UFC On Fuel 10 wrapped up another action packed foray into Brazil, the card ended with 8 submission victories, making it the new record holder for the most submissions on a UFC card.
In the main event Fabricio Werdum cemented his place as one of the truly elite Heavyweights in the UFC submitting Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and avenging his defeat to Big Nog from back in 2006 in PRIDE. The win makes Werdum the obvious candidate to take on the winner of Cain Velasquez vs Junior Dos Santos in their highly anticipated rubber match and raises the questions again of whether Nog should look to retire, he clearly has the skills to beat anyone outside the top 10, but with the number of wars and the beatings he has taken in his career (and until recently came back from to win) make the 37 year old look a lot more shop worn than other competitors who last to that age.
Werdum now has a 3 fight win streak and has submitted 2 of the greatest and most loved Heavyweights of all time in Fedor Emelianenko and Big Nog, along with his ADCC, and World Championship Gold’s his MMA scalps show he is one of the worst people to go to the ground with, that coupled with his Muay Thai which has grown leaps and bounds since his move to train under Raphael Cordiero, the former Chute Boxe striking coaches impact was there for all to see when Werdum picked apart Roy Nelson in his last fight, battering him from pillar to post with knees in the clinch as well as vastly improved punches. The Kings MMA Gym leader has helped make him a formidable opponent for anyone.
I’d be lying if I said many people tuned in to see Leonardo Santos tap William Macario with an arm triangle in the second round to win the Ultimate Fighter Brazil Season 2, however the pair put on a fun fight, and Santos showed why he is a multiple time World Champion in BJJ, in becoming the oldest man to win a season of TUF at 33.
The best fight of the night for me came in what I would call the real Co-Main event when Thiago Silva bombed Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante. Silva looks the part of a bad man with his tattoos and throat slashing celebrations, but he showed major improvements in his standup, out jabbing and out landing Cavalcante. When Feijão began to tire he moved in for the kill hammering his opponent against the cage before crushing him with a huge uppercut and firing himself back into top 10 contention. (Both men failed drug tests so we will wait to see what happens there)
The Erick Silva hype train got back on track with a slick submission win over savvy veteran Jason High taking 1.11 to submit him with a triangle arm bar, Silva’s stock didn’t fall after his fight of the year candidate against John Fitch, but showed he wasn’t quite ready for the top 10, expect him to rack up finishes quickly and look to reach the top 5 in no time.
In the 2 other main card fights TUF Brazil season 1 fighters Rony Jason and Daniel Sarafian took home 1st round submissions, along with every other fight on the card a Brazilian won (6 were Brazil vs Brazil), so if you are a foreigner and get offered a UFC fight in Brazil it may be a good idea to re-think!
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses.
- Fight of the Night: Thiago Silva vs. Rafael Cavalcante
- Knockout of the Night: Thiago Silva
- Submission of the Night: Erick Silva
Main Card:
Fabricio Werdum defeated Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by Submission (Armbar, Round 2, 2:41)
Leo Santos defeated William Macario by Submission (Arm triangle choke, 2nd Round, 4:43)
Thiago Silva defeated Rafael Feijao by KO (Punches, 1st Round, 4:29)
Daniel Sarafian defeated Eddie Mendez by Submission (Arm-triangle choke, 1st Round, 2:20)
Erick Silva defeated Jason High by Submission (Armbar, 1st Round, 1:11)
Rony Jason defeated Mike Wilkinson by Submission (Triangle Choke, 1st Round, 1:24)
Undercard:
Raphael Assuncao def. Vaughan Lee (armbar, round two)
Felipe Arantes def. Godofredo Castro (TKO, round one)
Ildemar Alcantara def. Leandro Silva (unanimous decision)
Rodrigo Damm def. Mizuto Hirota (split decision)
Caio Magalhaes def. Karlos Vemola (rear-naked choke, round two)
Antonio Braga Neto def. Anthony Smith (kneebar, round one)







