UFC 86 weighin results
Forrest Griffin (205) VS Quinton Jackson (205)
Ricardo Almeida (185) VS Patrick Cote (185)
Chris Lytle (170) VS Josh Koscheck (170)
Marcus Aurelio (155) VS Tyson Griffin (155)
Gleison Tibau (156) VS Joe Stevenson (155)
Justin McCully (236) VS Gabriel Gonzaga (249)
Cole Miller (155) VS Jorge Gurgel (155)
Dennis Siver (155) VS Melvin Guillard (155)
Justin Buchholz (155) VS Corey Hill (155)
UFC ANNOUNCES REMAINING BOUTS FOR UFC: 86 JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® ANNOUNCES REMAINING BOUTS FOR UFC 86: JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN
JUSTIN MCCULLY vs. GABRIEL GONZAGA
COLE MILLER vs. JORGE GURGEL
DENNIS SIVER vs. MELVIN GUILLARD
JUSTIN BUCHHOLZ vs. COREY HILL
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 2008
LIVE FROM MANDALAY BAY EVENTS CENTER
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) organization today announced the remaining fights for the upcoming UFC 86: JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN which features opposing coaches for The Ultimate Fighter® Season 7, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and the winner of the first-ever season of The Ultimate Fighter, Forrest Griffin. The Ultimate Fighting Championship organization presents UFC 86: JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday, July 5, 2008.
Just confirmed on the undercard are exciting match-ups between Justin McCully vs. Gabriel Gonzaga; Cole Miller vs. Jorge Gurgel; Dennis Siver vs. Melvin Guillard; and Justin Buchholz vs. Corey Hill.
Tickets for UFC 86: JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN are on sale now and are priced at $800, $500, $300, $200, $100 and $50. Tickets are being sold at any Mandalay Bay box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers , Macy’s West at the Fashion Show Mall and Ritmo Latino). To charge by phone with a major credit card, call the Mandalay Bay box office at (702) 632-7580 or Ticketmaster at (702) 474-4000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ufc.com, www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
UFC 86: JACKSON vs. GRIFFIN is available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).
Justin “The Insane One” McCully (8-3-2) 6’2”/240 lbs., fights out of Huntington Beach , Calif. After his dominant three round victory over Antoni Hardonk in April of 2007, bright things were forecast for heavyweight McCully. Then injuries sidelined the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt for much of the year. Now healthy and eager to assault the heavyweight division, “The Insane One” returns to the Octagon™ against Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga (8-3-0) 6’1”/240 lbs. Gabriel Gonzaga’s rise up the heavyweight ranks was nothing short of spectacular, with wins over Kevin Jordan, Fabiano Scherner, Carmelo Marrero, and Mirko Cro Cop thrilling fight fans around the world. Losses to Randy Couture and Fabricio Werdum have slowed the Brazilian’s progress, but after an intense training camp in his adopted home of Ludlow , he is ready to once again regain his spot in the UFC title picture.
Cole Miller (13-3-0) 6’1”/155 lbs., fighting out of Coconut Creek , Fla., notched impressive wins over Andy Wang and Leonard Garcia after his stay on The Ultimate Fighter® 5, furthering his reputation as one of the lightweight division’s top up and comers. Though the Georgia native hit a bump in the road in a hard fought January loss to Jeremy Stephens, this Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt is more focused than ever heading into his match-up with Jorge Gurgel (16-3-0) 5’9”/155 lbs. Winner of three of his five UFC fights, Jorge Gurgel’s energetic style has made him a fan favorite around the world. It wasn’t until his hard-fought decision win over John Halverson at UFC 82 in March that fans got to see the real “JG,” as he used all his talents to earn his most impressive victory yet in the Octagon. The Cincinnati fighter will look to build on his success against Miller.
Dennis Siver (11-5-0) 5’7”/155 lbs., fighting out of Mannheim , Germany has been gathering more and more fans with each bout after a knockout win over Naoyuki Kotani and a memorable war with Gray Maynard in his last two UFC outings. While this hard-charging 28-year old will be pushed to the limit once again when he takes on Melvin “The Young Assassin” Guillard, which is precisely the type of fight the four year mixed martial arts veteran lives for. At (39-8-3) 5’9”/155 lbs., the career of New Orleans ’ Guillard has seen its share of ups and downs. With a renewed focus on his ground game, the still developing lightweight prospect is eager to show not only his knockout power, but his ability to win a fight wherever it may go. A recent winner over Eric Regan in March, “The Young Assassin” is chomping at the bit to get back in the Octagon and back in the UFC win column.
Justin Buchholz (8-2-0) 6’0”/155 lbs., fighting out of Sacramento , Calif. , hasn’t had any opponents hear the final bell ring. The aggressive Alaskan native has no intentions of letting Corey Hill become the first. A well-rounded battler who now trains with WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber in Sacramento, Buchholz is looking to not only finish off his foe, but to get his first Octagon win under his belt and begin on his road to the UFC lightweight title. At 6 foot 4, Hill (2-0-0) is a scary match-up for everyone at 155 pounds. Add in an ever-developing fight game and the West Virginia native is on the fast track to big things in the coming years. Just ask Joe Veres, who Hill stopped in his UFC debut in January. The popular member of The Ultimate Fighter’s fifth season cast hopes to keep his unbeaten string unbroken when he faces off against Buchholz.
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the MMA digest brings you a 26 part “Technique of the Week” video series. Check out the techniques from these modern day MMA masters at Eternal Unlimited’s site at eternalunlimited.com/themmadigest
UFC announces remaining bouts for UFC 82
Cheick Kongo (21-3-1) 6’4”/240 lbs., fighting out of Paris , France , was a fairly unkown Frenchman until he made his UFC debut in July of 2006 against Gilbert Aldana. The Paris native had an impressive record and a stellar reputation as a fearsome kickboxer, but could he compete successfully in the UFC? He answered that question quickly and emphatically as he halted the rugged Aldana in a little over four minutes of the first round. Not everyone was sold though, so Kongo jumped back in the Octagon™ a month later to face Christian Wellisch. Kongo survived an early submission attempt to knock out his foe with a knee at 2:51 of the opening round, and a star was born in the heavyweight division. In this game, nothing can be taken for granted, and at UFC 64 Kongo was upset by Carmelo Marrero. At UFC 70 he came back with an impressive win over Brazil ’s Assuerio Silva and then a dominating three round unanimous decision win over feared striker Mirko Cro Cop. As 2008 begins he finds himself up against Heath Herring, knowing that he may be just one win away from challenging for the title he has longed for since he began training. Herring (27-13-1) 6’4”/250 lbs., fighting out of Las Vegas, is really a true Texan from the top of his ten-gallon hat to the bottom of his cowboy boots. The Waco-born “Texas Crazy Horse” loves to make the Lone Star State proud with his aggressive style and world-class MMA game. Herring is the owner of standout wins over Mark Kerr, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Gary Goodridge, but he also knows that his ascension up the UFC ranks is riding on his fight against fellow contender Cheick Kongo. Despite having ten years under his belt as a professional fighter and a well-deserved status as one of the best heavyweights of this era, Herring, having seen it all in the fight game, still feels he’s got a lot of accomplish.
Chris “The Crippler” Leben (17-4-0) 5’11”/185 lbs., fighting out of Oahu , HA is a season one sparkplug from The Ultimate Fighter® series who used his aggressive style and brash personality to gain a legion of fans. While building an unbeaten 5-0 Octagon record that included wins over Patrick Cote, Edwin Dewees, Jorge Rivera, and Luigi Fioravanti, Chris Leben hit hard times over a 12 month period in 2006-2007 as he was beaten by current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, Jason MacDonald, and Kalib Starnes, while only managing one knockout win over Jorge Santiago. “The Crippler” is not one to give up on his dream of a world championship though, and he got back to business last September with a spectacular knockout of Terry Martin, and now he will face another hard-hitting foe in Alessio Sakara. After the “Legionarius” (16-6-1) 6’0”/ 185 lbs. fighting out of Miami , Fla. , built a reputation as a fighter to watch in the UFC with his fights against Ron Faircloth and Elvis Sinosic, Sakara hit a wall in his MMA career with losses to Dean Lister, Drew McFedries, and Houston Alexander. Sometimes a defeat can teach you more about character than a victory, and Sakara believed this to be true in his case. At UFC 70 in April, this former pro boxer showed his resilience in style as he stopped Victor Valimaki in the first round, and he began a new winning streak in January by stopping James Lee. Sakara returns to the Octagon to face veteran Leben.
Evan Tanner (34-6-0) 6’0”/185 lbs., fighting out of Las Vegas is a former UFC Middleweight Champion. Name a top fighter at 185-pounds, and Tanner has probably fought him. Rich Franklin, David Loiseau, Phil Baroni, David Terrell, and Robbie Lawler; a who’s who of middleweight mixed martial artists, all dot the resume of the Amarillo, Texas native. A veteran of 40 MMA bouts, the 37-year-old Tanner has seen it all in the fight game, and after an almost two-year hiatus from the sport, he’s ready to begin another chapter of his career with his bout against Yushin Okami. Kanagawa, Japan’s Okami (22-4-0) 6’2”/185 lbs., has torn through the middleweight ranks since arriving in the UFC in 2006, defeating Mike Swick, Alan Belcher, Kalib Starnes, and Rory Singer along the way. It was in a close decision loss to Rich Franklin last June that Okami truly showed that he belongs among the elite at 185 pounds as he pushed the former UFC champion to the limit and almost submitted him in the final round of a closely contested bout. Now, the powerful Okami, who got back in the win column last October against highly-regarded Canadian contender Jason MacDonald, will look to move closer to a rematch with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva by beating former 185-pound champ Tanner.
Jon Fitch (20-2-1) 6’0”/170 lbs., fighting out of San Jose , Calif. , by his own account, was “a mediocre college wrestler.” This, despite being a four year letter winner at Purdue, the 2002 team captain and winner of the Most Dedicated Big Ten Conference Scholar-Athlete Award. For the Fort Wayne native though, this just wasn’t enough, and looking back now he chalks it up not to his talent, but to his attitude. It wasn’t until graduate school that everything clicked. After he packed his bags to move to California and pursue a career in mixed martial arts, the lessons he learned not only became applicable, they became essential, especially as he rose up the welterweight ranks. Now unbeaten in seven Octagon battles, Fitch has arrived on the world stage, but you won’t hear him referring to himself in the third person or calling out everyone at 170 pounds. He’s going to stay the same fighter and man he’s always been as he takes on newcomer Chris “The Professor” Wilson. A well rounded battler from Portland , Ore. , “The Professor” (11-3-1) 6’1”/170 lbs., makes his UFC debut after four years of building a reputation as one of the most talented welterweights in the game today. Owner of victories over UFC veterans Brandon Melendez, Jay Hieron, and Derrick Noble, the 30-year old is eager to add Fitch to that list.
Andrei “Pit Bull” Arlovski 6’4”/240 lbs., (13-5-0) fighting out of Chicago , is a former UFC heavyweight champion. With a UFC resume boasting nine wins in 13 fights the feared “Pit Bull” is one of the most well-known fighters in the entire organization. Arlovksi has established himself as a dangerous striker and efficient grappler, but after a devastating two-time defeat to Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia, Arlovski went back to the drawing board. The 29-year old heavyweight begins his comeback journey after two straight wins over Marcio Cruz at UFC 66 and Fabrico Werdum at UFC 70. This third fight on his path back to victory will either make or break him when he meets the wild O’Brien. Jake “Irish” O’Brien 6’3”/230 lbs., (10-0-0) is an aggressive wrestler with a flawless record in the UFC. The heavy-handed ground and pound specialist took on Heath the “Texas Crazy Horse” Herring in his last fight over a year ago only to demolish him and put a unanimous decision win under his belt. After being sided to injuries, the undefeated O’Brien will dual UFC legend Arlovksi for another win or his first loss.
Luke “The Silent Assassin” Cummo 6’0”/170 lbs., (9-4-0) fighting out of Long Island , NY has knock-out power most fighters dream of having. Cummo is a serious striker with BJJ skills as well as talents in the martial art known as Jeet Kune Do founded by the legendary Bruce Lee. The New Yorker has a quirky reputation outside the Octagon, but it is mostly his exciting fights inside the eight-sided cage which keep his name in the mouths of UFC fans. This fight will undoubtedly go to blows when he takes on another striking specialist, Fioravanti. Luigi Fioravanti 5’8”/170 lbs., (12-3-0) fighting out of St. Petersburg , Fla. is a former United States Marine who fought in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a military man trained in MMA, Fioravanti has good takedown defense and excellent striking ability. Having a rollercoaster career in the UFC hasn’t stopped Fioravanti from still fighting his heart out. It is this determination and intense training that could make his match-up against Cummo the fight of the night at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion.
Josh “Kos” Koscheck 5’10”/170 lbs., (11-2-0) fighting out of Fresno , Calif can boast being part of the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. With a wrestling background and noteworthy athleticism Koscheck is considered a young seasoned fighter with an exciting career. “ Kos ” only has two losses in the UFC including his last fight against interim UFC Welterweight World Champion Georges St-Pierre. The 30-year old Pennsylvania native takes this fight against the nine years younger, Hazelett to prove he has no plans on staying in the losers circle. Dustin Hazelett 6’1”/170 lbs., (12-3-0) fighting out of Cincinnati , fights in his home territory on March 1. This young fighter is a force in his division riding high on three consecutive wins two of which were submissions over Jonathan Goulet and Stevie Lynch. With the heart of a gladiator and the skills of a BJJ specialist Hazelett’s abilities will be put to the test when he dukes it out with the experienced Josh Koscheck.
Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez 5’11”/170 lbs., (19-2-0) fighting out of San Diego , Calif , is a well-known fighter in the welterweight division. With noteworthy wins including a knockout of Joe Riggs, and unanimous decision defeat over welterweight force Karo Parisyan, Sanchez still has much to prove after two consecutive losses. As an excellent grappler, this young fighter will take his skills and experience to the Octagon when he shows Bielkheden why he’s named the “Nightmare”. David Bielkheden 5’10”/170 lbs., (12-5-0) fighting out of Stockholm , Sweden is a member of the world-renowned Brazilian Top Team. Making his UFC debut in Columbus , Bielkheden is a seven year pro in mixed martial arts who has scored 12 wins in 17 fights. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, the 28-year old has five submission wins, including one over UFC veteran Chalres McCarthy in 2004. When these two warriors go to battle it will be a true test of skill, but only one can walk away a winner.
Jorge Gurgel 5’9”/155 lbs., (14-3-0) fighting out of Cincinnati , will attempt to redeem himself in Columbus after a loss to Alvin Robinson in his hometown. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt with an aggressive attitude, Gurgel is more than a submission specialist. As a pro kick boxer and a skilled muay thai artist and wrestler, Gurgel has demonstrated his well rounded abilities when he defeated Diego Saraiva in July 2007 after 15 minutes of left and right strikes. It will surely be a test of his determination when he takes on Halverson in a lightweight battle. John “The Hurricane” Halverson 5’9”/155 lbs. (16-5-0) fighting out of Des Moines , IA also comes off a loss to lightweight superstar Roger Huerta. The heavy-handed “Hurricane” who is best known for his boxing background had a chance meeting with the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” of the UFC, Tito Ortiz, and quickly switched over to MMA. The 35-year old Iowa native can take a hit as well as give one, and plans on landing the winning punch when he meets Gurgel on Saturday, March 1.
5 Questions with Alvin Robinson
Photo: UFC.com
Fresh off his win with Jorge Gurgel, Alvin Robinson takes a moment to speak with theMMAdigest.com:
What were your thoughts on the fight?
I was happy with my fight with Jorge, especially the outcome. Everyone is telling me the fight was crazy.
What did you feel you did well and what can you improve on?
I feel I was able to overcome adversity in this fight. I also feel like I imposed my will in the second and third rounds. I definatly think I can start a little faster in future fights and not lose any minute of the fight.
What was it like fighting in another fighter’s hometown?
Fighting in Jorge’s home town was actually pretty cool. Besides the booing and trash talk from the fans the night of the fight, everyone was respectful and welcoming. After the fight, the fans treated me as if I was from Ohio.
What did you learn from your fight with Kenny Florian?
From the Kenny Florian fight, I learned everything doesn’t always go my way in a fight. I have to be ready to overcome anything that may happen in a fight.
What’s next for you?
I don’t know what is next right now, but I will fight anyone. Hopefully big things.
UFC 77 Final Bout Sheet and Bios
STEPHAN BONNAR vs. ERIC SCHAFER
KALIB STARNES vs. ALAN BELCHER
JASON MACDONALD vs. YUSHIN OKAMI
JORGE GURGEL vs. ALVIN ROBINSON
DEMIAN MAIA vs. RYAN JENSEN
FORREST PETZ vs. JOSH BURKMAN
MATT GRICE vs. JASON BLACK
Stephan “American Psycho” Bonnar (12-4-0) 6’4”/205 lbs., has long been associated with the windy city of Chicago . Earlier this year The Ultimate Fighter® season one finalist packed up and moved to Las Vegas and has since been training with a Who’s Who of fighting, including old rival Forrest Griffin, Jiu-Jitsu ace Sergio Penha, and Muay Thai standout Master Toddy. Fresh from an impressive submission win over Mike Nickels at UFC 73 in July, this light heavyweight contender is ready to challenge the big names at 205 pounds. Bonnar needs a win over Eric “Ravishing Red” Schafer to get there. Schafer (9-2-2) 6’3” 205 lbs., fighting out of Milwaukee , WI is one of the most talented ground fighters competing at 205 pounds today. “Ravishing Red” has only been able to show glimpses of his substantial talent due to injuries that have plagued him since his December 2006 bout with Michael Bisping. Now healthy and itching to get back into the Octagon™, the 30-year old – whose last five wins have been by submission – has no better showcase than this high-profile battle against Bonnar.
Alan “The Talent” Belcher (10-3-0) 6’2”/185 lbs., fighting out of Biloxi , Miss. , is a fierce competitor who has shown the ability to end fights by submission or spectacular knockout. “The Talent” showed his warrior’s heart by jumping up to light heavyweight on short notice in May to submit Sean Salmon in less than a minute. Now back at middleweight Belcher looks to make it two in a row against Kalib Starnes, and he wants to keep pushing the envelope with each successive trip to the Octagon. Starnes (10-201) 6’3”/185 lbs., is a well-rounded fighter from north of the border in Surrey , British Colombia. The Canadian truly found himself when he traveled south to work with the renowned American Top Team earlier this year. The results of the change in scenery were immediate as he pounded out a three round decision win over Chris Leben at UFC 71 in May. He hopes to extend his win streak in impressive fashion when he takes on fellow up and comer Belcher.
Yushin Okami (21-3-0) 6’2”/185 lbs., fighting out of Kanagawa, Japan, tore through the middleweight ranks since arriving in the UFC in 2006, defeating Mike Swick, Alan Belcher, Kalib Starnes, and Rory Singer along the way. It was in a close decision loss to Rich Franklin in June that Okami truly showed that he belongs among the elite at 185 pounds as he pushed the former UFC champion to the limit and almost submitted him in the final round of a closely contested bout. The powerful Okami plans on getting back in the win column against highly-regarded Canadian contender Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald in an effort to prove that he deserves a shot at the winner of UFC 77’s title bout between Franklin and Anderson Silva. MacDonald (19-8-0) 6’3”/185 lbs., fighting out of Edmonton, Alberta, took close to seven years to get to the UFC. Once he got here with a first round submission win over Ed Herman in October of 2006, he made it clear that he was not going to be leaving anytime soon. Since then, the Canadian has won two of three fights in the Octagon, most recently showing some impressive punching power in a TKO victory over Rory Singer. He will be pushed to the limit once again by fellow contender Okami in a pivotal middleweight matchup. Needless to say, he’s ready for anything.
Jorge Gurgel (13-2-0) 5’9”/155 lbs., fighting out of Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt who is highly regarded around the sport for his ground fighting prowess. Gurgel has also established a reputation with fans for being the type of fighter who will stand and trade in an effort to secure victory. This was never more evident than in his July win over hometown Brazilian rival Diego Saraiva, when Gurgel dug deep and let the bombs fly for 15 minutes en route to a unanimous decision win. He will again find a willing dance partner in Alvin “Kid” Robinson. Fighting out of Denver , Colo. , Robinson (9-1-0) 5’8”/155 is an exciting battler who doesn’t fight in search of a decision, he fights to finish. In 11 pro mixed martial arts fights, a judge hasn’t yet been called into action to render a verdict, and all nine of his wins have come by submission. It will be business as usual for the Denver resident as he looks to take out highly regarded Gurgel in what should be a fast-paced lightweight bout.
Josh “The Peoples Warrior” Burkman (19-4-0) 5’10”/170 lbs., fighting out of Salt Lake City, has established himself as one of the top welterweight prospects in the game with wins in five of his seven UFC bouts including victories over Drew Fickett and Josh Neer. Burkman knows he is a win or two away from crashing into the title picture in perhaps the sport’s toughest division. Fresh from a hard-fought decision loss in a war with Karo Parisyan in May, the 27-year old pride of Utah has gone back to basics and has been training harder than ever in an effort to make a triumphant return to the Octagon against Forrest “The Meat Cleaver” Petz (18-4-0). With a nickname like “The Meat Cleaver,” you’d better be ready to fight, and the 5’10”/170 lb. Petz lives up to that billing as a hard-hitting competitor with knockout power in both hands and a fearsome body attack. In June, the Cleveland , Ohio native showed the form he had in his debut win over Sam Morgan as he evened his UFC slate at 2-2 with a win over Luigi Fioravanti. He is eager to go past the .500 mark and make his mark as a contender tonight with a win over Burkman.
Jason Black (22-2-1) 5’8”/155 lbs., fighting out of Bettendorf, Iowa, is a true veteran of the game, with seven years and 26 fights under his belt. Black has competed around the world in a quest to establish himself as one of the best in the world, beating, among others, John Alessio, Gideon Ray, and Ivan Menjivar. In June, this PRIDE veteran’s journey finally took him to the UFC Octagon, and while he was met by a whirlwind in Thiago Tavares and was submitted in the second round, it will take more than one setback to deter this well-rounded Iowan. Black summed up his favorite technique as simply “go like hell” and will be bringing the heat to youngster Matt “The Real One” Grice in an effort to get his first UFC win. Grice (9-1-0) 5’8”/155 lbs., fighting out of Harrah, Okla., is called mixed martial arts’ “Bionic Man” by some due to his recovery from a serious car accident just before his freshman year at the University of Oklahoma. The 26-year old has always turned negatives into positives wherever he’s competed, whether during his stellar high school wrestling career, when he was a four-time Oklahoma State champion, or as a pro fighter, where all but two of his victories have come via submission, KO, or TKO. It’s been a key element of this aggressive ground and pounder’s success. With wins in nine of his ten pro MMA fights, there’s little doubt that with a victory over veteran Black, Grice can throw his name in the mix of 155-pound fighters to watch in the coming months.
Ryan Jensen (11-1-0) 6’1”/185 lbs., fighting out of Omaha , Neb. , entered the Octagon at UFC 74 in August as a relatively unknown fighter with an impressive record. By the end of his action-packed bout against well-regarded Thales Leites, fight fans knew that despite the end result, they wanted to see this hard-hitting warrior in action again. Jensen gets another shot at his first UFC win against another Jiu-Jitsu ace in Demian Maia, but this time, he plans on finishing an exciting fight in his favor. Maia (6-0-0), fighting out of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a winner of a seemingly endless array of grappling tournaments, including the world championships, Abu Dhabi, and Pan Ams. Maia is without question one of the premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world today, even owning a grappling win over UFC heavyweight contender Gabriel Gonzaga. But since, 2005, Maia has also been racking up victories in mixed martial arts, and tonight, the unbeaten 29-year old brings his array of talent to the Octagon for the first time when he puts his untarnished record on the line against Jensen.