The Brazilian Beat
Chute Boxe and BTT ready for Pride battle, Rizzo looking for a KO, Storm Samurai results, and Barreto's knee update!

The Brazilian Beat:
      As we're hitting middle June, anticipation and anxiety are in the air as few days are now apart from MMA fighting fans and the Pride Middleweight GP second round. This is maybe the most awaited show in recent years, with intriguing match ups such as Mauricio Shogun against Rogerio Minotoro lined up, giving us the Brazilian Top Team versus Chute Boxe rivalry once again, after a big hiatus in that grudge. Of course, with so much on the line, FCF and the Brazilian Beat couldn't leave the tidbits regarding this event out of our space, and here we come with some information on what's going on in Brazil, as everything seems to be on fire here, as we approach the Brazilian winter. There's also much more, as Rizzo is about to make his MMA comeback, Storm Samurai just put another edition to its history, fighter's are recovering, other's preparing and life goes on as always in the Brazilian MMA scene. With this reporter turning older this Friday, let's rush up the talk and go straight to the news, as you'll have to forgive me but it's time t party! As FCF brings the Beat, giving the sound and the voice to the news and much more, enjoy!
  • Brazilian Top Team heavyweight Carlos Barreto is still recovering from the knee injury suffered at the last Jungle Fight, in the early moments of his bout against Vladimir Matyushenko. The extent of the injury is still unknown at that point, as Barreto's left knee has just started to show some improvement, therefore the UFC and Pride veteran will finally be able to do proper exams this next Monday, to decided when he can resume training. It is still unclear if he will be able to compete in September at the next Jungle Fight, likely in a rematch against Vladdy, but there is still hope. FCF will keep you posted.

  • Speaking of the Brazilian Top Team, Mario Sperry got back from Korea after the Gladiators FC 2 odd postponement. Ready to fight, Sperry told FCF he was surprised by the show being cancelled during the weigh-ins by some Korea immigration officials, as the fighters appeared to have only tourists visas and therefore couldn't compete in a professional show. However, the "Zen Machine" told us he was fairly treated by the show, and the organization promises to have Gladiators FC 3 in a future date to be set.

  • Always busy, Sperry departed this past June 15th to Japan, where the Brazilian Top Team crew will finish their fighters' preparation for the Pride GP 2nd round show, this coming June 26th. Joining Sperry and the fighters, Ricardo Arona, Rogerio Minotoro and Rodrigo Minotauro, are Muay Thai trainer Luis Alvez, Boxing trainer Luis Dorea, BTT trainer Bebeo Duarte, teammate Fabiano Capoane and there's a chance Anderson Silva and Roan Carneiro will be joining the crew in Japan soon, to help out the last minute details on the preparation.

  • Of course, if things are heated on the BTT headquarters, there's no difference in the Chute Boxe camp! With Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio Shogun preparing for their Pride GP second round battles, plus Luis Azeredo, Jean Silva and Daniel Acacio fighting in the July Pride Bushido show, training couldn't be more intense. Departing this next Monday to Japan, Shogun spoke with FCF this Thursday and told us he has been training like never before, and is in top shape, weighing around 102 kg right now! Of course the "Axe Murderer" is also in good shape, and the next Pride plans to be one of the most memorable ever.

  • Speaking of Mauricio Shogun, his brother Murilo Ninja suffered a broken toe about two weeks ago while training grappling. The Pride veteran is now on the late stages of his recovery, already doing light training to help out his teammates. He is expected to be fully healed soon, and then resume training. On the meantime, Ninja is preparing his fourth European seminar tour for September, with details to be released soon.

  • Still on the Rua family subject, as reported on a previous Brazilian Beat edition here on FCF, Rua's little brother, Marcos Rua, was bound to make his Muay Thai debut in Curitiba, at a Rudimar Fedrigo Alliance cup, a tourney for Chute Boxe team affiliated academies. Unfortunatelly for the Rua family, young Marcos ended up losing a judges' decision in his debut. According to witnesses of the bout, Marcos never really had his game going, and showed little of his potential in the match. The kid is still training hard and there's no doubt he has a bright future ahead, regardless of his debut's outcome.

  • This past Saturday June 11th, one more edition of Storm Samurai became history as the Brazilian city of Curitiba once again had its share of MMA action. Around 5000 fans were reported to be on hand for the show, that counted with some Chute Boxe future stars, such as Maicon Costa, showing their skills once again before they get their gigs at bigger venues. With a future edition of the show, with much larger proportions, in the works for the country capital of Brasilia, it's always important to keep an eye at what's happening at Storm, so check out the results from the last edition:
    • Aladson da Silva drew Adailton Para in a judges' decision
    • Fabio Alexandre defeated Paulo
    • Escremim by armbar in the 1st round
    • Nelson Jaca defeated Lucio Aurelio by judges' decision
    • Fabio Silva defeated Avallone Filho by KO in the 1st round
    • Vitor Viana defeated Murilo Assuncao by rear naked choke in the 1st round
    • Liliana Loly defeated Debora Simbuco by judges' decision
    • Rubens Macula defeated Fernando Lageado by TKO in the 1st round
    • Marcio Gracinha defeated Leandro Frois by judges' decision
    • Felipe Miranda defeated Antonio Conceicao by judges' decision
    • Maicon Costa defeated Edigrei Nunes by armbar in the 2nd round
    • Marcelo Brito defeated Gleison Tibau by judges' decision
    • Claudio "Popeye" defeated Armando Leli by KO in the 1st round
  • Anxious and eager for his Pride debut, heavyweight Pedro Rizzo is in top shape and hunger for a KO for his upcoming bout against Russian sensation Sergei Kharitonov. K-1 legend Peter Aerts and UFC legend Marco Ruas both came to Brazil and helped out in Rizzo's preparation, and according to Ruas Vale Tudo trainer Beto Leitao "The Rock" is going to this fight looking for nothing but the knockout win. Pedro is reported to understand the importance of making an impact at his debut, and is decided to make an exciting one, as they believe the Russian can offer an ideal opponent for the Brazilian to show his skills. The Ruas Vale Tudo group will also be departuring to Japan this next Monday, and along with Rizzo will be going Marco Ruas and Beto Leitao. There's still a chance Brazilian wrestler Rodrigo Artilheiro, who's on the Cro Cop training camp now, may also help out Rizzo in the land of the rising sun.

  • Heat FC 4 is reported to be on the works, likely for late July or early August. Although a date wasn't set yet, and no fights were announced, rumors have that the fourth edition of the already traditional show will take place on a new mall that has just been built, once again in the city of Natal, Brazil. Details are expected to be released shortly and FCF will keep you posted.