Gabriel Napão returns to the UFC and faces Edinaldo Lula in Rio

Gabriel Napao (photo) returns to the UFC and makes his debut at UFC Rio 2

The Brazilian Gabriel Napao is back in the UFC! After announcing his retirement in 2010 and returning this year, the Tupiniquim black belt will make his debut in the most famous octagon in the world “at home”. This is because the fighter from Rio, based in the United States, will be the substitute from Englishman Rob Broughton and faces his compatriot Edinaldo Lula at UFC Rio 2, an event that takes place on January 14th, at the HSBC Arena, in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. Information was released by the North American website MMA Weekly.

With a record of 12 wins and six losses, Gabriel Napao shocked the world by overwhelmingly knocking out the legend Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 70, in 2007. But after fighting for and losing the organization's heavyweight belt, the black belt went through several ups and downs in his career. And after two consecutive defeats in the UFC, Gabriel announced his retirement. But, in October of this year, Napão returned to combat and finished parker porter, at Reality Fighting, a show held in Connecticut, in the United States.

In its turn, Edinaldo Lula, which is sparring of the champion Junior Gypsy, will make his UFC debut. The fighter from Bahia is undefeated in 15 professional fights, with 13 wins, one draw and one I didn't answer. He is the current WFE Platinum heavyweight champion, where he last defended the belt in September, knocking out Jair Sorriso.