The Brazilian Beat
Lots of Belfort news, Wanderlei's mainstream fame growing, "Mendigo" back to Peru and ready for more and Cyborg Joins Chute Boxe!

The Brazilian Beat:
      This is the first time the Brazilian Beat is written after this writer turned 27 years old last Thursday June 17th, and with the second round of the Pride Heavyweight GP already in the history books, we open space for other news in the Brazilian MMA scene. It has been a while since "The Beat" last saw the light of day, so we take the chance to recap some of the most important happenings in the past two weeks. One of the most important ones is, without a doubt, the announcement of Vitor Belfort's first child being on the way! But that's not all, this edition has also other "Phenom" related news, Wanderlei Silva's fame run in Brazil, Tony de Souza ready for bigger steps, the newest Chute Boxe addition and much more! As winter is getting near in the usually hot Brazil, FCF warms things up with already traditional Beat in typical Brazilian style, have a seat and enjoy the reading!
  • Due to all the pressure built up from the disappearance of his sister Priscila, Vitor Belfort decided to go to the USA in order to prepare more properly for his first UFC title defense against Randy Couture. According to Belfort it has been impossible to focus and train properly in Brazil, as he ends up living every day the agony of hoping for news about his missing sister, as well as suffering with the maybe even bigger agony felt by his mother and grand mother. Realizing the importance of this match up, with all the criticism and doubts created by the outcome of their last encounter, "The Phenom" will focus on nothing but fighting on the following months leading to his fight. His grappling trainer, Abu Dhabi champion Leonardo Vieira, is also going to America to help on Vitor's training. During this preparation on Uncle Sam's land, the UFC Light-Heavyweight champion will also minister some MMA seminars.

  • Still on the Vitor Belfort subject, "The Phenom" is going to be a dad! Last week Vitor Belfort's wife, former Brazilian Playmate and TV star Joana Prado, announced her pregnancy to the Brazilian press. Needless to say Vitor, who is on the USA training for his next fight against Randy Couture, took the news with extreme joy as it was his dream to be a parent. It's still early in the pregnancy, therefore it's too soon to know if it's going to be a boy or a girl. FCF wishes the best for the couple and the new MMA fan who's on the way, be it a girl or a boy.

  • The Belfort family drama continues, as it has been more than five months since Priscila Vieira Belfort, sister of UFC champion Vitor Belfort, disappeared in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Lately the case got a new help, as some close friends of the family from the Brazilian mainstream media decided to not let it rest and a massive campaign is going on certain national TV shows, constantly searching for information on what happened to Priscila. With that, the Brazilian Police re-started to receive phone calls, and some new lines of investigation have been followed, although they are still being kept in secret for obvious reasons. While Vitor Belfort trains in the USA, his mother Jovita Belfort has been going to the tv shows every week to keep the effort alive. FCF still hopes for the best and pleads to anyone who has any valid information on what happened to Priscila Belfort, to please contact the Brazilian police.

  • After the astonishing success he made at the last Meca show, the most famous Peruvian fighter ever in MMA, Tony de Souza, is back in his beloved country of Peru. "Mendigo", as Tony was nicknamed by the Brazilian fans, will stay in Peru until the end of July, where he is taking care of a Japanese visa as well as his academy and students, and de Souza never made any secret about his desire to help our sport to spread there. The biggest news though, are that Tony's new visa for Japan will likely "debut" on a trip to fight in Pride very soon! The DSE representatives that were on hand at Meca 11 got very impressed with "Mendigo" and his ground skills, and Nova Uniao's trainer Andre Pederneiras is handling negotiations for a possible appearance by Tony de Souza on the land of the rising sun still in 2004.

  • Pride Middleweight champion and Middleweight Grand Prix champion Wanderlei Silva continues on fire in what comes to mainstream popularity in Brazil! After years of only Belfort being an mainstream icon in this country that came from MMA, Wanderlei is now sharing the spotlights as suddenly he was discovered by the country's most famous TV shows. This past weekend wasn't different for the Chute Boxe superstar, as Silva already did live TV appearances this Friday and most importantly was a special guest at one of the leading Sunday TV shows in Brazil, "Domingo Legal" [Cool Sunday], this last Sunday June 20th. However, the "Axe Murderer" is taking the chance to spread the word about his fight against Yuki Kondo next August in Pride, and will soon focus on not only but his preparation for the bout.

  • Jungle Fight 1 and 2 winner and Abu Dhabi runner up Fabricio Werdum has its next MMA bout coming up this next June 26th in the city of Valencia, in Spain! Werdum who just knocked out Ebenezer Braga at Jungle Fight 2, and is reported to be going to Chute Boxe to train in the near future, has been teaching Jiu-Jitsu in Spain for a long time already and will participate in the event called Spain Vale Tudo 2004 against an yet to be named opponent.

  • This last Sunday Pride veteran and former Chute Boxe fighter Anderson Silva departed for Korea, where he will make his return to international MMA shows facing tough experienced UFC and Pride veteran Jeremy Horn. Anderson, who did a fight at his friend's Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira's show, Conquista Fight, in the end of 2003, has been training hard and will be joined on the flight by BTT members Paulo Filho and Claudio Godoi, who will also be fighting at the Korean show. The rest of the BTT crew, that includes Rogerio Minotoro Nogueira, will be going straight from Japan to Korea, where the group will meet in the final preparation for the show.

  • Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu stand out Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz will finally be making his much awaited MMA debut. After endless rumors about his MMA debut, "Pe de Pano" will be stepping on the IFC cage this coming August 14th to face UFC veteran Dan Severn, in a true battle of ages, since Cruz is only 25 years old while Severn reached his 50's. From now on the Brazilian grappler plans to emphasize on his Mixed Martial Arts career and will likely miss the Jiu-Jitsu World Cup promoted by CBJJO, but still intend to compete at the World Championship. Another Brazilian will also take part on the same show, as Rodrigo Minotauro's student Andre Mussi will take part in a 4 men Heavyweight tournament, facing KOTC veteran Paul Buentello. The other side of the bracket will count with HEAT FC veteran Travis Wiuff and James Irvir.

  • The newest addition to the Chute Boxe academy is dangerous striker Evangelista "Cyborg". The Pancrase veteran got to the famous academy from Curitiba this Monday June 21st, where he already trained with his new teammates Murilo Ninja and Mauricio Shogun Rua, among others. From now on "Cyborg" will follow the steps of Jorge "Macaco" Patino, Luis Azeredo, Nino Schembri and Daniel Acacio and represent the Chute Boxe team in future events.

  • Speaking of fighters changing teams, in a somewhat surprising move long time Luta-Livre and Ruas Vale Tudo fighter, and recently Gracie Barra Combat Team fighter Alexandre "Cacareco" left his team this past week. "Cacareco" wasn't satisfied with his lack of fights in big events, and decided to leave Gracie Barra Combat to give a new boost to his career. Oddly enough, his destiny was the Brazilian Top Team headquarters, where he is currently training and waiting for a final approval by the team's leaders, so he can officially become part of BTT. Apparently his problems with BTT stand out Paulo Filho are now cleared, as both men had a long talk and came to terms.