UFC Rio promises to stop Brazil this Saturday

The great day has come! After more than 13 years of waiting for Brazilian fans, the UFC will once again hold an edition in Brazil this Saturday (27). UFC Rio will be held at the HSBC Arena, in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, and features 14 Brazilian athletes in action on the fight program. The main attraction of the night will be the middleweight title fight with the Brazilian Anderson Silva defending his reign against the Japanese Yushin Okami.

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Considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Anderson, who is on an incredible streak of 14 consecutive victories, wants to transform the HSBC arena into a football stadium.

“It’s a feeling of Brazil against the rest of the world. Kind of like facing Argentina at Maracanã,” said Anderson.

In turn, Okami, considered the big underdog of the fight, states that he does not feel intimidated by fighting with all the fans in favor of his opponent and promises to please Brazilian fans with his performance.

“I can only guarantee that the fans will really enjoy my fight. It’s an honor to participate in an edition of the UFC here in Brazil, I’m very happy,” said Okami.

Minotaur returns to the octagon in front of Brendan Schaub
In one of the most anticipated fights by the Brazilian public, the legend Rodrigo Minotauro returns to competition after 18 months away due to a series of injuries, against the North American Brendan Schaub. For the black belt, who is considered one of the biggest names in MMA history, this will be a great opportunity to show a little bit of the UFC to national fans.

“I'm coming off three surgeries, I spent more than a year away from the mat and I'm very motivated to return. I did good training with great fighters and I'm 100%. I will have the chance to fight with the entire gym on my side and the public can be sure that they will see some of the best in the world in action”, said Minotauro. “It will be a golden opportunity for the Brazilian people to recognize our sport as the second largest today. It’s a sport that brings a lot of vibrancy and that Brazilians already recognize as a popular phenomenon”, he added.

Shogun gets rematch with Griffin
With Anderson Silva e Rodrigo Minotauro, another Brazilian star in action will be Mauricio Shogun. The former light heavyweight champion faces the American Forrest griffin and will try to resume his quest for the division belt, which he lost in March this year. In turn, the always good-humored Forrest griffin, plays with the crowd factor, who will all be on their opponent's side.

“I wouldn’t say it’s the whole world against us. It’s just the city of Rio de Janeiro and the 15 thousand people who will be in the arena”, joked the American. "It's understandable. When foreigners go to fight in the United States they face this, I will have to deal with this factor”, he concluded.

In addition to Anderson, Minotauro and Shogun, UFC Rio will bring 11 more Brazilian athletes to the fight program. Check out the full card for the show below, which will see all matches broadcast on the Combate channel from 19pm and the main card on RedeTV from 22pm.

Main Card
Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami – Valid fight for the middleweight belt;
Forrest griffin vs. Mauricio Shogun Street;
Rodrigo Minotauro Walnut vs. Brendan Schaub;
Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson;
Luiz Banha Cane vs. Stanislav Nedkov;

Preliminary Card
Spencer Fisher vs. Thiago tavares;
Dan Miller vs. Rousimar Toquinho;
David Mitchell vs. Paulo thiago;
Raphael Assunção vs. Johnny Eduardo;
Erick silva vs. Luis Beição;
Felipe Sertanejo vs. Yuri Marajó;
Yves Jabouin vs. Ian Loveland;