Cyborg (left) and Amanda (right) are UFC champions (Photo: Reproduction/Instagram UFC Brasil)
Anderson Silva, José Aldo, Vitor belfort…Nothing like that. In the UFC, Brazil is representing among the select group of women's champions: Amanda nunes, in bantamweight, and Chris Cyborg, in featherweight, are the only title holders in the country in Ultimate. With Cyborg's victory and the challenger's defeats Demian Maia, at UFC 214, in addition to the setback suffered by José Aldo At UFC 212, the girls established themselves as the country's main representatives in MMA.
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This scenario, however, was unlikely a few years ago. UFC president Dana White even declared that he would never allow two women to face each other at the biggest event in the world. Everything changed when Ronda Rousey, with his charisma and ferocity, began to gain notoriety in Strikeforce. After Ultimate bought the rival event, White was forced to eat his words and paved the way for women's MMA within his company.
From then on, women began to have a way to overcome the prejudice that still surrounded the sport, considered exclusively male. With exciting battles, dominant champions and talented athletes, women's MMA grew and appeared in the UFC. And the Brazilians joined the wave, helping the sport reach the point it is today, where some of the biggest events in the history of Ultimate were led by them – such as UFC 200, when the Brazilian Amanda nunes won the bantamweight belt, and then at UFC 207, an event that solidified the Lioness as owner of the division after a devastating victory over Rousey.
Today, Brazil rules women's MMA. Of the UFC's three women's categories, two are led by Brazilians. Not to mention that the strawweight, the Polish Joanna Jedrzejczyk, current champion of the division, has two Brazilians on its tail: Claudia Gadelha e Jessica Andrade.
Amanda herself already had her story written in the UFC even before she became the owner of the 61 kg belt. This is because the Bahian was the first Brazilian woman to win a victory in the octagon – she beat German Sheila Gaff at UFC 163, in August 2013, in Rio de Janeiro. One month earlier, Jessica Stacker, another rising star of Brazilian women's MMA, had started the trajectory of Brazilian women in Ultimate with a defeat against Liz Carmouche.
To further praise the achievements of women, the SUPER FIGHTS prepared a special to introduce the female stars of national MMA to the general public.
1) The 'unbeatable Cris Cyborg
C. Cyborg is the new UFC featherweight champion (Photo: Reproduction Facebook UFC)
Considered by many to be the best MMA fighter of all time, Cyborg has finally reached the top of the UFC. The featherweight belt won last Saturday (29), when she knocked out Tonya Evinger, serves to highlight a career full of achievements, including the titles of Invicta FC and the now defunct Strikeforce.
Undefeated in 19 fights, the Chute Boxe athlete hasn't known what it's like to lose since 2005, when she was defeated in her professional debut. Since then, there have been 18 victories and one fight without result. What draws attention, in addition to the impressive numbers, is the way in which Cyborg 'ran over' her opponents: there are 16 knockouts to just two wins on points. In Ultimate, there are already three positive results, the first in its original division – the first two were at catchweight, up to 63,5kg.
“I'm in the best moment of my career. I know exactly where I want to attack and how I want to achieve victory. This is the end of one chapter and the beginning of another in my career. Holly holm, Megan anderson, they are good fighters, but now I want to train and keep my title”, declared Cyborg, who reached her third world title.
2) Amanda Nunes, the pioneer
Amanda has the bantamweight belt (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFC)
the baiana Amanda nunes was already known to the North American public for her participation in Strikeforce. But it was on her UFC debut that she began to make a name for herself among Brazilian fans. With a devastating victory over Sheila Gaff, the Lioness began a successful trajectory in the company, briefly interrupted by a defeat to Zingano cat. Since then, however, Amanda has only accumulated victories, one more violent than the other.
After a technical knockout due to low kicks against Shayna Baszler, the Brazilian won important victories over Sara McMann e Valentina Shevchenko, qualifying to fight for the title at the historic UFC 200. And Amanda won the belt in a decisive way: after leaving the then champion Miesha Tate dizzy with excellent boxing sequences, the Bahian finished “Cupcake” in the first round.
The definitive coronation came five months later. In front of the most famous fighter in the world, Ronda Rousey, Amanda had her most admirable performance, giving the North American no chance and achieving a brutal knockout in just 48 seconds. The Age of the Lioness officially began.
The only downside to Amanda's trajectory seems to be the physical aspect, which was tested against Shevchenko and almost cost her the victory. Because the rematch between the two promises to resolve this issue surrounding the Brazilian's style. They were scheduled to face each other at UFC 213, but Nunes fell ill on the day of the event and the fight was rescheduled for UFC 215. In September, the Lioness will have the chance to silence the few remaining critics.
3) Claudinha Gadelha and Jessica Bate-Estaca in search of gold
Brazilians will face each other in September (Photo: Reproduction Instagram claudiagadelhaufc)
In addition to Cyborg and Amanda, two more Brazilians have been shining in the octagon. Its about Claudinha gadelha e Jessica Stacker, strawweight category athletes. Although they have never won the UFC belt, the two have had the opportunity to fight for the title. However, both were defeats by champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who continues to reign at 52kg.
Interestingly, the paths of Gadelha and Bate-Estaca, 1st and 4th in the rankings, will cross: the two will face a 100% Brazilian clash at UFC Japan, on September 23rd. The victor will be close to a new opportunity to fight for the belt, especially if the lucky one is Claudinha, who has a fierce rivalry with the Polish woman.
In addition to the duo, it is worth keeping an eye on other names, such as the undefeated Ketlen Scallop and Viviane Sucuri, in addition to the recently hired Poliana Botelho, Nova União athlete, and even Bethe Correia, who has already faced the star Ronda Rousey.
4) Former champions in decline
Aldo lost the belt last June (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook UFC)
If women are going through an enlightened phase, the same cannot be said about men. Brazil's main representatives in the not too distant future, the former champions José Aldo, Renan Barao, Vitor belfort, Anderson Silva, Junior Gypsy e Fabricio Werdum They are not going through a good time.
The cases of Anderson, Aldo and Barão are the most emblematic, even due to the similarity of the cases. The three remained undefeated for a long time, but went into hell after losing their first in the UFC. Since 2013, since it has been beaten twice a Chris Weidman, Spider won only one of the six fights held. Aldo, in turn, was knocked out in 13 seconds by Conor McGregor, recovered by winning Frankie Edgar, but was knocked out again, this time by Max Holloway.
In the case of Barão, the results are alternating, but the former bantamweight champion's performances are increasingly apathetic – in the last six fights, there have been four setbacks and two triumphs. A situation similar to that of Vitor belfort, who was knocked out in four of his six most recent fights.
Heavyweights Cigano and Werdum, as well as the aforementioned compatriots, are also not going through a positive phase. Vai Cavalo comes from defeat to alistair overeem, while Dos Santos was knocked out by Stipe Miocic. It seems that it will take a while for one of the two to have the opportunity to return to the top.
*João Vitor Xavier collaborated
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