Rafael dos Anjos and Glover Texeira fight for title shot at UFC Winnipeg

Dos Anjos (right) catches Lawler getting a title shot (Photo: UFC Brasil Disclosure)

Rafael dos Anjos e Glover Teixeira enter the Octagon at UFC Winnipeg, this Saturday (16), with an eye on the future. In case of victory, the Brazilians will be very close to the long-awaited Ultimate belt. Dos Anjos faces Robbie Lawler in the main fight of the show and the winner guarantees a shot at the welterweight title. As for Glover, if he hits Misha Cirkunov, is also close to the light heavyweight belt.

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In addition to dos Anjos and Glover, Brazil will have another representative at the show: on the preliminary card Erick silva seeks recovery against Jordan Mein after a traumatic defeat to Yancy Medeiros at UFC 212, held in June, in Rio de Janeiro.

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In another important fight for the welterweight division, the Argentine Santiago Ponzinibbio, known for having competed in TUF Brasil, tries to reach the top-5 of the category against the dangerous Mike Perry. The two are coming off excellent victories and exchanged provocations throughout the week, with the duel promising to be one of the best of the night.

Two steps from paradise

Lawler (left) and Dos Anjos (right) fight this Saturday (16) (Photo: Youtube Reproduction ufc)

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Rafael Dos Anjos is getting closer and closer to making history for Brazilian MMA. After winning the lightweight title in 2015, he has the opportunity before Robbie Lawler to qualify for a welterweight title fight.

If you go through “Ruthless” and then beat the champion Tyron woodley, the jiu-jitsu black belt will become the first Brazilian to be champion of two divisions of Ultimate. And he will join a select club, which currently has just four members – Conor McGregor, Georges St Pierre, B.J. Penn and Randy Couture.

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Rafael Dos Anjos had a meteoric rise in the 77 kg category. Fighting as a welterweight, the former 70 kg champion. he won two big victories and could be one more triumph away from fighting for a belt again. If he passes the former champion Robbie Lawler, the Brazilian will be accredited once and for all to challenge the champion Tyron woodley. However, before he can dream about Woodley, he will have to go through a reinvigorated Lawler.

After leaving American Top Team for training with Henri Hooft after losing the belt to Tyron woodley, the North American showed all his strength by dominating Donald Cerrone in the middle of the year and also made it clear that he has recovered from the devastating knockout and his chin is in good shape. Heavier and used to fighting at middleweight, Lawler can be considered the biggest challenge of RDA's career. If he passes the former champion, the Brazilian will have the knife and cheese to put his name in the history of the sport once and for all.

New title fight on the horizon

Glover has his eyes on the belt (Photo: Reproduction/Twitter UFCBrasil)

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Even if it comes from defeat to Alexander Gustafson, the history of Glover Teixeira between the light heavyweight division and the current state of the division allow the Minas Gerais native to dream of a chance at the belt if he goes through Misha Cirkunov.

Or current champion Daniel Cormier defends his belt at UFC 220 against Volkan oezdemir, but with Gustafsson himself out injured and Jon Jones, former champion, with no return date due to failing yet another anti-doping test, Glover has reason to believe.

Number three in the rankings, the Brazilian is behind only Oezdemir (second) and Gustafsson (first) – champion Cormier does not count in the scoring. So, if he impresses the Ultimate bosses against Cirkunov, Teixeira will count on luck (and the bad luck of his Swedish tormentor) to reach another title fight. Facing Cirkunov, however, Glover will need to be careful with the Latvian's dangerous ground game, and work more on his standing game, where his heavy hands and boxing technique should make a difference.

Welterweights in action

Duo is scheduled for December 16th, in Canada (Photo: Reproduction/Facebook/Montagem SL)

It's not just the main fight that will feature two of the UFC's top welterweights in action. In Winnipeg, two other great duels in the category promise to shake Canadian fans. In the main portion of the show, the Argentine Santiago Ponzinibbio seeks to establish himself in the top-5 against the knockout artist Mike Perry e Erick silva tries to recover against the dangerous Jordan Mein.

Ponzinibbio is on an impressive streak of five wins and has shown great progress, especially since leaving Brazil to join the American Top Team. Against “Platinum”, “Gente Boa” will find an opponent who comes forward with a lot of aggression. The American has 11 wins in MMA, all by knockout. However, if he knows how to avoid frank striking and put his jabs into action, the Argentine with a Brazilian soul can maintain his positive streak.

Yes, Erick silva continues with its ups and downs. After beating Luan Chagas in a great duel at UFC Brasilia Last year, “Tigre” was knocked out by Yancy Medeiros at UFC 212 and needs to recover against Jordan Mein to remain relevant in the organization. The Canadian, who will fight at home, is experienced, despite being 28 years old – an 11-year career with 41 professional fights (29 wins and 12 losses) – and could surprise.