the surprising setback in 13s to Conor McGregor. At the historic UFC 200, the Brazilian regained hegemony in the division by dominating the former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar again. Showing that the chin remains resistant, in addition to the dodge and takedown defenses, José Aldo won the interim featherweight crown against Edgar. Months later, he became linear champion after confusion between Ultimate and Conor McGregor. This Saturday (3), he seeks to remain as just one of two fighters to hold the main belt at 66 kg.

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2) Vitor Belfort's last act in the UFC?

Belfort may be saying goodbye to the UFC (Photo: Facebook /UFC)

At 40 years old and going through the worst phase of his career, Vitor belfort is preparing to write the last chapter of his career in the biggest MMA event in the world. And the stage couldn't be anywhere else: in Rio de Janeiro, the veteran's hometown.

Vitor's story in the organization began 20 years ago, on February 7, 1997, when the Rio native was just a young man with one fight on his record. On that occasion, he debuted by knocking out Tra Telligman and Scott Ferrozzo on the same night, feats that earned him victory in the UFC 12 heavyweight tournament. Seven years later, he won the light heavyweight belt by knocking out Randy Couture in edition 46, in 2004.

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Despite always being considered one of the biggest names in the sport, Belfort has always had ups and downs. His best moment was in 2013 when he knocked out Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold e Dan Henderson in a row, but he took a sabbatical year and only returned in May 2015, at UFC 187, when he was knocked out by Chris Weidman still in the first round, in a duel valid for the middleweight belt. In the same year, he recovered by knocking out again Dan Henderson, but the overwhelming knockouts suffered to Ronaldo Jacare, Gegard Mousasi e Kelvin Gastelum proved that the peak of the “Phenomenon” is part of the past.

Regardless of the bad phase, Belfort's departure from the UFC is reason enough to make the show unmissable.

3) For a new chance at the belt

Gadelha and Karolina have already fought for the belt (Photo: Facebook /UFC)

The second most important fight of UFC 212 will certainly be watched with great attention by Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Ultimate strawweight champion. This is because two of her biggest rivals will face each other in search of a new chance for the belt. Claudinha gadelha, who had two tough fights against Joanna, but lost both, faces Karolina Kowalkiewicz, the champion's compatriot, who also had an excellent performance when she faced Jedrzejczyk.

Even though the UFC has not confirmed it, the duel between Gadelha and Kowalkiewicz could guarantee a new title chance for whoever emerges victorious. The only other option at the moment is Rose namajunas, who already lost to Karolina, but is coming off a victory over Michelle Waterson. Therefore, if the co-main event of UFC 212 has a clear and definitive winner, preferably by knockout or submission, it is likely that she will be Jedrzejczyk's next challenger.

To stamp her passport towards the new title fight, Claudinha innovated in her training, spending the entire camp period in the United States. The Brazilian alternated between the Jackson and Winklejohn gyms, where several UFC athletes train, with specific teachings from her new head coach Chris Luttrell. Karolina, on the other hand, focuses on her gym in Poland, and focused on wrestling training, in addition to arriving in Rio de Janeiro more than 10 days in advance, trying to adapt to the hot climate of the Marvelous City.

4) Confrontation of Brazilians

Assunção and Marlon close the preliminary card (Photo: Facebook UFC / Disclosure / Montagem SL)

Assunção and Marlon close the preliminary (Photo: Facebook UFC / Disclosure / Montagem SL)

In the fight that closes the preliminary card, the bantamweights Raphael Assunção e Marlon moraes they make the only 100% Brazilian duel of the night. Considered legitimate members of the top 5 best fighters under 61kg in the world, the Brazilians seek to get closer to the desired challenger position.

Despite his shy manner and few words, Raphael answers inside the cage why he is number 3 in the category. With eight triumphs and only two setbacks in the organization, the Pernambuco native has names such as former champion TJ Dillashaw, Bryan caraway, aljamain sterling e Peter Munhoz, which proves its importance. If you have your arm raised after the fight, you place yourself even closer to the belt.

Former WSOF champion, Marlon debuts in the company full of expectations. Undefeated for more than five years, the Friborg native has beaten the last 13 opponents that have crossed his path. Against Assunção, Moraes has the ideal opportunity to get his foot in the door. If he succeeds in his objective, he will be able to show his value to his bosses and justify the reason why his signing was so eagerly awaited by the fans.

5) It's worth keeping an eye on

Eric Borrachinha and Sapato are highlights (Photo: Facebook UFC / Disclosure / Montagem SL)

Erick silva He arrived in Ultimate in 2011 with the status of future world champion, but expectations were not met inside the octagon. So much so that in 13 fights in the franchise, the man from Espírito Santo has always been irregular, accumulating seven positive results and six negative results. His most recent performance was in September 2016, when he submitted compatriot Luan Chagas and avoided the risk of dismissal that haunted him after being surpassed by Neil Magny and Nordine Taleb. If he beats the giant Yanci Medeiros, the 'Episode Phenomenon' can once again dream of bigger flights.

Participant of the third Brazilian edition of TUF, Paulo borrachinha did not receive an opportunity in Ultimate after the reality show. To show that he deserved to be among the best in the world, the Minas Gerais native achieved five positive results in a row until receiving the invitation to face Garreth McLellan at UFC Fortaleza, last March. And the debut was in the best way possible: impeccable performance and knockout in just 77 seconds. This Saturday, against the dangerous Oluwale Bamgbose, Borrachinha seeks to maintain his unbeaten record that has already lasted nine battles and climb another step in the under-84kg division.

TUF Brazil 3 Champion, Antonio Shoe Guy emerged as one of the main Brazilian promises in the UFC, even landing in the largest MMA organization in the world with just three professional fights under his belt. And his inexperience showed that the 27-year-old boy, although extremely talented, still needs to evolve. In seven fights in Ultimate, there are four wins, two losses and one no contest, results that have cooled the hype around his name a little. Fueled by two consecutive victories, the charismatic man from Paraíba wants to start his third against Eric Spicely to prove, once and for all, that he is ready to go head to head with the middleweight elite.