SHOOTO BRAZIL 60 was live from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last night (December 5, 2015) with 10 scheduled bouts, producing a night of solid scraps. UFC middleweight and TUF 3 winner Michael Bisping provided color commentary for the broadcast, which was live on UFC Fight Pass. To kick off the fight night, Fernando Tourinho (2-0) used his superior wrestling and top controlto defeat Luis Carlos (1-2-2) via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards in a 128-pound catchweight bout. Carlos displayed the superior striking in the early going of the bout and was getting the better of Tourinho on the feet, but as soon as Tourinho closed the distance, his massive advantage in the grappling department became apparent and he used it as an easy route to victory. The next bout of the evening came in the bantamweight division and saw Kalion Avelar (2-1-1 NC) square up against Jimmy Indio (18-9-1 NC). Avelar got the better of Indio in the first round, but due to an accidental headbutt that resulted in a gash on his eyebrow, the cage-side doctor did now allow the bout to continue, and as a result, the fight was ruled a No Contest. Moving on, Nova Uniao’s Jhonta Silva (3-0) took on Juan Salles (0-1) in a 117-pound contest and made quick work of the professional newcomer, knocking him out cold in the very first round of action. Silva looked very impressive and would be a real threat in the UFC, if they ever added a men’s strawweight division. For Salles, after a devestating knockout like that, I would not be at all surprised to see him retire from the sport with a professional mixed martial arts record of 0-1. Next up we moved up a few weight classes to the welterweight division, where Felipe Borges (5-3) used his superior grappling to dominate Antonio Jr (3-2) and eventually submit him with a head-and-arm choke with only 11-seconds remaining in the second stanza. It was a solid outing for Borges, who had the support of the crowd on his side. The following bout was a 128-pound catchweight contest that saw Klinger Do Boxe (3-0) defeat Ralph Alves (8-7) via knockout with a liver-kick in the very first round of action. Do Boxe was very impressive, displaying solid striking and grappling skills. He delivered a beautiful performance and I would like to see him make his way to the UFC, where I expect he will end up sooner or later. I have no doubt he could already run through the lower tier of the UFC’s flyweight division. Next up was another catchweight contest, this one scheduled for 153-pounds between Wanderson Panda (3-2) and undefeated Nova Uniao prospect, Felipe Mineiro (8-0). After being outgrappled and losing the first round, he came back to edge the second end third rounds to pick up a razor-thin unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards. This was an exciting, back and forth war that saw both fighters have their moments. This fight produced fireworks and certainly left the Brazilian fight fans pleased. In a battle of undefeated fighters in the next bout of the evening scheduled for catchweight of 148-pounds. Somebody’s O had to go, as Joey Kuiten (3-0) defeated Alex Trem Bala (3-1) via unanimous decision on the judges’ scorecards following three entertaining rounds of action that saw both fighters have their moments, but it was the Dutchman ultimately getting the better of the Brazilian on the feet and on the mat. After a close first two rounds he edged, Kuiten dominated the third frame and put a stamp on on his victory. It was a good fight and a solid performance by the native of the Netherlands, who remains undefeated. The next bout of the evening was another 148-pound catchweight contest, with Paul Almeida (0-4) weighing in at 148-pounds and his opponent, Nova Uniao product Pedro Falcao (7-2) weighing in at 144-pounds. It was a one sided fight for Falcao, who dominated with his superior grappling from the get-go, eventually capitalizing with a guillotine choke to earn the tap from a fighter with no victories to his name. In the co-main event of the evening, Nova Uniao’s Felipe Froes (12-2-1), weighing in as a featherweight, defeated Reginaldo Dos Santos (7-1), who weighed in as a lightweight, via knockout in the very first round of action. Froes scored a quick takedown and dominated the fight with his superior grappling, ultimately knocking Dos Santos out cold with his ground and pound, handing him the first official loss of his professional mixed martial arts career. It was an impressive outing by Froes, who made quick work of the previously undefeated fighter. The main event for Shooto Brazil was a lightweight title fight between UFC veteran Ronys Torres (30-5) and Wallace Lopes (5-4), and it did not last very long, as Torres took the fight to the mat early on and made quick work of the outmatched Lopes, defeating him with a kimura submission. With the lightweight title around his waist, a first round finish under his belt and on a fight fight winning streak, the Brazilian hopes to earn a call from the UFC and get a second stint with the promotion. He went 0-2 in his first stint, with a unanimous decision loss to Melvin Guillard and a split decision loss to Jacob Volkmann. He is 16-2 since being released from the promotion and a five fight winning streak may be enough to get him back inside the Octagon. Though, UFC matchmakers may want to see Torres get a win over a more noteworthy opponent before bringing him back to the big show.
